The Historical Society of
Rockland County Annual Report 2021–2022
Annual Membership Meeting of The Historical Society of Rockland County April 4, 2022
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956 (845) 634-9629 Phone (845) 634-8690 Fax www.RocklandHistory.org HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
info@rocklandhistory.org 1
Cover photo: Appliqué square, quilt, donated by Louis Hornick & Co., Inc., HSRC 1976.037.001
“Countless women and some men have turned to patchwork and quilting in times of grief. It can be meditative at a time when life is in chaos. ... This block is at the center of a 19th century album quilt made in Rockland County, NY, and owned by the Historical Society of Rockland County. It commemorates the life of Edmond H. Thompson who died June 3, 1851, aged 20 years.” —“Quilting and Grief,” Bergen County Quilts & Coverlets Show (blog), September 10, 2021, www.bergencountyquiltandcoverletshow.com
2
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
Annual Membership Meeting of The Historical Society of Rockland County April 4, 2022 * 7:00 PM
Agenda Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance
President’s Annual Report
Review of Annual Report with Committee Reports
Report of Nominating Committee & Election of Trustees
Adjournment
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
3
Our Mission The Historical Society of Rockland County is an educational organization dedicated to engaging diverse audiences in promoting and preserving the history of Rockland County. To fulfill its mission, the Society: A. Collects, catalogues, preserves and exhibits artifacts and archival materials that reflect the diverse history of Rockland County and
the Lower Hudson Valley. B. Sponsors educational programs and publications based on sound scholarship to promote the appreciation of history and cultural heritage of the people of Rockland. C. Promotes through programs, services and example the preservation, restoration, continuing and adaptive use of the historic buildings and sites in the County. D. Develops and maintains the financial, professional and human
resources necessary to achieve the purposes and goals of the organization.
4
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
The Historical Society of Rockland County 2021 Annual Membership Meeting April 28, 2021 * 6:30 PM
Minutes President Alfred J. Weiner opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Minutes: The minutes from the 2020 Annual Meeting were distributed in the Annual Meeting booklet. President’s Report: Judge Weiner gave welcoming remarks and thanked the staff, Board members, and volunteers for their hard work. He recognized outgoing trustee Dustin Hausner. Due to COVID-19 precautions, he announced there would be no program and no verbal committee reports. Everyone was given an Annual Report booklet and invited to view the exhibition inside the History Center.
Executive Director’s Report: Susan Deeks thanked everyone for attending the meeting and noted that the HSRC continued to be open three days per week to the public, as well as Sunday afternoon, and was following CDC and state guidelines. Board of Trustees Elections The Nominating Committee nominated Judge Victor Alfieri and Derek Tarson to new three-year terms as trustees and Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky and Jennifer Rothschild to serve second terms. There were no nominations from the floor. The motion carried. Adjournment: Richard Sena moved to adjourn at 6:50 pm; Ronnie Boesch seconded. The motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Stephen Beckerle, Trustee
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
5
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956 (845) 634-9629
www.RocklandHistory.org Board of Trustees Veronica DeMeo Boesch, President; Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky, Esq., 1st Vice President ; Stephen Beckerle, 2nd Vice President ; Philip C. Roventini, CPA/PFS, Treasurer; Jennifer Rothschild, Secretary ; Hon. Alfred J. Weiner, Immediate Past President ; Hon. Victor J. Alfieri Jr.; Anthony Benedict; Daniel Garcia; Joseph R. Holland III; Thom Kleiner; Jennifer Lorenzo; Janet Oravec; Asha Paulose; Richard Sena; Derek Tarson
Staff Susan Curry Deeks, Executive Director Jennifer Brooks, Education Coordinator Christine Kowalski, Museum Services Assistant Robert Carroll, Caretaker Marjorie Johnson, Editor, South of the Mountains Marianne B. Leese, Senior Historian We thank you for your continued support of your historical society! ______________________________________________________
In addition to contributions from members, friends and the business community, the Historical Society of Rockland County received funding in 2021-22 from the Office of the Rockland County Executive, Department of Economic Development and Tourism, and the Town of Ramapo.
Follow us 6
on HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
President’s Report First, I thank Judge Alfred J. Weiner and the members of our Board of Trustees for the privilege of serving as the Historical Society’s President since 2021. Sixteen years ago I joined the Board and have served many terms as a member. The importance of our endeavors is illustrated by the many volunteers who have donated their time and efforts to help us carry out our mission. Our Society is the repository of all things Rockland. We became a county in 1798, but our history goes back to the cultures of our Native tribes, the European explorers who sailed up the Hudson, and the settlements of Dutch farmers in the early 1600s. There are few who could have anticipated the events of the past two years. Our Society has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the number of visitors to our exhibition galleries and the way we have been able to hold our meetings and lectures. Two of our important programs—the Annual Dinner and the County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards Country Supper—have had to be cancelled in the interest of our guests’ welfare. We hope in the future to resume honoring Rocklanders whose contributions have benefited our county. Meanwhile, the safety of our visitors, volunteers, trustees, and staff is paramount to our continued operation. I thank everyone who gave to our 2021 Annual Appeal. This was one of the bright spots of our year due to the generosity of our cherished members. Fundraising is always on our minds since HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
7
we depend on contributions to carry out our mission. I recently mailed letters to our public officials asking them to become member of the Society, since, in their capacities, they are part of the ongoing history of our county. I hope to many responses in the coming weeks. Every one of us is a recipient of the efforts of all those who came before us. Whether it was our parents, our teachers, government officials, medical professionals, or our neighbors in the communities where we live, history is all around us. For myself, I am so grateful that I taught at North Rockland High School under a special Social Studies Department chair named Thomas F. X. Casey, who also served as HSRC president for a number of years and welcomed me as a new Board member in 2006. It may have been fate that seated me at the same table as Pat and Jim Cropsey at a Salvation Army breakfast in 2005. They told me all about the ongoing activities and programs of the Historical Society of Rockland County. A great thanks to Pat and Jim for all their work and generosity over the years. Respectfully submitted, Veronica DeMeo Boesch President, Board of Trustees
8
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
Reports from the Committees Buildings & Grounds The 2021–22 committee consisted of Stephen Beckerle and Gordon Wren (co-chairs), Richard Anderson, Daniel Garcia, Art Gunther, Joseph Holland, and Veronica Boesch. The most significant grounds project undertaken this year was the rebuilding of the gated fence around the Plant-a-Row vegetable garden, behind the ornamental garden and grape arbor and adjacent to the Jacob Blauvelt House. The work was done by New City Boy Scout Jack Kowalski in fulfilment of his Eagle Scout rank, assisted by fellow members of New City Boy Scout Troop 97. While COVID-19 restrictions continued to prevent volunteers from performing much building and grounds work, especially in structures’ interiors, the HSRC maintained contracts Steve Botto Landscaping (lawnmowing and groundskeeping), Mr. K’s Gutter Service (quarterly cleaning), and other vendors, with the goal of staying ahead of basic maintenance needs. Caretaker Bob Carroll continues to tend the ornamental garden; clean the interior of the History Center, Blauvelt House, and Barn-Carriage House complex; and clear walkways and driveways after snowstorms. Respectfully Submitted, Gordon Wren and Stephen Beckerle, Chairs HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
9
Bus Trips
The 2021–22 committee consisted of Cathy Quinn (chair), Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky, Clare Sheridan, Anthony Benedict, Gordon Wren, and Veronica and Bob Boesch. The committee held two Local History Meetups in the spring. The first, led by Clare Sheridan on May 8, took place at the nationally touring sculpture Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom during its month-long stop in Haverstraw. After the viewing the statue, the group attended the Haverstraw African-American Connection’s special celebration of “Phenomenal Women” of Rockland County. On May 20, volunteers Cathy Quinn and Clare Sheridan met a large group to celebrate Mother’s Day in the blooming Lilac Gardens at Skylands/New Jersey Botanical Garden in Ringwood, NJ. Two Hikes through History took place in Harriman State Park in 2021-22. The first, on September 21, visited the memorial site where Northwest Airlines Flight 6231 crashed on December 1, 1974, just minutes after taking off from Kennedy Airport. This hike was a 2021 Hudson River Valley Ramble event. The second, on December 4, took participants to top of Jackie Jones Mountain and the sixtyfoot steel fire tower at its summit, where they enjoyed spectacular views of the Hudson River. The hike also provided history about the ruins of 10
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
the nearby Orak mansion, built in 1923 as the summer home of the Karo syrup company executive George Briggs Buchanan. We thank volunteers Gordon Wren and Anthony Benedict for leading his popular hikes. In the fall, the committee took advantage of a lull in COVID restrictions to take the postponed bus excursion to explore key sites in New York State’s Colonial Dutch history. Guests visited Mabee Farm in Schenectady, the oldest farm site in New York State’s Mohawk Valley, and Crailo (“Crows’ Wood” in Dutch) in Rensselaer, once a part of the vast landholding called the Manor, or Patroonship, of Rensselaerswyck. Respectfully Submitted, Cathy Quinn, Chair
Collections Committee & Library Serving on the 2021–22 Collections Committee were Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky, Jennifer Rothschild, Jennifer Lorenzo, Marianne Leese (Chair), Richard Sena, Winston Perry, and Clare Sheridan. Without a professional curator on staff, the Collections Committee is required to submit to the Board of Trustees for its approval any recommended additions to the collections. Once an item has been accepted, a Deed of Gift is signed by the donor. When the committee decides it is best not to accept a donation, HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
11
the committee will, if possible, suggest an alternative and appropriate institution. Or the item may be accepted for research, educational or exhibition purposes, with thanks to the donor. Accepted by the Board of Trustees into the Collections
The Motel on the Mountain Matchbox, Hillburn, NY. Gift of Marilyn Simmons, Bristol, CT.
Three 8 x 10" Photographs, Groundbreaking Ceremonies for Thruway Plaza and Route 59 Theatre, Nanuet, Aug. 1961. Gift of Jacqueline Altschuler, Naples, FL. One 8 x 10" Photograph, Aerial View of Site for Thruway Plaza and Route 59 Theater, Nanuet, 1961. Gift of Jacqueline Altschuler. Invitation, Admission Ticket, Journal, Souvenir Program to Movie West Side Story, June 28, 1962, opening movie at Route 59 Theater. Gift of Jacqueline Altschuler.
Prescription Ledger, A. D. & J. D. Blauvelt Druggists, Spring Valley, 1869–71. Gift of Catherine Zugibe, Warwick, NY.
One Sheet of Prescriptions, 1918–19, pasted on both sides of the sheet and overlapping. Gift of Catherine Zugibe. Handwritten List of Licensed Physicians in Rockland County. Gift of Catherine Zugibe. Handwritten List of Physicians and Surgeons Registered in Rockland County, date stamped July 3, 1902. Gift of Catherine Zugibe.
12
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
Two Typewritten Letters, 1907, from the Secretary of the Medical Society of New York State, to Rockland County Clerk C. M. Crum, asking for list of newly registered physicians in the county for the society’s medical directory; response handwritten on the letters. Gift of Catherine Zugibe.
Banthrico Semi-Mechanical Bank Shaped as 1910 Stanley Steamer, 1960s. Gift of Betty Meisler, Valley Cottage.
Slave Deed, October 7, 1793, sale of man, Jack, by Matthew Demarest to Theodorus Ramson, both of the Precinct of Haverstraw. Gift of Barbara P. Joyce, Tampa, FL.
Two 7 x 10" Photographs of Dr. Bertold Feldman’s Office, 77 South Main Street, New City, early 1960s. Dr. Feldman was resident physician of New City, ca. 1954 until the 1970s. Gift of George F. Feldman and Deborah J. Orr, Manakin Sabot, VA.
Three 8 x 10" Photographs of George Feldman’s New City Grammar School Classes, Grades 3 (1954-1955), 5 (1956-1957), 6 (1957-58). Gift of George Feldman and Deborah Orr.
Two “Order of Equatorial Air Voyager” Certificates, October 19, 1948, issued by Qantas Empire Airways to
Dr. & Mrs. Feldman when they flew across the Equator. Gift of George Feldman and Deborah Orr. Schedule of Charges at Nyack Hospital, Undated. Dr. Feldman was resident physician at Nyack and Good Samaritan hospitals. Gift of George Feldman and Deborah Orr. HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
13
Additions to the Postcard Collection
Colored Postcard, “Wayside Chapel, Grand View on the Hudson,” mailed February 28, 1911, from Nyack. Gift of Alvin Schaut, Plainfield, WI.
