Sharon Springs Springs To Life

If you've been following my blog, you know that we visited the Beekman 1802 Farm and the American Hotel in Sharon Springs last week.  You should also know that there is much more to this antique village than big, historical mansions and deserted buildings.  The village is lined with quaint little shops full of charm and interesting items sure to thrill shoppers of all ages and interests.   We didn't have time to visit them all during our bus trip stop.....partly because we were restricted on our time and because we spent so much time in each of the few we did visit!  Disclaimer:   I will not be held responsible for any monies that may disappear from your wallets when you visit Sharon Springs.

The first store we visited was:

Incorporated into an early 19th century shoe repair shop/boarding house, Cobbler and Co. opened for business in 1997.  The gift shop is  spread out  over 12 rooms on two floors.  Every inch of this store is filled with unique gifts to satisfy and delight anyone on your gift list.   From cards to clothing, from blown glass to gifts for the little ones on your list....Cobbler and Company has everything - and then some.

Next stop on our stroll was McGillycuddy's Naturals.  With over 25 years of experience in natural bath and body products, Deb McGillycuddy along with her daughters Kendal and Keriann McGillycuddy have been creating and hand-crafting all natural bath and body products as a business now for over 12 years.

McGillycuddy's sells all natural olive oil soap, milk soap, bath salt scrubs, lip balm (I bought one..yummy), bathoil, lotions, gift sets and more.  Their bars of soap come in a variety of molds and shapes and aromas.  You can see from the photos, there's something for everybody.  I couldn't resist.  I bought 2 bars of "Gardener's Creation" one for me and one for my neighbor.  It's made with olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable shortening, cornmeal, poppy seeds, lemongrass, Patchouli and Geranium essential oil.  It's for all "green thumbs in need of hand soap."  When I gave my neighbor hers today, she was so excited.  It seems another friend had given her a bar of McGillycuddy's milk soap a while ago and she claims her face has never felt so soft!    I also bought 4 bars of goat milk soap (you never know when you need a little something for someone). With so many different molds to choose from, I selected a celtic knot, grazing sheep, a gnome and a sunflower.  Interesting to note:  when the Beekman Boys first began selling their goat milk soap, it was Deb who made all the soap for them.   I'm not sure if that's still the case or not, but it seems her own store keeps her pretty busy and some serious restocking might have taken place after our group left town!

And not to worry.  If you can't make the trip to Sharon Springs,  you can also order online through their website at http://www.mcgillycuddysoap.com/   

When we'd finished shopping at the Cobbler & Co., Beekman 1802 Mercantile (see the blog featuring Beekman 1802) and McGillycuddy's, our time in Sharon Springs had almost come to an end.  We had one more stop to make, the Arkell Museum in Canajoharie,  so I was feeling the need for a little pick-me-up to 'perk me up' and found just the ticket at the .....

A delicious cup of coffee and an equally scrumptious macaroon hit the spot.  There is so much more to Sharon Springs.  I'm looking forward to another chance to 'explore'.

Sharon Springs has a long history to be told.  It was claimed and settled by Great Britain and was frequented by the Iroquois for it's healing waters. Thanks to its sulfur, magnesium, and chalybeate mineral springs, Sharon Springs grew into a bustling spa during the 19th century hosting 10,000 visitors each summer.  Sharon Springs was also associated with several beer barons in the late 19th century.  Most American hops were grown in a belt stretching from Madison to Schoharie Counties, but the hops trade disappeared after the first world war due to the combined effects of competition from Oregon, a hops blight and the coming of prohibition.   This is just a fraction of the story of Sharon Springs.   After drifting into a run-down state,  the late 1980's brought a resurgence to Sharon Springs.  Now it is growing in popularity, partially thanks to the Beekman Boys who've drawn attention through their participation and win of the Amazing Race, and Josh Kilmer-Purcell's book, The Bucolic Plague, and the appearance of the American Hotel on Rachel Ray's show, $40 A Day.   It is not surprising that the folks who live and work in Sharon Springs are some of the friendliest around.  They have a beautiful place to live and are welcoming and warm towards those lucky enough to visit.   Whether you're in the mood for a country drive, a romantic get-a-way or just want to step back in time, you'll find it in the tiny village of Sharon Springs.  

Thank you for allowing me to share by photos and thoughts with you!  And Have a Great Day!!!