The following two articles were found in today's Rensselaer County Advertiser newspaper.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD ALONG THE HUDSON RIVER PRESENTATION
To mark Black History month, the Esquatak Historical Society will present a talk on the story of the Underground Railroad and activity in this region on Friday, February 16th. Noted historians and educators Paul and Liz Stewart are co-founders of the Underground Railroad Project of the Capital Region and have dedicated their lives to documenting this part of our local history.
The Underground Railroad was the movement that enslaved African Americans used to gain freedom in the 19th Century. The Capital Region of New York was visited by thousands of fugitives seeking freedom in the years prior to the Civil War.
The program starts at 7 pm and will take place at the Schodack Town Hall located at the corner of Routes 9 & 20 and Schuurman Road in Schodack. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. For more information, visit www.esquatak.com.
Town of Sand Lake History Notes
Bob Moore, Town Historian
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy New Year to all and time for some upcoming events and general news relating to Sand Lake history. The Hazel Drew case is still active, and besides the continued investigation by Mark Marshall and others, John Hoser has completed the movie trailer for the Hazel Drew documentary. I participated in the last piece of filming with Kathy Sheehan, Rensselaer County Historian, in December. Check out the trailer on line at www.hazeldrew.com.
The Poestenkill Historical Society is hosting Mark Marshall and me on Tuesday, February 27th, at 7:00 to discuss the developments in the Hazel Drew case. The event will be held at Town Hall. Coming up in March, the Sand Lake Historical Society will present Ron Hughes, the author of Who Killed Hazel Drew? The event will be held at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts and begins at 7:00. The September event filled, so get there early.
Free to all.
There has been a marked increase in interest in our local history. The Sand Lake and Sand Lake Revisited books have been selling briskly at town hall and a number of people have been stopping into my office with info and photos from our town's past. I've been sharing historic photos on my facebook page but above is Henry Nennsteil, in front of 12 Mosher Rd. that is across from Teal Pond. Today the home is owned by Paul Mardon. special thanks to Dave Mardon.
25 January 2018
Deiseroth Confectioner and Baker
The following undated receipt was found in papers and records at the German-American Club of Albany. The club is in possession of papers, etc. from a few now defunct German organizations. Unfortunately their holdings are very few.
This site, corner of Third Avenue and Elizabeth Street, continued as a bakery for many years. German-born Otto Theibe purchased the building around 1929 and operated Otto's Bakery there until 1966. It is unfortunate that very few of these old-world artisan businesses still exist. Today's fancy supermarkets have put most family owned bakers and butchers out of business.
Information on Otto's Bakery was found in an undated Times Union article on Elfrieda Textores; whom was a retired Bethlehem social studies teacher and member of the German-American Club of Albany.
Ancestral Homes : 47 Alexander Street, Albany
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| 47 Alexander Street, circa 2014 |
The home above, 47 Alexander Street, was that of my 2nd great-granduncle, Stephen Behrhof. Younger brother of my great great grandmother Margaret Behrhof Koreman. Stephen was a tailor who worked with his nephew Henry Koreman Jr. A 1900 Albany city directory lists their business as
Koreman & Behrhof, clothier, 276 South Pearl.
An article from the Knickerbocker News on 03 September 1968, 1:1 by Charley Mooney mentions William Lofink saying "I just made my weekly payment of $1 at Koreman & Behrhof's, 276 South Pearl Street where they sell $15 suits. Then I stopped at George Deiseroth's bakery, Third Avenue and Elizabeth Street (this will be the focus of the next blog post).
An article from the Knickerbocker News on 03 September 1968, 1:1 by Charley Mooney mentions William Lofink saying "I just made my weekly payment of $1 at Koreman & Behrhof's, 276 South Pearl Street where they sell $15 suits. Then I stopped at George Deiseroth's bakery, Third Avenue and Elizabeth Street (this will be the focus of the next blog post).
This home is no longer standing if my memory serves me correctly. A series of homes were torn down soon afterward. Many of the homes in this section of the South End were built circa 1855-1860.
24 January 2018
Man of Mystery : Earl Stewart
A number of years ago my father purchased an ornately carved antique box with the name Earl Stewart carved into it. Now the question is; who was Earl Stewart? The box engraving is hand carved and it is a great example of Americana history. Notice the carved mountains, eagle, and three windmills. These are probably symbolic for Earl.
More questions, was this box made by Earl Stewart? or was it made for him? Was Earl a painter or some type of craftsman? Perhaps we will never know. But I am putting this out on the Internet in the hopes that someone might be knowledgeable on him.
Photos of this work of art are below.
More questions, was this box made by Earl Stewart? or was it made for him? Was Earl a painter or some type of craftsman? Perhaps we will never know. But I am putting this out on the Internet in the hopes that someone might be knowledgeable on him.
Photos of this work of art are below.
23 January 2018
Cleaning &/or Restoring Gravestones
So... you want to clean gravestones and or rehab them. My question to you is... are you crazy? OK, just kidding, it is very rewarding, but do you know what is involved, what to do, what not to do, and more importantly do you know or realize your limitations? These are questions that need to be asked in order to accomplish your task safely for both yourself and for the gravestone. It seems easy, just grab some water, yes; some brushes, perhaps if you have the correct brush; household cleaners, and get to work; no, no, no! Did I already say no?
For starters, the go-to chemical for cleaning gravestones is D2 Biological Solution. It is sold locally in the Albany area; in either one gallon or five gallon containers. It is expensive but it is the only approved chemical for cleaning biological growth off gravestones. Biological growth is moss, mold, or various lichens. Biological growth is not dirt. Dirt may or may not be removed with the use of D2. For actually cleaning a gravestone Orvus soap has been used by other conservators. I have no experience with using Orvus on gravestones. So I cannot speak on cleaning techniques with Orvus.
Before I decide to clean a gravestone the first thing that I do is look the stone over and ask myself the following questions. Does the stone really need to be cleaned? I do not simply clean every gravestone that is discolored. Only ones that are illegible and those that require repair are what I clean with D2. Is the gravestone damaged? If it is broken, can I easily handle it? During the inspection ask yourself this question, will I damage the stone more than it already is if I attempt a cleaning? If the answer is yes, leave it alone. Do not mess with it. Leave it to the pros. Most important, if I start working on this stone will it fall and possibly on me? If the stone is large always position your body away or on the side of the stone so that if it does fall it will not land on you.
Regarding damaged gravestones, the photo below shows what is known as delamination. Delamination occurs when weathering opens and a weak spot forms where the the outer layer of the stone begins to separate and flake off in layers. Do not attempt a repair on this unless you are a professional.
Cleaning with Clorax is a huge no no. Clorax will damage the stone because it is a caustic chemical. Salts within the Clorax will soak into the porous stone, especially marble, and begin to eat away at the stone. This reaction will cause damage known as sugaring. Below is an example of sugaring.
Moss, lichens, and other plant growth that enter small cracks in the stone will also eventually cause more damage with the roots digging further into stone which will allow for water to enter the opening and begin a freeze thaw process that can break the stone at the crack.
When repairing a broken stone; in the below picture, the stone is a tablet grave marker from a local cemetery. Notice the incorrect side bracing and what do you think the end result was.
The cleaning process that I use follows as such.
Gravestones, especially marble stones can be found in cemeteries in three different manners. First, many of tablet style gravestones are larger than you think. The photo below shows Mary Cline's gravestone. Her stone is almost five feet long with the majority of the stone buried in the ground for stability. Her stone was excavated, straightened, and back filled with compacted stone dust. Over the period of years her stone began to lean due to gravity and conditions of the soil.
Next to Mary's stone is her husband, Russell. His marble stone is attached to a marble base via pins and mortar. The photo below shows another plot that was in need of attention. The pins and pin holes are clearly visible in the photo.
