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Anthony, Mabel “Biddie”. 1999. “An Oral Narrative Recorded By Courtney Reid.” West Side Oral Narrative Project: Transcribing Discourse And Diversity In Saratoga Springs, New York, Annotated Transcript No. 5, April 28, 2021, Skidmore College

Transcribing Discourse and Diversity in Saratoga Springs, New York

Mable “Biddie” Anthony (1916-2015) moved from Pittsburgh to Saratoga Springs in 1940, when her husband, Marvin “Butch” Anthony began managing the Hill Top Inn on Congress Street. Biddie poignantly reflects on sweeping changes she saw in the city over her lifetime. She recounts her first impressions of Saratoga’s winters, the summer crowds, and how she learned about the city’s sporting district, which included musical entertainment, bars and restaurants, dancing, gambling, and brothels. From her experiences of living and working on Congress Street, Biddie creates a mental map of homes and businesses, including Hattie’s Chicken Shack, the Golden Grill, and Jack’s …