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Historic Cherry Hill

KeepingPlace, Keeping Pace

Contents -- July 2005

Imports, Rarities and B-Sides

Historic Cherry Hill often comes through with the rarest, oldest, most unique or sometimes only recorded evidence of a historically important event. So far this year, several researchers have found the museum's collection to hold that one piece of information, or that one object, that proves their theory-or at a minimum-really makes their day. Test of adding some text here...

Stamp of the BSF&G Co.
Stamp of the
"Bunnie States Fowl& Garden Company",
from the "Bunnie Papers"

Dr. Kasey Grier is nearing completion of a years-long research project culminating in a book and traveling exhibition entitled Pets in America. The Rankin children, Emily, Elmendorf and Herbert are featured prominently in the book and in the exhibition. The three Rankins, along with their father Edward, raised chickens and rabbits in the backyard of Cherry Hill for a ten year period when the children were in grammar school, between the mid 1890s and about 1905. The entire venture was actually an "incorporated" business named The Bunnie States Fowl and Garden Company, that "sold" stock and conducted regular board meetings. This experience was intended to be a fun and educational way of learning the finer points of business and economics. Many children of elite families engaged in this type of activity, but the Rankin children's company also included very elaborate genealogies, family trees, trade cards, currency, and other "official" documents, not only for the business, but for the entire bunny and chicken "community" in their back yard. Dr. Grier's book and exhibition will be available to the public later this year. The exhibition will open at the University of South Carolina, Columbia's McKissick Museum and travel to at least five venues throughout the United States.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art also has Cherry Hill on its radar screen this year. Recently, Leslie Gerhauser studied Cherry Hill's collection of Delft tiles in connection with the re-interpretation of the museum's American Wing. The Metropolitan recently acquired a Dutch fireplace from the Peter Winne house near Albany, and Ms. Gerhauser examined Cherry Hill's collection of fireplace tiles looking for examples of "bible tiles," delft materials depicting scripture scenes. It is thought that these were not only aesthetically popular but also used as educational tools in colonial Dutch households. More of a mystery to scholars of colonial Dutch decorative arts is how families acquired these tiles. Were they ordered in bulk? Who imported them?

Delft tile
Delft tile from Cherry Hill's collection

After two months of research at numerous institutions turned up no information, Ms. Gerhauser made a second trip to Cherry Hill to examine the manuscript collection, particularly the account book of Robert Sanders, Philip Van Rensselaer's father-in-law and Maria's father. Evidently, Robert Sanders was the only merchant between here and New York City who recorded the sale of "hart tiles" (hearth tiles) as part of his merchant business. He sold these decorative objects to many of Albany's early families, including members of the Schuyler and Livingston families. This information will help the curatorial staff at the Metropolitan in their efforts to interpret the soon-to-be refurnished colonial Dutch space in the American Wing.

Nancy Britton, a conservator at the Metropolitan, is also scheduled for a visit at the end of July to examine another rarity in Cherry Hill's collection. Evidently, the late 18th century Chippendale style sofa currently on exhibit in the Family Parlor may be the "missing link" in the evolution of convertible furniture. It is nearly identical in construction to a sofa recently conserved for Lorenzo State Historic Site in Cazenovia, New York, except that its convertible aspects are still functional and its frame appears to be unaltered from the original construction. Further investigation will illuminate important details about the sofa, including how it functioned as a "fold-out-couch" and its similarity to an illustration in Thomas Chippendale's book The Gentleman and Cabinet-maker's Director (1762), an important early pattern book for furniture makers in the United States and Europe. More on this exciting development will be forthcoming in a future newsletter. Stay tuned!

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Research Internship Named for Maxine Lorang

In its effort to create new programs and publications, Historic Cherry Hill offers occasional research internships, which will now be formally known as the Maxine Lorang Research Internship. The internship will provide graduate-level students with the opportunity to contribute to the museum's understanding of the site, the Cherry Hill family, their collections and the world in which they lived, and to hone their research and analytical skills.

