10/29/2026
One of only four of its kind at St. Agnes Cemetery, this brownstone monument remembers a man who called Albany home for nearly half a century. 🍂
On January 3, 1876, the Daily Albany Argus reported Bartholomew Curtin’s death under the headline “Death of an Old Citizen.” He had served for many years as an officer of the Court of Appeals and had also been a deputy sheriff of Albany County. The notice remembered his dedication to the Cathedral congregation, “furthering its interest and sustaining it every way possible.”
His second wife, Alice Dowling, had this monument erected in his memory. She chose brownstone rather than the marble commonly used in Upstate New York cemeteries at the time—a choice that helps this memorial stand out today.
Its stately, draped urn rises against the clear blue sky. Although the monument has weathered relatively well, cracks and separating layers of stone show the effects of time and offer a closer look at how these historic memorials age.
Come take a walk through St. Agnes Cemetery and enjoy the fall foliage while it lasts. Along the way, look for the Curtin monument and the many other remarkable memorials that preserve pieces of our community’s history.
