Historic Cherry Hill tells a story of America through the lives and experiences of one Albany household. Built in 1787 for Philip and Maria Van Rensselaer, Cherry Hill was lived in until 1963 by extended family, enslaved people, descendants, and servants—who left artifacts, documents, and stories behind.
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BEHIND-THE-SCENES RESTORATION TOUR This tour highlights the exciting plans and progress of the museum's restoration work. Tours are offered on Wednesdays at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00pm and on Saturdays at 2:00 and 3:00pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and college students, and $2 for children 12-17. ARCHITECTURE HUNT FOR FAMILIES This learning-to-look activity investigates the architecture of the 1787 house and reveals some of the preservation issues facing the museum. This activity is offered on Saturdays between 1:00 and 2:00 (please come no later than 1:40pm) for families with children between the ages of 6 and 11. Cost is $2 for adults and $1 for children ages 6-11.
Mission: Historic Cherry Hill invites visitors and researchers to explore American history through the unique lens of one Albany household and, through intimate encounter with the past, encourages audiences toward new perspectives on their own stories and place in history.
Look what’s popping up!
#518tuliptracker #historichome #historichouse #historicsite #thisoldhouse #historicgarden #historicgardens #nyhistory #capregion #capitalregionny #albany #albanyny #nylovesspring #upstate #518 #spring #tulips #daffodils #discoveralbany @ Albany, New York
You know those social media holidays that surprise you? The ones you scroll by and think to yourself, “who knew that was a day?” Or “why is that a day?” Well, it’s probably never been more true than today—Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day.
Honestly, that’s what we’ve been doing lately, with #wfh. But in the spirit, let’s just say we’re working in the Rankins’ master bedroom, photographed in 1948.
#pjday #housemuseum #historichouse #historicsite #thisoldhouse #workfromhome #workfromhomelife #albany #capregion #capitalregionny #discoveralbany
Attention teachers, parents, grandparents:
@historiccherryhill now has our award-winning Hudson River Trading Game online for kids to play at home! Addressing fourth and fifth grade learning standards, players sail between Albany and New York City to trade goods in eighteenth-century New York.
This program is usually offered on site through the generous support from the Port of Albany, from @stewartsshops Holiday Match. But with the museum closed and students learning from home, we’ve shrunk our 34-foot game board down to one you can use online or can print, if desired. Play along and let us know how you fair.
Get it here:https://www.historiccherryhill.org/programs/documents/PlaytheHRTGatHome.pdf
#museum #museumfromhome #museumeducation #teachersofinstagram #teacher #grade4 #grade5 #fieldtrip #socialstudies #socialstudiesteacher #iteach #commoncore #homeschool #homeschooling #schoolfromhome #playbasedlearning #schoolgames #518 #capregion #capitalregionny #albany #albanyny #hudsonvalley #hudsonriver #hudsonrivervalley #nyhistory #discoveralbany
Kittie worked diligently throughout her adult life to maintain Cherry Hill and her family collections, firm in the belief they told important stories about her family, but also about American culture. Imagine her joy when Joseph Downs, Curator of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, wrote asking to see her collections while in Albany in July 1933. Downs was researching the upcoming exhibition of New York Furniture (1934), and Kittie brought him through to see “all the things” ["all” underlined in his thank you note]. In the end, Downs chose two chairs from Cherry Hill for the exhibition, including this Chippendale Chair from 1770-1790, which family history holds was one of eight belonging to Philip Van Rensselaer (1747-1798) (5 survive). The earlier side chair in the William and Mary style—also part of a set of 8—is branded “RS” for Robert Sanders (1705-1765) and dates c. 1730-1740. Never one for subtlety, Kittie kept the exhibition catalog nearby as a stamp of approval once the chairs were returned.
We share this story today in celebration of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 150th birthday. The museum’s collections and exhibitions remain important markers of artistic and historical value, and the research museum staff produce are critical for smaller institutions like ours. Happy birthday, and thank you for all you do!
Kittie worked diligently throughout her adult life to maintain Cherry Hill and her family collections, firm in the belief they told important stories about her family, but also about American culture. Imagine her joy when Joseph Downs, Curator of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of art wrote asking to see her collections while in Albany in July 1933. Downs was researching the upcoming exhibition of New York Furniture (1934), and Kittie brought him through to see “all the things” ["all” underlined in his thank you note]. In the end, Downs chose two chairs from Cherry Hill for the exhibition, including this Chippendale Chair from 1770-1790, which family history holds was one of eight belonging to Philip Van Rensselaer (1747-1798) (5 survive). The earlier side chair in the William and Mary style—also part of a set of 8—is branded “RS” for Robert Sanders (1705-1765) and dates c. 1730-1740. Never one for subtlety, Kittie kept the exhibition catalog nearby as a stamp of approval once the chairs were returned.
We share this story today in celebration of the @metmuseum 150th birthday. The museum’s collections and exhibitions remain important markers of artistic and historical value, and the research museum staff produce are critical for smaller institutions like ours. Happy birthday, and thank you for all you do!
#Met150 #themet #MyMetStory #MetAmericanWing #hbd #musesocial #nysmuseums #housemuseum #historichouse #historicsite #fromthecollection #decorativearts #furniture #18thcentury #americanfurniture #nyfurniture #nyhistory #albany #albanyny #discoveralbany @ Albany, New York
#nationalsiblingsday
Elmendorf, Herbert and Emily, are ages 5 years, 3 years and 1 year old.
#nationalsiblingsday #brothers #sisters #brothersandsisters #brotherandsister #historicalphotos #studiophotography #oldphotos #oldphoto #fromthecollection #housemuseum #historichouse #musesocial #albany #albanyny #keepalbanyboring #capregion #capitalregionny #discoveralbany
Another week, and we’re changing sofas.
#housemuseum #historichouse #thisoldhouse #fromthecollection #furniture #decarts #decorativearts #19c #19thcentury #empirefurniture #americanfurniture #albany #albanyny #capregion #capitalregionny #albanycounty #discoveralbany @ Albany, New York
As our executive director Deborah notes, there’s a reason so many people had gout back in the 18th and 19th centuries! After last night’s rich foods in celebration of @thehistoricalbanyfoundation, today’s menu has been a little more restricted.
Image: antacids from the Rankin era (1960s), and a recipe for remedies for “cramp in the stomach” from Arriet Van Rensselaer’s receipt book (started c. 1820).
A few parts of our Stationary Feast for Historic Albany Foundation: egg balls and snow cream, which is basically whipped cream with more wine and less sugar, if you were wondering. The flummery didn’t congeal yet, but that could have been user failure, with all the alterations.
If you’d like to donate to Historic Albany Foundation or bid on their auction items to support preservation efforts in Albany, go here next: https://www.accelevents.com/e/AMoveableFeast
We’re capping our week of recipes off with a full menu and celebration in support of our friends and partners at Historic Albany Foundation tonight. HAF’s annual fundraiser brings together supporters for dinner parties at historic homes throughout the city of Albany. With #stayhome orders in place, this #moveablefeast has become a stationary one.
We’ve put together a menu in line with some of the Van Rensselaer and Rankin family recipes and clippings in our archives, and will be cooking them throughout the day today in our Stories. You can join along, if you too want to experiment with historic cooking, or you can follow for the entertainment, or you can join us in hosting your own family #stationaryfeast tonight, even if it’s just popcorn. Check their page and website for more details, and definitely tune into their online auction. Sales from the auction help support their efforts to preserve historic buildings for the future and for the people of Albany.
Not all historic structures should be a museum like ours, but together they build the fabric of our community and preserve Albany’s stories.
#preservation #historicpreservation #preservationmatters #thisplacematters #housemuseum #historichouse #fromthearchives #fromthecollection #foodstudies #dinnerparty #whatsfordinner #fundraising #collaborationovercompetition #community #communityovercompetition #albany #albanyny #albanycounty #capregion #capitalregionny #518eats #518 #usptateny #albanydoesntsuck #historicalbany #discoveralbany @ Albany, New York
Family recipes are often an important part of big celebrations, and the Rankins were no different, digging into old receipt books. This one of Arriet van Rensselear’s started c. 1820 and includes recipes, clippings, and tablescapes depicting how your menu might be arranged on the table. Not sure that “dish of snow” will make it to this week, but we could do “a very fmall Ham” or maybe “melon in Flummery.” Anyone care to guess what Flummery is? Do you happen to have a recipe?
FYI: You may have noticed how we keep writing “receipt books.” If this is one of your first times learning about them, it’s not a typo. These books were recipe books, but also had receipts and tracked household expenses. They were important household records, hence “receipt books” and not “recipe books.” Also, as a holdover from the German double-s (ß), perhaps, or position within the word and sound, “f” can be an “s,” like a “fmall ham.”
An @us_imls listening session this past August had us thinking about “journey maps,” visuals that document and narrate project experiences. The Pilgrim’s Progress game we posted a few weeks ago is giving us a template to work from with a little tracing paper and a lot of history. Let’s see how this “restoration project” maps out...stay tuned!
A fun way to engage with history is to prepare foods from old cookbooks. Here we have a young historian making gingerbread and Olycooks, which are a kind of donut made by generations of Cherry Hill residents from Maria Van Rensselaer’s 1768 receipt book on. But anyone and everyone can bake these days—swipe for recipe.
Thinking we’ll eat this Saturday for @Historic Albany Foundation #stationaryfeast.
#historichomes #historichouse #housemuseum #musesocial #foodstuff #foodstudies #familyrecipe #cookbooks #kidscook #kidscooking #donuts #olycook #thingstodo #stayhome #thingstodo #nyonpause #capregion #capitalregionny #upstateny #albany #albanyny #coronacooking @ Albany, New York
Spring is still happening!
#housemuseum #historichouse #historicgardens #thisoldhouse #spring #springishere #springishere🌸 #springish #daffodil #springflowers #albany #albanyny #albanycounty #capregion #capitalregion #capitalregionny #discoveralbany @ Albany, New York
In the interest of public health, the 21st Annual Albany History Fair—originally slated for May 3rd—has been postponed as New Yorkers combat the Coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted so many communities across the globe. We hope to have a new date for the fair soon—as well as a calendar of events for a “condensed” season, which, if abbreviated, will nonetheless be very full. [ 229 more words ]
https://historiccherryhill.wordpress.com/2020/03/27/21st-annual-albany-history-fair-postponed/
In the interest of public health, the 21st Annual Albany History Fair—originally slated for May 3rd—has been postponed as New Yorkers combat the Coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted so many com…
Now that it’s officially the weekend, we’re switching it up to be more home, less home-office.
That’s right, this sofa is convertible! Convertible furniture gained popularity in the nineteenth century, and the first official “sofabed” debuted in the 1920s, but this c. 1785 example from Cherry Hill is a precursor.
(Swipe to see sofa closed and in its 1948 spot in the North (family) parlor).
#housemuseum #historichouse #sofa #furniture #18thcentury #eighteenthcentury #federal #federalfurniture #chippendale #latechippendale #sofabed #convertible #convertiblefurniture #couchsurfing #socialdistancing #nyonpause #pause #presspause #covid19 #covid_19 #stayhome #albany #albanyny #capregion #capitalregionny #discoveralbany @ Albany, New York
Thank you! We’re looking good again...finally got those fall leaves gone!
So proud to have been brought on to clean up this historical property in Downtown Albany. Quite an interesting history-Worth a quick read, or you can join one of the annual tours of the home to see and hear in person!
http://www.historiccherryhill.org
In September 1918, Herbert Rankin was subject to a slew of vaccines, so many that he wrote his mother saying his arm hurt. But the Spanish flu was a novel virus—it did not previously infect humans, and had prior been limited to infecting birds—and there was no vaccine. When Herbert sailed for Germany, his ship arrived safely, and an “automatic” telegram was sent to his family noting his safe arrival. In fact, Herbert had succumbed to the flu and was buried at sea, which his family in Albany only became aware of a month later. Herbert was young, healthy, wealthy and going to war, but the flu killed him. Herbert boarded his transport vessel and with many people in close proximity, the flu spread rapidly, killing about 150 men on board, all of them young and healthy—they’d just passed those same physical exams Elmendorf failed.
It feels a little heavy handed to underscore the point, but no one is immune to novel viruses—it’s what makes them novel.
The Rankins’ story is in many ways heartbreaking, but it’s also common. We can tell it because we have the records, but so many others could tell it through family lore and many will tell a version from personal experience in the coming weeks and months. Please, if history can teach us anything (and we think it can!), please #stayhome.
Throughout 1918, the Rankins served best they could in Albany while Herbert continued training. Active in the Red Cross, Kittie and Emily served the sick and injured in Albany, but as many were sick with the flu as they were victims of warfare. The so-called “Spanish flu” epidemic started in January that year, and by September, Kittie was “running a sort of hospital at Cherry Hill,” and newspapers were reporting “much suffering in Albany from influenza.” The flu infected a third of the world’s population between 1918 and 1920, and was the cause of death for 675,000 Americans and a total of 50 million people worldwide (about 5% of the population).
The greatest toll influenza took on the Rankin family was that it took Herbert’s life—Herbert, their young, virile son who was only 31 years old. More on that tomorrow.
#housemusuem #historichouse #historymatters #learnfromhistory #historyrepeatsitself #fromthecollection #fromthearchives #covid19 #covid_19 #pandemic #influenza #fluseason #spanishflu #1918 #ww1 #stayhome #socialdistancing #keepyourdistance #novel #novelvirus #nyonpause #hitpause #washyourhands #flattenthecurve #notbusinessasusual #albany #albanyny #capregion #capitalregionny #discoveralbany
While Herbert was pursuing chemistry and traveling the world, his older brother, Elmendorf, was following in his father’s footsteps. Elmendorf also graduated from Princeton, and pursued a career in law. Elmendorf had always been sickly—a weaker constitution—but he had the same sense of civic duty as his brother. And so as US became ever closer to war, both Rankin sons enlisted. The boys sent many letters home, some even admonishing their mother, Kittie, for continuing to send just one letter between them; they lived in separate areas of the camp, and couldn’t easily share the correspondence. In many letters, Elmendorf worries about the illnesses running through the camp, and that he would be sent home after certain physical exams for not being strong enough.
In one letter from May 1917, Elmendorf wrote to his mother about rampant illness, shortage of medicine and requested she send some from home. “My cold is better though speech is difficult,” he wrote. “Almost everybody has a cold. As a result there are no drugs to be bought at Sackett’s Harbor. Therefore I must ask you at your convenience to send me some. I want some of those germ killers one puts in a tumbler of water. Also some of Dr. van Dyk’s tonic which I use after a cold to accelerate recovery.”
Elmendorf recovered from his colds, but was ultimately sent home. His body was too weak to support the war effort as a soldier, let alone a captain, and he went home disappointed. He would serve his country in other ways, while Herbert went to war. @ Albany, New York
With the snow, we might as well just spend the whole day here.
#historichouse #housemuseum #fromthecollection #sofa #chippendale #chippendalefurniture #eighteenthcentury #furniture #federalfurniture #covid19 #stayhome #socialdistancing #nyonpause #pause #albany #albanyny #albanycounty #capregion #capitalregionny #discoveralbany
As a young adult, Herbert Rankin left Albany, first for Princeton University, and then for Germany, where he was studying colloidal chemistry. The threat of the First World War sent Herbert back home, where he eventually listed and earned a rank of Captain. We’re sure the German language skills only helped in that process.
Here you can see Herbert riding a bicycle and one of his old German marks, from 1914. We were going to post this with some encouragement to go outside and ride a bike today, but with the snow.... @ Albany, New York
523 1/2 S Pearl St
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An @us_imls listening session this past August had us thinking about “journey maps,” visuals that document and narrate project experiences. The Pilgrim’s Progress game we posted a few weeks ago is giving us a template to work from with a little tracing paper and a lot of history. Let’s see how this “restoration project” maps out...stay tuned!
Did you see the Times Union article about Mayor Kathy Sheehan's new home in Arbor Hill? Her preservation project had a little of everything--delays, surprises, new challenges, and cost overruns. Sounds familiar. Preservation is a passion project and requires commitment, but its an effort with real community benefits. It restores a sense of place, and builds pride. Think of the alternative, with abandoned and decrepit buildings. We thank Mayor Sheehan for joining us for #GivingTuesday to help our preservation efforts. Will you join us too? Donate here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/420889495529165/ And if you want to read more about the Mayor's preservation efforts, see the Times Union article: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Albany-mayor-makes-Arbor-Hill-neighborhood-home-14867187.php
We're painting the historic house this year, and every little bit helps! Donate below or on our GivingTuesday fundraiser page: https://www.facebook.com/donate/420889495529165
A quick stroll through one bay of storage last night really shows the range of collections. Anything you wish you knew more about?
Paint it yellow. Help Historic Cherry Hill repaint our exterior and restore the "yellow" in the "yellow house on the hill." This Giving Tuesday, we're aiming to raise $5,000 toward painting the historic house, and letting this Albany landmark shine.
After students participate on-site in the Hudson River Trading Game, we have them recap their experiences. What do they have to say?
"Sailor has fever, Needs Doctor! Go to Port of New Windsor. Doctor uses leeches to bleed patient. Leave horse here to pay Doctor. Roll again.” So goes the trip from the Port of Albany to the New York Market in the Hudson River Trading Game. Maybe there’s river ice that stops the sloop, or strong winds off Anthony’s Nose that set delays. Or maybe there’s a steady wind making up for lost time. We’re going to be running the Hudson River Trading Game at Crailo State Historic Site on Saturday, September 14 from 11-3pm as part of their Harvest Faire and Hudson River Valley Ramble. So if you’ve been wondering exactly how it works, or if you need to see it to believe it, or you’re looking for history fun for kids of all ages, come join in!
