USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The Albany Rural Cemetery > Part 2
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15
HISTORICAL.
THE old year. 1840, was dying on the night ( Decem-
ber 31) that a meeting of the citizens of Albany was held in the Young Men's Association rooms, in the Ex- change building, corner of State street and Broadway, on the site of the present post-office. to take into considera- tion the propriety and importance of purchasing a plat of ground for a new public cemetery.
It had been a good year for AAlbany, during which there had been both a hopeful feeling and substantial progress, as was the case in the succeeding years when the project was agitated till it became an established fact. The importance of the city as a shipping centre was receiving attention. The year in which the Cemetery was dedicated 47 steamboats, 65 tow-boats, 245 schooners and 411 sloops plied in and out of the port of Albany. The Mohawk & Hudson railway, despite the active opposition of the stage coach line to Schenectady (which some days carried from 200 to nearly 300 passengers) was a pronounced success ; the Western railroad had opened the way to Boston, and also formed a winter route to New York via Hartford and New Haven, capable of traverse in 32
32
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
hours without night travel ; 250 brick buildings from two to five stories high were erected in one year; the old South Market had given way to the present Steamboat landing : Stanwix hall was opened as a hotel; the Delavan was under way; there were 28 churches and four more building. Altogether the city of 35,000 inhabitants was vital with enterprise and enthusiasm.
The living were doing well enough ; it was time to think of the dead. Reform, or at least, progress in mortuary affairs was the order of the day. Very likely the attention paid to the subject in England about this time had something to do with arousing public interest in the United States. Boston had taken the lead in 1831 by the consecration at Cambridge of "Sweet Auburn ;" Green-Wood, near Brooklyn, was incorporated. but not yet opened ; Spring Grove, Cincinnati, one of the largest and most picturesque cemeteries in the United States, was opened in 1845. In 1846 the list of Rural cemeteries in this country also included Laurel ITill, Philadelphia ; Green Mount, Baltimore; Mount Hope, Rochester, and cemeteries at Salem and Springfield, Mass.
In December, 1840, Rev. Bartholomew T. Welch, D.D., pastor of what was known as the Pearl street, and now as the Emmanuel Baptist church, preached a sermon in which the necessity for better accommodations in this respect was clearly set forth.
For 150 years the city's dead had found no abiding rest. The first interments were made near old Fort Orange, in the vicinity of the present steamboat square. Then
At the Head of Consecration Lake.
33
OLD ALBANY BURIAL PLACES.
following the church edifice, the dead were buried at the juncture of State street and Broadway. Later the popu- lar place of interment was between Beaver and Hudson streets, around the Middle Dutch church (between Pearl and Green), where the dead were packed in a manner wholly inexcusable. From 1722 to 1759 the records give a list of 1,759 burials here, and it is said that the coffins. closely compacted side by side, lav one above another, three decp. About 1789 the place was abandoned, and a burial lot established west of Eagle, south of State. For over a century the Lutherans buried their dead west of . South Pearl street where now stands the City building and Proctor's Albany theatre; the First Presbyterian church had a burial ground on a plat bounded by Hudson, Grand, William and Beaver streets, and there were or had been other places of interment in various parts of the city, including the Colonie burial ground on Ten Broeck, between Second and Third streets, at this time in a most deplorable condition, coffins and bones being exposed to view by reason of excavations near there. The largest and most important cemetery, however, was west of Knox street, south of State, on ground now a part of Washing- ton park. This cemetery was opened in 1806, and was divided among the different religious denominations; but it was not adequate, and the movement started by the Rev. Dr. Welch was begun none too soon. llis sermon was repeated December 27, by request; the newspapers took up the subject and gave editorial notice of the meet- ing which, we learn from the Argus files, was well
4
34
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
attended. It was held pursuant to the following call :
The citizens of Albany are invited to attend a public meeting to be held at the Lecture room of the Young Men's Association. in the Exchange, to-morrow (Thurs- day) evening, at seven o'clock, to take into consideration the propriety and importance of purchasing a plat of ground for a new public cemetery, on a plan similar to the cemetery at Mount Auburn. Albany, December 30, 1840.
