Going back in time on tour of cemetery

St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands was designed 140 years ago with a rural setting in mind by Victorian architects. They wanted to provide a place of reflection for families of deceased Catholics.

This summer, the staff there is providing guided tours of the "mother cemetery" of the Diocese for curious visitors and history buffs alike.

The setting surprises many guests with its pastoral appeal and local history.

Back in time

When St. Agnes Cemetery opened in 1867, there were only 37 states in the Union, the telegraph was the main form of communication, and the country was just settling down to post-Civil War recovery.

"These were important facts of life that affected the type of cemetery St. Agnes was to become," noted Molly Nicol, director of development for St. Agnes Cemetery.

"At that time, there was a surge of interest in nature," added Richard Touchette, director of cemeteries for the Diocese. "Impressionist painting was popular; city parks were being designed to incorporate different species of trees and flowers; and, as far as cemeteries went, throughout the country an innovative idea was being incorporated: that of the rural cemetery."

Mr. Touchette noted that there was also a wide curiosity in Egyptian sculpture and buildings, which generated interest in large monuments, monoliths and mausoleums.

Growing spot

"Originally, the cemetery consisted of only 50 acres," Ms. Nicol said. "By 1904, it had grown to 168 acres through the donation of adjacent land by a wealthy Albanian. Today, it encompasses 108 acres."

The cemetery climbs a series of hills that rise steeply from the Hudson River to a point that overlooks Rensselaer County.

First burials

The original section of the cemetery was developed on a hillside with the grounds landscaped in such a way as to provide a park-like setting for families of the deceased.

Well-worn footpaths still wind between Copper Beech, giant oaks, maples and other century-old trees.

These paths brought visitors to gravesites of their loved ones, offering a setting for "reflection on nature and humanity's relationship with the Divine," noted Mr. Touchette.

Familiar names

Prominent Albany families from the late 19th and early 20th centuries are interred on the hillside. They include names familiar to historians: McArdle, Quinn, Brady and Cassidy.

Parker Dunn is buried there; the Dunn Memorial Bridge that links Albany and Rensselaer counties is named in his honor.

"Parker Dunn was a World War I private who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor," noted Ms. Nicol.

Historic sites

Nearly 250 Civil War veterans are buried at St. Agnes. The staff recently had the headstone of one, Thomas Smullen, restored so that it could be deciphered.

The cemetery tour also offers a look at the mausoleums of families who built Albany's financial, political and social structure. These include the tomb of New York State's first Catholic governor, Martin H. Glynn.

(For more on Gov. Glynn, search for his name at www.evangelist.org. The summer tours for individuals run weekly through the end of August; group tours by appointment run throughout the autumn. For information, call 463-0134. Each tour lasts about 90 minutes. It can be made on foot; visitors who are elderly or handicapped will be driven by staff.)

(8/2/07)