Crailo State Historic Site

12/09/2022

On This Day

When we last checked on the Rensselaerwijck's voyage to New Netherland 386 years ago, the small ship was located off the coast of Portugal with her crew and passengers. On November 6th, after enduring a barrage of storms, skipper Jan Schellinger and his board of advisors decided to sail north and find refuge at an English port in order to repair the ship, replenish necessary supplies, and await favorable weather.

On November 16th, the Rensselaerwijck safely anchored off the coast of Devon, England at Ilfracombe, in the company of two Dutch merchant ships also waylaid by the tempestuous seas. Ilfracombe was not the anticipated or desired destination at this stage of their journey, but it offered the voyagers an opportunity to place their feet on solid ground.

While disagreements and tensions often arose between crew members or passengers on these transatlantic journeys, none were significant enough to elicit a record within Jan Schellinger's log until December 8th. On that night a disagreement came to blows between a smith named Cornelisz Thomasz and his helpher Han van Sevenhuysen. The source of conflict between the two men is unstated, but the fight turned violent and in 1636 Cornelisz died from the trauma sustained in the assault, leaving his wife, who was traveling with him, a widow.

Images:

(1) Quote of Jan Schellinger photoshopped on "Texture-Old Book2" by Lenabem-Anna J. licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

(2) Map charting the Rensselaerwijck's journey to New Netherland.

12/08/2022

Happy from Crailo! Did you know that many beloved American pastries trace their origins to the Dutch colonization of New Netherland?

In 1630, Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, a director of the Dutch West India Trading Company, became a patroon (landholder) in the New Netherlands colony. His patroonship, called Rensselaerswyck, encompassed the majority of present day Rensselaer, Albany, Columbia and Greene counties. The center of this territory was established on the east bank of the Hudson River, roughly opposite Fort Orange. While economic interests in the region initially focused on the fur trade, over time attention shifted to agricultural production, particularly in the settlement of Rensselaerswyck. The primary export was wheat, and by the 1660’s, New Netherlands had become the breadbasket for the Dutch Atlantic world.

Like many aspects of Dutch-American culture, Dutch pastries and baked goods continued to be popular throughout English rule and beyond. Van Rensselaer recipe books from the 18th-19th centuries contain many recipes for traditionally Dutch pastries and sweets such as pancakes, waffles, doughnuts. By the 20th century, the Dutch origins of popular pastries had largely been forgotten, having evolved beyond their colonial origins to become American in their own right.

For more information on Dutch foodways and their legacy in North America, please see this article from Peter Rose, preeminent food historian of the Dutch Colonial period in the Eastern United States. https://www.saveur.com/article/Kitchen/Dutch-Treats/

Images:
(1) "A Woman Holding Oliebol Treats," Aelbert Cuyp, 1652. Image courtesy of the Dordrechts Museum's collections.

(2) "Winter Still Life with Pancakes," Hans Francken, 1600. Image courtesy of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium's collections.

(3) "The Baker," Job Adriaenszoon Berckheyde, 1681. Image courtesy of the Worcester Art Museum's collections.

12/01/2022

All of Sinterklaas' toys and treats are assembled to gift the good children who visit him at Crailo this Saturday from 11 am-3 pm! Sinterklaas usually gives these presents in secret, but he was convinced to make a special exception for the children of Rensselaer and Albany!

11/29/2022

2022 Guide to Holiday Events & Experiences in Albany County & Beyond

2022 Guide to Holiday Events & Experiences in Albany County & Beyond

2022 Guide to Holiday Events & Experiences in Albany County & Beyond

11/23/2022

Looking for something to do this weekend? There are lots of activities planned at our parks and sites, including an off-season open weekend for Crailo (Rensselaer), Gull Watching on Goat Island (Niagara) a family program at the Minna Anthony Nature Center (Fineview) and hikes at Hempstead Lake, Grafton, Minnewasaka and more! https://on.ny.gov/3tTYVhK

11/09/2022

Take a look back at all the fun and excitement at Crailo during Harvest Faire! Thank you to all the reenactors, volunteers, and sponsors who helped make the return of the event a success. We appreciate all the support you have demonstrated toward our site and the greater Albany & Rensselaer communities!

Weren't able to attend Harvest Faire? Don't worry, you can join us at Crailo for another day of merriment on Saturday, December 3rd, from 11 am to 3 pm, as we celebrate St. Nicholas Day! Visit our events page for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

11/06/2022

On This Day

November 6, 1636

Prior to leaving Texel on October 1st, the crew of the Rensselaerwijck likely readied and prepared the vessel with necessary provisions for the crew and passengers, including drinking water, to sustain them until reaching island ports west of Portugal. One could not predict if the weather would be in one’s favor and with little forward progress toward New Netherland, concerns arose regarding their ability to maintain rations for everyone on board. As Jan Schellinger’s entry depicts, sometimes the only reasonable way forward was sailing back to a safe port to ensure a successful voyage.

