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Past Events

2011 Events

GhostArmyPatch

Holiday Candlelight Tours of the Historic Jacob Blauvelt House

Spend an enchanted evening at the historic 1832 Jacob Blauvelt farmhouse on

When: Sunday, December 18, 2011, 7:30, 8:30, 9:00 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $ 10/Adult; $8/HSRC Member and Senior; $5/Child

The evening is magical as the historic house is illuminated with candlelight and lanterns, fragrant with traditional sweets and decorated with festive greenery.
Experience Dutch-American holiday traditions of the 1830s with 19th century music and song, docents in period costumes and seasonal refreshments.

Reservations are required for the tours located on the grounds of the Historical Society of Rockland County, 20 Zukor Road, New City.

Price includes admission to the 36th Annual Miniature, Dollhouse & Art Exhibition: Creativity!

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Tours of the Jacob Blauvelt House

We invite you to join us for guided tours of the Jacob Blauvelt House
When: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 1, 2, and 3 pm.
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $10/Adult; $8/HSRC Member & Senior; $5/Child

Price includes admission to the 36th Annual Miniature, Dollhouse & Art Exhibition: Creativity!

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Historical Marker Dedication: Betty Friedan/Birthplace of American Women's Movement

You are cordially invited to attend the dedication of a new historical marker

When: thursday, November 10, 2011, 11 am
Where: Grand View Village Hall

The marker commemorates the influence of Betty Friedan on the feminist movement. While a resident of Grand View, Friedan she wrote her seminal book The Feminine Mystique (1963); she was also a co-founder and head of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

The marker is sponsored by the Rockland Chapter of NOW and is one in a series erected by the Historical Society of Rockland County since 1980. It features a cast bronze bas relief of Friedan's profile by the renowned artist Cristiana Biaggi of Palisades.

The marker was brought about through the efforts of Catherine Whitney, a trustee the Grand View Village; Muriel Fox, chair of Veteran Feminists of America; Phyllis B. Frank, president of Rockland County NOW; the Honorable Harriet Cornell, chair of the Rockland County Legislature; and Marianne Leese, President, Historical Society of Rockland County

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Historical House Tour: Piermont

The Historical Society of Rockland County invites you to join us for our annual Historical House Tour

When: Saturday, October 16, 2010, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Ticket pickup at Piermont Library, 25 Flywheel Park, Piermont
Price: $35/ticket (advance orders, until October 9); $40/ticket (day of event)

Sponsored by Beckerle Lumber's Remodeling Showrooms

Presented by the Historical Society of Rockland County and the Piermont Historical Society/

Reservations recommended.

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Fall Festival 2011 & Drummers' Summit

Join us on for the Family Festival and Drummers' Summit

When: Sunday, October 2, 2011, from 12-6 pm
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $7/Adult; $3/Child

This is an outdoor festival; if it rains, only the Drummers' Summit will be held (1-2:30 pm).

Our Fall Festival will have activities for the entire family on  the beautiful grounds of the circa 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House:

• Wool carding, quill pen writing and stencil art
• Tours of the Jacob Blauvelt House and newly restored barn
• Demonstrations of candle-making, sewing and quilting
• Lenape Longhouse
• Tag Sale: surplus/duplicate tools and books will be available for purchase (proceeds to be used solely for the care of the HSRC collections

• West African (Ghanaian)
• Haitian
• Puerto Rican

Invited musicians this year include the NEA National Heritage Award-winning Haitian drummer Frisner Augustin and members of La Troupe Makandal; the Ghanaian drummer Jerry Dzokoto's students Christian Kutte and Morgan Greenstreet from Suffern's Chiku Awali African Dance and Drum Company; and the Puerto Rican conguero Danny Del Valle of the Rockland-based folk ensemble Brisa Tropical. This program is hosted by our consulting folklorist, Eileen Condon.

Support for this program was provided to the Historical Society of Rockland County by public funds from the Folk Arts program of the New York State Council on the Arts, a New York State agency.

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The Greatest Generation Gala Celebration

If you've been waiting for a chance to see a rough cut of the documentary The Ghost Army, here it is! The Historical Society of Rockland County is hosting a special screening of film, now in production and due for release next year.

