New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Clare Sheridan

Burgess Meredith & Rockland County History

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crossroads of rockland historyOn the September 2022 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History, we turned our attention to the life and legacy of the actor Burgess Meredith, who lived in the village of Pomona, in Ramapo, NY for thirty years.

Meredith’s son, Jonathan Meredith, joined Clare Sheridan to share memories of his father, growing up in Rockland County, and his father’s eclectic group of creative friends and neighbors, including Charles Addams, Maxwell Anderson, Alan Jay Lerner, and more. [Read more…] about Burgess Meredith & Rockland County History

Orangetown Memory Project on Rockland History Podcast

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crossroads of rockland historyOn the July 2022 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History, the new exhibition at the Orangetown Historical Museum and Archive entitled “The Orangetown Memory Project.” Members of the museum staff (Mary Cardenas, Elizabeth Skrabonja and Stefanie D’Erasmo) joined Clare Sheridan to discuss the exhibition, which uses artifacts and archives from the Orangetown Museum’s permanent collection to discover how finding out about our past adds immeasurable value to our daily lives. [Read more…] about Orangetown Memory Project on Rockland History Podcast

Millia Davenport & The Book of Costume

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crossroads of rockland historyOn the June 2022 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History, we turned our attention to the life and legacy of Millia Davenport (1895-1992).

David Bisaha, Assistant Professor of Theater at SUNY Binghamton joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss this remarkable and trailblazing woman who lived most of her life in Rockland County. Among her many contributions include writing the definitive book of theatrical costume history, The Book of Costume. Published in 1948, it remains the gold standard. In 1991 the Costume Society of America established the Millia Davenport Publication Award recognizing excellence in costume scholarship. [Read more…] about Millia Davenport & The Book of Costume

Rockland History: Confessions of a Hayseed DA

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crossroads of rockland historyOn the May 2022 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History, Kathleen Meehan Do visited the program to discuss the new book she edited entitled Confessions of a Hayseed D.A. (Excelsior Editions, 2022) written by her father Robert R. Meehan.

In this page turner, former Rockland District Attorney Robert R. Meehan takes the reader through his journey from naive do-gooder to seasoned prosecutor, investigating and solving heinous crimes and surviving an attempt on his life that upended his family’s world. [Read more…] about Rockland History: Confessions of a Hayseed DA

Life and Artistic Legacy of Sidney Simon

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crossroads of rockland historyOn the April episode of Crossroads of Rockland History we explored the life and artistic legacy of Sidney A. Simon (1917–1997). On the occasion of an exhibition of his works at the Blue Hill Art and Cultural Center (Pearl River, NY), two of Simon’s children, Teru Simon and Mark Simon, joined Clare Sheridan to share memories of their father and their own recollections of growing up on South Mountain Road in Rockland County. [Read more…] about Life and Artistic Legacy of Sidney Simon

Artists & Intellectuals: The Women of South Mountain Road, Rockland County

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crossroads of rockland historyTo celebrate Women’s History Month (March 2022), Crossroads of Rockland History focused our attention on the women of South Mountain Road (Rockland County) who, like their male counterparts, were gifted artists and intellectuals.

Historical Society of Rockland County’s Executive Director Susan Deeks joined Clare Sheridan to discuss some of these notable women and why they deserve a prominent place in the history of American arts and letters. Lita Hornick, Martha Ryther, Lotte Lenya, Eva Zeisel, Bessie Breuer and Mary Mowbray-Clarke were discussed. [Read more…] about Artists & Intellectuals: The Women of South Mountain Road, Rockland County

Skunk Hollow: A Free Black Community (1806-1905)

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crossroads of rockland historyOn the February 2022 episode of “Crossroads of Rockland History,” Clare Sheridan revisited the interview with historical archeologist Joan Geismar, and the fascinating area known as Skunk Hollow. Dr. Geismar has been a practicing urban archaeologist since 1981 and wrote her dissertation on free black community that lasted from 1806 until 1905.

The first known deed dated 1806 belonged to Jack Earnest from Palisades. In 1841, William Thompson, an African Methodist Episcopal itinerant preacher bought Jack’s house, built a church on his land, and became resident preacher. Over one hundred families lived in Skunk Hollow including the Browns, Olivers, Siscos, Thompsons, Williams and others. [Read more…] about Skunk Hollow: A Free Black Community (1806-1905)

The Haverstraw Brick Museum (Podcast)

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crossroads of rockland historyOn the December 2021 episode of “Crossroads of Rockland History,” host Clare Sheridan interviewed Rachel Whitlow, the acting Executive Director of the Haverstraw Brick Museum and Center for Historic Preservation.

They discussed the Museum’s new innovation series of exhibitions; interesting collaborations with organizations, including the Pratt School of Architecture; and the museum’s goal to engage the community through history, STEAM education, and hands-on living history experiences. [Read more…] about The Haverstraw Brick Museum (Podcast)

AJ Schenkman On Crossroads of Rockland History Podcast

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crossroads of rockland historyOn the November 2021 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History, host Clare Sheridan interviewed A.J. Schenkman, a frequent New York Almanack contributor and author of a new book entitled Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York (Globe Pequot, 2021).

Ann Bates, Enoch Crosby and other notorious figures in the American Revolution were discussed. [Read more…] about AJ Schenkman On Crossroads of Rockland History Podcast

17th Century Immigrant Ancestors (Podcast)

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crossroads of rockland historyThe October 2021 episode of “Crossroads of Rockland History,” focused on the new book by Ralph Blauvelt: Four Hundred Years in America: 17th Century Immigrant Ancestors (Self-Published, 2021).

This the story of the first immigrant settlers in New Netherland, including Blauvelt’s own ancestors. Their lives are reconstructed from the documents they left behind, and their stories are those of strangers in a strange land trying to build a new life. [Read more…] about 17th Century Immigrant Ancestors (Podcast)