Images: Quote of Jan Schellinger photoshopped on "Texture - Old Book 2" by Lenabem-Anna J. licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

11/02/2022

On This Day

in 1636, while sailing parallel to the coast of Portugal, severe weather battered the stern of the Rensselaerwijck and hindered significant progress of the small ship to New Netherland.

Captains and skippers anticipated damage to their vessels while sailing and hired skilled carpenters as members of the crew to oversee any necessary repairs. Only a week prior to November 2nd, the Rensselaerwijck’s mizzen mast and beakhead were damaged amidst storms.

While the turbulent weather certainly left a physical mark on the ship, it likely worried the passengers on board as well. It seemed to leave an impression on Annetje Barents, a pregnant woman, who gave birth on this same day, naming her son Stoerm. Stoerm evidently embraced his birth story, assuming the surname of Van der Zee, meaning “of the sea,” during his adult years.

Images:
(1) “Ships in a Stormy Sea off a Coast,” Ludolf Backhuysen, c. 1700-1705. Image courtesy of the North Carolina Art Museum.
(2) Quote of Jan Schellinger photoshopped on "Texture - Old Book 2" by Lenabem-Anna J. licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
(3) Map tracking the Rensselaerwijck’s course from the Netherlands.

10/29/2022

Join us next week for the Friends of Fort Crailo's annual meeting on Saturday, November 5th, at 12:30 pm at the Rensselaer Public Library.

After a general business meeting, the public is invited to join us at 2:00 pm for speaker David Voorhees, director of the Jacob Leisler Institute, who will talk about the work undertaken by the Jacob Leisler Institute in Hudson, NY.

New York State has a rich history dating back thousands of years, however, the 109-year period under English rule, when the region's diverse Indigenous, European, and African populations combined to create a cosmopolitan, turbulent society with ties throughout the Atlantic World, remains understudied. This talk will focus on the creation of the Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History and its mission to collect, preserve, and disseminate information relating to this formative period. This program is free to the public.

10/29/2022

Join us next week for the Friends of Fort Crailo's annual meeting on Saturday, November 5th, at 12:30 pm at the Rensselaer Public Library.

After a general business meeting, the public is invited to join us at 2:00 pm for speaker David Voorhees, director of the Jacob Leisler Institute, who will talk about the work undertaken by the Jacob Leisler Institute in Hudson, NY.

New York State has a rich history dating back thousands of years, however, the 109-year period under English rule, when the region's diverse Indigenous, European, and African populations combined to create a cosmopolitan, turbulent society with ties throughout the Atlantic World, remains understudied. This talk will focus on the creation of the Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History and its mission to collect, preserve, and disseminate information relating to this formative period. This program is free to the public.

10/11/2022

On This Day

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, European powers warred against one another in an effort to establish political and cultural control on the continent. As these countries sought economic gains outside of continental Europe, warfare extended to the seas with sovereigns and governments allowing privateering of enemy vessels. In exchange for their looting services, the privateer received a percentage of the stolen goods.

At the time of the Rensselaerwijck’s voyage, the Dutch were still at odds with the Spanish and Portuguese and skipper Jan Tiepkesz Schellinger was fully cognizant of the danger unknown vessels posed, especially given the ship’s current location and course. Spanish privateers, known as “the Dunkirkers,” were prolific capturers of ships sailing within the English Channel and responsible for numerous losses of Dutch trading merchandise and property. For three days prior to October 11th, the Rensselaerwijck agreed to sail in company with 22 vessels to discourage any potential attacks. Thankfully, no harm came to the Rensselaerwijck from either of the ships which were spotted after leaving the fleet 386 years ago.

10/07/2022

I spy with my little eye something new at Crailo State Historic Site...

Yesterday afternoon, Crailo, with the generous support of the Friends of Fort Crailo and the Rensselaer Public Library , joined the StoryWalk movement! Developed in 2007, by Anne Ferguson and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, StoryWalks have promoted family learning through literacy and movement. Story book pages and prompts, secured on stakes, have encouraged children to explore worlds created in literature and the natural world around them. Over the years, thousands of families have followed and read stories on the grounds of libraries, historic sites, and parks across the country.

Crailo's first ever StoryWalk ties into the site's long-held connection to Richard Shuckburgh and the famous tune of Yankee Doodle. People of all ages may enjoy the story daily from sunup to 5 pm on Crailo's grounds until October 30th. The StoryWalk begins at the side walkway at the front of Crailo and continues through the grounds behind the historic structure.