When: Sunday, September 18, 2011, 3:00 pm, as part of A Gala Celebration of The Greatest Generation! 
Where:Lafayette Theater, Suffern, NY (about 30 miles north of New York City)
Price: $30/Adult; $15/Students and Seniors.

This  event will also include music from the "The Stan Rubin Swing Era Big Band,' led by Herb Gardner, as well as the Chorus of the Tappan Zee. The Greatest Generation Gala Celebration is a joint fundraiser of the Historical Society of Rockland County and The Ghost Army documentary.

A limited number of premium tickets that include prime seating and an invitation to a post-screening reception are available for $100.

Admission is free for World War II veterans. Call the HSRC at (845) 634-9629.

Even the venue is historic. The fully restored, nine hundred-seat Lafayette Theater, originally built in 1923, has been named by USA Today as one of the 10 Great Places to Revel in Cinematic Grandeur. The theater features a rare vintage Wurlitzer pipe organ; Jeff Barker will play patriotic tunes as part of the festivities.

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Historical Marker Dedication - Ladentown United Methodist Church

When: Saturday, August 27, 2011, 11 am  
Where: Ladentown United Methodist Church, 14 Ladentown Road, Pomona

Built in 1865, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 in recognition of its mid-nineteenth century rural religious architecture. The interior and exterior of the church remain essentially intact.

The Historical Society of Rockland County has erected over 70 historical markers around Rockland County since 1980. For information about our Historical Marker Program, go to http://www.rocklandhistory.org/page.cfm?page=295.

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Inch by Inch, Row by Row

Great News... 

Tickets will be available at the door, so please join us -- & bring a friend(s) -- for a beautiful early spring evening of delicious food and wonderful entertainment benefiting the Cropsey Community Farm: A Rockland Farm Alliance Project!

An Enchanted Evening to benefit

Cropsey Community Farm:  A Rockland Farm Alliance Project

An Evening of Food and Music hosted by the Trustees, Directors & Advisors of Rockland Country Day School, Rockland Farm Alliance and The Historical Society of Rockland County.

With special musical performances by John McDowell and Music for Farms and Billy Roues and Friends

In a landmark collaboration, Rockland Farm Alliance, Rockland Country Day School, and The Historical Society of Rockland County have come together to raise awareness about the rich history of our local farms, as well as to celebrate and benefit Rockland’s historic new addition to this farming tradition:  Cropsey Community Farm.

Where:  Rockland Country Day School – 34 Kings Highway, Congers, NY

When:  June 4, 2011 – 4 to 8 pm

Donations will be tax deductible to the full extent of IRS regulations and will be shared equally among the hosting organizations

For more information on the event contact: Dianne Walsh c/o Rockland Farm Alliance, 220 South Little Tor Road, New City NY  10956 P: 845-634-3167  or events@rocklandfarm.org

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American Revolution in the Hackensack Valley

Join us for this third presentation in our very popular series "Another Thursday Evening at the HSRC"

On Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 7 p.m. in the HSRC's Community Room, join us as we listen to our guest speaker, Robert Goldberg and his presentation 'The American Revolution in the Hackensack Valley'. 

Robert Goldberg is a Trustee of The Historical Society of The Nyacks, as well as producer of the popular 'The Armchair Walking Tours' -- dedicated to thememory of John Scott, Rockland County's great historian. Bob and 'The Armchair Walking Tours' were the recipient of a 2005 Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Award .

Following the evening's presentation, we invite our guests upstairs to the HSRC's museum galleries where The Historical Society of Rockland County proudly presents: 'The Ghost Army'. 

This most interesting exhibit  tells the story of how in 1944, a battalion of artists and actors were sent to Europe with rubber tanks, phony artillery and a cache of sound effects. Their mission was to deceive and divert the enemy. They also packed their sketchbooks. While impersonating many different army units, they painted and sketched their way across war-torn Europe. Their story is one of "smoke & mirrors." Their artwork is a unique glimpse into Europe during the war. 

