2010 Events
Rockland Lake Ice Harvest
Tuxedo Park: The Historic Houses
When: December 8, 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: HSRC Community Room, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE
Join the Historical Society of Rockland County as we welcome Christian R. Sonne, the author of Tuxedo Park: The Historic Houses, the first and only book that examines the architecture of Tuxedo Park, a Hudson Valley community forty miles north of Manhattan that normally is not accessible to the public. The gated enclave is famous for its Gilded Age mansions designed by well-known architects such as Bruce Price, Carrere & Hastings, McKim, Mead & White, and Warren & Wetmore. Wall Street Titans, Robber Barons and scions of blue-blooded colonial families made this place synonymous with upper-class living in the first three decades of the 20th century. The tuxedo jacket was first worn there. and Emily Post drew inspiration for her book Etiquette from manners she observed while living in Tuxedo Park. Mr. Sonne will provide a social history of this community from its founding in 1886 to 1945 using many of the beautiful James Bleecker photos from his book, which features 230 photographs of some 60 historic houses.Books will be available for purchase, with the proceeds benefiting the Historical Society of Tuxedo.
St. Nicholas Day Festival
When: December 3–4, 2010, 11 am, 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm
Where: Jacob Blauvelt House, 20 Zukor Road, New city
Admission: $5/person (adults and children)
Visit the historic Jacob Blauvelt House on Saturday, December 4, 2010, for an unforgettable day of magic and fun! Join in the celebration! See shoes magically filled with goodies! Hear wondrous and joyful stories! Enjoy holiday refreshments! And meet St. Nicholas and his beautiful horse (courtesy of Diamond Derby Ranch, New City). We're opening the doors to our 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House to welcome children of all ages to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. This traditional Dutch festival is a highlight of the holiday season. Many people who visited with St. Nicholas as children now bring their own families. To view a video of the event, click here.
Bus Trip: Mashantucket Pequot Museum
When: Saturday, November 20, 2010, 8 am–7:30 pm
Where: Bus departs from and returns to the HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $89/per person
The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center is a tribally owned and operated, state-of-the-art complex in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Opened on August 11, 1998, it presents the rich history or the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, as well as the histories and cultures of other tribes and the region's natural history. The 85,000 square foot permanent indoor exhibit presents four types of interpretation to the visitor: dioramas, text panels, interactive computer programs, and films. A total of 13 films and video programs are on view throughout the permanent exhibit space in 10 locations. The visually impaired are able to move through the exhibits using an infrared communications system and to access audio interpretation, with selected replica artifacts available for all to touch in specially designated areas. The films, computer interactives and videos are close-captioned for the hearing impaired. Highlights of the permanent collection include the Glacial Crevasse, A World of Ice, Arrival of the People, Life in a Cold Climate, Changing Environment, Pequot Village, Arrival of the Europeans, Prelude to War, The Pequot War,. and Life on the Reservation.
Boat Trip: "Hops and History on the Hudson" Luncheon Cruise
When: Sunday, October 24, 2010
Where: MV Commander
Price: $75/person. Includes boat transportation and lunch.
The M.V. Commander, built in 1917, is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. The Hudson Highlands is rich in natural beauty and history. Henry Hudson sailing up his "Great River of Mountains" called it a very good land to fall with and a pleasant land to see. On this day, our guests were still charmed by the romantic views that inspired the painters of the Hudson River School, who called it the "Rhineland of America."
Historical House Tour: Piermont
When: Saturday, October 16, 2010, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Starts at Piermont Library, 25 Flywheel Park, Piermont
Price: $35/person (advance orders); $40/person (day of event)
Presented by the Historical Society of Rockland County and the Piermont Historical Society. Sponsored by Beckerle Lumber's Remodeling Showrooms. This s self-guided historical house tour offers a rare look at the homes and gardens of Piermont, a gem of the Hudson River.The tour featured charming old cottages and elegant houses, highlighted by the Ferdon House, a majestic home that recently underwent a beautiful restoration and was soon to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fall Family Festival and Fiddlers' Summit
When: October 3, 2010, 12-4 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE
Many friends of the HSRC joined us for our first Fall Family Festival on the grounds around the HSRCand the historic Jacob Blauvelt House.We were also proud to present a music festival within our festival—a Fiddler's Summit that gave our guests a chance to meet, talk with and listen to fiddlers in three Rockland County-based ethnic traditions: Irish, Indian, and Klezmer. Eileen Condon served as the host and emcee. The Fiddlers? Summit was made possible by public funding from the New York State Council on the Arts. In addition, the storyteller Colette Gilbert portrayed Rockland County's legendary "Witch of West Nyack," Naut Kaniff, who shared stories of haunted history in Rockland.
Lecture: Rockland Lake with Robert Maher
When: August 18, 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE
Join us for our last summer evening lecture at the Historical Society of Rockland County as Robert Maher, president of the Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain (www.rocklandlakeandhookmt.org), talks about the history of Rockland Lake and the impact of ice harvesting on the community. His presentation includes a slide show of postcards and photographs, along with a short movie about ice harvesting much as it was done at Rockland Lake so we can better understand the process. Following the evening's presentation, we invite our guests upstairs to the HSRC's galleries to enjoy our current exhibitions, "Images of Rockland in Photographs & Words," featuring the photographs of Arthur H. Gunther III, and "Rockland Voices," curated by Jessica Kuhnen.
Gallery Talk: Rockland Reminiscing with Arthur Gunther III
When: August 4, 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE
Join us for a summer evening at the HSRC as our guest speaker, Arthur Gunther III, reminisces about Rockland. Following the evening's presentation, we invite our guests upstairs to the HSRC's galleries to enjoy our current exhibitions, "Images of Rockland in Photographs & Words," featuring the photographs of Arthur H. Gunther III, and "Rockland Voices," curated by Jessica Kuhnen.
Armchair Walking Tour: The King's Highway
When:
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE
Learn about the history of the King's Highway. Part of the very popular Armchair Walking Tour series created by the Rockland historian John Scott, this talk will be presented by Bob Goldberg, who will be available to answer questions. Following the evening's presentation, we invite our guests upstairs to the HSRC's galleries to enjoy our current exhibitions, "Images of Rockland in Photographs & Words," featuring the photographs of Arthur H. Gunther III, and "Rockland Voices," curated by Jessica Kuhnen.
Bus Daytrip: Kutztown Folk Festival
When: July 10, 2010
Where: Bus departs from and returns to the HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price:
Guests on this trip to America's premier folk festival enjoyed the finest in traditional crafts, food, music and folklife. The Kutztown Festival is one of the country's largest folklife gatherings, with more than 200 of skilled artisans demonstrating their traditional crafts. The best examples of Pennsylvania Dutch and early American folk arts and crafts can be found at the festival; most are made on-site for visitorsenjoyment and offer their unique creations for purchase. The 2010 festival had fine furniture, miniatures, pottery, clothing, musical instruments, hand-painted art, iron ornaments, weavings, brooms, baskets, hex painting, jewelry, leather, cut paper art (Scherenschnitte), Pennsylvania German calligraphic writing (Fraktur), beeswax candles and much more. To make the experience complete, bus trip guests enjoyed a full-course, continuously served, all-you-can-eat authentic Amish dinner.
Armchair Walking Tour: Nyack Turnpike
When: July 7, 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE (but donations are greatly appreciated)
Part of the very popular "Armchair Walking Tour" series created by the Rockland historian John Scott, this talk on Nyack Turnpike will be presented by Bob Goldberg, who will be available to answer questions. Following the evening's presentation, we invite our guests upstairs to the HSRC's galleries to enjoy our current exhibitions, "Images of Rockland in Photographs & Words," featuring the photographs of Arthur H. Gunther III, and "Rockland Voices," curated by Jessica Kuhnen.
2010 Old-Fashioned Summer Day Camp
When: August 2–13, 2010, 9 am-12:30 pm, except Fridays (9 am-1:30 pm), rain or shine
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $175/child per week ($150/child per week for HSRC members). Includes all supplies and a mid-morning snack.
Travel back in time. Span a week (or two!) and discover a simpler time. Held on HSRC?s beautiful grounds, which includes the historic Blauvelt House, barns and gardens, our Old-Fashioned Summer Day Camp presents something new each day. Activities include candle dipping, creating historic toys, playing Native American games, and simple but fun diversions that entertained young folk in the 1830s. At the end of each week we have an old-fashioned picnic featuring hand-cranked ice cream and churned butter, cornbread and salad made from vegetables growing in the Blauvelt House garden!
Bus Daytrip: Emily Dickinson's Garden
When: June 10, 2010, 9 am-4:30 pm
Where: Bus departs from and returns to the HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $109/person ($89/person for HSRC members) Includes luxury bus transportation, a private Emily Dickinson experience, a gourmet Abigail Kirsch buffet luncheon and an all-garden pass.
This very special daytrip visited "The Poetry of Flowers: Emily Dickinson's Garden" at the New York Botanical Garden. With a private tour guide, our group experienced the life and works of one of America's most treasured poets that included a private tour of her Victorian Homestead re-created in the Conservatory filled with tulips, lilacs, lilies and more, before strolling the garden paths and reading some of Dickinson's most famous works. This special event was co-presented by the Poetry Society of America. Guests dined on a fabulous Abigail Kirsch buffet lunch in the dining room overlooking the garden. Our all garden access pass allowedthem to visit the rest of the gardens ontheir own -- they were free to hop-on the tram to visit the Rose Garden the Children's Garden or any other area that suits them!
Bus Daytrip: D&H Canal Museum
When: May 8, 2010, 9 am–5 pm
Where: Departs from and returns to the HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $79/person
Find out more about the history of the area where you live. Join us as we focus on the early 1800s and how the Pennsylvania coalminers transported their goods to where the population lived. The Hudson River Maritime Museum is the only museum in New York State exclusively preserving the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and the industries that depended on the river. Founded in 1980 by members of the Steamship Alexander Hamilton Society, the National Maritime Historical Society and local historians, the museum is located in the Historic Roundout waterfront at Kingston, New York, once the major port between New York City and Albany. The D&H Canal Museum provides insight into the 108-mile long, four-foot deep, 32-foot wide waterway. Navigation of the full-length of the canal began in 1828, and the canal operated until 1898. During its construction, small towns and villages and a variety of industries sprang up along its route. The opening of the canal in 1828 proved to be the beginning of a new era for New York's Ulster County, transforming the area in size and economic development. We will visit a working farm in Accord, New York, and enjoy a delightful buffet luncheon at Hillside Manor, the premier choice for fine dining in Ulster County and the Hudson Valley for more than two decades.
Special Lecture: Peter Scheibner, Rockland County Archivist
When: April 17, 2010, 1 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE
Whether you're just beginning to research the history of your family, your house or the community that you live in or you have many years of research under your belt, we hope that you will join us on April 17 when we welcome Peter Scheibner, Rockland County's Archivist, to the Historical Society of Rockland County. As part of one of our current exhibit, "Why Archives Matter," a traveling exhibition developed by the Upstate History Alliance that was in one of our museum galleries through May 9, 2010, Peter described our county's archives and how they work. Deeds, census records and other important topics were discussed. Peter J. Scheibner, Rockland County Archivist, was a recipient of the 2008 Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Award for Preservation Leadership.
Annual Meeting
When: Monday, April 12, 2010, 6 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE
All members of the public were invited. The results of the vote were as follows:
Trustees for a three-year term (2013):
- Veronica DeMeo Boesch, Airmont
- Joseph R. Holland, New City
- Jeffrey Keahon, Pearl River
- Catherine M. Quinn, New City
- Caroline R. Tapley, Piermont
Trustees for a two-year term (2012):
- Donald R. Karlewicz, Chestnut Ridge (filling unexpired term of Steve Perrell, Stony Point)
- Dorice Madronero, Montebello
Officers voted for a one-year term:
President: Marianne B. Leese, Suffern
1st Vice President: Clare Bowes Sheridan, Tappan
2nd Vice President: Veronica DeMeo Boesch, Airmont
Treasurer: Donald R. Karlewicz, Chestnut Ridge
Secretary: Caroline R. Tapley, Piermont
Term 2011:
- Elizabeth Barhydt, Grand View
- Travis E. Jackson, Suffern
- PJ Mouquin, Sparkill
- Winston C. Perry, Jr., Upper Nyack
- Clare Bowes Sheridan, Tappan
Term 2012:
- Lawrence A. Codispoti, Airmont
- Marianne B. Leese, Suffern
- Lisa Levin, Montebello
2010 Annual Dinner
When: March 28, 2010
Where: The View on the Hudson, Piermont
Price: $100/person
The HSRC was proud to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the acquisition of the Jacob Blauvelt House. Honored at this event were Erin L. Martin, Jeffrey Keahon, and John Blauvelt Gibbons, with a special tribute toThomas F.X. Casey. The evening included a silent auction, a live auction,a cash raffle,dinner, music and a delicious dinner. A great time was had by all.