Interested in learning more about the development of StoryWalks? Follow this link for more information: https://www.kellogghubbard.org/storywalk

09/25/2022

“How long did it take to cross the Atlantic Ocean?” This question is often asked by visitors as they consider the arduous task of settling a new colony. While an average journey lasted between two or three months, numerous factors including the weather, enemies of the state, and provisions impacted the time necessary to successfully complete a voyage. Captain and first mate logs provide a more detailed understanding of the dangers, hardships, and celebrations experienced on the high seas. Joins us, over the next several months, as we follow the 1636 voyage of the ‘Rensselaerwijck’ through select writings of its skipper, Jan Schelling.

in 1636, the crew and 38 passengers set sail from Amsterdam, beginning their travels to the upper Hudson Valley.

09/13/2022

Do you have what it takes to trade in the Hudson River Valley? Test your skills and luck playing the Hudson River Trading Game on September 17th between 11 AM-4 PM at Harvest Faire! This family-friendly experience, facilitated by our friends from Historic Cherry Hill , is a hands-on opportunity to learn the ins and outs of trade throughout the colonial era.

Background Map Image: Map of New Netherland and New England, and also parts of Virginia by Nicholaes Visscher II, c. 1684. Map image courtesy of the Royal Library of the Netherlands.

09/07/2022

After a two-year hiatus, Harvest Faire is coming back to Crailo on September 17th! We are excited to welcome back numerous reenactors, entertainers, and historic organizations in celebration of harvest time in the 17th century. Our reenactors help the history come to life through their expertise in tin smithing, open hearth cooking, and wampum making!

Wampum beads contributed significantly to maintaining commercial and diplomatic relations between the Dutch and indigenous communities of the upper Hudson Valley. Created from quahog and whelk shells, the purple and white beads were highly valued for their ceremonial and mnemonic purposes by indigenous nations. However, cultural misunderstandings led the Dutch to believe wampum (seawant) represented a monetary exchange and New Netherland quickly adopted it as a form of currency. Wampum continued to be an accepted form of payment, in addition to commodities, as European settlement grew, “The tenant shall be required to pay the rent to which he has committed himself, every year on exactly the first of May, one half in grain, one quarter of it in sewant, and the other quarter of it in beaver pelts…” A combination of these items would also be exchanged between customers and vendors at the annual fairs in Rensselaerwijck.

To learn about the process of producing wampum, visit Arthur Kirmss’ demonstration at Harvest Faire!

08/28/2022

Photos from Rensselaer Public Library's post

08/24/2022

It is only proper that Crailo recognize and celebrate national waffle day! Both the word ‘wafel’ and the distinctive grid design originated in the provinces of the low countries. Waffles became a signature dish for the Dutch and were frequently featured within genre paintings of the 1600s. When the Dutch settled New Netherland, they brought their cultural and foodway knowledge with them.

By the 18th century, the exchange of cultural information had spread the appeal of waffles to the English, who, in 1725, published the first known recipe in "Court Cookery or the Compleat Cook." The recipe included the standard ingredients of flour, sugar, butter, cream, eggs, and yeast. Additionally, nutmeg and sack, a cooking wine, provided flavoring for the mixture. The batter would be ladled into the gridded, iron plate, closed, and cooked above coals in the open hearth.

Cooking methods evolved from the open hearth to the stove top, but waffles continued to be enjoyed by North Americans and continued to have strong ties to Dutch heritage. On August 24th, 1869, Cornelius Swartwout, a man of Dutch lineage, filed a patent in Troy, NY, for a newly designed waffle iron. Swarwout’s design enabled the user to easily swivel the waffle iron on a stovetop for an even cook.

So whether you enjoy a classic waffle with butter, sweet with strawberries and whipped cream, or savory with a fried egg and chives on top, we can thank the Dutch for introducing this well beloved treat to New Netherland.

Cropped waffle recipe from "Court Cookery or the Compleat Cook" via Library of Congress.

Image Description: Waffles stacked on a plate with a historic iron waffle maker in the background. 1725 waffle recipe inlaid over image.

08/17/2022

Crailo’s museum interpretation focuses largely on the 17th century colony of New Netherland, but its structure and the land on which it stands, reveals stories that span several centuries. A distinctly 20th century story is visible right across the street at Riverside Park.

Created in 1940, the park, which abuts the Hudson River, was made possible through the federally sponsored Work Progress Administration (WPA) and the New York State Department of Public Works. Established in 1935, the WPA sought to provide employment opportunities for families distressed by the Great Depression through infrastructural, recreational, and arts-based public projects. Regarding the development of Riverside Park, the New York Conservation Department stated in its annual report, “This project will change the former unsightly condition to a well graded and landscaped park with a stone retaining wall near the river and numerous benches for the use of the public.” While the benches and pathways are no longer features within the park, these undated photographs recall the labor undertaken by WPA workers.

