This week on The Historians Podcast, historian and regular New York Almanack contributor Bruce Dearstyne encourages New Yorkers to celebrate April 20th as the birthday of the Empire State. [Read more…] about Bruce Dearstyne On New York State’s Birthday
New York City
Life and Artistic Legacy of Sidney Simon
On 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
Gotham Goes Global: New York City from 1825-1925
The Columbia County Historical Society (CCHS) will host “Gotham Goes Global: New York City from 1825-1925,” a zoom lecture by Dr. Gary Darden, Ph.D set for Saturday, April 23rd. [Read more…] about Gotham Goes Global: New York City from 1825-1925
Florenz Ziegfeld: The Incarnation of Broadway
Impresario Florenz (Flo) Ziegfeld Jr. was an American icon who developed the modern Broadway revue and established its global leadership in entertainment. He invented show business.
Florenz hit his stride with the Follies of 1907. A combination of European refinement, the signing of high quality performers (chorus girls), choreographers and lyricists, a relatively short show of forty minutes presented with lightning speed and precision, created an unprecedented sense of theatrical excitement. [Read more…] about Florenz Ziegfeld: The Incarnation of Broadway
Building the Ashokan Reservoir: A New Book, Talk Planned
In Building the Ashokan Reservoir (Images of America, 2021), Frank Almquist brings to life the story of how this massive dam, miles of dikes, and water controls was built more than 100 years ago mostly by hand, an undertaking nearly the magnitude of the Panama Canal.
Construction started on September 30th, 1907 and the dam and dikes, followed by roads and bridges, was completed in December, 1917. Completion was ahead of schedule and under budget. [Read more…] about Building the Ashokan Reservoir: A New Book, Talk Planned
Hamilton & Washington Walking Tour of New York City
The Fraunces Tavern Museum has announced “Hamilton and Washington in New York City,” a walking tour led by Bruce Racond, set for April 23rd and 24th. [Read more…] about Hamilton & Washington Walking Tour of New York City
Freedomland: Co-op City and the Story of New York
Located on the grounds of the former Freedomland Amusement Park on the northeastern edge of The Bronx, Co-op City’s 35 towers and 236 townhouses have been home to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and is an icon visible to all traveling on the east coast corridor.
In 1965, Co-op City was planned as the largest middle-class housing development in the United States. It was intended as a solution to the problem of affordable housing in America’s largest city. [Read more…] about Freedomland: Co-op City and the Story of New York
Empire City Race Track in Yonkers: Some History
Early April saw New York State lawmakers adopt the 2022 budget and approve a plan to accelerate the siting of three new full casinos in the metropolitan New York area. This plan will see the casino licenses awarded to those able to cover the $500 million fee and be approved in a selection process.
The obvious first choice for one of the three sites is Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, and another possible location would be Empire City Casino in Yonkers.
Both locations for many years have successfully demonstrated their feasibility by conducting horse sports, and each of the casino facilities are managed by experienced operators, Resorts World at the Big A, and MGM at Empire City.
With Aqueduct in the Big Apple so well known, perhaps this is a good opportunity to delve into the origins of Empire City. [Read more…] about Empire City Race Track in Yonkers: Some History
Grants Now Available for Hudson River Estuary Communities
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced $1.14 million in competitive grant funding is now available to help communities in the Hudson River Estuary watershed increase resiliency to flooding, protect water quality, fish, and wildlife habitat, and improve recreational access and education for all, including people with disabilities and New Yorkers living in communities historically and disproportionately overburdened by environmental pollution. [Read more…] about Grants Now Available for Hudson River Estuary Communities
15th Year of Juvenile Eel Monitoring Begins
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that all along the Hudson River Estuary, teachers, students, and local residents are donning waders and venturing into tributary streams to participate in DEC’s ongoing research on migrating juvenile American eels (Anguilla rostrata). [Read more…] about 15th Year of Juvenile Eel Monitoring Begins