Bus Daytrip: CIA and DIA:Beacon
When: Saturday, March 27, 2010, 9:30 am–6 pm
Where: Bus departs from and returns to HSRC
Price: $89 per person
Participants were treated to a spring delight when they join us for a terrific day of enjoying the best that the Hudson Valley has to offer. The trip started with luxurious dining at the Culinary Institute of America's Escofier Restaurant, featuring the meals created from the bountiful harvests of Hudson Valley's best farms.The tour then continued to Dia:Beacon, opened in May 2003 by the Dia Art Foundation as a museum to house its renowned permanent collection of major works of art from the 1960s to the present. Located on the Hudson River in Beacon, NY, Dia:Beacon occupies a nearly 300,000 square-foot historic printing factory—a former Nabisco (National Biscuit Company) box printing facility built in 1929 and designed by Nabiscos staff architect, Louis N. Wirshing, Jr.. The galleries are named in honor of Louise and Leonard Riggio for their extraordinary generosity, which has helped make possible the realization of this museum. The building's most recent owner, International Paper, donated the property to Dia in 1999.
Boat Trip: "Hops and History on the Hudson" Luncheon Cruise
When: Sunday, October 24, 2010
Where: MV Commander
Price: $75/person
The M.V. Commander, built in 1917, is listed on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places. The Hudson Highlands is rich in natural beauty and history. Henry Hudson sailing up his "Great River of Mountains" called it a very good land to fall with and a pleasant land to see. On this day, our guests were still charmed by the romantic views that inspired the painters of the Hudson River School, who called it the "Rhineland of America." The fall foliage was at or near peak. A great group of HSRC members and supporters spent a beautiful fall day celebrating Rockland History Month on the majestic Hudson River.
Bus Daytrip: Philadelphia International Flower Show
When: Saturday, March 6, 2010
Where: The bus departs from and returns to the HSRC
Price: $89/person
The Philadelphia International Flower Show is the oldest and largest indoor show of its kind! Produced by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and presented by PNC, the 2010's presentation "Passport to the World" celebrated the exciting landscapes and plants of China, Japan, Thailand, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, the Caribbean, and an artful perspective on the northern polar region's Aurora Borealis. Daily musical performances on the Explorer's Stage included classical and contemporary Indian dance led by celebrated Bollywood choreographer Rujuta Vaidya, and music and dance presented by the vibrant Brazilian troupe, Minas. The price cost includes luxury bus transportation, admission to the Flower Show and a delicious luncheon at the historic City Tavern.
Elizabeth Sayles at the HSRC
When: Saturday, February 27, 2010, 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.,author's reading at 1:00 p.m.
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE
Elizabeth will read from her upcoming book, The Very Little Princess, scheduled for \publication earlier that same week! Elizabeth's books are available for purchase at the HSRC's Museum Shop—a great way to show you're a supporter of Elizabeth's work and of the Historical Society of Rockland County.
Shingebiss Marionette Performance
When: January 3, 2010, 1 pm and 2:30 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $10/person
Reservations are strongly encouraged for this marionette performance by Anna Vargas, who is known for her charming interpretations of classic folk stories for children and adults. Join us as she and her handcrafted marionettes perform Shingebiss, an Objibwe winter's tale about the perseverence and mightiness of the underdog. Before and after the performance, be enchanted by our current exhibit, which features our two museum galleries full of the art of miniatures - room boxes, trains, dollhouses - as well as ceramic art, illustrations, quilts and much more