Iron pins held the marker to the base and mortar was applied under the stone and around the joint where the stone meets the base. Over time the mortar fails and seems to vanish.
The iron pins are removed because they tend to rust and oxidize which causes the pin to expand and this can cause the stone to break. Have you ever notices rust like discoloring and upward cracks on the stone just above the base. That is from oxidation. The iron pins are replaced with stainless rod that is cut to length and secured with a special type of lime mortar called Lithomex. The Lithomex is placed under the stone and also pointed around the joint where the stone meets the base to seal the joint.
Lithomex is porous and allows the stone to "breathe." Never repair gravestones with Portland cement. Repairs with Portland cemetery can further damage the stone because Portland is much harder and stronger than marble and lime gravestones which will cause the gravestone to break and not the Portland. When a stone is repaired with lime based Lithomex the repair will break if needed and not the stone itself.
The third way that marble stones are found in cemeteries is in the mortise and tenon or tab and socket method. This is where either a small "tab" in the center of the stone fits into a slot in the center of the base or the whole tablet fits into a large slot in the base. Below is a photo of a base where the tablet fits into the slot.
This large stone below did not have a base. For some reason the base was gone and only way to keep the stone upright was to fabricate a new base. Making a new base is relatively easy. Cement, 2 x 6s, screws, and insulating foam is all that I use. The foam is cut to custom width and depth according to the size of the stone. When the base is cured the foam is removed and you have a slot where the stone can be inserted. The slot is slightly larger than the stone and is partially filled with the lime based mortar. After the stone is inserted the joint is sealed with additional Lithomex.
Putting broken gravestones back together can be a process, especially if much of the stone is missing. The epoxy that I use is Akemi Akepox 2030. It is a two part epoxy that is very strong. Not much is needed to make repairs. Just dab along the break line, secure with clamps, and then infill with Lithomex to fill and hide the crack.
Finally, gravestones are heavy. Some are light enough that they can be picked up and set in place by hand and some cannot. Therefore mechanical means are necessary to safely lift a stone in place. Below is an example of a stone that was too heavy to lift; so the tripod, hoist, and soft nylon straps were brought in to safely make needed.
As a final note, when attempting this work, be safe, do the right thing, have fun, and enjoy!
For further information on cleaning or restoring gravestones, please see:
Online Sources
Association for Gravestone Studies
Cemetery Conservators for United Standards
Chicora.org
Iscga.org
Print Sources
Strangstad, Lynette. A Graveyard Preservation Primer. New York: Altamira Press, 2013
Jones, Melanie S. Aspects of Stone Weathering, Decay and Conservation. London: Imperial College Press, 1997
For starters, the go-to chemical for cleaning gravestones is D2 Biological Solution. It is sold locally in the Albany area; in either one gallon or five gallon containers. It is expensive but it is the only approved chemical for cleaning biological growth off gravestones. Biological growth is moss, mold, or various lichens. Biological growth is not dirt. Dirt may or may not be removed with the use of D2. For actually cleaning a gravestone Orvus soap has been used by other conservators. I have no experience with using Orvus on gravestones. So I cannot speak on cleaning techniques with Orvus.
Before I decide to clean a gravestone the first thing that I do is look the stone over and ask myself the following questions. Does the stone really need to be cleaned? I do not simply clean every gravestone that is discolored. Only ones that are illegible and those that require repair are what I clean with D2. Is the gravestone damaged? If it is broken, can I easily handle it? During the inspection ask yourself this question, will I damage the stone more than it already is if I attempt a cleaning? If the answer is yes, leave it alone. Do not mess with it. Leave it to the pros. Most important, if I start working on this stone will it fall and possibly on me? If the stone is large always position your body away or on the side of the stone so that if it does fall it will not land on you.