J. L. Rathbone,
J. N. Campbell,
W. B. Sprague,
E. P. Prentice,
Thos. W. Olcott,
John N. Wilder,
Elihu Russell,
Julius Rhoades,
R. Forsyth,
E. W. Skinner,
Lewis Benedict,
W'm. Stead,
Christopher Ilepinstall,
John M. Newton,
A. M. Strong,
Wm. W. Forsyth,
James Kidd,
Wm. Fowler,
Wm. Crapo, Jr.,
Friend Humphrey & Co.,
A. D. Patchin,
W. W. Tredway,
Seth Hastings,
A. Crittenton,
Jno. L. Schoolcraft,
Clark Durant,
Saml. M. Woodruff.
Thurlow Weed,
Rufus H. King,
E. E. Kendrick,
Geo. Dexter,
Moses Patten,
S. Cobb,
Ellis Baker,
Salem Dutcher, James Taylor,
Arch'd Campbell,
Ira Ilarris,
A. Marvin,
Abm. Stratton,
35
SIGNERS OF THE ( ALL.
AAgur Wells, W'm. G. Dey Ermand,
Theodore Olcott.
John W. Ford,
John Gott,
#S. O. Shepard,
N. Bleecker, Jr.,
A. H. Root,
Gregory & Co., James P. Boyd,
1I. R. Phelps,
*C. M. Jenkins,
Peter Boyd,
Rich'd Van Rensselaer,
R. W. Peckham,
V. A. Wharton,
Oliver Steele,
W. S. & E. C. McIntosh,
Ilenry Rawls, *A. Van Vechten,
"John Il. Bogart,
W. Thorburn,
R. Shepherd,
A. R. Speer,
Wm. Watson,
W'm. Nessle,
James Anderson,
Robt. Hunter,
Galen Bacheldor,
Wm. Watson,
Daniel Powers,
John V. S. Hazard,
Isaac Hempsted,
Samuel Pratt,
Rufus K. Viele,
Peter Wendell.
Abram Pittinger,
Wm. Il. Fondey,
Wm. Adams,
Orlando Meads,
Lansing Pruyn,
Henry Bleecker,
Ralph Johnson,
J. C. Van Schoonhoven,
C. Ten Broeck.
Herman Wendell,
S. V. Talcott,
S. Van Vechten,
C. B. Lansing,
M. M. Van Alstyne,
R. H. Pruyn,
B. T. Welch,
T. M. Burt.
C. T. Francis,
J. L. Hodge,
E. Croswell,
* These only are known to be living.
36
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
I. N. Wyckoff.
W'm. E. Bleecker,
Thos. L. Willard,
Philip Phelps,
A. Blair,
Charles Van Benthuysen.
G. M. Stevens,
Robt. Elliot,
Geo. C. Merrifield,
N. Northrop,
Wm. C. Hall,
F. Platto,
B. P. Staats,
Lyman Philleo,
John D. Hewson,
Hall & MeClure,
N. Levings.
John T. Hall,
John Knower,
James Goold,
Frederick Vates,
Chas. N. Bleecker,
Gideon Hawley,
Thomas Wright,
E. R. Satterlee,
Daniel Peck,
Wm. P. Warner,
John T. Cooper,
Jonah C. Boynton.
On motion of Lewis Benediet, Archibald Melntyre was called to the chair; and on motion of Bradford R. Wood, Ira Harris was appointed secretary.
On motion of Teunis Van Vechten, the chair appointed as a committee to propose resolutions for the consideration of the meeting: Teunis Van Vechten, Amos Dean, Mar- cus T. Reynolds, Thomas W. Olcott, Gerrit V. Lansing and Lewis Benedict. The committee having retired, reported the following resolutions which, on motion of Rev. Dr. Potter, seconded by Rev. Dr. Wyckoff, were unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, a settled conviction has been for some time entertained on the part of the citizens of Albany, that the places at present in use for the interment of the dead are, from the nature of the soil,
37
THE PRELIMINARY MEETING.
disadvantageous situation, and for other reasons, wholly inadequate to answer fully the purposes such places should be designed to accomplish ; Therefore,
Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, suitable measures should be immediately taken to procure and properly prepare grounds for a new cemetery somewhere in the vicinity of the city of Albany.
Resolved, That among the indications of an enlightened age, we hail with peculiar pleasure the attempts so successfully made and making to accomplish through the repose of the dead, high moral purposes beneficial to the living, and that we cordially unite in the earnest hope that the citizens of Albany may feel deeply and effect- ively all the advantages derived from this solemn and interesting source of pure and true instruction.
Resolved, That with a view to the accomplishment of such pur- poses, a location for a cemetery should be selected having grounds sufficiently extensive for that purpose; so elevated as to afford a bold and enlivening prospect ; possessing a proper soil, and present- ing facilities that will enable Art to remedy whatever Nature may have left defective, and to invest with attractive beauties, and with life's stirring activities, the ever hallowed homes where repose in silence and in solitude the ashes of son and sire, of those who have been the subject of parental solicitude, of filial respect, of paternal regard and of conjugal affection.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed whose special duty it shall be to ascertain whether a suitable place for a cemetery can be obtained in the vicinity of Albany, and upon what terms; what probable expense would be incurred in fitting it for that purpose : to suggest some plan or principle of organization which, in their judgment, will be the best calculated to carry fully into effect the measures that may be adopted, and that said committee make their report to a meeting to convene on this subject at some future time.
On motion of Rev. Dr. Welch, the number of the com- mittee was fixed at thirteen ; and the chair named the fol- lowing gentlemen :
B. T. Welch, Stephen Van Rensselaer, John A Dix.
38
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
John Q. Wilson, James Horner, Anthony M. Strong. Peter Gansevoort, Thomas W. Olcott, Ezra P. Prentice, John 1. Wendell, Ellis Baker, Ira Harris, Otis Allen.
After remarks by Rev. Dr. Potter and Rev. Dr. Wyckoff the meeting adjourned to the call of the committee.
There is no further record in the newspapers of their proceedings, but it is evident that the preliminary steps were taken without delay, for the Albany Cemetery Asso- ciation was incorporated, by act of the legislature, April 2, 1841.
The search for eligible sites was conducted with much care and with excellent judgment. Among those con- sidered was the elevated land east of Greenbush, a most sightly and commanding situation which, if selected for this purpose, would ever have kept in view, if not in thought of resident Albanians their final resting place. The bill before the legislature was originally drafted so as to admit of such a choice, but the great bridge fight was on that winter, Albany contesting for, and Troy against, what finally proved neither to help the one, nor injure the other ; and as it was feared the cemetery project might be compromised by such a provision, the Greenbush clause was stricken out with the consent of all parties, and the bill became a law (chapter 115, Laws of 1841). It names as the incorporators, Archibald MeIntyre, B. T. Welch, Stephen Van Rensselaer, John A. Dix, John O. Wilson, James Horner, Anthony M. Strong, Peter Gansevoort, Thomas W. Olcott, Ezra P. Prentice, John 1. Wendell, Ellis Baker, and Ira Ilarris. The association was origin-
39
THE CONSECRATION.
ally allowed to hold 200 acres (afterward, 1869, increased to 500).
Three years passed by. What caused the delay does not now appear, but the 20th of April, 1844, is the date on which the site was finally selected. The next public an- nouncements were the following notices in the newspapers :
ALBANY CEMETERY.
The trustees respectfully apprize the citizens of Albany that the beautiful grounds recently purchased for the Albany Cemetery, are nearly prepared for consecration, and will be dedicated to God and the repose of the dead, on Monday, October 7, at 2 P. M. Oration by Hon. D. D. Barnard. His Excellency the Governor, and state officers, his Honor the Mayor, and Corporation, the Young Men's Association, the Military, the Fire Department, the various Civic and Benevolent associations, and citizens generally, are cordially invited to participate in the interesting services of the occasion. The citizens of neighboring towns and cities who feel an interest in the object contemplated are respectfully invited to unite in the consecration.
