Peekskill

An American Literary Giant Takes A Hudson River Excursion By Sloop In 1801

March 30, 2023 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

The following text about a sloop journey up the Hudson River in 1801 was originally published In The Life of Charles Brockden Brown by William Dunlap (Philadelphia 1815). It was transcribed by Hudson River Maritime Museum volunteer researcher George A. Thompson and additionally edited and annotated by John Warren.

Very suddenly conceived the design of voyaging up the Hudson River, as far as Albany. Had heard much of the grandeur of its shores, but never had gone above ten miles from New York. My friend C. having some leisure was willing to adventure for ten days or a fortnight, and I having still more, and being greatly in want of air and exercise, agreed to accompany him. We found a most spacious and well furnished vessel, captain R.—– in which we embarked at sunset this day. The wind propitious [favorable] and the air wonderfully bland [not foul, like the air in New York at this time]. [Read more…] about An American Literary Giant Takes A Hudson River Excursion By Sloop In 1801

The Hamilton Musical And History’s Unsung

July 8, 2020 by Suzanne Clary 5 Comments

Like millions this past 4th of July weekend, my family tuned in to Disney’s streaming of Lin Manuel-Miranda’s epic Hamilton.

The performances indeed blew us all away. Our toes tapped under our tray tables to Daveed Diggs’ electric portrayal of Thomas Jefferson and “What Did I Miss?” Our hearts pained over Phillipa Soo’s gorgeously rendered entreaties “Look Around” and “That Would Be Enough.”

But all these indelible lyrics underscored why we will never be satisfied. Despite the brilliance of the script and cast, in dramatizing the life and times of Alexander Hamilton, Miranda left us longing for narratives beyond those of the Founding Fathers and their rarefied circle. Now we want to know what will come next to fill the ever more obvious omissions in our nation’s history. [Read more…] about The Hamilton Musical And History’s Unsung

2020 Annual Lincoln Remembrance Day Events

February 17, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The State of New York during the American Civil War was a major influence in national politics, the Union war effort, and the media coverage of the war. New York was the most populous state in the Union during the Civil War, and provided more troops to the Union Army than any other state, as well as several significant military commanders and leaders. [Read more…] about 2020 Annual Lincoln Remembrance Day Events

Historic Preservation Certificate Program Set for Peekskill

January 19, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Westchester Community College has announced a new four-class certificate program in Historic Preservation, based at its Center for the Digital Arts, Peekskill Extension Center in the Peekskill Historic District

The program is geared towards providing a specialization for tradesmen who work in historic communities, for students in history or related fields that want to have an add-on to their traditional degree or for anybody who wants to be more effective in engaging local politicians as preservation advocates. [Read more…] about Historic Preservation Certificate Program Set for Peekskill

Lincoln Depot Museum Opening Weekend

April 14, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Lincoln Depot Museum in Peekskill will kick-off of their 2019 season with three days of events April 26-28, 2019, including lectures by nationally known historians, an encampment of Civil War reenactors, demonstrations and drills by the troops, and a visit from General U.S. Grant on Friday and Sunday. [Read more…] about Lincoln Depot Museum Opening Weekend

Elmer Ellsworth, 11th NY Fire Zouaves at Peekskill

November 15, 2018 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Lincoln Depot Museum has announced a special presentation, Elmer Ellsworth and the 11th New York Fire Zouaves, has been set for Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 7:30 pm.

The 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in New York City in May 1861 as a Zouave regiment, known for its unusual dress and drill style, by Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, a personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln. Drawn from the ranks of the city’s many volunteer fire companies, the unit was known alternately as the Ellsworth Zouaves, First Fire Zouaves, First Regiment New York Zouaves, and U.S. National Guards. [Read more…] about Elmer Ellsworth, 11th NY Fire Zouaves at Peekskill

Peekskill: Lincoln Society Gala Set For March 24th

March 4, 2018 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The annual Lincoln Society Gala has been set for Saturday, March 24th, at the Mansion at Colonial Terrace, 119 Oregon Rd, in Cortlandt Manor.

The event will mark the 115th anniversary of the founding of the organization, one of the oldest Lincoln groups in the United States.

Lincoln made his only speaking stop in Westchester County at the old Peekskill railroad depot in February 1861. He spoke to a crowd of 1,500 people during the train journey to his Inauguration in Washington, DC. [Read more…] about Peekskill: Lincoln Society Gala Set For March 24th

Peekskill Lecture: Presidential Visits at Gettysburg

September 12, 2017 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Lincoln Depot Museum in Peekskill, NY, will continue their Fall Lecture Series on Saturday, September 30th with noted scholar and author Jay Jorgensen.

The talk, “Presidential Visits at Gettysburg” begins with an in-depth look at Lincoln’s visit and the newspaper coverage around the nation. Jay will conclude with a discussion on a number of the more interesting visits to GB by various post-Civil War presidents. Mr. Jorgensen will also have copies of his books for sale at the event. [Read more…] about Peekskill Lecture: Presidential Visits at Gettysburg

Sumner Lark’s Putnam County African-American Projects

February 18, 2016 by David Fiske 2 Comments

Although his father was said to have been born as a slave, and was later a junk dealer in the Augusta, Georgia area, Sumner H. Lark came to be a trend-breaking black leader in New York State who worked to establish an African-American community in Putnam County.

Sumner Lark was born in in 1874 to a father later described as “a pioneer race business man in his home town and accumulated a considerable fortune at one time.” He grew up in the Augusta area, and attended the Haines Institute before attending Howard University, graduating in 1897. He then returned to Georgia, taught Chemistry and Physics at Haines and ran a local newspaper for about a year, having edited a student-run newspaper in college. After marrying he relocated to Brooklyn, New York just after the start of the 20th century. There, he ran his own printing business, and started The Eye, a newspaper which reported information of interest to African Americans. [Read more…] about Sumner Lark’s Putnam County African-American Projects

Peekskill’s Historic Community of St Mary

January 26, 2016 by Miguel Hernandez 47 Comments

Readers may know that the Roman Catholic Church has numerous religious orders of nuns and monks, but may not know that the Protestant Episcopal Church has them as well. Overall, there are 18 Episcopal religious orders and 14 “Christian Communities” comprised of men, women, or both. This is the story of the Community of St Mary (CSM) and the remarkable religious buildings they had constructed at Peekskill, NY from 1872 to 1963. The order was founded by Sister Harriet Starr Cannon, (1823-1896) its Mother Superior, on the Feast of the Purification of Mary on February 2, 1865 in St. Michael’s Church, 86th Street, New York City, about two months before the close of the Civil War.

Accordingly, it is said to be the oldest Episcopal religious community in the US still in existence (now headquartered in Greenwich, Washington County, New York. Sister Harriet was the temporal head of this community of Protestant Episcopal nuns from its founding in 1865, to her death in 1896. Based on a Benedictine model, the CSM adhered to a simple monastic life centered on prayer, reflection, and service. The forms of service practiced by the nuns of the order have varied over the years and places where they chosen to have a presence. At Peekskill for instance, they operated a high school for girls and the manufacture and sale of “Alter Bread” (aka communion wafers) was one of the CSM’s primary means of self-sustainment. [Read more…] about Peekskill’s Historic Community of St Mary