In the latest episode of The History Twins podcast, storytelling duo Carla Lynne Hall and Jim Keyes discuss General Benedict Arnold, American Commander of West Point, as well as his wife Peggy Shippen, whose family was loyal to the Crown. Together they conspired with Major Andre to betray the American side during the American Revolutionary War. [Read more…] about Peggy Shippen, Benedict Arnold’s Wife & Co-Conspirator
Rockland County
Sing Sing Prison Break: A Hudson River Fishing Tale
The Hudson River Maritime Museum has an extensive collection of oral histories interviews of Hudson River commercial fisherman, including Edward Hatzmann, who was recorded on April 25th, 1992.
Hatzmann recalled a story told to him by fellow fisherman Charlie Rohr, about a prison break from Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York. [Read more…] about Sing Sing Prison Break: A Hudson River Fishing Tale
Burgess Meredith & Rockland County History
On 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
Major John Andre: Officer, Gentleman, Spy
This week on The History Twins podcast, storytelling duo Carla Lynne Hall and Jim Keyes discuss Major John Andre, the British Head of Intelligence during the American Revolutionary War.
On September 20th, 1780, he met with American General Benedict Arnold in Haverstraw, NY to receive the plans for West Point. [Read more…] about Major John Andre: Officer, Gentleman, Spy
Objects & Stories On The Rockland History Podcast
The August 2022 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History featured two guests. First, Miriam (Mimi) Hoffman was on hand to discuss “Storytellers from Nyack & Nearby,” the current exhibition at the Historical Society of the Nyacks. The exhibit features the work of 14 local authors and illustrators of children’s books, including authors Berta and Elmer Hader, who wrote the first children’s book by Americans. [Read more…] about Objects & Stories On The Rockland History Podcast
Orangetown Memory Project on Rockland History Podcast
On 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
Rockland History: Confessions of a Hayseed DA
On 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
Hudson Valley Segment of Statewide Birding Trail Opens
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the grand opening of the Hudson Valley segment of the New York State Birding Trail to highlight the State’s world-class and wide-ranging birding opportunities.
The Hudson Valley segment includes 39 locations on public lands throughout six counties, providing a variety of quality birding experiences for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy. [Read more…] about Hudson Valley Segment of Statewide Birding Trail Opens
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
Hudson River Railroad & Steamboat History: Piermont Pier
Hand-built in the mid-1800s, the 4,000-foot-long Piermont Pier on the Hudson River in Rockland County was once a terminus of the longest railroad in the world – the Erie Railroad.
Hampered by rules about railroads crossing state lines, the Erie built a pier nearly a mile long across the marshy bay at Piermont and out to the deeper parts of the Hudson River, where steamboats could pick up passengers and take them on to New York City. [Read more…] about Hudson River Railroad & Steamboat History: Piermont Pier