Maxine Lorang began her association with Historic Cherry Hill as a volunteer, and served on its staff for more than 20 years-primarily as its Researcher. Every program and publication that the museum developed during that time benefited from Maxine's in-depth knowledge of the Cherry Hill family and manuscript collection.

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Coming This Fall-Suspense & Intrigue

Historic Cherry Hill's popular focus tour focusing on the 1827 Cherry Hill murder, developed by Education Director Becky Watrous, will be offered twice this October-on Saturday, October 22 at 10 a.m., and on Saturday, October 29 at 1 p.m. See inserted flyer for details and registration information.

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Hearing Voices

As reported in the past, Historic Cherry Hill Education Director Becky Watrous has been developing a new school program with support from the Bay Foundation and technical assistance funds from the Museum Program at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), which are administered by the Upstate History Alliance.

The program, Voices from the Hill: 1787-1963, is designed to reflect the museum's new interpretive mission and to better meet New York State Learning Standards with its emphasis on critical thinking skills. Fourth and fifth grade students participate in historical skits, using the Reader's Theater model, to explore the theme of change in America. By using primary sources and giving "voice" to the Van Rensselaers and other real people who lived in the past, students recognize how viewpoints about change were shaped by people's backgrounds and social positions.

In April and May, four schools field-tested the pre-visit, visit, and post-visit components of the new program. A total of 120 students and seven teachers were involved in this process. The museum gratefully acknowledges the participation of School 19, Albany Public Schools; St. Madeleine Sophie School, Schenectady; Green Meadow Elementary, East Greenbush School District; and Brown School in Schenectady.

The teachers began by teaching five lessons (basic and extended levels) in the classroom to prepare their students for the visit. The schools visited the museum in late May for a complete or abbreviated version of the program. The abbreviated version will be used in the future when schools are also visiting Schuyler Mansion or the Albany Visitors Center during the same morning. Volunteer Coordinator/Program Assistant Linda Dunkerley and Volunteer Museum Teacher Sharon Vergura were of great assistance in presenting the program. The four tours ran surprisingly smoothly and, most importantly, the students' excitement was palpable. When the teachers returned to their classrooms they completed several post-visit activities which were designed to reinforce program themes.

Museum staff then held a special meeting with classroom teachers on June 15th to critique the program. The teachers also completed written evaluation forms on the three program components. Four outside educators were also asked to come in as observers of the school program. These observers stayed afterwards to meet with museum staff and critique the program. One of the observers noted that it was a "groundbreaking" way of teaching history in an historic house museum. Several of the classroom teachers also echoed this thought, saying they had never experienced anything like the program in terms of its theatrical approach or its use of total student participation. After final refinements, the new program will be offered to schools beginning in late October.

Following are comments offered by the teachers after field-testing various components of the program:

We made a chart of ways to show respect now and in 1787. Students used a top hat to practice doffing. The discussion about social classes was very effective. We are going to do a writing activity based on our discussion.

The whole program was very hands-on, sensory and visual. The house becomes the stage and the Cherry Hill people and others in society are the characters providing the drama. I loved this!

The students really enjoyed putting on the skits. They learned a lot about the people of Cherry Hill. Talking in the "voice" and opinions of the various characters, such as the servant or the immigrant, was especially interesting to our students. They were able to make connections about their character throughout all of the skits.

This program was an excellent approach to history. Makes it real.

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Wanted: Shop Vac

Curator Erin Crissman is seeking the donation or loan of a shop vac for several curatorial and maintenance projects this fall and winter. If able to help, call Erin at (518) 434-4791 or email her at erin@historiccherryhill.org.

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We Couldn't Do It Without Them

While Cherry Hill staff try to say "thank you" to volunteers every chance we get, our most formal opportunity to do so occurs at the annual Volunteer Recognition Day, held this year on June 4.

Historian Tamara Plakins Thornton was presented with the Helen Mynderse Award by Cherry Hill President Kathy Quandt. Dr. Thornton, Chair of the History Department at SUNY-Buffalo has always, and continues to be, generous with her time, reviewing documents and scripts, training volunteers, and providing general scholarly advice whenever needed-via phone, email or in person.

One of her greatest contributions was in alerting the Organization of American Historians to our new tour. She contacted the editors of the Journal of American History to say that our tour, "The Rankins of Cherry Hill: Struggling with the Loss of Their World," was worthy of an exhibition review in the highly regarded Journal. When the glowing review appeared in the June 2003 issue, Historic Cherry Hill was put on the "academic map" as a leading historic site that teaches sound history. The review also led to an incredible feature story in the Times Union, heightening our local visibility.

The contributions made by all volunteers allow Historic Cherry Hill to provide the highest quality programs and services to its many audiences. Their efforts are appreciated.

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More Than One Tree Grows in Slingerlands

Save the date of September 25 to be among the first to get a chance to visit John W. Abbuhl's Pine Hollow Arboretum. Dr. Abbuhl has spent the last 40 years creating the site which includes an amazing number of species. His long-term plans are to establish the arboretum as a non-profit organization to benefit to the public. In the meantime, he has generously offered to host a special event to support the operations of Historic Cherry Hill. Special tours and refreshments will be offered during the event, which will run from 1-4:30 p.m. Details will follow.

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The Path to Discovery

Photo of volunteers
Still smiling, Hands on Capitaland volunteers
display the tools of their temporary trade.

Historic Cherry Hill Volunteer Coordinator/Program Assistant Linda Dunkerley recently coordinated a project that greatly enhances accessibility between the historic house and the Edward Frisbee Center for Collections & Research. Linda submitted an application to "Hands on Capitaland", a program of the United Way of North-eastern New York, requesting a volunteer crew for the purpose of creating a path leading from the house -- through the museum's wooded lots -- to the center, a significant undertaking! The program matched up a crew of volunteers from KeyBank with Cherry Hill for the project. Hard working KeyBank volunteers included Tara Landry, Ann Dube, Donna Sheehan, Ellen Sax, Patrick Greene, Matt Greene, Kyle Greene, Terry DeNoyer, Anthony Owens, and Chrisann Kohlhepp, who recruited the volunteers and secured the tools. Joined by Cherry Hill volunteers Peter Dunkerley and Charles Senrick, as well as National Grid employee Michael Hynes and his son Michael, the crew worked through thick brush and blistering heat to create a winding, mulched path.

United Way was extremely generous in matching the museum's needs with an appropriate and skilled crew and providing cooling beverages for the volunteers, and KeyBank effectively planned the project with Linda, and brought the needed tools and equipment.

Curator Erin Crissman immediately and joyfully used the path with a researcher from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Previously, access to the center was available only by driving around the block. The museum greatly appreciates the efforts of all involved.

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Critically Needed Operating Support Provided

The museum recently received notification from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) that it will receive $20,500 in continued General Operating Support from the Museum Program for fiscal year 2006. GOS awards have been important in sustaining operations, and the museum is grateful to NYSCA, the museum's representatives in the State Legislature--State Senator Neil Breslin and Assemblyman Ron Canestrari, as well as Assemblyman John McEneny--for their support of the Council and its important mission to support the arts throughout the State as other sources continue to dwindle.

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From The Director

Long-time Cherry Hill House- keeper Sharyn Brown died on May 9. Sharyn came to the museum nearly 1 5 years ago at the encouragement of her daughter Sheryl who worked for the museum as a Curatorial Assistant. From the start, Sharyn fell in love with the house and provided the first line of defense by spotting potential problems before they started.Visitors often commented about how clean the house was, which can be attributed to Sharyn's energetic attention to detail in maintaining the museum. She also had a great love for the grounds, volunteering additional time in the gardens. Many donations were made to Cherry Hill in memory of Sharyn, and the museum was able to use the funds to purchase fruit trees which were planted as part of the museum's landscape restoration efforts. Sharyn is missed by the Board, staff and volunteers.

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Reaping the Benefits

Since launching its new member ship program with enhanced benefits a few months ago, Historic Cherry Hill has added more than 40 new members to its ranks. We would like to welcome the following new members. The full membership roster will appear in a future issue of Keeping Place, Keeping Pace.

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