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Historic Cherry Hill

Albany’s Historic Cherry Hill To Highlight Slaves, Servants

June 28, 2020 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

Minnie (left) and Jane Amelia (middle) Knapp, African American wards and servants of the Van Rensselaers. The daughter of another Cherry Hill servant appears on the right

Decades after slavery was abolished in New York, the Elmendorfs, Historic Cherry Hill’s 3rd-generation Van Rensselaer descendants in Albany, used orphaned African American children as servants.

Jimmy (1843-1885), Jane (1845-?), Richard (unknown), and Minnie (1852-1903) Knapp became wards and servants of several Van Rensselaer households after the death of their mother, Jane Jackson Knapp, in 1854.

Conjectured to have descended from prior generations enslaved at Cherry Hill — two of the children are named after Van Rensselaers — the children had quasi-family status, but were servants.

[Read more…] about Albany’s Historic Cherry Hill To Highlight Slaves, Servants

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Grants, Historic Cherry Hill

Featured Collection: Van Rensselaer Library Collection

September 29, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

books from the Van Rensselaer library collectionThe Van Rensselaer library collection at Historic Cherry Hill includes books inherited and collected by the Van Rensselaers who lived at the house from 1787 to 1963.

Books span the 16th through the 20th century and demonstrate the changing patterns and tastes in literature consumption, production, and marketing. [Read more…] about Featured Collection: Van Rensselaer Library Collection

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Books, Featured Collections, Historic Cherry Hill

Dramatic Tours Recapture Harrowing Night at Cherry Hill

September 4, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

On the evenings of October 16, 17, 18, 19 and October 23, 24, 25, and 26, Historic Cherry Hill will present a dramatic tour reliving the infamous 1827 murder that occurred at the Cherry Hill mansion, one-time home of the Van Rensselaer family.

The public is invited to step into the experiences of the Cherry Hill household on the evening of May 7, 1827, when a hired hand murdered a household member. [Read more…] about Dramatic Tours Recapture Harrowing Night at Cherry Hill

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Albany, Crime and Justice, Historic Cherry Hill

Albany’s Historic Cherry Hill (Historians Podcast)

June 28, 2019 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore’s guest is Deborah Emmons-Andarawis, executive director at Historic Cherry Hill, an 18th century house museum on South Pearl Street in Albany, New York. Hear about the lives of the former residents and the gripping tale of a murder at Cherry Hill in the 1800s. [Read more…] about Albany’s Historic Cherry Hill (Historians Podcast)

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Albany, Historic Cherry Hill, Podcasts

Historic Cherry Hill Names New Director

May 16, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

historic cherry hillThe Board of Trustees of Historic Cherry Hill has announced the appointment of Deborah Emmons-Andarawis as Director of Historic Cherry Hill (HCH). She has been serving as Acting Director since December 2017. [Read more…] about Historic Cherry Hill Names New Director

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Historic Cherry Hill, Public History

Pets of Cherry Hill: Paws, Claws & Slippery Tails

September 18, 2018 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Van Rensselaer family rooster Miles StandishHistoric Cherry Hill and the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology are set to present “Paws, Claws & Slippery Tails: The Pets of Cherry Hill” on September 29th from Noon to 4 pm.

The event will be a site-wide scavenger hunt in which guests learn the story of the cast of animals who lived at Cherry Hill over its long history as the Van Rensselaer family home — from Miles Standish, the rooster who was ever bullied by the saloon keeper’s cock, to Polly, a cockatoo, to Dandy, the Dalmatian. [Read more…] about Pets of Cherry Hill: Paws, Claws & Slippery Tails

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Albany, Historic Cherry Hill

Historic Cherry Hill Re-Opens for 2017 Season

April 4, 2017 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Historic Cherry Hill has re-opened for the public season. For the month of April, the museum will offer the Behind-the-Scenes Restoration Tour, which explores the final stage of the multi-year restoration project at the historic house. Then, on Sunday May 7th at the History Fair, Historic Cherry Hill will unveil a focus tour on female suffrage, which will be offered throughout the rest of the 2017 tour season. [Read more…] about Historic Cherry Hill Re-Opens for 2017 Season

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Albany, Historic Cherry Hill

Dramatic Murder Tour at Historic Cherry Hill

October 24, 2016 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Cherry HillOn Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29, Historic Cherry Hill will present a dramatic tour reenacting the infamous 1827 murder that occurred at the Cherry Hill mansion.

The public is invited to relive the experiences of those who were at Cherry Hill on the evening of May 7, 1827, when a farmhand murdered a member of the household. The tour will investigate the scene of the crime and the differing perspectives of those who witnessed the events of that fateful night. Actor James Keil will appear as murderer Jesse Strang, bringing to life his violent act, and divulging his motives, including a romantic attachment to his victim’s wife. The murder resulted in two sensational trials and Albany’s last public hanging. [Read more…] about Dramatic Murder Tour at Historic Cherry Hill

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Albany, Crime and Justice, Historic Cherry Hill

Event Highlights ‘Bunnie Papers’ Collection, Cherry Hill Pets

August 4, 2016 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Cherry HillHistoric Cherry Hill in Albany is inviting the public to travel back in time to the “Bunnie Kingdom” on Saturday, August 13, 2016.

The “Bunnie Papers” collection, gathered and named by Cherry Hill matriarch Catherine Rankin, immortalizes her children’s pet keeping hobby and their fascinating agricultural club. [Read more…] about Event Highlights ‘Bunnie Papers’ Collection, Cherry Hill Pets

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Cultural History, Historic Cherry Hill, Natural History

Free Family Event At Historic Cherry Hill

June 3, 2015 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Cherry HillOn Saturday, June 6th, Historic Cherry Hill will present the Hudson River Family Day, from 1 until 4 pm. Participants are invited to step into the 1700s and experience Hudson River sloop trade and daily life at this free event. The Hudson River Trading Game, with its 34-foot game board, will immerse all ages in the adventure of 18th century trade and travel. The game is based on the actual experiences of merchant and sloop owner, Philip Van Rensselaer of Cherry Hill. [Read more…] about Free Family Event At Historic Cherry Hill

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Albany, Historic Cherry Hill

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