Center for Creative Retirement

Courses

• A Tour of the Pruyn House
• American Mah Jongg
• Attitudes Towards Death Reflected in Gravestone Styles
• Gourmet Lunch Prepared by Culinary Program
• Gravestone Restoration Workshop
• Irish Songs of Love, Loss & Longing
• Knickerbocker Family Mansion: Ghosts, Tour and Lunch
• Let Those Meneely Bells Ring
• Stories from the Stones
• The Alarming History of Pharmacy
• The Current Russian-Ukrainian War
• The Mansion to Mansion Tour
• The Perimeter of Woodlawn Walking Tour
• The Saugerties Lighthouse
• Tour of County Waste Single Stream Recycling Plant
• Toys as a Reflection of Childhood History
• Using Probate Records in Family History
• Walking Tour of Saratoga Spa State Park
• Walking Tour of Troy's Historic Washington Park and Surrounding Homes and Tea
• War for Albany & Susquehana RR

A Tour of the Pruyn House

On this tour, we will visit the Pruyn House, tucked away in Colonie. Built between 1825 and 1830, the historic home was the country estate of Casparus Francis Pruyn, his wife Ann Hewson, and their family. Casparus Francis Pruyn was the land and business agent for Stephen Van Rensselaer III, one of the last patroons of the Van Rensselaer Manor. The scenic grounds feature the historic home, the Buhrmaster Barn, herb and perennial gardens, and the Verdoy Schoolhouse. The Pruyn House serves as the educational, historical and cultural arts center for the Town of Colonie. Course fee includes $10 materials fee.

Course will meet at the Pruyn House, 207 Old Niskayuna Rd, Latham,NY

Paula Johannessen, Coordinator

A Tour of the Pruyn House

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Wednesday, 5/1 10:00 am - 12:00 pm	ZCCR-766 600	0 seats left	$22	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

American Mah Jongg

Whether you are a beginner or looking for a refresher, join us in learning American Mahjong. This class includes basic instruction and the opportunity to play with people of varying skill levels. Let’s play, learn to conquer the card, and delve into strategies. If you have a Mahjong set, please bring it with you. Course includes a $15 materials fee.

Course does not meet on 3/12 & 4/2

Course will be held in Day Care Center, Room B06

Criss Macaione, Instructor

American Mah Jongg

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Tuesdays, 2/13 - 4/30 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm	ZSPI-276 600	0 seats left	$99	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

Attitudes Towards Death Reflected in Gravestone Styles

We approach death in different ways, shaped by history, culture, and human conditions that vary over time and across space. This lecture will take us on a walk-through time to learn how gravestone styles, iconography and epitaphs become indicators of shared attitudes towards death and mourning that changed to reflect the beliefs and values of the societies in which they are embedded. Memorials to the dead are learning tools and key components in the analysis of the past. What can gravestones tell us about the way people responded to death over the centuries in America?

Course will be held at The Living Room Art Gallery, Historic St. Agnes Cemetery, 48 Cemetery Ave, Menands.

Kelly Grimaldi, Instructor

Attitudes Towards Death Reflected in Gravestone Styles

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Thursday, 4/25 10:30 am - 11:30 am	ZCCR-749 600	0 seats left	$12	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

Gourmet Lunch Prepared by Culinary Program

Come enjoy a wonderful spread of food cooked and served by the hardworking SUNY Schenectady students who are preparing to enter hotel, culinary arts or tourism careers. Arrive ahead of time to shop at the meat shop, Boucherie, or the bakery shop, Pane e Dolci. Both are open from 11:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. We will be dining in the Van Curler Dining Room. Students are not permited to bring bottles that need to be uncorked. Parking is available in the student parking lot. Course fee includes $26 materials fee.

