Snakes On A Grave LbNA #23263 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Snakes On A Plane  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 25, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Albany |
| County: | Albany |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Found by: | sewsewbizzy |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jun 19, 2009 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFr |
| Last edited: | Jun 25, 2006 |
The Snakes On A Grave letterbox is in the Albany Rural Cemetery, which is actually located in the town of Menands just north of Albany. We hope to give you a short tour of the cemetery and some historical factoids along the way. You can print a map of it here or find one at the entrance, but it isn't entirely necessary. The entrance is located at the intersection of Rt. 377 (Van Rensselaer Blvd.) and Rt. 378 (Menand Rd.). An easy way to get there is take I-787 exit 7W. Go about a mile and the entrance to the cemetery is on the right.
Caution: Part of the trip goes over the top of a waterfall, and depending on how much it's rained, it can be one easy step or your might get your feet soaked, so wear appropriate shoes.
Chester A. Arthur box (BOX MISSING 6/17/09)
Go in the entrance, bear right when you come to the five-way intersection, and park on the side of the path to the left of a large cross with the name Parsons. This path should be 140 degrees from the intersection. Walk down this path lined with large tombs. Here are some of the tombs you will see on the right:
Joseph (Fritz) K. Emmet - A world-famous performer in the 1860’s, he polished his talents as a German-accented (or "Dutch") comedian in variety and minstrel shows before being cast in the title role of his career-defining hit, Fritz, Our American Cousin, one of the first musical plays, starring Maude Adams.
Josiah Goodrich Root - Manager of the Patroon’s Tivoli Woolen Mills, later founded Cohoes knitting mills that he named J.G. Root & Sons. He also founded National Bank of Cohoes. Mausoleum by James Gazeley.
John Boyd Thacher - Mayor of Albany (1886), NY State Senator, donated the land for Thacher State Park, noted collector. He had an extensive collection of autographs including the autographs of every signer of the Declaration of Independence.
George Porter Hilton - Owner of the Hilton Bridge Company. Built many steel railroad bridges. Built two steel viaducts in Albany, the Hawk Street Via-duct and the Northern Boulevard Bridge. Monument by Marcus T. Reynolds, bas-relief executed by Oscar Lenz.
When you get to the Hilton tomb, turn left. Pass pond on the left and watch for these two graves on the right:
Dr Jeptha Richard Boulware - Physician, invented specialized surgical instruments, developed surgical procedures, served in the Civil War (177th Regiment), principal surgeon at Albany Hospital. Monument by Charles Calverly.
John G. Myers - Owner of a popular department store on in Albany. Once a partner of W.M. Whitney, Myers split off and eventually established a competing dry goods store. After his death, his 6-story store at 39-41 North Pearl Street collapsed (August 1905) while under renovation, killing 13 clerks. The store moved temporarily to 69 North Pearl where it completely burned down 3 months later and it was again relocated to the SE corner of North Pearl and Steuben, the site of the home of Governor DeWitt Clinton, immediately adjacent to W.M. Whitney’s. One of his daughters married Charles Porter Hilton.
Turn left when the pond ends and head down gravel path going north. Continue until you find a grave with the name of a small British car on the left. Take the dirt path to the right a few feet ahead and head towards the American flag. This is the grave of Chester A. Arthur, 21st president of the United States! From the top of the steps, you should see a white dome at 140 degrees. Head towards it. This is the tomb of William Dalton, chief engineer for American Locomotive in Schenectady. From the bottom step, walk 60 degrees to a double-trunked tree. Chester A. Arthur is in the hollow log near the tree. There is no logbook in this one. Hide it again carefully, please.
Snakes On A Grave box
Go back to the tomb and take the car tire path straight ahead. Stay to the left at the Section 16 sign. You will see several obelisks to your left. Take the short grassy path to the left at the stone H marker. Take a left again at the Section 18 sign and walk a ways. There'll be a waterfall to your right at the tall Ford tomb. You'll pass 3 impressive monuments built into the hillside - Brinckerhoff/Pumpelly, Stanford and Pester/Osterhout.