Regarding damaged gravestones, the photo below shows what is known as delamination. Delamination occurs when weathering opens and a weak spot forms where the the outer layer of the stone begins to separate and flake off in layers. Do not attempt a repair on this unless you are a professional.
 |
| Photo courtesy gravestonematters.org.uk |
Cleaning with Clorax is a huge no no. Clorax will damage the stone because it is a caustic chemical. Salts within the Clorax will soak into the porous stone, especially marble, and begin to eat away at the stone. This reaction will cause damage known as sugaring. Below is an example of sugaring.
 |
| Photo courtesy Internet search |
Moss, lichens, and other plant growth that enter small cracks in the stone will also eventually cause more damage with the roots digging further into stone which will allow for water to enter the opening and begin a freeze thaw process that can break the stone at the crack.
 |
| Photo courtesy chicora.org |
When repairing a broken stone; in the below picture, the stone is a tablet grave marker from a local cemetery. Notice the incorrect side bracing and what do you think the end result was.
The cleaning process that I use follows as such.
- the stone is first checked for stability and damage (we do not want to incur further damage to the stone)
- if the stone has heavy lichen growth, I begin by gently scraping the growth off with a soft scraper or popsicle stick (we want the stick to wear down and not the stone)
- next the stone is gently scrubbed with water and a soft nylon bristle brush to further remove biological growth
- the stone is then rinsed with clean water from a pump garden sprayer
- D2, poured into a spray bottle is then sprayed on all faces of the stone and allowed to remain on the stone for 15 minutes
- after 15 minutes, with fresh water the stone is again scrubbed with the soft nylon bristle brush
- more D2 may need to be applied and scrubbed in
- the stone is given a final rinse with the pump sprayer
- the stone will definitely be cleaner, but within 3 months time the stone should be noticeably brighter. One thing to remember is that all gravestones are not created equal. Some clean up better than others. Sad but true.
Gravestones, especially marble stones can be found in cemeteries in three different manners. First, many of tablet style gravestones are larger than you think. The photo below shows Mary Cline's gravestone. Her stone is almost five feet long with the majority of the stone buried in the ground for stability. Her stone was excavated, straightened, and back filled with compacted stone dust. Over the period of years her stone began to lean due to gravity and conditions of the soil.
Next to Mary's stone is her husband, Russell. His marble stone is attached to a marble base via pins and mortar. The photo below shows another plot that was in need of attention. The pins and pin holes are clearly visible in the photo.
 |
| All three stones in need of restoration Notice the securing pin & pin holes |
Iron pins held the marker to the base and mortar was applied under the stone and around the joint where the stone meets the base. Over time the mortar fails and seems to vanish.
The iron pins are removed because they tend to rust and oxidize which causes the pin to expand and this can cause the stone to break. Have you ever notices rust like discoloring and upward cracks on the stone just above the base. That is from oxidation. The iron pins are replaced with stainless rod that is cut to length and secured with a special type of lime mortar called Lithomex. The Lithomex is placed under the stone and also pointed around the joint where the stone meets the base to seal the joint.
 |
| Notice the Lithomex seal around the base of the stone |
Lithomex is porous and allows the stone to "breathe." Never repair gravestones with Portland cement. Repairs with Portland cemetery can further damage the stone because Portland is much harder and stronger than marble and lime gravestones which will cause the gravestone to break and not the Portland. When a stone is repaired with lime based Lithomex the repair will break if needed and not the stone itself.
The third way that marble stones are found in cemeteries is in the mortise and tenon or tab and socket method. This is where either a small "tab" in the center of the stone fits into a slot in the center of the base or the whole tablet fits into a large slot in the base. Below is a photo of a base where the tablet fits into the slot.
