New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Historical Society of Rockland County

Crossroads of Rockland History Celebrates 100th Episode

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crossroads of rockland historyThe February 2019 “Crossroads of Rockland History,” was a celebration of the program’s 100th episode. We discussed the most popular programs that we’ve aired since the program first aired in October 2010.

Excerpts from past programs were included: The Brinks Robbery with Bob Baird, Haunted History with Linda Zimmermann, Two Schools in Hillburn Documentary with Joe Allen, Aviation History with Adam Raines, Blauvelt’s Roger Peltzman (pianist) and Pearl River Author Mary Beth Keane. We also learned about an interesting piece of Haverstraw History that includes Babe Ruth and St. Peter’s Church from Steve Possell. [Read more…] about Crossroads of Rockland History Celebrates 100th Episode

Tour The New Brick Museum in Haverstraw

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haverstrawThe Historical Society of Rockland County has invited the public to a local history meet-up at the Haverstraw Brick Museum & Center for Historic Preservation, 12 Main Street, Haverstraw, on Sunday, February 10, at 1:30 pm.

The Haverstraw Brick Museum Center for Historic Preservation has recently completed an extensive renovation and will open later this spring. This meetup is an opportunity to get a sneak preview”of the new and improved center, including the recently refurbished Landslide Diorama created by Rockland’s John Rossi. [Read more…] about Tour The New Brick Museum in Haverstraw

Author Frank Eberling on Crossroads of Rockland History

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crossroads of rockland historyThe January 2019 “Crossroads of Rockland History,” featured New City native (now Floridian) and author Frank Eberling who previewed his upcoming murder-mystery Low Tor. Just like his earlier novel Demarest Kill, Low Tor is set in familiar places in Rockland County, and weaves a shady tale of murder on the mountain.

It’s another page-turner filled with local history and colorful characters. Frank Eberling is a fifth-generation New City resident who moved to Florida upon graduation from Clarkstown High School in 1964. He has worked as a documentary filmmaker for more than forty years. [Read more…] about Author Frank Eberling on Crossroads of Rockland History

Crossroads of Rockland History Features Artist Lisa Levart

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crossroads of rockland historyThe 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

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crossroads of rockland historyOn 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

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crossroads of rockland historyOn 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

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iona island courtesy DEC/Hudson river national estuarine research reserveDoc 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

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crossroads of rockland historyOn 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

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crossroads of rockland historyThis 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

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crossroads of rockland historyThis 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