A beautiful design of an appropriate gate by Messrs. Kirkwood & Adams, may be examined at the bookstore of Weare C. Little & Co., State street.
B. T. WELCH, A Committee. T. W. OLCOTT, A
September 25, 1844.
ALBANY CEMETERY.
The Committee beg to renew their cordial invitation to all our citizens indiscriminately, to unite in the services of consecration. Gen. King will officiate as Marshal, and will announce the arrange- ments for the Military, the different Societies, Governor, Senators, State Officers, etc., etc.
The Trustees of the Cemetery, the Rev. Clergy of all denomina- tions, the gentlemen who will deliver the address and the poem,
40
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY,
and all the editors of the city press, are requested to meet at the Albany Female academy at 10 o'clock, Monday morning.
The request is particularly extended to the ladies and gentlemen of the choir, who, judging from the number at rehearsal, will exceed 300.
The procession will move at 10 A. M., and services may be ex- pected to commence on the ground at about 12 o'clock. There will be a postponement to the first fair day if the weather is unfavor- able on Monday.
B. T. WELCH, T. W. Oucorr, S Committee.
CONSECRATION OF THE ALBANY CEMETERY.
ORDER OF THE PROCESSION.
The following order is published for the information and govern- ment of the several Military Companies, Civic Societies and Asso- ciations who propose to unite in the ceremonies of the day.
The Military Companies under their respective officers, will form in Broadway between Maiden Lane and Exchange street, the right resting on Maiden Lane. The Fire Department will assemble on North Pearl street, and will be drawn up against the eastern side- walk, with their right at State street corner. The various Civic and Benevolent Societies and Associations will assemble in State street, on the north side with the right at the corner of North Pearl street. The invited guests will assemble at the Female academy in North Pearl street.
The procession will be put in motion at ro o'clock precisely, and the different Military Companies and Civic Associations are requested to be at their respective places of rendezvous at half-past 9 o'clock at the latest.
The procession will be formed in the following order :
Lake Tawasentha.
41
ORDER OF PROCESSION.
The Albany Republican Artillery. The Van Rensselaer Guards. The Emmet Guards. The Washington Rifle Corps. Military and Civic Associations. Officers of the U. S. Army and Navy and Military Associations. Orator of the Day. Revolutionary Officers and Soldiers in Carriages. The Rev. Clergy. The Executive of State. The Common Council preceded by its Officers, Sheriff and his Officers. Heads of Departments of State, Chancellor. Court of Errors, Judges of U. S., State and County Courts, preceded by their Marshals. The Albany Burgesses Corps. The Fire Department in the usual order. St. Andrews Society. Mechanics Benefit Society. Hibernian Provident Society.
Hibernian Benevolent Burial Society. Hibernian Benevolent Society. St. Patrick's Society. Shamrock Society. Montgomery Benevolent Society. Montgomery Beneficial Society. The Odd Fellows' Associations. The Temperance Societies. Citizens and Strangers.
Any associations not named above will have a place assigned to them in the procession on signifying to the Marshal their desire to unite in the ceremonies of the consecration.
The procession will move through State, North Pearl, and Patroon streets to Broadway, up Broadway to the northern bounds of the city, and thence along the Troy road to the grounds designed for the Cemetery.
RUFUS KING, Marshal.
ALBANY, October 4, 1844.
5
42
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
TIIE only account extant of the consecration is that published in the Albany Argus, October 8, and repub- lished the same day in the Albany Journal. It is as follows :
The ceremonial of the consecration of the grounds selected by the Albany Cemetery Association, for a general place of burial, took place yesterday, agreeably to the published arrangements. The civic and religious cere- monies were all appropriate, impressive, happily conceived and most happily carried out by the gentlemen to whose hands the duty was confided, and were in admirable adapta- tion to an occasion which will be memorable in the history of our ancient but steadily advancing metropolis.
The very great concourse of citizens who visited the grounds on the occasion-the large number of ladies- the general turnout of military companies, firemen and civic associations-were in themselves encouraging indica- tions of the general interest felt in the success of this important undertaking-and, we are sure, may be regarded as an earnest of a determination among all sects and classes of our citizens to unite cordially in carrying out to a successful issue, one of the greatest public enterprises of which our city can boast.
Our sketch of the ceremonies on the occasion, which terminated at half-past three o'clock yesterday afternoon, must necessarily be hurried and meagre-and we have to regret that a matter of such high local interest to all
€
43
THE CONSECRATION PAGEANT.
classes of our people, must necessarily receive but a pass- ing notice.
The procession formed in North Pearl street, in front of the Female academy - (to which our citizens are indebted for the original poems sung on the occasion )-chiefly in carriages, under the escort of the Albany Republican Artillery, the Van Rensselaer Guards, the Emmet Guards and the Washington Riflemen, (a German corps) - pre- ceded by a fine band of music. The front carriages con- tained the officiating and resident Clergy, the Orator and Poet, the Mayor and Common Council of the city. Then followed a long train of carriages, with ladies-and next, a very large procession on foot -consisting of the Albany Burgesses Corps in uniform, with a band of music -- Engine companies, numbers Two and Five, in uniform - Hook and Ladder company, number One, in uniform, preceded by a large and effective band from Providence, R. I. - next Engine company, number Seven, numerous, in citizens' dresses, uniform and appropriate, preceded by the Lothian band, (the unsurpassed band from the city of New York, numbering some twenty-one pieces) - Engine company, number Nine, in uniform, and a large concourse of citizens. The procession moved up Pearl street to Broadway, and through Broadway, by the Troy road, to the grounds. This fine road, before and during the pas- sage of the procession, was literally lined with carriages and persons on foot, on their way to the grounds, about three miles from the city.
The duties of Marshal were well discharged by Gen.
44
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
Rures KiNG, assisted by several gentlemen. The Rev. Dr. WELen and T. W. Orcorr, Esq., were the efficient committee of arrangement.
The place selected and prepared for the ceremonial, was in one of those secluded and beautiful spots with which the location abounds-being a level but irregular space of about half an acre, enclosed on the south by an abrupt and thinly-wooded hill. On the north, hills of a less elevation enclosed the area, and nearly through the centre runs a clear stream of water, which even at this season of the year, holds on its course, and is indeed perennial. Upon this area, were temporary seats, skirting the foot of the hill on the south, and admirably arranged all over it to command a view of the staging from which the speakers were to address the multitude.
Long before the procession reached the ground, these seats were occupied -- hundreds having preceded the train, and the larger portion of them ladies, and taken posses- sion. The scene presented, as the escort came up and opened for the passage of the procession, was inde- scribable. The solemn, dirge-like music-the heavy measured tread and gay uniform of the military and fire- men-the gorgeous foliage, which at this season distin- guishes our rural scenery-the romantic wildness of the place itself -- and the large concourse assembled -all con- spired to give to the scene an impressive and sublime character.
The military, firemen, ladies and citizens having taken the positions assigned them-and nothing could exceed
45
THE CONSECRATION HYMN.
the order and decorum with which everything was done - the full and rich harmonies of one of the best bands to which we ever listened, gave place to the vocal music from a choir of several hundred singers, who, under the lead of Mr. R. PACKARD, sang in full chorus, the following hymn, written by Miss SARAH MCDONALD, of the Female Academy, to the tune of Rosseau's Dream:
HYMN.
Holy Father! wilt thou hearken, To the songs we now would raise - Lowly, solemn would we have them, Breathing words of sweetest praise ; Praise, that thou hast granted to us, This fair spot wherein to lay The loved forms of those whose spirits From our earth have passed away.
Praise, that 'mid the leaves and blossoms, They may take their dreamless sleep; Praise, that we, sad, weary mourners, Have a fitting place to weep: Here our feet shall love to linger, Here our hands delight to train Flowers that, though on graves they flourish, Will not bloom, nor fade in vain.
For a floweret's faintest whisper, Of a better land doth speak -- Of a land where sorrow comes not, Where no tears course down the cheek And its dying accents murmur, Pine not, though fond ties are riven -
For each flower on earth that fadeth, Fairer, brighter blooms in heav'n.
Holy Father! wilt thou hearken, To the prayer we now would raise? Grant that when our days are numbered, We may join the songs of praise, Sung by saints and shining seraphs, Round thine everlasting throne - Grant that in those blissful mansions, We may meet all - ALL our own.
46
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
The Rev. Dr. POHLMAN came forward and read from the 23d chapter of Genesis, commencing at the ed verse.
Then followed another hymn from the choir-which was admirably sung to the tune with which all ears associ- ate the words, -
"I would not live alway, 1 ask not to stay."
The Rev. Mr. PHILLIPS then read from the 15th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, commencing at the 20th verse.
The Consecrating Prayer, by the Rev. Dr. SPRAGUE, was highly appropriate and impressive, and was listened to with reverent and profound attention.
The following Hymn, written by Miss A. D. Woon- BRIDGE, of the Female Academy, was then sung by the choir:
This holy ground beneath our feet, These gently sloping hills above, These silent glades and valleys sweet, Shall be the home of those we love.
Above their couch shall flow'rets bloom - Dear, precious flowers, that droop and die, 'Tis fit that ye should wreathe the tomb, Where those we best have loved, shall lie.
But they shall wake when o'er the earth Time's last receding wave shall roll; Shall share in an immortal birth, The changeless spring-time of the soul.
47
ALFRED B. STREET'S POEM.
Then let us learn to bear aright Life's weary weight of pain and care, Till, with our heavenly home in sight, This last and dreamless conch we share.
Oh! let us see thy glory here, Our Father! and we'll kiss the rod ; We leave ourselves, and all most dear, With Thee, our Saviour and our God !
ALFRED BILLINGS STREET. | From an old steel engraving.]
The Poem, by A. B. STREET, Esq., was pronounced, as follows :-
When life's last breath has faitly ebb'd away, And naught is left but cold unconscions clay, Still doth Affection bend in anguish deep. O'er the pale brow to fondly gaze and weep. What tho' the soul hath soar'd in chainless flight, Round the spurn'd frame still plays a sacred light, A hallow'd radiance never to depart, Pour'd from its solemn source, the stricken heart.
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
Not to the air should then be given the dead, Not to the flame, nor yet cold ocean's bed, But to the earth - the earth from whence it rose, There should the frame be left to its repose,
There the great Mother guards her holy trust, Spreads her green mantle o'er the sleeping dust : There glows the sunshine - there the branches wave, And birds yield song, flowers fragrance round the grave, There oft to hold communion do we stray, There droops our mourning memory when away, And e'en when years have pass'd, our homeward feet Seek first with eager haste that spot to greet, And the fond hope lives ever in our breast When death too claims us, there our dust shall rest.
All these fair grounds with lavish beauties spread, Nature's sweet charms - we give them to the dead; Those swelling uplands, whence the raptured sight Drinks in the landscape smiling rich and bright, Woodlands and meadows, trees and roofs and rills, The glittering river, and the fronting hills; That nestling dell, with bowery limbs o'erhead, And this its brother opening to the tread, Each with its natad tripping low along, Striving to hide, but freely offering song : Those old deep woods, where Nature wild and rude, Has built a throne for musing solitude, Where sunshine scarce finds way to shrub and moss, And lies the fractured trunk the earth across, These winding paths that lead the wandering feet, Through minster-aisles and arbors dim and sweet, To soothe thy discord into harmony, Oh solemn, solemn Death, we dedicate to thee.
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