The Stanford Family - Josiah and Elizabeth, parents of Leland Stanford, Governor of California, President of Central Pacific Railroad. He drove the golden spike to unite the East Coast with the West Coast and founded Stanford University in honor of his son. Josiah was a farmer and road and railroad builder. Charles Stanford is also buried here. He was a New York State Senator, publisher, road builder and farmer. He contracted with the city of Albany to fill in the Rutten Kill ravine. He employed 60 teams of oxen with carts from 1844 to 1847 to complete this project. Hudson Avenue is constructed over this ravine. He departed for California during the 1849 “Gold Rush” and became very wealthy as a merchant in California with branches in Australia and New Zealand.
Continue across a short stone-walled bridge over a stream. Take the path immediatly to the right. Turn Right at the paved path. Soon on your right, read the interesting inscription on the small grave of an unfortunately named man. Take a right at the "Sec. 54" sign. Walk past 2 posts and go down a slight hill towards the sound of the stream. Keep going as the path curves around to the left. The path continues downhill to a very old, slightly forgotten part of the cemetery. Stop at the clearing and tak a quick trip across the stone bridge ahead of you to look at the tomb of:
Ezekiel McIntosh - Director of the N.Y. Central Railroad with with Erastus Corning and Russell Sage. He owned the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, and his widow, Caroline, married President Millard Filmore.
Then, head back towards the clearing and take the small wooded path to your right. Take a sharp right at a large maple tree down a tiny path that goes over the top of the stream right before the waterfall. On the other side of the water, head down the pile of rocks to your left (Be careful of loose stones) and follow the path a short ways until you see a collapsed old iron bridge. If you look across the stream to the left, hidden in the trees is the old tomb of Henry, Charles, and Stephen Yates. From the collapsed bridge, walk 13 paces and look to your right. There is a wide-trunked tree slightly up the hill. The box is in a cubbyhole at the bottom of the tree. Be careful climbing up to it and back down.
To get back, simply return the way you came or continue down the path you're on and turn right on the paved road that heads up a long hill into the main part of the cemetary. Turn left on Cypress Ave. If you have a map, your car is parked near #29, and you are at the end of the path that runs south of #59. You've probably only explored about 10% of the cemetery so far, so there's still lots more to see if you have time!
Caution: Part of the trip goes over the top of a waterfall, and depending on how much it's rained, it can be one easy step or your might get your feet soaked, so wear appropriate shoes.
Chester A. Arthur box (BOX MISSING 6/17/09)
Go in the entrance, bear right when you come to the five-way intersection, and park on the side of the path to the left of a large cross with the name Parsons. This path should be 140 degrees from the intersection. Walk down this path lined with large tombs. Here are some of the tombs you will see on the right:
Joseph (Fritz) K. Emmet - A world-famous performer in the 1860’s, he polished his talents as a German-accented (or "Dutch") comedian in variety and minstrel shows before being cast in the title role of his career-defining hit, Fritz, Our American Cousin, one of the first musical plays, starring Maude Adams.
Josiah Goodrich Root - Manager of the Patroon’s Tivoli Woolen Mills, later founded Cohoes knitting mills that he named J.G. Root & Sons. He also founded National Bank of Cohoes. Mausoleum by James Gazeley.
John Boyd Thacher - Mayor of Albany (1886), NY State Senator, donated the land for Thacher State Park, noted collector. He had an extensive collection of autographs including the autographs of every signer of the Declaration of Independence.
George Porter Hilton - Owner of the Hilton Bridge Company. Built many steel railroad bridges. Built two steel viaducts in Albany, the Hawk Street Via-duct and the Northern Boulevard Bridge. Monument by Marcus T. Reynolds, bas-relief executed by Oscar Lenz.