The color yellow isn't all we have in common. Historic Cherry Hill's mission is to educate. Each year we host area schools for our award-winning and engaging programs like the Hudson River Trading Game. In the spirit of the back-to-school season, help us keep our programs affordable and accessible to all students in the Capital District with a donation to our Education programs...because history isn't just in the books! Donate today: https://www.historiccherryhill.org/donate/
Looking into the faces of the past can be haunting. Maybe it’s because on the surface, at first glance, they look so different from us... But then in a moment, the eyes staring back at us convey our common humanity…our shared experiences of love, ambition, hope, and failure that resonate across the chasm of time and culture. Rensselaer Van Rensselaer of Cherry Hill was born in 1802, the only surviving son of the prominent—but financially struggling—war hero and congressman, Solomon Van Rensselaer. As the only son, he bore the burden of the Van Rensselaer legacy, of his unmarried sisters’ financial well-being, and of passing on the family name—which he was given twice, as if to make sure it stuck. Rensselaer tried to make the most of the advantages that his birthright bestowed, following in his father’s footsteps in both politics and military exploits. But his pursuit of success and glory often led to disappointment and failure. After accompanying Ambassador (and later president) William H. Harrison to Colombia as his secretary, Rensselaer led a popular uprising against British control of Canada, The Patriot War. The would-be revolution did follow the legendary American path—but was quickly quashed. Instead of being heralded as a hero, Rensselaer served a jail term for violating neutrality laws. Although he married, Rensselaer did not even succeed in producing a Van Rensselaer heir for the Cherry Hill family line: his son—named Solomon for his grandfather—died in infancy. Rensselaer died of asphyxia in 1850, and his death was rumored to be suicide. But, in life, how did Rensselaer Van Rensselaer cope? Time and again he turned to poetry—for joy, for diversion, and to express his innermost feelings. Don’t we do that today? To hear some of Rensselaer Van Rensselaer’s poems read aloud, join us on Monday, August 12th, at 7PM for “The Past in Poetry” at the Olde English Pub & Pantry. https://www.facebook.com/events/2335827430078364/ #AlbanyPoets #ThePastInPoetry #
...aaaand the Schuyler Sisters exhibition at the Albany Institute of History & Art is open! It was great fun to visit the fantastic Historic Cherry Hill collections on loan to the exhibit and to see them in the context of their 18th-century Albany circle!
Today's the day! There's still time to join us tonight, June 24, for a garden party hosted by Trustee Emeritus Mike Beiter and David Getman at their home. Thanks to the generosity of Mike and David and many others, all proceeds go directly toward Historic Cherry Hill's preservation and programs.Start the week at this friendraiser for Historic Cherry Hill with drinks, snacks, desserts, flowers and art! Details at https://www.historiccherryhill.org/programs/ Tickets online or in person. See you at 6PM
Join a Youth Services Librarian from Albany Public Library for stories, songs and fun! Sarah Stanwicks will be leading a story circle featuring picture books by Albany authors and illustrators and favorite Albany stories at the Albany History Fair on Sunday, May 5th. You and the kids can also view some of the children's books that Catherine Rankin of Cherry Hill read to her children in the 1890s. There will be many other children's activities throughout the fair--come with the whole family!
Your generosity warms our heart, and helps keep the home fires burning.
If you haven't seen the peonies yet this year, this weekend may be your last chance to see them at their peak! Stop by for a visit!
The gardens are more beautiful every day! Many thanks to the amazing volunteers who cultivate this urban oasis...Thank you Mary Anne Chiarello, Linda Miller, Amy Naple, Emma Willard students, and KeyBank volunteers!
A demonstration for our Curatorial Curiosity friends--thanks, Nicolette Cook!
Last week the Manuscript Specialist forgot to post the latest edition of Curatorial Curiosities. The staff at HCH wants you to know that we take Curatorial Curiosities very seriously. Steps were taken to punish the wrongdoer as you can see in this video. The Manuscript Specialist is again in charge of the game this Friday and hopefully she has learned that failure is not an option here at Historic Cherry Hill.
Facebook fans should know how important Curatorial Curiosities is to the staff - as witnessed by this video of the Manuscript Specialist's punishment for forgetting the game last Friday. She will be in charge of the game this Friday and now she knows that failure (to remember) is not an option at HCH.
Curatorial Curiosities...in action
Curatorial Curiosities...in action
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
32 Catherine StThe Ancient Egyptian Heritage and Archaeology
326 Hudson Avenue
Black Heritage Tours - New York State
P.O. Box 2534
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
32 Catherine St
