AVAILABLE BY REQUEST
The 1827 Murder at Cherry Hill
In 1827, a murder occurred at the Cherry Hill farm, home of the well-known Van Rensselaer family. The crime aroused tremendous public interest, and the subsequent trial culminated in the last public hanging in Albany. Although it appeared to be a crime of passion, it uncovered some simmering issues of the day including women’s roles and legal rights, social class, punishment and the law, and slavery in New York. Hear the words of those involved in the crime and decide whom you think was guilty or innocent.
The World of James Knapp
Historic Cherry Hill, the Myers Residence, and the Pommer
Exploring Black Life in 19th-Century Albany Through Art, Objects, and Space
The World of James Knapp is a multi-site exhibition featuring historic artifacts and commissioned artworks that interrogate 19th-century life as experienced by William James Knapp (1843-1885)—a butler, musician, piano tuner, music store clerk, porter, nurse, brother, son, friend, a member of Albany’s Black community, sometime ward of the Van Rensselaer family, a resident of Cherry Hill, and a descendant of a woman once enslaved there. Featured artists include Shirley Clark, Paula Drysdale Frazell, Jacqueline Lake, Samirah Muhammad, and Pauline Saunders. Venues include Historic Cherry Hill, the Pommer (153 S. Pearl St.), and the Underground Railroad Education Center (194 Livingston Ave.). This project is a collaboration with Albany Barn and the Underground Railroad Education Center and was supported with grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Advance Albany County Alliance, and the National Endowment for the Arts.