After the war, many of the Ghost Army veterans went on to make names for themselves. Bill Blass,  Ellsworth Kelley, Arthur Singer, Arthur Shilstone, John Masey, Art Kane and Victor Dowd all had been members of the Ghost Army. Two of the veterans -- Bill Sayles and Ned Harris -- who went on to have successful careers in the arts settled in Rockland County, NY, and are being honored along with all the Ghost Army veterans with this landmark exhibition.

Award-winning author and documentary filmmaker, Rick Beyer (who is working on an independant documentary 'The Ghost Army') co-curates this exhibit along with Elizabeth Sayles, a children's book author and illustrator and the daughter of Ghost Army veteran, Bill Sayles.

Visit:  www.ghostarmy.org 

Please join us!

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Walking Tour: Thurgood Marshall In Rockland

 The Historical Society of Rockland County invites you to join us on a Walking Tour with Dr. Travis Jackson

When:  Sunday, May 22, 2011, 2-3:15 pm
Where: Ramapo Central School District Administration Building, 45 Mountain Avenue, Hillburn (nearest cross street: 4th Street) - a white/beige building.
Price: $FREE, but reservations are required

Dr. Travis Jackson will lead this informative walking tour around the Hillburn village and describe the important civil rights event that took place in 1943, when Dr. Jackson was entering the 4th grade and Thurgood Marshall came to Hillburn to help in the desegregation of the Hillburn schools.

Please join us!
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The Storming of Stony Point, July 15-16, 1779

Join us for this second presentation in our very popular series "Another Thursday Evening at the HSRC"

On Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 7 p.m. in the HSRC's Community Room, join us as we listen to 'The Storming of Stony Point, July 15-16, 1779' by Michael Sheehan, Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site.

In late May of 1779, a flotilla of British vessels with 6,000 soldiers on board and many tons of supporting equipment and supplies passed HookMountain and entered Haverstraw Bay. Overwhelmed, the small 40 American soldiers posted at Stony Point, guarding the King’s Ferry crossing, set fire to their blockhouse and fled up river towards New Windsor to warn General Washington of the arrival of the British troops at the gateway to the Highlands. What ensues is a rapid and dramatic military escalation of fortification building at Stony Point and Verplanck’s Point by the British and the decisive American response to remove the British from control of the river.  

Mr. Sheehan has been an historic site interpreter at the Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site for three years.  During that time, he has advanced to historic site trainer for new interpreters. In addition, he has taken on the roll of chief artillerist and is in charge of the site’s black powder program.  Michael is a member a Lamb’s Artillery and active in Revolutionary War reenactment programs in the Hudson Valleyand New Jersey.  He is an undergraduate student working towards a degree in teaching history.

Following the evening's presentation, we invite our guests upstairs to the HSRC's museum galleries where The Historical Society of Rockland County proudly presents: 'The Ghost Army'. 

This most interesting exhibit  tells the story of how in 1944, a battalion of artists and actors were sent to Europe with rubber tanks, phony artillery and a cache of sound effects. Their mission was to deceive and divert the enemy. They also packed their sketchbooks. While impersonating many different army units, they painted and sketched their way across war-torn Europe. Their story is one of "smoke & mirrors." Their artwork is a unique glimpse into Europe during the war. 

After the war, many of the Ghost Army veterans went on to make names for themselves. Bill Blass,  Ellsworth Kelley, Arthur Singer, Arthur Shilstone, John Masey, Art Kane and Victor Dowd all had been members of the Ghost Army. Two of the veterans -- Bill Sayles and Ned Harris -- who went on to have successful careers in the arts settled in Rockland County, NY, and are being honored along with all the Ghost Army veterans with this landmark exhibition.

Award-winning author and documentary filmmaker, Rick Beyer (who is working on an independant documentary 'The Ghost Army') co-curates this exhibit along with Elizabeth Sayles, a children's book author and illustrator and the daughter of Ghost Army veteran, Bill Sayles.

Visit:  www.ghostarmy.org 

Please join us!

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A History of Rockland by Postcard

Thursday, May 5, 2011, we began our very popular series "Another Thursday Evening at the HSRC" with our first guest speaker,  Larry Kigler. 

