[From the 2025 Fall Magazine]
It reads like the script of a Hallmark movie. The main characters randomly meet, and they live happily ever after in a charming upstate New York town. In this story, the town is Saratoga Springs.
In 2007, Nick Fazioli - who was from Troy, New York and was completing his MBA at Emory University in Atlanta - made a last-minute decision to visit friends in Seattle to celebrate the New Year. On a chance encounter that New Year’s Eve, he met Jenny Clifton, who was visiting home from San Francisco. The rest, as they say, is history.
After ringing in 2008 together, Jenny and Nick dated long distance. Upon Nick graduating, he moved to New York City, where he started his career with Delta Air, and the following year Jenny joined him. “I grew up coming to Saratoga Springs for the restaurants, the track, and concerts,” shared Nick. “I had never heard of Saratoga Springs being from 3,000 miles away,” Jenny added. Nick soon introduced Jenny to Saratoga Springs, visiting the track with friends and Nick’s family. “We always had a wonderful time,” said Jenny.
In the fall of 2020, they bought a house on Nelson Avenue to be able to spend more time in Saratoga Springs – weekends and summers. After 13 years of living in New York City and upon their oldest child, Dylan, entering kindergarten, they decided they wanted to move outside the City. “We wanted to put down roots,” shared Jenny, a real estate investor. “We considered Westchester, places in Connecticut, and Saratoga Springs,” said Nick, who now is an investment banker in the aviation industry. “Spending time in Saratoga Springs, we realized how special Saratoga is – the vibrancy, the history, the preservation,” added Jenny.
In 2022, Jenny and Nick purchased 75 Clinton Street. “Upon entering the house, the staircase wowed me,” said Jenny. “I liked that it had large rooms with high ceilings, well preserved original details, and a good layout,” shared Nick. “Not to mention a great location close to downtown,” Jenny added. It is now home to their two children, Dylan and Ava, and their two rescue dogs from Lucky Puppy Rescue, Bailey and Penny.
Photo courtesy of George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga Spring History Museum
Photo courtesy of Paul Boni
The house that they purchased was built by Isaac L. Smith, a mason, who acquired the property in 1847. That same year he constructed a brick house in the Italianate style. Typical of the style, the house had a low-pitched roof with wide-overhanging eaves with decorative brackets and tall narrow windows.
The 1855 New York State census recorded that Isaac had married Laura L. Miller and that they had a young daughter. Together they lived with Isaac’s son from his first marriage, his niece, a mason, two apprentice masons, and a servant in the residence. In 1862, the Smiths sold the property.
After two different owners, Henry and Theresa Hanson acquired 75 Clinton Street in 1865. When Henry and Theresa moved into the residence they had four children – Clara, George, William and Isabel. They then had two more children, Walter and Nellie. Henry was a railroad contractor who helped to construct a railroad in western Kentucky. A town was named in his honor - Hanson, Kentucky. In 1882, he acquired and operated a store that sold groceries, feed, grain, liquors, coal, wood and lumber located at the southwest corner of Church and Clinton streets, today 58 Church Street.
In 1885, it appears Henry made alterations to the house, giving it a more Queen Anne appearance that is seen today. Henry added the front gable roof with dormers; the cantilevered, two-story bay over the recessed front entrance with a stone arch; a one-story porch; and a two-story bay on the north façade.
Hanson’s son, Walter, inherited the property upon his passing in 1905. He and his wife Aimee resided in the house with their son. In 1912, Walter passed away at his winter home in Brooklyn. Aimee continued to live at 75 Clinton Street until 1915 when she moved to Long Island. She continued to own the property until 1923 when Albert Schoonmaker, a sales representative for the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, acquired it. He resided there with his wife Frannie and daughter, Blanche.
In 1946, Albert retired and conveyed the property to Herman Cohen who sold it the same year to Jacob Drantsch. He and his wife Elise moved to 75 Clinton Street and operated Clinton Manor, a boarding house for tourists. In 1951, Ruth Berg moved to 75 Clinton Street and became the proprietor of Clinton Manor. In 1970, she conveyed the property to Daniel Muller and his brother Robert, who operated Muller’s Cycle Shop. During their ownership, the city directories list the property as “Muller Bro Apts” and Robert and his wife Antoinette as living at the house. In 1975, Daniel transferred his ownership to Robert and Antoinette. The property was sold at public auction due to foreclosure in 1978.
John T. Roohan was the successful bidder. That same year, Charles V. and Candace Wait acquired 75 Clinton Street. At the time, Charles was the Treasurer of Adirondack Trust Company and Candace was working at The Saratogian. “The house was within walking distance of both places we worked, and we were planning on having a family, which we did when Charles Jr. was born in 1981,” shared Charles. “I was just starting out at the bank and to be able to afford the mortgage, we added an apartment,” said Charles. The Waits undertook an extensive rehabilitation using federal rehabilitation tax credits to offset the expense. During their ownership, the house was featured in the movie “Ghost Story,” starring Fred Astaire.
In 1984, when the Waits moved to 658 North Broadway, they sold the property to Michael and Sheila Milot. Denise Polit and her husband Alan Janosy acquired 75 Clinton Street in 2000. They installed the swimming pool and conservatory. In 2019, Alan passed away and two years later, Denise died.
The following year, the estate sold the property to Jenny and Nick. They did an extensive rehabilitation project, 30 years after the Waits finished theirs. They repaired and replaced where needed the cornice and trim, restored the original windows, and installed a new roof. They also put in an all-electric HVAC system, which the solar panels that they installed helps to offset cost.
“With the interior we sought to preserve the original details with a modern look,” shared Nick. They retained the original flooring, woodwork, interior shutters, and plaster ceilings and mouldings. “Through the use of paint colors, furniture, artwork, and recessed lighting, we were able to achieve the contemporary look we wanted thanks to our interior designer Antoinette Jackson,” shared Jenny. They modernized the kitchen and all bathrooms, as well as adding his and her bathrooms and closets to the primary suite. In addition, they made improvements to the backyard, adding a hardscape and a hot tub.
Similar to the Waits, Jenny and Nick also took advantage of tax credits to offset the rehabilitation expenses, the New York State Historic Homeownership Tax Credit Program. The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation recognized their work with an Exterior Rehabilitation Award in 2024. This past May, Jenny and Nick graciously opened their home for the Foundation’s annual Historic Homes Tour, which supports the Foundation’s mission to preserve and enhance the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.
The Foundation thanks Jenny and Nick for their investment in their beautiful home, helping to preserve the residence for generations to come.