08/15/2022

Visit 10 Historic Homes & Heritage Sites in Albany County & Beyond

Visit 10 Historic Homes & Heritage Sites in Albany County & Beyond

A blog post featuring historic homes and heritage sites to visit in Albany County and beyond.

07/29/2022

The third and final installment celebrating Maria (van Cortland) van Rensselaer's birthday and life.

The death of Maria’s husband, Jeremias, left her in an awkward position, with numerous Van Rensselaer family members and associates vying for portions of the estate. Control of the Rensselaerwyck colony, and the profit it generated, were at stake. The property included homes, farms, and mills, all of which were essential to the daily lives of Rensselaerwyck’s tenants and residents. Maria felt it was her right and duty to inherit her husband’s role and retain it for their children. While the title of patroon passed to multiple male relatives, much of the day-to-day administration was overseen by Maria herself. It was in large part due to her efforts that the struggling colony stayed afloat during this tumultuous period.

Maria maintained a near-constant correspondence with her brother-in-law, Richard van Rensselaer, who lived in Holland, as they negotiated the settlement of Jeremias’ estate. This was a daunting task, stakes were high for everyone, and there was a risk of indefinite litigation; the family was still negotiating the settlement of their father’s estate, the first patroon, who had died over thirty years prior. Maria worried that the van Rensselaers would liquidate the colony and that she wouldn’t be left with sufficient capital to support her family. She tactfully played her cards, emphasizing her own misfortunes and needs, while withholding enough information to stall the settlement of Jeremias’ estate and to arrange the most advantageous outcome for her children and herself.

The transition from Dutch and English rule further complicated matters; the van Rensselaer family struggled to ensure that the privileges they enjoyed as patroons would be recognized as legitimate by English leadership. Maria warned the family in 1675, “If [Richard], or someone else who understands the rights of the colony, does not come over the colony is doomed.” However, matters in Holland kept Richard too occupied to visit Rensselaerwyck.

Instead, in 1685, Richard sent his nephew, the current patroon, Kiliaen (son of Johannes van Rensselaer), to attempt to reestablish order in the colony. Kiliaen’s arrival presented an opportunity for Maria and her children to secure the interests not only of the colony, but their branch of the family. Maria’s eldest daughter, Anna, married her cousin Kiliaen shortly after they met. That same year, the young patroon assisted the family in reaching an arrangement with the English government; Rensselaerwyck was now recognized as a manor, with the patroon established as the manor lord.

Maria’s son-in-law, Kiliaen, only held the title as manor lord for two years, as he died in 1687. The title though, passed to Maria and Jeremias’ eldest son, also named Kiliaen. After fourteen years of careful negotiation and planning, Maria’s persistence and determination ensured her children inherited her husband’s position and wealth. She passed away two years later (1689) at the age of 43.

Image: Patent of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, issued by royal governor Thomas Dongan in 1685, courtesy of the New York State Library

Image Description: The historical document that created the manor of Rensselaerwyck with original text. The name Thomas Dongan visible at the top of the document.

07/24/2022

Crailo has been celebrating the 377th birthday of Maria (van Cortland) Van Rensselaer. Part 1 focused on her role managing her father's brewery business, her marriage to Jeremias Van Rensselaer, and the septic arthritis she contracted from small pox. This is a continuation of her story.

Maria and Jeremias had six children, the last of which had not yet been born when Jeremias died in 1674. The loss of her partner (and his salary), in addition to coping with her disability, made motherhood a monumental task for 29-year-old Maria. She decided to divide the work, and often sent the older children to stay with friends or family members while she took care of the youngest herself. In 1675 her son Kiliaen went to live with Albany schout and schoolmaster Gerard Swart, while Anna and Hendrick stayed with their Van Cortlandt grandparents in New York.

As the children grew, Maria planned carefully for their futures. The two eldest boys, Kiliaen and Hendrick, were apprenticed to master tradesmen. Maria’s daughters were educated as well; 9-year-old daughter Maria attended lessons from a Dutch schoolteacher fresh from Holland. These lessons were no doubt meant to instill an appreciation for Dutch heritage and culture in their students.

Maria was a devoted member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and her piety gave her strength as she endured illness and widowhood, and fought to secure the interests of her children. In a letter to her brother-in-law Richard Van Rensselaer in 1684, Maria wrote, “I doubt not but God will again rejoice us with His spirit and grace, for the Lord chastises whom He loves and punishes every son whom He adopts. If this had not been my joy and strength, I should long ago have perished in my sorrow.”

Be on the lookout for another post on Maria's life and character later this week!

Image: Mother Combing her Child’s Hair, by Gerard ter Borch, 1617-1681, courtesy of Mauritshuis.

Image Description:A Dutch genre painting of a woman who sits in a wooden chair. Her child leans against her lap as she patiently combs their hair.