On this beautiful evening, almost 30 people joined us to listen to Larry's presentation 'A History of Rockland by Postcard'. 

Larry is well-known for his extensive collection of Rockland County postcards and collecting all items related to Rockland County.  Larry was available to answer questions before, during and afterwards. As this was such an interesting presentation with every member of the audience participating, almost nobody had time to see the exhibit afterwards! 

We can't wait for Larry to come back with another presentation for us! Please check our website often for upcoming speakers and the dates that they'll be here.


Following the evening's presentation, we invited our guests upstairs to the HSRC's museum galleries where The Historical Society of Rockland County proudly presents: 'The Ghost Army'. 

This most interesting exhibit  tells the story of how in 1944, a battalion of artists and actors were sent to Europe with rubber tanks, phony artillery and a cache of sound effects. Their mission was to deceive and divert the enemy. They also packed their sketchbooks. While impersonating many different army units, they painted and sketched their way across war-torn Europe. Their story is one of "smoke & mirrors." Their artwork is a unique glimpse into Europe during the war. 

After the war, many of the Ghost Army veterans went on to make names for themselves. Bill Blass,  Ellsworth Kelley, Arthur Singer, Arthur Shilstone, John Masey, Art Kane and Victor Dowd all had been members of theGhost Army. Two of the veterans -- Bill Sayles and Ned Harris -- who went on to have successful careers in the arts settled in Rockland County, NY, and are being honored along with all the Ghost Army veterans with this landmark exhibition.

Award-winning author and documentary filmmaker, Rick Beyer (who is working on an independant documentary'The Ghost Army') co-curates this exhibit along with Elizabeth Sayles, a children's book author and illustrator and the daughter of Ghost Army veteran, Bill Sayles.

Visit:  www.ghostarmy.org

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All Shook Up

On Sunday, May 01, 2011, after a great opening afternoon of our new exhibit, 'The Ghost Army', we had a wonderful evening at the Antrim Playhouse enjoying 'All Shook Up' -- this Jukebox Musical Comedy was built around a numer of songs made famous by Elvis Presley, It takes place in 1955, somewhere in middle America, where one girl's dream and a surprise visit from a mysterious leather-jacketed, guitar-playing stranger help a small town to discover the magic of romance and the power of rock & roll. Among the 24 songs featured in the score are classics like 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Love Me Tender', 'Don't Be Cruel', 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and, of course, the title tune.

Reservations were only available at:   www.BrownPaperTickets.com 

Directions to The Antrim Playhouse, 15 Spook Rock Road, Suffern, NY 10901 

From Palisades Parkway North:

1. Take Palisades Parkway North to exit 13
2. Bear right off ramp
3. Make right at traffic light onto Rte. 202 West  (towards Suffern)
4. Travel for 3.6 miles
5. Look for small white sign on left for "Antrim Playhouse"  - on your right will be a blue sign showing the left hand intersection for 
Rockland Co. Rte. 84
6. Make a slight left and then stay to the right - sign for Rockland 85 - This is Spook Rock Rd
7. Travel 300 feet to theater and the parking lot on the right.

From Palisades Parkway South:

Take Palisades Parkway South to Exit 13.
Make right onto Route 202 West  (towards Suffern)
Follow directions above from Step 4.

From Route 45:

Take Route 45 North until it ends at Route 202
Make left onto Route 202 West (towards Suffern)
Follow directions above from Step 4

From Route 202  - Coming from Suffern:

At main intersection of 202 North and Rte 59 in Suffern follow signs for right hand turn onto  Route 202 East (towards Haverstraw)
Follow 202 East for 3 4/10's miles to Grandview Avenue (right after you see sign on the right for Village of Wesley Hills)
Make right onto Grandview and follow for 4/10's of a mile to 
Rockland County 85 - Spook Rock Road.
Make left onto Spook Rock Road - Travel 8/10's of a mile to theater on the left

From NYS Thruway North:
1. Take NYS Thruway North to Exit 14B
2. Make right turn off ramp
3. Travel 8/10ths of a mile. Make left turn at the first traffic light you come to after lanes have narrowed down to a single lane.  This is Spook Rock Road - Rockland County 85
4. Bear left almost immediately after turning onto Spook Rock Road - road splits - follow sign for Rockland 85 Spook Rock Road.
5. Travel 3 miles - Theater is on the left.

From NYS Thruway South:
Take NYS Thruway South to Exit 14 B

Make left at exit ramp - follow directions from above step 3. (N

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2011 ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the Historical Society of Rockland County was held on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at the Museum, 20 Zukor Road, New City, New York at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room.All members of the public were invited.

The Nominating Committee offered the names of the following Historical Society members:

Trustees for a three-year term, Term 2014:

·         Clare B. Sheridan, Tappan

·         Winston C. Perry, Jr., Upper Nyack 

·         Patricia Cropsey, New City

·         Penny Leonard, Congers 

·         Michael Davidson, Piermont 

Trustees for a one-year term, Term 2012:

·         James W. Cropsey, New City  (filling unexpired term of Lisa Levin, Montebello)

Officers nominated 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 

Trustees continuing in office 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 continuing in office Term 2012:

·         Lawrence A. Codispoti, Airmont

·         Donald R. Karlewicz, Chestnut Ridge

·         Marianne B. Leese, Suffern

·         Dorice Madronero, Montebello

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Rockland Authors & Illustrators Book Fair

On Saturday, April 2, 2011 the Historical Society of Rockland County's History Center museum galleries (we were between exhibits) were full of some of Rockland's most talented authors and illustrators for the 1st Annual Rockland Authors & Illustrators Book Fair! 

Participants included: 

Rockland County's newly appointed Historian Craig Long

The Historical Society of the Nyacks

Children's authors & Illustrators:

Elizabeth Sayles

Barbara Soloff Levy

Cindy Mauro Reisenauer

Laurence Pringle

Howard Whitehouse

Betsy Franco Feeney

Long-time Journal News Editorial Page Editor & author Arthur H. Gunther 3rd 

as well as singer, songwriter & humorist John Forster

We also had notecards & Rockland posters by George Potanovic, Jr. 

author Charmaine Gordon

and all of the publications of the Historical Society of Rockland County.

This was such a great day that we'll be doing it again... hopefully this fall... keep an eye on our calendar so that you can come and support these very talented people

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Annual Dinner 2011

When: Sunday, March 13, 2011
Where: The View on-the-Hudson in Piermont, NY.
Price: $100 per person
.
The HSRC presented the Lifetime Service Award to the Beckerle Family for their contribution to life in Rockland County and for their service to Tthe Historical Society of Rockland County.




This lovely evening included a silent auction, a live auction, a cash raffle, dinner, music and a delicious meal followed by yet another of The View on-the-Hudson's decadent desserts.
 
The Historical Society of Rockland County is thankful to all those whose 
contributions to this evening made it our best Annual Dinner yet!

The View on the Hudson
101 Shad Row
Piermont, New York 10968
Phone: 845.365.0009   •   Fax: 845.365.3009

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Stitched Together!

The HSRC proudly presents Stitched Together, a comparative presentation of some of Rockland's ethnic needlework/textile traditions.

When: Sunday, February 27, 2011, 3-5 pm 
Admission: $FREE, but reservations are required

Meet Ita Aber: Embroiderer and textile historian who will speak about and present samples of shkenazic, as well as Sephardic Jewish needlework, including Sabbath table linens, challah bread covers, prayer items, clothing and more!

Meet Marion Dolhun and Patricia Wiszuk-de-Angelo: Ukrainian-American presenters will show and tell about Ukrainian embroidered clothing, rushnyky (ritual towels), table linens, Easter basket covers and more!

Be a part of it!  Join us and bring in a sample of embroidery or other needelwork made by members of your own family &/or cultural tradition, to enrich the discussion further!

Great for kids! Interactive and learning activities related to these traditions will be provided for children in the Society's Community Room.

visit our website often at www.rocklandhistory.org

The program will be hosted by consulting folklorist Eileen Condon.

Support for this program was provided to the Historical Society of Rockland County by public funds from the Folk Arts program of the New York State Council on the Arts, a New York State agency.

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