Fort Crailo and the Van Rensselaers: The Dutch Colonial Origins of Greenbush & the City of Rensselaer

Shirley W. Dunn

ISBN 10: 1883789826 / ISBN 13: 9781883789824

Published by Black Dome Press, 2016

About this Item

The book is in good condition with all pages and cover intact, including the dust jacket if originally issued. The spine may show light wear. Pages may contain some notes or highlighting, and there might be a "From the library of" label. Boxed set packaging, shrink wrap, or included media like CDs may be missing.

Seller Inventory # BSM.15JI3

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Fort Crailo and the Van Rensselaers: The Dutch Colonial Origins of Greenbush & the City of Rensselaer
• Publisher: Black Dome Press
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1883789826
• ISBN 13: 9781883789824
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: good

About this title

Synopsis

Illustrated history of the 1663 Fort Crailo built across the Hudson River from Fort Orange (today's Albany, New York) as protection and refuge for the early Dutch settlers living on the east side of the river. Performing the dual function of farmhouse and fort surrounded by a tall wooden palisade, Crailo survived King Philip s War, the French and Indian wars, and the Revolution. For over a century, armies camped on its grounds as they made their way to and from the battles, and it was at Crailo that a British Army surgeon penned the lyrics to Yankee Doodle. When peace finally came, generations of Van Rensselaers enlarged the little fort into a mansion overlooking their 1,500-acre farm that sprawled along the east bank, sowing the seeds for the future Village of Greenbush and the City of Rensselaer. Derelict and shuttered by the late 1800s, Crailo State Historic Site today a museum of Dutch colonial life in New York stands as a rare victory of historic preservation.

About the Author

Shirley Wiltse Dunn is the author of three books about the Mohican Indians: The Mohicans and Their Land; The Mohican World; and The River Indians Mohicans Making History. She also edited three books of conference papers on Native Americans for the New York State Museum. Today s Mohican Nation, now headquartered in Wisconsin, recently honored her with a proclamation of appreciation. With coauthor Allison Bennett she published a book of unique photos titled Dutch Architecture near Albany. She earlier edited a book of family stories titled Pioneer Days in the Catskill High Peaks. She received recognition from The New Netherlands Project in Albany for initiating the Dutch Barn Preservation Society, and she has been honored as a Fellow by the Holland Society of New York for Dutch studies. Mrs. Dunn has worked as a teacher, museum interpreter, editor, and historic preservation consultant, and worked at Fort Crailo for three years as the assistant manager.