Storm Damage at Albany Rural Cemetery

This is a blog article that I do not enjoy writing. Last Friday, 27th of July, a fast moving thunderstorm coupled with high winds blew through the Capital District and caused extensive damage in our area. Unfortunately, Albany Rural Cemetery was hit very badly.

Late that afternoon I stopped by the cemetery after the storm to check on a plot in Section 92 for someone. I did see some large branches that had fallen near the plot of Thurlow Weed; however nothing major. Since I was on a mission I did not go elsewhere in the cemetery.

The next couple of days via Social Media and the local news it was brought to  attention that major damage was found in the cemetery after the storm. The gravestones from the former Schuyler family burial plot originally located on the land which is now known as Schuyler Flatts Cultural Park in Menands on Broadway were devastatingly damaged in the storm. The Schuyler plot is on the South Ridge adjacent to St. Agnes Cemetery.

The ancient stones, many unreadable today due to weathering from lying in a prone position for many years were removed along with the remains from the original burying ground and reburied in Albany Rural Cemetery circa 1920.

Today, on the way to St. Agnes Cemetery, I drove to the site and personally saw the damage. It is very bad and might be worse when the remains of the large beech tree are finally removed. Some clearing has begun but the tree is enormous. Below are numerous photos of the damage.