Course will meet at 78 Washington Ave, Schenectady, NY

Lea Darling, Coordinator

Gourmet Lunch Prepared by Culinary Program

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Wednesday, 4/24 11:30 am - 2:30 pm	ZCCR-763 600	0 seats left	$38	Call for more information

Gravestone Restoration Workshop

Do you like old cemeteries and find gravestones interesting? Have you ever wondered how to properly clean them and make simple repairs? Back by popular demand, this hands-on gravestone restoration workshop will teach you how to clean stones and use appropriate mortars and epoxy to make repairs. You will learn best practices that will do no harm to gravestones that are more than a century old. All cleaning and repair materials and tools will be provided. You will need to bring a rinse bucket or dishpan. Gloves and garden seat are optional. Refreshments and bottled water will be provided. Join us in Historic St. Agnes Cemetery, 48 Cemetery Avenue, Menands for a fun, informative and relaxing workshop!

Course will be held at The Living Room Art Gallery, Historic St. Agnes Cemetery, 48 Cemetery Ave, Menands.

Kelly Grimaldi, Instructor

Gravestone Restoration Workshop

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Thursday, 5/9 10:00 am - 1:00 pm	ZCCR-488 600	0 seats left	$52	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

Irish Songs of Love, Loss & Longing

It is often said that the Irish are “not happy unless they are sad.” To that point, Irish Don Kelly will conduct a two-hour class that will include a selection of Irish songs that tell the story of love, loss and longing. As many are aware, the relatively small island of Ireland has produced thousands of writers, poets, storytellers and music composers. This class will provide the background stories to many of Ireland’s most famous love songs. You may find yourself singing along!

Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113

Don Kelly, Instructor

Irish Songs of Love, Loss & Longing

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Friday, 4/19 9:30 am - 11:30 am	ZCCR-665 600	6 seats left	$15	Add to Cart

Knickerbocker Family Mansion: Ghosts, Tour and Lunch

The Knickerbocker Historical Society will be our hosts as they tell us about the history and ghosts of the Knickerbocker Mansion, which dates from about 1770. They will arrange for historical ‘ghosts’ to give moving firsthand accounts of their lives and experiences, and they will explain the renovations – the not-for-profit Society rescued the mansion from certain demolition and has continued to restore it. Our visit concludes with a chance to tour the mansion and to a colonial lunch cooked with authentic recipes, a delicious side to the history of the mansion. Course fee includes $30 materials fee.

Paula Johannessen, Coordinator

Directions: Take Route 40 north to Schaghticoke. At the red light as you approach the village, turn left on Route 67, travel west toward Mechanicville. Drive 3 miles west, turn right onto Knickerbocker Road. The Mansion is the first building on the right.

Knickerbocker Family Mansion: Ghosts, Tour and Lunch

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Wednesday, 5/8 10:30 am - 1:30 pm	ZCCR-137 600	0 seats left	$40	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

Let Those Meneely Bells Ring

We all have heard about them, some may have even seen a few, but the background of the Meneely bells is absolutely fascinating in the Troy area. Come get the scoop and hear all about them. What they were made of? How were they were tuned? Where are they now?  Find out the difference between a chime, a carillon and a peel. Gene Burns’ son Kim and daughter-in-law Melinda will share his experiences and knowledge from his recently published book “The Meneely Bells of West Troy: Watervliet.”

Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113

Kim & Melinda Burns, Instructor

Let Those Meneely Bells Ring

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Friday, 4/26 9:30 am - 11:30 am	ZCCR-626 600	3 seats left	$22	Add to Cart

