Rensselaer Days 1 & 2

St. Augustine - path to BVM shrine

I went to Mass Sunday morning, which I'm officially referring to as Day 1 of the Rensselaer Days, at St. Augustine off McKinley Avenue. I did not get to meet the priest, but many of the parishoners were very friendly and welcoming. The organisation of the Church itself is welcoming to visitors, with informative pamphlets posted inside at every entrance. I walked away with a magnet, a bookmark and a prayer card. The grounds seem humble for a parish that dates back to 1883. The Rosary (The Glorious Mysteries) was prayed by the priest and many parishoners in between the 7:30 and 10 o'clock Mass, led by a woman in the choir balcony. What struck me the most was that the confessionals had red and green lights on them; that must be so convenient!

Afterwards, I went on my waymarking spree of the World War I memorial in Memorial Park (Flat Iron), James Van Rensselaer's grave outside the First Presbyterian Church, the City Hall, the Jasper County Courthouse, General Milton's memorial, and all the particulars on all those grounds. I met Dr. Robert Berland, of the Couey trial. Couey kidnapped, raped and murdered Jessica Lunsford. I was not in a murder-case frame of mind so when he first mentioned Couey, I didn't know what he was talking about! That was embarassing.

Rensselaer City Hall

On Day 2, today, I returned to the Rensselaer City Hall to take interior pictures. There wasn't a marker posted outside detailing when the original building was constructed so I assumed it would be inside. I photographed the markers that were available, none of them the original that I was looking for, and then asked the police department, who occupy the original City Hall building next door. They directed me towards the Mayor's Office. So, today, I met Mayor Herbert Arihood as I was wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt. Understand that I wasn't expecting to meet anyone. I was just going to quickly take a few images of plaques on the interior of the building. I didn't even bring a business card with me. I explained waymarking and what contributions I was making to the website and he provided me with information that I could quote him on. Mayor Arihood is a member of the Historical Society and I feel comfortable calling his office or emailing him with any more questions that I may have during my stay.

Unfortunately, Rensselaer's rich history is more available for sale under copyright than it is offered freely on the internet. I cannot impress enough the importance of having historical information readily available through internet searches. Providing people with instant access to information is worth more than any royalties. As a moral position, I believe history belongs to everyone who wishes to know it; and while a historian is more than welcome to publish materials in a book for sale, the same information should be easily accessible for free on the internet.

Here are images from Day 1 & 2: