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DUTCH TREAT
ALBANY'S DUTCH PAST
Ms. Janny Venema from the New Netherland Project at the New York
State Museum was our guest speaker at the Friday Night potluck dinner
on October 15.
Dr. Venema, a native of Holland, is the author of Beverwijck: A
Dutch Village on the American Frontier, 1652-1664, published last
winter. In addition to speaking about her latest book and her
extensive research, she brought copies of original documents and
items from the New Netherland Project, to entice and enlighten us. |
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We were amused to learn that many vintage Dutch documents were spared
the ravages of the Albany
Capitol fire in 1911, since they were buried under reams of more
recent, English language documents, which did not survive the blaze.
It was challenging for Ms. Venema to decipher not only ancient
handwriting (neater then ours today), but also ancient spelling -
which was not standardized in those early days, before the English
invaders came with their own obscure spelling rules, onerous taxes,
overcooked beef, tabloid press, etc.
To learn more about Albany's early history, take a
virtual tour of New Netherland. The New York State Library
and the Holland Society have created a fascinating web-site,
to give you a look at the 17th century's sprawling Dutch empire,
which included Connecticut and Delaware, as well as our hometown and
the Big Apple (Groot Appel).
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SHOOTING THE PARROT
Once a year, undoubtedly abetted by high spirits, an artificial
parrot was hung from a very high object, to serve as the target in a
competition to determine who was the best marksman in the land. The
winner got bragging rights for the next twelve months.
Imagine matchlock rifles and blurred vision. Beverwijck women waited
patiently for Beverwijck men to work their testosterone out of their system.
Location of the target minimized collateral damage (how can any fire
be friendly). Undoubtedly this annual practice would inspire Monty
Python many centuries hence. But we all know that Beverwijck
originated the Dead Parrot joke.
Note to PETA activists: No live parrots were sacrificed to
this robust practice. |
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Construction Standards
There were no R-values in those days, just a lot of cold people. A 7
foot ceiling was extravagant, beaver pelts were in demand, trade
beads were in vogue, and identity theft was a rarity. Of course there
were no computers or websites, no rechargeable batteries for your
I-Pod, and church organs were pumped by conscripts from the congregation. |
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Rijsttafel
While not an authentic Indonesian Rice Table, our Potluck yielded a
wholesome variety of tasty, sustaining dishes. We digest information
best on a full stomach.
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Ms. Venema has reviewed a mountain of data culled from Albany's First
Church, Reformed - detailing the extent to which hardships were dealt
with, widows and orphans looked after, and civilization maintained
long before Social Security, welfare, food stamps and HEAP. Yes, they
had DEACONS!
Want to read more? Click
here for more details about Dr. Venema's latest oeuvre,
published by SUNY Press.
Would you believe her earlier work Deacons Account, 1652-1674: 1st
Dutch Reformed Church of Beverwyck-Albany New York is available
at Wal-Mart? |
USHER IN-SERVICE TRAINING
Nowadays, we pass a felt-lined plate, anticipating a silent
collection (and bounteous harvest), but in the early days of
Beverwijck, the Dutch Reformed Church used a collection bag,
with a bell hanging from it, to alert the congregation when it was
time to show their support for the church and its extensive social
services programs.
That's the way it was, and we liked it!
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