Remember the property in the Adirondacks that Rensselaer purchased in 2004, supposedly for use as a retreat but actually as a residence for Shirley Jackson? If you don’t, we can recap it: apparently, the Institute-owned estate at 2005 Tibbits Avenue wasn’t enough. Perhaps it was too close to that pesky campus. Or maybe the iron fence and round-the-clock Public Safety presence wasn’t providing enough security.
In true Shirley Jackson fashion, this was done wth total disregard for the truth. The official reason for the acquisition, reported by the Albany Times Union, was that it was “to be used as a retreat and conference center for faculty and staff”. Here’s the evidence to the contrary:
- Shirley Jackson was involved with the decorating. The woman orders her minions to do everything that doesn’t physically require her divine hoof print. It’s hard to imagine her spending any energy worrying about aesthetics of something for use by the faculty.
- To our knowledge, faculty input was not solicited in the purchasing process.
- The house has yet to be used by faculty for anything.
- No documentation exists on the Institute website about it.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the approximate location of the house. I’d certainly like to know how much the Institute is spending to guard it, operate it or maintain it.
Tags: Shirley Jackson
