Hello key enthusiasts!
Today’s key carries a more somber tone, but provides an
insight into an interesting piece of New York history. The key originates from the
town of Hillsdale in Columbia County, New York. This area of New York was very
active during the Revolutionary War and, when the war ended, the town of
Hillsdale was founded in 1790. This region continued to play an important role
in war as would be seen later in the Civil War.
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| Key to Hillsdale vault |
However, even before the town was officially founded, there
were people staying on this land. As is the course of life, people died and
sometimes this occurred during the winter months when the ground was too frozen
to dig the graves. Before the introduction of morgues and their ability to store bodies
throughout the winter, the people of Columbia County and the town of Hillsdale
stored their deceased in a vault in the ground until they were able to be buried
in the spring. This key opened the “tomb in which they placed the bodies.”
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| Attached letter explaining the key's significance |
As the attached note says, once spring came, a mass funeral
was held that could involve up to twelve funerals at once. With the prominence of
war in this region, it is possible that this number could be even larger. Despite
the morbid nature of this key, it gives an interesting perspective on how
people lived before the advent of modern conveniences. Come visit our Key Room
and see if you can find any other keys that unlock the past.
Written by:
Brett Meyer
Museum Curator, Baldpate Inn
References:
