Historical Society of Rockland County

Crossroads of Rockland History Features Artist Lisa Levart

October 23, 2018 by Clare Sheridan Leave a Comment

The October 2018 “Crossroads of Rockland History,” featured artist Lisa Levart who spoke about her current exhibition at the Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC). This exhibition represents the culmination of eighteen months of creative collaboration between Levart and women of the Ramapough Lenape Nation (Rockland and Bergen counties). Levart uses collaged portrait photography as a basis for contemporary reinterpretations of Lenape mythology.

Her technique of layering images with other materials achieves results that blend “contemporary and ancient portraiture across the expanse of time.” A selection of her photographs – some being exhibited for the first time – are displayed alongside prehistoric and historical Lenape objects in the HSRC galleries. [Read more…] about Crossroads of Rockland History Features Artist Lisa Levart

Rockland History: Friends of Harmony Hall, Jacob Sloat House

August 29, 2018 by Clare Sheridan Leave a Comment

On the August, 2018 “Crossroads of Rockland History,” Peter Bush (direct descendent of Jacob Sloat) was on hand to discuss Friends of Harmony Hall ~ Jacob Sloat House.

This magnificent house, built in 1848, in the heart of New York State’s historic Ramapo Pass is raising excitement in Sloatsburg, NY, an area which is undergoing an economic revitalization at the moment. As unique as its original owner, the estate was added to the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places on December 22, 2006.

Although it is considered to be a ‘restoration in progress,’ this stately home once again welcomes visitors on a limited basis, offering a wide range of arts and educational programming. When restoration work is complete, Harmony Hall is expected to serve as the cultural center of western Rockland County – welcoming visitors to a region renown for its natural beauty, magnificent parks and significant contribution to American history. [Read more…] about Rockland History: Friends of Harmony Hall, Jacob Sloat House

Crossroads of Rockland History: Suffern Village, Railroad Museum

July 22, 2018 by Clare Sheridan Leave a Comment

On the July, 2018 “Crossroads of Rockland History,” we learned about the Suffern Village Museum and the Suffern Railroad Museum from our very special guest, Craig Long. Before being appointed Ramapo Town Historian and Rockland County Historian, Craig Long began his history career in the 1980s as a charter member of the Suffern Village Museum. This museum and the Suffern Railroad Museum tell the rich history of this important village at the crossroads of the Ramapo region. [Read more…] about Crossroads of Rockland History: Suffern Village, Railroad Museum

History Hike: Hudson River’s Iona Island

May 6, 2018 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Doc Bayne is set to lead a ‘History Hike’ at Iona Island, in the Hudson River below Bear Mountain, on Saturday May 12th from 10 am to 2 pm.

A major US Navy arsenal from 1900 to 1946, complete with explosions and the famous “Mothball Fleet” following World War II, Iona Island has a story that goes back to prehistory.

Bayne will cover evidence of Native American use of the island; the colonial farms and settlements when Iona was known as Salisbury Island and, later, Weygant’s Island; and the 1800s, when it attracted tourists with an amusement park, hotel and picnic grounds. [Read more…] about History Hike: Hudson River’s Iona Island

Jawonio: 70 Years With People With Special Needs

April 19, 2018 by Clare Sheridan Leave a Comment

On this month’s on “Crossroads of Rockland History,” Clare Sheridan explored the new exhibition at the Historical Society of Rockland County: “Jawonio: Moving Forward, Looking Back – Changing Lives of People with Special Needs for 70 Years” with Diana Hess (Chief Development Officer at Jawonio).

“Jawonio” is a Native American word that means “independence.” Founded in Rockland County in 1947 as the Rockland County Center for the Physically Handicapped & United Cerebral Palsy, Jawonio today is at the forefront of providing services that help people of all ages with special needs reach their potential and achieve independence.

Listen to the podcast here. [Read more…] about Jawonio: 70 Years With People With Special Needs

Lexow Committee: 19th Century Police Corruption

March 20, 2018 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

This month on “Crossroads of Rockland History,” Clare Sheridan interviewed Daniel Czitrom, author of New York Exposed: The Gilded Age Police Scandal That Launched the Progressive Era.

The book reveals the architects of what became known as the Lexow Committee, the state task force that – after a couple of rough starts – blew the lid off New York’s most corrupt practices and sent Tammany Hall, once again, into decline. The committee is named for New York State Senator and Rockland County resident Clarence Lexow. The author did some of the research for this intriguing book using the archives at the Historical Society of Rockland County. [Read more…] about Lexow Committee: 19th Century Police Corruption

Rockland History Podcast: Nyack Record Shop Project

February 21, 2018 by Clare Sheridan Leave a Comment

This month on “Crossroads of Rockland History,” Clare Sheridan featured the Nyack Record Shop Project. The Nyack Record Shop Project is an important oral history collection effort directed by Bill Batson.

At Kiam Records, a tiny shop on Main Street in downtown Nyack, oral histories were gathered during one-on-one interviews in this ambitious effort to give a voice to a group whose history is often overlooked: the African American community. [Read more…] about Rockland History Podcast: Nyack Record Shop Project

Rockland Co Preservation Award Nominations Sought

February 1, 2018 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Historical Society of Rockland County is seeking nominations for the 28th annual Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards. These awards, presented during National Historic Preservation Month in May, recognize outstanding historic preservation efforts in Rockland County.

Nominations are sought for and from individuals, organizations, businesses, and municipal representatives for achievements that have contributed to the continued preservation of Rockland County’s significant historical and cultural heritage. Self-nominations are encouraged. Activities, projects, and phases of projects that have been completed in the past ten years are eligible. [Read more…] about Rockland Co Preservation Award Nominations Sought

Rockland Co History Meet-Up: Loyal to the Crown

January 15, 2018 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Historical Society of Rockland County has invited the public to “Loyal to the Crown,” a New Exhibition at the Orangetown Historical Museum on Sunday, January 21, 2018, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm.

Mary Cardenas, Orangetown Historian and director of the Orangetown Museum, will guide attendees through “Loyal to the Crown: British Art from the George Way Collection.” [Read more…] about Rockland Co History Meet-Up: Loyal to the Crown

Rockland History: Marydell Sisters of Upper Nyack

December 24, 2017 by Clare Sheridan Leave a Comment

This month on “Crossroads of Rockland History,” Clare Sheridan featured “Marydell-Over 90 Years-Serving-Mentoring-Caring!” the new exhibition at the Historical Society of the Nyacks.

Suzanne Belisle, assistant exhibition curator, and Sister Veronica Mendez, President of the Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine spoke about the retrospective, which traces the work of the Marydell Sisters of Upper Nyack for more than 90 years, from the restoration of a derelict farm, to establishing a summer camp for immigrants, to creating the Marydell Faith and Life Center and transferring 30 acres to the Palisades Park Commission, and everything in between. They spoke about the remarkable collection of photographs, newspaper articles, and similar memorabilia in the exhibition. They also described the replica of the Sisters’ Peace Pole, the gnomes from the famous “Gnomes of Marydell,” memorialized in song by the former Nyacker John Babcock and a tribute to the Sisters’ 9-year-old pit bull they adopted from Hi-Tor shelter.

For more information about the exhibition or the Historical Society of the Nyacks, visit their website.

Listen to the podcast here. [Read more…] about Rockland History: Marydell Sisters of Upper Nyack