New Issue Available Now!

IN THIS ISSUE

The New Exhibit at the Historical Society: "Home Grown: A History of Farming in Rockland County" Susan Deeks, our Executive Director, writes a review of our new exhibit and reminisces about visiting Van Houten Farms in her youth. Sue graduated from Tappan Zee High School and SUNY Binghamton with bachelor's degrees in German Language & Literature and Philosophy and holds a master's degree in History from William Paterson University. She is enjoying her twelfth year in her position at the Historical Society.

By Early Candlelight

An article by James Bradford Van Houten, the owner of Van Houten Farms in Orangetown, is reprinted from the July-August 1965 issue of The New Magazine.

Book Review

The Olden Days: My Mother's Family History 1594-1997, by Beverly Schultz Csordas, is a portrait of the Concklin family of the Orchards of Concklin in Pomona. The author weaves together family diaries and letters, written primarily by Concklin women, into a rich tapestry of farming life over the centuries in Rockland.

Remembering William Doherty

Bill Doherty, who died in March, was passionate about history and accomplished some major feats during the countless hours he volunteered for the Historical Society.

Another Call for Rocks

Your editors haven't given up on the project of identifying iconic rocks in the county and cite a call from historian George H. Budke 80 years ago, which names some not familiar to us.

COVER PICTURE.  Niles Davies Spraying Corn on His Farm in Congers. Photographed by Ken Karlewicz in 1998. From the collection of the Historical Society of Rockland County.

SOUTH OF THE MOUNTAINS (ISSN 0489-9563) is published quarterly by The Historical Society of Rockland County, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956; phone, (845) 634-9629; fax, (845) 634-8690; website, www.RocklandHistory.org; email, info@rocklandhistory.org.

While all efforts are made to ensure accuracy in the articles, the Historical Society assumes no responsibility for opinions and conclusions expressed or implied by contributors. The editors welcome contributions of letters and articles. Please contact us at the Historical Society.

© 2025 The Historical Society of Rockland County. All rights reserved

Editor: Marjorie H. Johnson     *      Consulting Editor: Marianne B. Leese

Printing by Harrington Press, Nyack, New York

The single copy price of South of the Mountains is $5, including postage and handling.

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