Stories from the Stones

Opened in 1850, Oakwood Cemetery in Troy was one of the first rural cemeteries in the country. Oakwood’s thousands of daffodils, planted and maintained by the Friends of Oakwood, are usually in full bloom in April. Our tour will begin in the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel, a National Historic Landmark filled with Victorian splendor, where we’ll hear the story of the only son of William and Hannah Gardner Earl and why his parents spent a fortune to memorialize him. From there we will stroll along Millionaire’s Row, where we’ll see examples of Victorian tombstone symbolism. Our walk will be highlighted by stops at the site where HBO filming was done for “The Gilded Age” and at the panoramic overlook where you can see the Cohoes Falls, and the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers. We’ll hear some fascinating little-known details in the stories of “Uncle Sam” Wilson, Revolutionary War soldier Derrick Lane, brewer Samuel Bolton, the two wives in Griswold Green’s mausoleum, Civil War General George Thomas, financier Russell Sage, inventor Hannah Lord Montague, martyr Robert Ross and many more “residents.” This slow-paced walk is a 1.5-mile loop on mainly level, paved roads with one or two slight inclines and dirt paths. A restroom at the chapel will be available before and after the walk. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear good walking shoes. You might want to bring bottled water as well. Course fee includes $20 materials fee.

Course will meet at Gardner Earl Memorial Chaple, 186 Oakwood Ave, Troy, NY

Heidi Norton Klinowski, Instructor

Stories from the Stones

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Monday, 4/22 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm	ZCCR-764 600	0 seats left	$32	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

The Alarming History of Pharmacy

This presentation explores the more unusual medications and formulations used as treatments for a variety of ailments, from ancient Egypt to present day. The presentation will also include a demonstration on pill rolling and other artifacts used by apothecaries in a 19th century drug store. There will be time for questions and discussions at the end.

Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113

Lee Anna Obos, Instructor

The Alarming History of Pharmacy

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Wednesday, 4/24 9:30 am - 11:30 am	ZCCR-769 600	1 seats left	$15	Add to Cart

The Current Russian-Ukrainian War

This class provides an overview and military analysis of the current war in Ukraine. We will also discuss the strategies employed and the operational and tactical conduct of the fighting by each side, as well as how newer technologies are impacting the battlefield and how modern warfare is evolving.

Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113

Thad Gaebelein, Instructor

The Current Russian-Ukrainian War

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Monday, 4/29 9:30 am - 11:30 am	ZCCR-772 600	1 seats left	$19	Add to Cart

The Mansion to Mansion Tour

This Saratoga Springs walking tour starts inside the Batcheller Mansion (first floor only). Hear the story of George, Catharine and Kate Batcheller; learn what their lives were like when they built this beautiful home in 1874 and the details of events of the following years. Hear about their friendship with President Grant and how they spent years in France, Portugal and Egypt, to name just a few places. The tour will then move outside as we walk down Circular Street, learning about the stories of the Batchellers’ neighbors, such as the then-Vice President, who lived across the street, and the acting first lady, who lived a few more houses away. Our last stop on the tour is to go inside the mansion known as “Union Gables,” built in 1901 for a local merchant and manufacturer. Wear comfortable shoes!  Course fee includes $25 materials fee.  

Course will meet at the Batcheller Mansion, 20 Circular St., Saratoga Springs, NY

Dr. Hollis Palmer, Instructor

The Mansion to Mansion Tour

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Monday, 5/6 11:30 am - 1:30 pm	ZCCR-641 600	0 seats left	$37	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

The Perimeter of Woodlawn Walking Tour

The site of the current Skidmore campus in Saratoga Springs was, at one time, a park named Woodlawn. Believing the park would be like Central Park in New York City, some of the most successful Albany, Troy and Schenectady families built grand Gilded Age cottages on what was to be the perimeter. This tour consists of two loops. Wear comfortable shoes! Course fee includes $25 materials fee. 

Course will meet at corner of First & Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY

Dr. Hollis Palmer, Instructor

The Perimeter of Woodlawn Walking Tour

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Wednesday, 5/1 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm	ZCCR-768 600	0 seats left	$37	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

The Saugerties Lighthouse

Join us at the Saugerties Lighthouse, an 1869 landmark on the Hudson River that now stands proudly as a living museum and a renowned bed and breakfast. The Saugerties Lighthouse Conservancy maintains the lighthouse and adjacent lands for the enjoyment of the public. The restored red-brick lighthouse offers overnight bed and breakfast accommodations, public tours and special events. Furnished as it may have looked in the early 20th century, the lighthouse contains a small museum, gift shop, parlor, kitchen, keepers’ quarters, and two guest bedrooms. The operational light tower offers a panoramic view of the Hudson River Valley and Catskill Mountains. Because of its location on the river, tours must be scheduled with tide schedules in mind. The lighthouse can be reached via a half-mile nature trail of dirt and rock paths with wooden bridges and boardwalks and sandy trails. It is at the end of Lighthouse Drive in the village of Saugerties, New York. Suitable, comfortable shoes are recommended. Course fee includes a $8 materials fee.

Michele Doodian, Coordinator

Directions: Southbound on NYS Thruway/I-87 to the RT-32 exit-(Exit 20) - toward Saugerties/Woodstock. Turn left onto NY-32, turn left onto NY-212/NY-32, which becomes Ulster Ave. Continue on Ulster Ave. for 1.0 mile, bear right at Market St., go 1 block turn left at Main St., go 1 block stay straight to US-9W/Main St. Go 0.4 miles where 9W curves to the left, turn right onto Mynderse St., go 0.3 miles turn slight left onto Lighthouse Dr. Go 0.4 miles turn right into the lighthouse parking lot after the US Coast Guard station. Follow the lighthouse trail. Go 0.5 miles.  Please wear comfortable shoes.

The Saugerties Lighthouse

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Thursday, 5/9 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm	ZCCR-337 600	0 seats left	$22	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

Tour of County Waste Single Stream Recycling Plant

How does Single Stream Recycling (SSR) work, and why do it? Come and find out the answers and see the workings of this busy facility. SSR makes it easier for individuals to recycle, because separating is not necessary. SSR is better for the environment, with less going into the landfill and more to be reused. We will start with a short, informative presentation, and then go on a guided walking tour. You will be asked to wear a hard hat and a safety vest. You will be walking up flights of stairs and experiencing loud noises. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants and dress for outside temperatures, as the garage doors will be open. If you are sensitive to odors, this may not be the class for you. Parking is at the plant, 865 South Pearl St. Albany. After parking, look for the office sign and walk in.

Course will meet at 865 South Pearl St, Albany, NY (in main office of plant)

Lea Darling, Coordinator

 

Tour of County Waste Single Stream Recycling Plant

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Tuesday, 4/23 10:00 am - 12:00 pm	ZCCR-568 600	0 seats left	$12	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

Toys as a Reflection of Childhood History

The study of children’s toys as they developed from the ancient world to the 20th century profoundly illustrates the treatment of children through the ages. The first toys were mainly educational to prepare children for the roles they would assume as adults. This class will explore that history, from the Puritan influence on toys in colonial America through the 17th century toys of Dutch children in New York, the 19th century importation of toys from Germany, the advent of American toy manufacturing at the turn of the century, and the popularity of American toymakers throughout the 1950s. We’ll also explore the history of the teddy bear.

Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113

Marilyn Sassi, Instructor

Toys as a Reflection of Childhood History

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Thursday, 4/18 10:00 am - 12:00 pm	ZCCR-759 600	0 seats left	$19	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

Using Probate Records in Family History

Wills and probate records are among the most basic documents used by genealogists, yet inexperience with the process and all those legal terms tend to intimidate even seasoned family historians. But probate records can provide information about an ancestor’s family not available elsewhere, especially in New York State. Instructor Lisa Dougherty will be joined at this session by Judith Harper, a professional family historian whose research credits include projects for the New England Historic Genealogical Society, who will help you navigate the process. 

Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113

Lisa Dougherty, Instructor

Using Probate Records in Family History

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Tuesday, 4/30 9:30 am - 11:30 am	ZCCR-757 600	7 seats left	$15	Add to Cart

Walking Tour of Saratoga Spa State Park

Have you ever attended an event at SPAC, explored the Roosevelt Baths and Museum of Dance buildings, strolled through the paths of Gideon Putnam Hotel, played golf, swam in the Peerless Pool, tasted the many mineral springs, watched the water spout spouting, or taken your child/grandchildren to stock the stream with trout? Join us for a ranger-led walking history tour of Saratoga Spa State Park and learn how this gem of a park came to be. Hear the story of the men who realized what a treasure this area was and decided to save it from commercialism and urbanization for eternity for the enjoyment of the common folk. We will see how, over more than 100 years, things have changed in this oasis of peace, and how the initial idea evolved into what we see today. This stroll will cover up to two miles in an hour and a half to two hours on level ground with stone and dirt paths. Dress for the weather, rain or shine. 

Course will meet at the Creekside Classroom on the Picnic Loop Road, Geyser Loop Road. Saratoga Springs, NY

Lea Darling, Coordinator

Walking Tour of Saratoga Spa State Park

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Tuesday, 5/7 10:00 am - 12:00 pm	ZCCR-741 600	0 seats left	$12	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

Walking Tour of Troy's Historic Washington Park and Surrounding Homes and Tea

Enjoy taking a step back in time to the mid-1800's to see and experience the genteel living of the nouveau rich of Troy’s Washington Park, surrounding neighborhoods and newly added artist enclave. You will be able to see first hand, the loving care taken to rehabilitate and update many of these one of a kind homes of the emerging upper middle class of the 19th century and visit their own private park. You will see many different types of architecture including Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne. We may even see a restoration in progress at one of the area homes.

New this tour will be visiting St. John’s Episcopal Church where you will discover the many hidden Tiffany treasures from stained glass windows, intricate floor tile mosaics and the painted Baptismal alcove. while awaiting the start of the class, enjoy their Memorial Garden which has been on the Troy Hidden Garden Tour. A moderate lunch will be held in the last home we visit on the tour.

Washington Park is described in an 1840's deed as a “private ornamental park for the use and recreation of the lots fronting said park”. Own-ers would be charged for “fencing, improving, ornamentation, planting, keeping, and maintaining said park and the walks and streets around the same”. Today, surrounding homeowners still are assessed an annual maintenance fee for improvements and the upkeep of the grounds and fence.

There will be lots of walking on mostly uneven surfaces: sidewalks, grass, roads, and some home interiors with multiple flights of stairs, climbing up and down. Be mindful of your capabilities to keep up with the group as we have a tight schedule to adhere to for the 2 hour tour. Wear comfortable walking shoes as you will be on your feet for all of the tour. Dress for the outdoors, rain or shine this time of year.

Course will meet in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Parking Lot directly across from the church, 146 1st Street

Lea Darling, Coordinator

Walking Tour of Troy's Historic Washington Park and Surrounding Homes and Tea

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Tuesday, 4/30 9:30 am - 12:30 pm	ZCCR-329 600	0 seats left	$37	Section Full Call to be added to wait list

War for Albany & Susquehana RR

In 1851, the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad between Albany and Binghamton was formed to bring farm products and coal to Albany markets. After years of financial issues, the railroad was completed in January 1869. Railroad baron James Fisk immediately sought control of the railroad to link with his Erie Railroad. A struggle for control of the board of directors took place in the summer of 1869. This resulted in violence, and eventually, state control of the railroad. This class will explore the scuffle for control, judicial arguments, physical violence, ingenious efforts for control of the board of directors, and final outcome of what became part of the D&H railroad, now a section of the Albany-Helderberg Rail Trail. 

Course will be held in Williams Hall, Room 113

Jill Knapp, Instructor

War for Albany & Susquehana RR

Schedule	Section	Seats Left	Cost	Register
Tuesday, 4/23 9:30 am - 11:30 am	ZCCR-754 600	19 seats left	$19	Add to Cart