Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery

05/30/2026

Check out these incredible collectible challenge coins available at our upcoming Cars & Crypts Classic Car Show on Saturday, June 6th from 11am to 3pm (rain date is June 7th).

Our commemorative coins include:

- Cars & Crypts (of course!)

- 21st President Chester A. Arthur. Our most famous resident, President Arthur is buried in Section 24.

- Angel at the Sepulchre. Perhaps our most photographed monument, the Angel is located in Section 31 and was designed by noted Albany sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer. Mr. Palmer is buried in Section 34.

Please join us at this annual Classic Car Show. Visit us in the Merchandise Store to be located just north of Cypress Pond and help support the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery. ❤️

We look forward to seeing you! 🚗 🪦

05/30/2026

Only a week away!! Come join the fun! 🚗

05/29/2026

Sneak Peek Time!

We are "gearing" up for our 5th annual Cars & Crypts Classic Car Show on Saturday, June 6th from 11am to 3pm (rain date will be June 7th).

In preparation for this fantastic event, the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery will be unveiling some great new tees!

For the car show enthusiast, we will have Cars & Crypts tees available in heather red and military green (the green ones are still in transit but will be here for the big day!) We also have a limited number of long-sleeved black Cars & Crypts tees with Albany Rural Cemetery printed on one sleeve!

If you have visited Albany Rural Cemetery, you are familiar with the red, white and blue shield-shaped signs pointing you to President Chester A. Arthur's grave. We took that sign and put it on a black tee! So cool!

We will also showcase Kate Stoneman, the first woman to pass the bar to practice law in New York State who is buried in Section 56. Her blue tee is a must-have.

Our most photographed monument (arguably) is the Angel at the Sepulchre, designed by noted Albany sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer and located in Section 31. We honor the Angel and Mr. Palmer on tees in two colors: heather gray and a dusty rose. Also on these tees is a quote from the base of the Angel: "Why Seek Ye The Living Among The Dead".

The tees are in sizes medium, large, x-large, and 2xl.

Come visit the Friends of ARC Merchandise Store! In addition to tees, we have collectible challenge coins, great books, coffin key rings, cemetery-themed bags, and much more!

We look forward to seeing you! 🚗 🪦

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember those who served in the United States Armed Forces and gave their lives for our country. This holiday reminds us of the sacrifices made to protect our freedoms and preserve our nation. It is a day of reflection, gratitude, and respect for those who died while serving, as well as for the families and loved ones they left behind.

Today at exactly 3:00pm, Tom MacDonald, a trumpeter from Taps Across America, played Taps, a solemn bugle call in honor of the fallen service members buried at Albany Rural Cemetery. Thank you, Tom, for paying this deeply emotional tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

05/23/2026

Rev up your engines and join our volunteer pit crew! We need your help make this year's Cars and Crypts a massive success. Whether you want to help register cars, sell raffle tickets, or just share your time with the community, we have a spot for you! Cars and Crypts is Saturday, June 6th, just two weeks away! Please join in the fun - sign up to volunteer here: https://www.timetosignup.com/friendsofalbanyrural/sheet/1385134

05/20/2026

Please see this announcement from the Colonie Historical Society:

You are invited to participate in a solemn and historic event as we honor the remains of Revolutionary War soldiers passing through the town of Colonie. Join us in front of Colonie Town Hall, 534 Loudon Rd, Latham, at 10am.

The transport for the “Repose of the Fallen” will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, at the State Museum, starting with a dignified transfer of wooden caskets to the vehicles that will carry the remains to their final resting place at Lake George Battlefield Park for interment.

The motorcade will be led by the New York State Police and will include nine Korean War and Vietnam-era military trucks operated by members of the NY-Penn Military Vehicle Collectors Club. The convoy will also be accompanied by an es**rt provided by New York members of the Patriot Guard Riders.

We encourage the community to gather along the route in Colonie to pay their respects and offer a dignified farewell to these historic soldiers.

05/19/2026

Happy Birthday To Andrew Meneely! 🔔

Andrew was born in the Village of Washington (now a part of the City of Watervliet) on May 19, 1802. His parents were Scots- Irish immigrants who settled here in 1795. Andrew left school at the age of 15 and became an apprentice to Julius Hanks who had a foundry in the village of Gibbonsville (also now part of the City of Watervliet). Julius Hanks learned the overall foundry trade including bell making from the Revere Bell Company (Paul Revere of Boston and Canton, Massachusetts). The Hanks foundry made bells, bronze cannons, engineering equipment and clocks. It was at that time that Andrew learned to be an alchemist working with metal alloys.

In 1823, Andrew married Julius’ niece Philmena. Together they had ten children, five living to be adults. In 1826, with the opening of the Erie Canal and with Julius moving his foundry to Troy, Andrew established the Meneely West Troy Foundry on then Broad Street - currently Broadway, a short distance from the canal. That location provided easy access to transportation. Andrew began the foundry specializing in multiple bell devices.

Andrew was a civic leader serving as President of the Village of West Troy in 1839 and then again in 1843. He was also a church elder for the North Dutch Reformed church of Gibbonsville. In 1849, the business was renamed from Meneely and Company to Andrew Meneely and Son after he made his son Edwin a partner. Business was booming in 1851 with orders for church bells, chimes and with the introduction of fire alarms.

Andrew Meneely not only produced bells he was an inventor of surveying equipment, engineering instruments and compasses. His invention of the conical rotary yoke is a historic mechanism designed to hang and ring large tower and church bells. Invented in 1826 by Andrew, this device revolutionized bell ringing by making it much smoother and far less stressful on the bell.

Sadly, Andrew Meneely passed away in October 1851 at the age of 49. He is interred in the Albany Rural Cemetery in Section 5, Lot 12 with many of his family members.. An alchemist, industrialist, a civic leader and an innovator of products, Andrew left an everlasting legacy. 🔔

*Thank you to Friends' member Mike Murphy for providing this information.

05/19/2026

Please remember to join us on June 6th (rain date June 7th) for our fifth annual Classic Cars and Crypts event! This family-friendly day includes a car show, great music, food, merchandise, raffles and more. In addition, board members of the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery, together with knowledgeable volunteers, will offer guided tours of the cemetery's famous "Millionaire's Row" every half hour from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Register and pay for these popular tours at the registration table.

The first 100 attendees who pre-register their classic cars (registration link below) will receive a gift of appreciation, courtesy of the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery.

Those driving a classic car should arrive for check-in via the Route 378 (South Gate Lodge) entrance between 10:00am and 11:00am and proceed to Cypress Pond. Have some fun, meet classic car enthusiasts, cast a vote for your favorite car for the "People's Choice" award and view the car judged "Best in Show.” Food provided by Ted's Fish Fry, Ben & Jerry's and Tacos El Tenate!

https://albanyruralcemetery.org/events/upcoming-events/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR5e7dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDQkJOT2xBR0xTY2d0YVBDc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjbDlbF4cPca-hRh-wE6pnKEIcjlo_Kvy6Cpdyc2jvVjGaxlSDdBnnkUnhFr_aem_NnffWsvbC2hMkz0gTD1Trg

Friends of the Albany Rural Cemetery 2026 _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Cemetery Symbolism – Walking Tour Saturday, May 16, 2026 10:00AM– 12 PM, Chapel (Rain date Sunday, May 17) Cost $20 per person PRESENTERS: Friends of the Albany...