Solve the Cherry Hill Murder of 1827

The historic Cherry Hill mansion, on South Pearl Street in Albany, was built in the 1700s by Colonel Philip Kiliaen van Rensselaer for his bride Maria Sanders, granddaughter of Peter Schuyler. The manor house was the scene of an 1827 murder, which led to the last public hanging in Albany, and will be the topic of the Oct. 1 meeting of the New Scotland Historical Association.

NEW SCOTLAND — The New Scotland Historical Association is pleased to have Barbara Baciewicz and Sharon Kielty, long-time volunteer interpreters at Historic Cherry Hill, come to our program on Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center in New Salem, to reenact the crime of the Cherry Hill Murder of 1827.

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 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 who you think was really guilty or innocent. 

Both Baciewic, in 2006, and Kieltry, in 2012, have received the Helen Mynderse Award for volunteer service.  The award is given annually to a volunteer who shows unusual dedication and makes a significant contribution to establish Historic Cherry Hill as a respected and viable institution within the community.  

Both currently serve on the museum’s board of trustees and have planned and coordinated fund-raising events. They are extremely knowledgeable about the 1827 Cherry Hill murder and have presented numerous outreach programs and focus tours on the topic. 

The program is free and open to the public.  The museum will be open at 7 p.m. for viewing of our current exhibit “Entertainment before 1950 and TV.”  If you would like further information, please call 765-4212.

Editor’s note: Ethie Moak is the publicity chairwoman for the New Scotland Historical Association.

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