Fort Crailo Harvest Faire - Part 3

I was attending the Fort Crailo Harvest Faire and had explored the outdoor exhibits (see previous posts). Then I went indoors to see the exhibits. I've lived close to Fort Crailo for a long time and have therefore seen the displays many times. But I always enjoy seeing them again. Near the front door and shooting holes in the front wall was this diorama of a Mohawk trapper trading with a Dutch woman:

And old Dutch artifacts and a brief history of the interactions between the Mohawk and Dutch settlers:

And down in the cellar, this man was playing old Dutch songs on a lute:

And he was pretty good. Here's a sample of his music:




An upstairs room had been furnished to show how it might have looked way back in time:

And more from inside the room:

This authentic reproduction of a Dutch fireplace was recently built and I got to talk to the man who'd built it. The Dutch style fireplace had no sides and one might imagine that the room got pretty darn smoky:

Back outdoors in the sun, it was evident that everyone was enjoying the festival and the spectacular weather:

This woman looked especially authentic in her period costume and bare feet:

Bowling on the front lawn. The first reference to bowling being played in America was in Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle," where Van Winkle, asleep for 20 years, was awakened by the sound of "nine pins," a Dutch style of bowling:

And as it came time for me to leave and resume my life in my own century, I chanced upon this touching and appropriate farewell:

Fort Crailo Harvest Faire - Part 2

I ambled around the grounds of Fort Crailo, taking in the sights and snapping pictures. Men and women in Old Dutch and Mohawk costume were demonstrating how life along the Hudson River used to be:

This man was demonstrating outdoor cooking:

And this man had many tools, mostly for woodworking, which he was showing people:

These women clad in period Dutch clothing were, I think, selling something - but I didn't ask:

Out behind Fort Crailo was this man and woman with an outstanding display of medical paraphernalia including, I learned later, medical leaches. I suppose that's them in the glass jar on the table. I wish now I'd stopped to learn more:

Wooden shoe decorating for the kids:

This young lad was learning the Old Dutch method of making rope:

Fort Crailo was bustling and with all the folks in period costume, one could sometimes forget for a moment which century it was:

In the front of the house were these keyhole shaped holes out of which the early settlers could shoot their muskets at whatever threatened them. I'd guess that the most likely threats would have been from Mohawk or British rogues:

And inside the building, one can see how these shooting holes were placed in the wall and plugged with wooden plugs when not in use. Now that we're inside Fort Crailo, I'll post some photos of what it was like. But that will have to wait until tomorrow:

Fort Crailo Harvest Faire - Part 1

On a recent Saturday afternoon, I headed down the road from my house to Fort Crailo, a New York State historical site. They were holding a "Harvest Faire," a celebration of the area's Dutch and Mohawk heritage. A friend who works there told me I would find period costumes and a young pair of oxen named Hank and Yogi. The oxen were the first thing I saw when I arrived, but I was surprised to discover they were still calves-in-training. They were friendly and very well behaved, however:

I've wanted to train oxen for a long time, so had done some research on the subject. On this day I had a lot of opportunity to discuss oxen and cattle in general with the farmer and his wife. And the little boy in me was as excited to pet them as was this young lad:

On the lawn across from Fort Crailo I found a tepee and many actors in period Dutch costume:

Many booths were displaying and offering for sale artwork and other items. The vendors were friendly and happy to discuss the old Dutch settlers:

Old Dutch costumes were also for sale:

But soon after I arrived, I heard loud booms and, going to investigate, found a musket firing demonstration:

These two men were demonstrating the loading and firing of muskets, and they drew a large and interested crowd. I found it curious but not unexpected that the crowd of people fascinated by the muskets had a preponderance of men. I guess it's a gender thing:

I went right inside the tepee:

Inside the tepee was a display of bark baskets, beaver pelts and other Mohawk artifacts:

This woman dressed in Mohawk costume was explaining about it all. I remember her saying that it was especially common for Mohawk basket makers to wear beaver top hats as she was doing:

Downtown Albany was across the Hudson River. As you can see, it was a magnificent day for a Harvest Faire:

This woman in Dutch costume was caught using her cell phone and we all got a chuckle out of it, calling it her "Old Dutch Cell Phone." I'll post more about the Harvest Faire tomorrow:

A Historic City, An Old Fort, A Fine Day In May

I'd dug up all of the Rose Mallows in my back yard which I'd cultivated for years in order to give the dogs my entire yard. They were, after all, overtaking it anyway. I'd lined up new homes for the plants I'd unearthed and three of them were going to a friend who works down the road from my house at the New York State Historic Site called Fort Crailo (see a full post about it here). But as I drove down through the southern part of the city of Rensselaer, I decided that I'd just have to go home and get my camera as there were many photos which begged to be taken.

Rensselaer is a historic city just across the river from Albany, dating back to the days when Albany was Fort Orange - yes, and even to when Fort Orange/Albany was an actual, real fort. Historians used to claim that the song, "Yankee Doodle" had been written at Fort Crailo in Rensselaer, though they've now concluded there's insufficient proof to make that claim any longer. The city's more recent history is as a railroad town and even today is home to the area's Amtrak station and switching yards. Yet still, at least in southern Rensselaer, some of the old glory remains. This house was just a block away from Fort Crailo:

And nearby, an old brick Presbyterian church:

This historic home with its false front (or in this case, false side) was, I believe, an attempt to imitate the old Dutch style so prevalent in the area:

And then I reached Fort Crailo. This is the historic site which is so old that it still has ports in the front wall through which muskets were fired at threatening interlopers:

And just across the street from Fort Crailo is a small park on the shores of the Hudson River with this informative sign (you can click to enlarge it):

I walked down to the river's shore and snapped this photo of the city of Albany basking in the sunshine of that May day:

And from a different angle:

And looking south to the Port Of Albany, where ships and barges unload all manner of goods for transportation by truck to the surrounding area:

And standing in the pocket park on the shores of the Hudson River, I turned my lens back toward Fort Crailo:

And the historic homes which surround it:

These are the old homes just south of Fort Crailo. After taking these pictures near Fort Crailo, I began to drive home but got distracted by other Rensselaer attractions. I'll post those photos tomorrow:

A Visit To Fort Crailo

I've lived in Rensselaer, just across the Hudson River from downtown Albany, for 20-some years. Right down the street from me is a State historic site, Fort Crailo. It's a house, actually, but is one of the oldest in the area and dates back to the earliest Dutch settlers. It's recently been revitalized and remodeled. Plus, a friend works there. So the other day I went down and took a tour. It was especially nice to be given a tour by a friend. Thanks, Mary Ellen. This is Fort Crailo:

And a close up of the old Dutch brick, shutters and windows, though I'm told the windows are more in the English style and are likely a "recent" (like 1920s) renovation:

Inside I saw a Dutch door, archway and replica of Dutch armor:

These gun holes were built into the walls of the building so that settlers could shoot their muskets at any Indians, renegades or British soldiers who might threaten. This is how the building came to be called a fort:

Inside the building, figures of a Mohawk man and Dutch woman making a deal. It was how business was done:

Clay pipe, (beaver?) pelt, Dutch hat:

The old Dutch style fireplace had no sides. Imagine how smoky their houses were:

From inside the house;

Down in the stone cellar, a big brick fireplace for cooking and warmth. School children come here for educational field trips and often get to participate in a bit of cooking here:

Another look at the cellar;

Now, for what to me and many others has always been one of the main attractions of the Fort Crailo. It has traditionally been credited as the place where the song, "Yankee Doodle," was written. The city of Rensselaer used to have signs on the main roads proudly proclaiming itself to be "The Home Of Yankee Doodle." Some time back, historians began to doubt that claim and the city took down its signs. But there's still plenty of reason to believe it may be the home of the song:

The back of the house and the old well (where "Yankee Doodle" was reportedly penned) which is now filled in:

Fort Crailo was built on the shores of the Hudson River. It was a beautiful day, an interesting and historic display, and a nice visit with a friend. If you're ever in the area, take a tour: