2019 Events
Holiday Candlelight Tours of the Jacob Blauvelt House
When: Sundays, December 15, 22, & 29, 2019, and January 5 & 12, 2020. Tours start PROMPTLY at 5 and 6:30 pm
Where: Jacob Blauvelt House, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: Adults (non-HSRC members), $10; seniors and HSRC members, $8; children, $5
Spend an enchanting evening at the historic 1832 Jacob Blauvelt farmhouse, illuminated with candlelight and lanterns, fragrant with traditional sweets, and decorated with festive greenery. Experience Dutch American holiday traditions of the 1830s with nineteenth century music and song and seasonal refreshments. Prepaid reservations are required. Space is limited. Groups of 10-15 are welcome by prior arrangement. The reservation price includes admission to the 44th Annual Holiday Exhibition.
Saint Nicholas Day at the Historical Society of Rockland County
When: Saturday, December 7: 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm,3:00 pm; Sunday, December 8: 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm,3:00 pm. Program duration: 45 minutes
Where: Jacob Blauvelt House, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $5 per person (adults and children)
Visit the Historical Society of Rockland County for an unforgettable experience of wonder and fun! We're opening our 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House to welcome children of all ages to celebrate Saint Nicholas as we've done since 1961. This traditional program is a highlight of the holiday season, and many adults who enjoyed this event in the past, as children, now bring their own families. Join in the traditional Dutch celebration. Hear wondrous and joyful stories. Enjoy holiday refreshments. Why not begin your own tradition and join us? Each child receives a special treat in his or her shoe from Saint Nicholas, and everyone can visit with Saint Nicholas and his horse! Enjoy refreshments and visit our 44th Annual Holiday Exhibition, "Small Wonders: The Dollhouse Art of Catherine Cooke."
Annual History Luncheon: "How Are You Going to Wet Your Whistle?" The Prohibition Years in Rockland and Bergen Counties
When: Wednesday, November 13, 11:00 am (lunch served at 12 noon)
Where: Ramsey Country Club, 105 Lakeside Drive, Ramsey, NJ (for directions, click here)
Price: $50 per person (cash bar)
The November 1919 song title says it all: "How Are You Going to Wet Your Whistle When the Whole Darn World Goes Dry?" In November 1919, that is exactly what people in Rockland and Bergen Counties were wondering. The Prohibition Amendment had passed in January 1919 and would take effect in January 1920. Join us for a fun luncheon and learn how people in our area solved that dilemma. Four panelists will share slides and stories—and you might even learn the words to the song Co-sponsored by the istorical Society of Rockland County and the Northwest Bergen History Coalition.
Halloween at the HSRC:A Special Screening of the Silent Film The Golem
When: Thursday, October 31, 2019, 7:15 SHARP
Where: History Center Community Room, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE (reservations required)
Released in 1920, The Golem: How He Came into the World is widely credited as the first motion picture in the horror genre. It has even been called a precursor to Universal Studios’ 1931 classic Frankenstein. Set in the Jewish ghetto of medieval Prague, the film begins with Rabbi Loew, the head of the city's Jewish community, reading the stars. He predicts disaster for his people and brings his assistant to inform the elders of the community. After the Holy Roman Empero signs a decree threatening to expel the Jews, Loew begins to look for ways to defend his people. He uses magic to create the Golem, a clay figure, and bring it to life, but things quickly start to go terribly wrong. The Golem was directed by Paul Wegener, who also plays the film’s title character. The film critic Leonard Maltin gave The Golem three-and-a-half out of four stars, calling it a “chilling, visually dazzling story of the supernatural, based on a famous Jewish folktale of the 16th century. In honor of Halloween, we'll screen the full 85 minute version of the film. For this family-friendly program, people of all ages are encouraged to come in costume.
Trunk or Treat! A Halloween Family Fun Day
When: Sunday, November 3, 2019, 12-4 pm (rain or shine)
Where: HSRC/Jacob Blauvelt House, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY
Admission: $FREE but donations are very welcome!)
Keep the Halloween spirit going by joining us on the grounds of Rockland County's historic Jacob Blauvelt House for a fun family day featuring a Trunk or Treat, in which Historical Society volunteers decorate their car trunks in scary ways and give out treats; spooky Rockland stories told by “The Witch of West Nyack”; face-painting Zombie makeovers; hands-on ghostly kids' crafts to take home; fun “fortunes” told by a mystery guest; and open-house tours of the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House and the barn. Children (and adults) are welcome to come in costume. If your pumpkin survived Halloween, bring it along for an informal jack-o-lantern contest, with prizes awarded for scariest, funniest, and most unusual jack-o-lantern.
Walk through History: Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
When: Monday, October 21, 2019, 9:45 am sharp
Where: Lobby, Convent of the Holy Rosary, 175 NY-340, Sparkill
Price: $20 per person (tour concludes with lunch at St. Thomas Aquinas College)
Founded in 1876 and established in Sparkill in 1884, The Sisters’ is a story of service to Rockland and beyond. Guests will visit the two beautiful chapels,the museum, and other features of the grounds. Lunch follows at St. Thomas Aquinas College. This is a guided tour, so please be sure to arrive on time!
7th Annual Fall Family Festival with Heritage of West Nyack and the Town of Clarkstown
When: Sunday, October 20, 2019, 12-4 pm, rain or shine!
Where: 131 Germonds Road, adjacent to Germonds Park, West Nyack
Admission: $FREE
Showcasing the Historic Traphagen and Vanderbilt/Budke Houses. We are very pleased to be co-sponsoring this festival with Heritage of West Nyack and the Town of Clarkstown. Join the Revolution, the glorious cause! See how militia men and camp followers of the American Revolutionary War lived in the 1770s. Heard's Brigade of the New Jersey Militia is seeking visitors to cheer on our encampment of 18th century tents, open-fire pit cooking, militia drills, musket firing and other living-history demonstrations! Maybe we will come upon the British and those Loyalists!
Other activities and participants include a scavenger hunt; weaving and spinning demonstrations; horse-drawn hayrides (12:30–3:30 pm); a petting zoo by Nickel-O Farms; tours of the Budke House to see the long-awaited first phase of the restoration; pumpkin picking, decorating and painting; sheep shearing by Fred Depaul; children’s games, crafts and storytime by the Hausner family; lace-making demonstration by Mayra Petretti—Metropolitan Chapter IOLI; pen turning workshop, Hudson Valley Wood Turners, for ages 12 and up (pre-registration appreciated)' West Nyack Fire Department and local Cub Scout and Boy Scout Troops; music, raffles, craft vendors and demonstrations.
Thursday Evening Lecture: “Women of South Mountain Road”
When: Thursday, September 19, 2019, 7:15 pm SHARP
Where: HSRC History Center Community Room, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE (reservations required)
Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill, Henry Varnum Poor, Morris Kantor … All of these men who lived and worked in the midcentury artists’ colony on South Mountain Road gained international respect and renown. But what about the gifted female artists and intellectuals who made “The Road” their home? Executive Director Susan Deeks introduces five of these women—Mary Mowbray-Clarke, Ruth Reeves, Lotte Lenya, Bessie Breuer Poor, and Martha Ryther—to explore their unique achievements and make a case for why they should have a more prominent place in the history of American arts and letters.
Bus Daytrip: Literary History in Hartford, CT
When: Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Where: Leaves the Historical Society of Rockland County parking lot, 20 Zukor Road, New City, at 8:00 AM and returns to the HSRC at 5:30 PM (rain or shine)
Price: $109/person (HSRC Members); $119/person (non-members). Includes all admissions, tour fees and tips, and a delicious catered box lunch.
Enjoy a fall trip to New England to visit the homes of two of America’s most important nineteenth-century authors: Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. On this literary trip we will tour the house where Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) and his family lived from 1874 to 1891, a period the author later called the happiest and most productive of his life. We will also visit Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Victorian-style Hartford home, located next door to Twain’s house in an area known as Nook Farm. Stowe lived here from 1873 until her death in 1896. Our interactive guided tour will explore Stowe’s life and how it led her to write her most famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, published in 1852. In 2016–2017, the Stowe house underwent its first major interior restoration in nearly fifty years. A delicious catered box lunch will be provided at the Mark Twain House. Please note that this trip involves some walking from the parking area and between museums. The Mark Twain House has three stories and no elevator and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House is not ADA-accessible.
Hike through History: Ramsey Conklin Cabin Site
When: Saturday, September 28, 2019, 9 am–2 pm (rain date: Sunday, September 29)
Where: The hike will begin at the Ramapo Equestrian Center, 1152 Haverstraw Road (Route 202), Wesley Hills
Price: $25/person. Price includes guided hike and a book about Rockland County history.
In the 1950s, a journalist wrote: "Ramsey Conklin and his tattered brood for 66 years roamed the Ramapos and never got any further from the Conklin clearing than Haverstraw.” The family lived in the cabin from 1799 until they were evicted by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission in 1935 to finish the construction of Pine Meadow Lake. This special guided hike will visit Pine Meadow Lake and the cabin site. There we will be met by descendants of Ramsey Conklin who will share their memories of growing up in one of the “lost hamlets” of Harriman State Park. This 5+ mile hike (round trip) is rated strenuous, with a steep uphill section. Participants must be in good walking shape and wearing sturdy hiking boots or shoes. Bring water and lunch or snacks.
Clay and Tile Art: A Summer Children's Activity
When: Wednesday, August 21, 10:30–11:30 am
Where: Historical Society of Rockland County, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956
Price: $5 per child (seating is limited, and registration is required)
In conjunction with our special exhibition "Influencers: Art & History on South Mountain Road", children can become their own art-inspired influencer. We will focus on clay and tile art and exploring creativity close to home. This program is suitable for children age 6–11. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the program, which will last approximately one hour. Seating at the table is limited, and preregistration is required. The program fee also includes admission to the Society's "Rockland Voices" and "Influencers" exhibitions.
Bus Daytrip: Railroads and Waterways in the Poconos
When: Friday, August 16, 2019
Where: Leaves the Historical Society of Rockland County parking lot, 20 Zukor Road, New City, at 8:00 AM and returns to the HSRC at 8:00 pm (rain or shine)
Price: $109/person (HSRC members); $119/person (non-members). Includes all admissions, tour fees and tips, and lunch aboard the Stourbridge Line excursion train
Our journey starts at the Delaware & Hudson Canal Park’s Lock 31 in Palmyra Township. Built in the 1820s, the canal carried coal from northeastern Pennsylvania’s mines to the Hudson River at Kingston. We’ll then head to the Wayne County Visitor Center and Wayne County Historical Society in Honesdale for a tour of the Wayne County Historical Museum, home of a full-size replica of the Stourbridge Lion, the first steam locomotive in the United States. After the tour, we’ll board the Stourbridge Line excursion train for a rail ride along the Lackawaxen River and lunch aboard a dining car. After disembarking at the Hawley train station, we’ll travel to the Dorflinger Factory Museum for a tour of exhibits exploring the history of this glassmaking company. At 5:30, we’ll start for home.
Portraits and Landscapes: A Children's Summer Activity
When: Wednesday, July 24, 2019, 10:30–11:30 am
Where: Historical Society of Rockland County, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956
Price: $5 per child (seating is limited, and registration is required)
In conjunction with our special exhibition "Influencers: Art & History on South Mountain Road," children can become their own art-inspired influencer. We will focus on drawing and painting portraits and landscapes and exploring creativity close to home. The program is suitable for children age 6–11. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the program, which will last approximately one hour. Seating at the table is limited, and preregistration is required. The program fee also includes admission to the Society's "Rockland Voices" and "Influencers" exhibitions.
Local History Meetup: “Shanks Legacy” at the Orangetown Historical Museum
When: Sunday, July 21, 2019, 1:30–2:30 pm
Where: Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives, 196 Chief Bill Harris Way, Orangeburg
Price: $FREE (donations are gratefully accepted)
This is a meet-up announcement for history enthusiasts. All are welcome! Mary Cardenas, Orangetown's Historian and director of the Orangetown Museum, will guide us through "Shanks Legacy," the museum exhibition that tells the story of the secret camp that processed 1.3 million troops en route to Europe and North Africa during World War II and how it changed Orangetown. Camp Shanks was the U.S. Army's largest port of embarkation on the East Coast in World War II; it saw some 1.3 million troops pass through on their way to England and North Africa. Learn about how the camp looked and operated and what its transition into the residential Shanks Village meant to the development of the Town of Orangetown. “Shanks Legacy,” opened on April 13, 2019, at the DePew House and runs through November. Admission is free; donations are accepted. Parking is in the Orangetown Museum lot or on the street on Chief Bill Harris Way.
Lecture: “Lost in the Stars”: A Video Portrait of Maxwell Anderson
When: Thursday, July 18, 2019, 7:15 pm SHARP
Where: History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE (reservations required)
From the 1930s to the 1960s, Maxwell Anderson wrote thirty-five plays. Twenty-seven of them were performed on Broadway, and some were produced as Hollywood films. He wrote many of these works while living in a farmhouse on South Mountain Road in New City. In 1988, one hundred years after Anderson's birth and nearly thirty years after his death, Rockland County residents led by the actress Helen Hayes organized a yearlong celebration of Anderson's life. In this special program, we will screen “Lost in the Stars,”, an early version of Memories of Max: A Video Portrait, the film& created for the Anderson Centennial by Rockland Community College. Directed by Rockland County writer and producer Richard Connolly, the fifty-eight minute film presents the life and work of one of America's most prolific and award-winning playwrights through the eyes of family, friends and artistic collaborators. In addition to interviews, images, and footage, the documentary features variations on muscial themes from Maxwell Anderson–Kurt Weill scores as performed by Jim Kunkel and Pomona resident Dan Patiris, whom we thank for donating a copy of “Lost in the Stars”to the Society's collection.
Flags & Flowerpots: A Children's Summer Activity
When: Thursday, June 27, 2019, 10:30–11:30 am
Where: Historical Society of Rockland County, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956
Price: $5 per child (seating is limited, and registration is required!)
Celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer with a morning of fun crafts! During this program children will paint a flowerpot to get ready for all of those beautiful summer flowers and decorate mini canvas flags just in time for Fourth of July festivities. This program is suitable for children age 7–11. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the program, which will last approximately one hour. The $5 fee covers the cost of craft materials. Participants will create a flowerpot and flag to take home. Seating at the craft table is limited, and preregistration is required. The program fee also includes admission to the Society's "Rockland Voices" and "Influencers" exhibitions.
Manitoga in Garrison, NY
When: Wednesday, June 19, 2019. Guests will meet at Manitoga at 9:45 am SHARP for a 10 am tour.
Where: Directions will be provided with a pre-paid reservation.
Price: $30 per person (group tour fee; prepaid reservation is required)
Join us as we visit Manitoga, the former home and 75 acre woodland garden of the American industrial designer Russel Wright (1904–1976). Beginning in the late 1920s until the 1960s, Wright created a succession of artistically distinctive and commercially successful items that helped bring modern design to the general public. Manitoga is a National Historic Landmark, an Affiliate Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and one of the few twentieth-century modern homes with original landscape open to the public. Our group tour will last 90 minutes and will be conducted rain or shine. Please wear sensible walking shoes and dress for weather. This is a moderately difficult walk/hike. Visitors must able to negotiate uneven ground, several bridge crossings with no handrails, and a flight of forty stone steps. Pets, backpacks, large bags, and tripods are not permitted.
Bus Daytrip: Clermont and Montgomery Place
When: Saturday, June 8, 2019
Where: Leaves the Historical Society parking lot at 8:30 am and returns at 5:30 pm
Price: $93/person (HSRC members); $98/person (non-members). Includes admissions, tour fees and tips, and a delicious box lunch.
Join us on the luxury motorcoach, equipped with lavatory and microphone, as we again travel upstate to explore key sites in American history. We will visit Clermont, the Hudson River seat of New York's prominent Livingston family. The accomplishments of Robert R. Livingston Jr., Clermont's most notable resident, include drafting the Declaration of Independence, serving as first U.S. Minister of Foreign Affairs, administering the oath of office to George Washington, negotiating the Louisiana Purchase, and developing steamboat technology with Robert Fulton. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973, Clermont is a New York State Historic Site and part of the Hudson River National Landmark District. After a delicious box lunch by Cascades of Hudson, NY, we will travel to Montgomery Place, a 380 acre estate overlooking the Hudson River set amid rolling lawns, woodlands, and gardens against the spectacular backdrop of the Catskill Mountains. The Montgomery Place estate was owned by members of the Livingston family from 1802 until the 1980s. Bard College acquired the property in 2016.
Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Awards Country Supper
When: Sunday, May 19, 2019, 4 pm
Where: Jacob Blauvelt Historic Site, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $75, pre-paid basic reservation; $95, pre-paid benefactor reservation (includes a listing in the event journal)
Celebrate Rockland County Preservation Week as we honor the 29th Annual Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Award winners. For a list of this year's winners, click here.) Tour the Historic Jacob Blauvelt House and visit our History Center Exhibitions. Cocktails, 4–5 pm; supper and ceremony, 5–7 pm. Keynote Speaker: Karen Zukowski, Advisory Council member for the Historic Artists' Homes and Studios Affiliated Sites Program.
Bus Daytrip: Queens Museums
When: Friday, May 17, 2019
Where: Leaves the Historical Society at 8:30 am SHARP and returns at 5:45 pm
Price: $119 per person (HSRC members); $129 (non-members). Includes bus transportation, tips, docent guided tours, all museum passes and luncheon
The day begins with a docent-led tour of the former home of jazz great Louis Armstrong. This Corona, Queens, house, with rooms frozen in time, will shed light on life and times of the king of jazz, through an exploration of segregation here at home, his travels throughout the world ad the transformation of the neighborhood from 1943 to the 1980s. Then we'll hop on the bus and travel to Astoria, where we'll have a quick luncheon and then walk to the Museum of the Moving Imagefor a guided tour of the early film history collection and then plenty of time to visit the permanent exhibition, including the new installation of the Jim Henson Collection featuring the ever-popular Muppets.
Art House: A Film Screening and Q&A with Don Freeman
When: Thursday, May 16, 2019, 7:00 pm SHARP
Where: History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE (reservations required)
In the documentary film Art House, the photographer and filmmaker Don Freeman explores the handmade homes created and lived in by eleven distinguished American artists, including George Nakashima, Henry Chapman Mercer, Wharton Esherick, Paolo Soleri, the Byrdclife Arts Colony, Frederic Church, Henry Varnum Poor, Russel Wright, Raoul Hague, and Eliphante. The film reveals the inventiveness derived from the dialogue between each artist's practice and the construction of their handmade homes, shedding light on a unique architectural typology haracterized by a DIY (do-it-yourself) aesthetic, the appropriation of building techniques from art practice, and a fierce spirit of individual expression that deserves deeper examination in this age of architectural standardization. The results range from the romantic (the Hudson River School painter Frederic Church's Olana, which frames views of the Catskills to echo his paintings) to the futuristic (the urbanist Paolo Soleri's silt-cast structure Cosanti, which grew out of experiments in bell making in the Arizona desert). Commentary from the cultural critic Alastair Gordon and an original score help argue the case that the intuitive vision of artists can create great architecture.
Director's bio: Don Freeman is an American artist, filmmaker and photographer. He is the author, among other books, of Artists' Handmade Houses (2011), a celebration of homes built by artists for themselves, which evolved into the film Art House. His film work includes a music video for the Japanese recording artist Tomoyo Harada (2014), a series of color-trend videos for Sherwin-Williams (2013), and Tires, Velvet Paws (in postproduction), a short film based on Andre Breton's Nadja, shot on location in Paris. Art House is his first feature-length documentary film.
Walk through History: From Pangaea to Paper in Piermont
When: Saturday, April 27, 2019, 10 am–12:30 pm
Where: Meeting location provided with confirmed reservation
Price: $10 per person. Space is limited, and pre-paid reservations are required.
Richard Esnard of the Piermont Historical Society leads this walking tour—first through early 19th-century Bogertown, and then onto Piermont’s pier. Enjoy exceptional views while learning about this scenic village, its geological history, early Dutch inhabitants, the Revolution, World War II, and the little-known history of the NY & Erie RR and how it created a village and impacted the state and nation. This two-mile walk is expected to take 2.5 hours and is rated at moderate difficulty. It is not suitable for children under age seven. The following additional equipment is required: water, hat, walking stick, sturdy walking shoes.
Bus Daytrip: Culinary Institute of America and Locust Grove
When: Friday, April 5, 2019
Where: Leaves the Historical Society at 8:30 am and returns at 5:30 pm
Price: $129 per person (HSRC members); $139 (non-members). Includes bus transportation, museum admissions, and lunch
We begin our day with a guided tour of the Culinary Institute of America. Then guests will enjoy a delicious three-course luncheon at the CIA’s famous Bocuse Restaurant, where the execution of classic French cuisine is prepared through the lens of ultra-modern cooking techniques. The Bocuse Restaurant is a unique and exciting world-class dining experience. Afterward, we’ll hop on the bus and travel to Locust Grove, the Italianate village designed in 1851 for the artist and inventor Samuel Morse by the architect A. J. Davis. We will have a guided sixty-minute tour, followed by time to explore the grounds or visitor center.
2019 Annual Dinner
When: Sunday, March 31, 2019, 5–9 pm
Where: The View on the Hudson, 101 Shad Row, Piermont
Price: $100, listing at the Friend level; $150, enhanced listing at the Patron level; $200, enhanced listing at the Sponsor level
Honoring:
– Lifetime Service Award: The Grant Family of Thiells
– Community Service Award: Kenneth J. Torsoe, Torsoe Brothers Construction, Suffern
– Living Landmark Award: Alice Gerard, Palisades Historian
with a Final Farewell Toast to the Tappan Zee Bridge, opened 1955
Guests will enjoy a cocktail hour, musical entertainment, award presentations and dancing. An array of items will be available at a silent auction. Proceeds from this annual event benefit the operating fund of the Historical Society of Rockland County.
2019 Annual Meeting
When: Monday, April 8, 2019, 7:00 pm
Where: HSRC History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE and open to the public
The order of business will include reports of the committees and elections of Trustees. All members of the public are invited.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee offers the names of the following Historical Society members:
Trustees nominated for a three-year term (Term 2022):
– Stephen Beckerle, Stony Point
– Thom Kleiner, Sparkill
– Jennifer Lorenzo, Stony Point
– Asha Paulose, Nyack
– Richard Sena, Bardonia
Trustees continuing in office
Term 2020
– Richard W. Anderson, Congers
– Daniel Garcia, Congers
– Philip C. Roventini, New City
– Jeff Weinberger, Esq., New City
– Gordon Wren, Spring Valley
Term 2021
– Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky, Suffern
– Dustin Hausner, New City
– Hon. Alfred Weiner, Wesley Hills
– Joseph Modaferri, Nanuet
– Jennifer Rothschild, South Nyack
Our thanks to Joni Anger of Pomona, Veronica DeMeo Boesch of Airmont,& Larry Kigler of New City, and Joseph Natale of Haverstraw for their Board service!
Bus Daytrip: Metropolitan Museum of Art
When: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Where: Leaves the HSRC Parking Lot at 9 am and returns at 5 pm
Price: $119/person (HSRC members); $129/person (non-members).
Includes bus transportation, docent guided tour, a deluxe luncheon coupon, tips and an all-museum pass.
Leave the driving (and parking) to us! Join us as we visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our day will begin with a docent-guided tour of “Artistic Encounters with Indigenous America” and “Art of Native America: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection.” These exhibitions explore how European and American artists represented Indigenous North Americans in drawings, prints, watercolors, photographs, and popular ephemera from the seventeenth century to the early twentieth century. Through forty-five examples from The Met collection, the display traces the evolution of this complex imagery over time, highlighting the ways in which it contributed to the creation and dissemination of myths and misconceptions about Native peoples, often justifying their dispossession, cultural destruction, and genocide. From formulaic depictions of so-called savage warriors and Indian princesses to romanticized representations of a "vanishing race," these works reveal the pervasive influence of Indigenous America on the Euro-American imagination. Then we will dine in the Met cafeteria with a lunch that includes your choice of entrée options (salad bar, sandwich, pasta, grill, or main course stations), dessert, and soft drink or coffee. After lunch, you will be free to explore the entire museum at your own pace. Enjoy the superb, extensive permanent collection or one or more of the other special exhibitions, including “Jewelry: The Body Transformed”; “Epic Abstraction”; “Monumental Journey: The Daguerreotypes of Girault de Prangey”; “The Tale of Genjii: A Japanese Classic Illuminated”; “Camp: Notes on Fashion”; “Seeing the Divine: Pahari Painting of North India”; and “The Art of London Firearms.”
Local History Meetup: Haverstraw Brick Museum & Center for Historic Preservation
When: Sunday, February 10, 2019, 1:30 pm SHARP
Where: Haverstraw Brick Museum, 12 Main Street, Haverstraw
Price: $FREE
This is a meet-up for history enthusiasts. All are welcome! The Haverstraw Brick Museum Center for Historic Preservation has completed an extensive renovation and will open later this spring. This meetup is an exclusive opportunity to get a sneak preview of the “new and improved” center, including the recently refurbished Landslide Diorama created by Rockland’s John Rossi. To join the group, please arrive at Haverstraw Brick Museum Center for Historic Preservation at 1:30 pm. This will be a guided tour, so please arrive on time. Luncheon is not included, but you're welcome to join our trip leader for an optional post-tour lunch at UNoodles. Visit Lucas Chocolate (next door) and Vilma's Bakery (across the street) for your Valentine Chocolates and Goodies before heading home!
My Dear Valentine: A Special Children's Craft Workshop
When: Sunday, February 10, 1:30 pm
Where: Historical Society of Rockland County, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Price: $5 per child. Seating is limited, and reservations are required.
We’ll make Valentine’s Day Cards to give to family and friends from colorful paper, doilies, ribbons and more. Learn about the history of Valentine’s Day and view a selection of vintage Valentine’s cards from the HSRC collection. This program is suitable for children as young as 5 (we’ll be using paper, glue, and crayons, but no scissors). All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the program, which will last approximately one hour. The $5 fee covers the cost of craft materials. Participants will create Valentines to take home. Seating at the craft table is limited, and preregistration is required. The program fee also includes admission to the Society's 43rd Annual Holiday Exhibition, “Cherished & Charming: Small Houses and Tiny Treasures.”
Film Screening: Piermont's Papermill:Stories from the Factory
When: Thursday, January 17, 2019, 7:15 pm SHARP
Where: HSRC History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New City
Admission: $FREE (reservations required)
This award-winning documentary tells the story of life in Piermont before the Condominiums. In 1901, Martin R. Williams erected the first paper mill in Piermont. The rail yards on the pier, built in 1840 by the Erie Railroad, provided transportation for supplies in and out of the village. Fresh water, needed to produce paper, was supplied from the nearby Sparkill Creek. The Piermont Paper Company began production in 1902, and for 18 years the plant produced cardboard. Its principal customer was the Robert Gair Company. In 1920, Robert Gair purchased the mill. He had become a leader in the paper industry in Manhattan and Brooklyn after the Civil War. Gair's discovery revolutionized modern society with cardboard boxes and paper fiber containers that replaced bulky wooden crates and barrels. Manufacturers saw the sides of boxes as valuable ad space to sell their brand. Piermont’s Papermill was produced for the Piermont Historical Society by Anthony Bellov Video Productions. The PHS is grateful to those whose memories are cherished: Phillip Delorenzo, Kevin Fagan, Lawrence Goswick, James Koza, Alfred Lacker, Laura Montesano.