This large stone below did not have a base. For some reason the base was gone and only way to keep the stone upright was to fabricate a new base. Making a new base is relatively easy. Cement, 2 x 6s, screws, and insulating foam is all that I use. The foam is cut to custom width and depth according to the size of the stone. When the base is cured the foam is removed and you have a slot where the stone can be inserted. The slot is slightly larger than the stone and is partially filled with the lime based mortar. After the stone is inserted the joint is sealed with additional Lithomex.
 |
| Fabricated new base |
Putting broken gravestones back together can be a process, especially if much of the stone is missing. The epoxy that I use is Akemi Akepox 2030. It is a two part epoxy that is very strong. Not much is needed to make repairs. Just dab along the break line, secure with clamps, and then infill with Lithomex to fill and hide the crack.
 |
| Original condition Gravesite of my great great grandfather's sister |
 |
| Initial cleaning and epoxying |
 |
| Broken stone attached to base |
 |
| More expoxying and clamping |
 |
| Before final crack infilling |
Finally, gravestones are heavy. Some are light enough that they can be picked up and set in place by hand and some cannot. Therefore mechanical means are necessary to safely lift a stone in place. Below is an example of a stone that was too heavy to lift; so the tripod, hoist, and soft nylon straps were brought in to safely make needed.
As a final note, when attempting this work, be safe, do the right thing, have fun, and enjoy!
For further information on cleaning or restoring gravestones, please see:
Online Sources
Association for Gravestone Studies
Cemetery Conservators for United Standards
Chicora.org
Iscga.org
Print Sources
Strangstad, Lynette. A Graveyard Preservation Primer. New York: Altamira Press, 2013
Jones, Melanie S. Aspects of Stone Weathering, Decay and Conservation. London: Imperial College Press, 1997
21 January 2018
Capital District Genealogical Society : January 2018 Meeting
The first 2018 CDGS meeting is coming up on 27 January. Details about this program and the society are below.
January 27, 2018
Keith Swaney
Keith Swaney, senior archivist at the New York State Archives, will explore the Archives holdings on World War I that are useful for genealogy and local history. He will discuss military service records and records that document local communities efforts on the home front to support the war effort. He will describe locating both digitized and non-digitized records through the Ancestry.com New York portal and the State Archives' finding aids and digital collections searches.
Regular Meetings:
Held at William K. Sanford Library
Town of Colonie
629 Albany Shaker Road
Loudonville, NY 12211
4th Saturday of month, except 3rd Saturday of month in May and November; no meeting in December.
All regular meetings begin at 1:00 PM.
Computer Resources Group meets 2:30 PM
1:00 - 2:30 Meeting and Speaker
2:00 - 2:30 Refreshments with meet and mingle time (our
speaker usually is usually available for questions during this time)
2:30 - 3:30 Internet Resources Discussion
Election of Officers - November
CDGS has a "sale" table set up during the meeting, bring any genealogy magazine, maps and/or books and put a price on them, it is 50/50, you get half of the sale, or you can donate your half to the society.
The Capital District Genealogical Society was organized in 1981 with the following purpose:- To teach members and other interested persons how to trace their family roots, lineage, or heritage
- To provide help to those seeking information via queries on relatives and/or family who in the past had connections to the Capital District and adjacent counties
- To educate the general public and membership by conducting special programs relevant to the purpose of the Society
- To coordinate the interests and concerns of persons and/or organizations throughout the Capital District area, New York State and the country in the development of information and resources to better serve the purpose of the Society, the membership and the public at large.
20 January 2018
Spindle City Historic Society Meeting
The following announcement was found yesterday in a recent Colonie/Latham Pennysaver newspaper.
Spindle City Historic Society Meeting
COHOES - January 31, 2018. 58 Remsen St., Cohoes, NY 12047. The monthly meeting of the Spindle City Historic Society will take place at the Cohoes Visitors Center, 58 Remsen Street, Cohoes at 6 p.m. on January 31, 2018. After a short business meeting the featured speaker will be David McDermott, who will talk about the 100th Anniversary of the Marconi Club. The public is invited. There will be no charge for admission.
Spindle City Historic Society Meeting
COHOES - January 31, 2018. 58 Remsen St., Cohoes, NY 12047. The monthly meeting of the Spindle City Historic Society will take place at the Cohoes Visitors Center, 58 Remsen Street, Cohoes at 6 p.m. on January 31, 2018. After a short business meeting the featured speaker will be David McDermott, who will talk about the 100th Anniversary of the Marconi Club. The public is invited. There will be no charge for admission.
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