When you get to the Hilton tomb, turn left. Pass pond on the left and watch for these two graves on the right:
Dr Jeptha Richard Boulware - Physician, invented specialized surgical instruments, developed surgical procedures, served in the Civil War (177th Regiment), principal surgeon at Albany Hospital. Monument by Charles Calverly.
John G. Myers - Owner of a popular department store on in Albany. Once a partner of W.M. Whitney, Myers split off and eventually established a competing dry goods store. After his death, his 6-story store at 39-41 North Pearl Street collapsed (August 1905) while under renovation, killing 13 clerks. The store moved temporarily to 69 North Pearl where it completely burned down 3 months later and it was again relocated to the SE corner of North Pearl and Steuben, the site of the home of Governor DeWitt Clinton, immediately adjacent to W.M. Whitney’s. One of his daughters married Charles Porter Hilton.
Turn left when the pond ends and head down gravel path going north. Continue until you find a grave with the name of a small British car on the left. Take the dirt path to the right a few feet ahead and head towards the American flag. This is the grave of Chester A. Arthur, 21st president of the United States! From the top of the steps, you should see a white dome at 140 degrees. Head towards it. This is the tomb of William Dalton, chief engineer for American Locomotive in Schenectady. From the bottom step, walk 60 degrees to a double-trunked tree. Chester A. Arthur is in the hollow log near the tree. There is no logbook in this one. Hide it again carefully, please.
Snakes On A Grave box
Go back to the tomb and take the car tire path straight ahead. Stay to the left at the Section 16 sign. You will see several obelisks to your left. Take the short grassy path to the left at the stone H marker. Take a left again at the Section 18 sign and walk a ways. There'll be a waterfall to your right at the tall Ford tomb. You'll pass 3 impressive monuments built into the hillside - Brinckerhoff/Pumpelly, Stanford and Pester/Osterhout.
The Stanford Family - Josiah and Elizabeth, parents of Leland Stanford, Governor of California, President of Central Pacific Railroad. He drove the golden spike to unite the East Coast with the West Coast and founded Stanford University in honor of his son. Josiah was a farmer and road and railroad builder. Charles Stanford is also buried here. He was a New York State Senator, publisher, road builder and farmer. He contracted with the city of Albany to fill in the Rutten Kill ravine. He employed 60 teams of oxen with carts from 1844 to 1847 to complete this project. Hudson Avenue is constructed over this ravine. He departed for California during the 1849 “Gold Rush” and became very wealthy as a merchant in California with branches in Australia and New Zealand.
Continue across a short stone-walled bridge over a stream. Take the path immediatly to the right. Turn Right at the paved path. Soon on your right, read the interesting inscription on the small grave of an unfortunately named man. Take a right at the "Sec. 54" sign. Walk past 2 posts and go down a slight hill towards the sound of the stream. Keep going as the path curves around to the left. The path continues downhill to a very old, slightly forgotten part of the cemetery. Stop at the clearing and tak a quick trip across the stone bridge ahead of you to look at the tomb of:
Ezekiel McIntosh - Director of the N.Y. Central Railroad with with Erastus Corning and Russell Sage. He owned the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, and his widow, Caroline, married President Millard Filmore.
Then, head back towards the clearing and take the small wooded path to your right. Take a sharp right at a large maple tree down a tiny path that goes over the top of the stream right before the waterfall. On the other side of the water, head down the pile of rocks to your left (Be careful of loose stones) and follow the path a short ways until you see a collapsed old iron bridge. If you look across the stream to the left, hidden in the trees is the old tomb of Henry, Charles, and Stephen Yates. From the collapsed bridge, walk 13 paces and look to your right. There is a wide-trunked tree slightly up the hill. The box is in a cubbyhole at the bottom of the tree. Be careful climbing up to it and back down.
To get back, simply return the way you came or continue down the path you're on and turn right on the paved road that heads up a long hill into the main part of the cemetary. Turn left on Cypress Ave. If you have a map, your car is parked near #29, and you are at the end of the path that runs south of #59. You've probably only explored about 10% of the cemetery so far, so there's still lots more to see if you have time!