Colored Postcard, “Greetings from Spring Valley, N.Y.,” mailed June or July 2, 1930, from Spring Valley. Gift of Alvin Schaut.
Approved by the Board of Trustees for Deaccessioning
Object 1973.17.8, two Application for War Ration Book No. 3 and one War Ration Book No. 3. The applications and ration book were those of Easton, PA, residents. Transferred to the Northampton Historical and Genealogical Society of Easton, PA.
Further Additions to the Collections The following were found unprocessed. No object number was found on them. No paperwork was found as to who the donor was in all but for one case. Steamer Trunk, flat top, with “T. W. Wisner, Warwick, N.Y.” painted on one end Commemorative Nyack Citizens Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon
Commemorative Ribbon, 1877 Philadelphia Exposition Metal Firefighter Badge, Rockland Lake VFD, Knickerbocker Engine No. 1 Identification Entry Tag for exhibitor’s paisley shawl, Ladies’ Auxiliary, Rockland A. & H. Assoc., Orangeburg
14
Letchworth Village Photographs: three 5 x 7" (“Playground,” “Coming in from the Fields,” HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
“Weaving”), 1933, by Margaret Bourke-White, and three (“Laundry,” 5 x 7"; “Mother and Child,” 8.5 x 22"; “Boys Choir Practice,” 8.5 x 11"), 1941, by Arnold Genthe Scrapbook of Rockland County Symphony, 1937–41, given by Janet Simons
Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings of U.S. Postmaster General James A. Farley, 1933–52 Letter from Brig. Gen. G. S. Allison, dated August 1, 1839 to Col. Harman Goetschius, 160th Reg., Ramapo, regarding officer drills
Photograph of an Illustration of “Willow Brook,” the Cole Homestead, Spring Valley Curvfit Woman’s Travel Safety Razor in Its Box Christmas Tree Ornament, 4.5", green wire brush, tipped with silver paint
Poster, 11 x 14", Notice of Increased Rates, NJ & NY RR Co.; effective date, February 1, 1965 Road Map, New York State Thruway, “Gateway to the Southern Catskill Area, Summer 1950 New York State Airport Map and Directory, 1967 Spiral-Bound Booklet, “Proposal for a Junior Museum on the Huntington Estate at High Tor Park,” 1966 Booklet Containing Addresses Delivered at the Dedication of the Walt Whitman Statue, Nov. 17, 1940, includes map of the proposed Palisades Interstate Parkway
Photographic Postcard, Sepia, of Young Boy, John Bothwell Mowbray-Clarke, son of Mary Mowbray-Clarke The Street School (New City) Cookbook, 1955, containing signatures of contributors printed in it Continued on page 18
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
15
Finance
N.B. The Finance Committee reports are current as of March 31, 2022. They are not audited financial statements; nor do they include income or expenses received in the final week of the fiscal year. As such, they are preliminary and subject to change.
Full Year Income Expense Total
Actual
Plan
Better/(Worse)
$ 258,091.00
269,839.00
(11,748.00)
$ 244,403.00
269,839.00
25,436.00
$ 13,688.00
~
13,688.00
FY Income was $258,091 versus a plan of $269,839. This unfavorable outcome was due to lower than projected special event and membership revenue, offset by higher than projected individual and corporate support. FY Expenses were $244,403 versus a plan of $268,839. This favorable outcome was due to lower than projected personnel costs and special event expenses, offset by higher than expected insurance costs, building repairs, utility costs, and credit card fees.
Balance Sheet Summary as of March 31, 2022 Bank
Account
Sterling/Webster Money Market Capital (1) Raymond James
Endowment Endowment
Sterling/Webster Checking Sterling/Webster Money Market TD Bank Money Market Operating Total
16
Amount
Fund Type
$ 80,924.09 Capital Fund $ 80,924.09 Subtotal $ 3,386,197.74 Endowment Fund $ 3,386,197.74 Subtotal $ 31,829.34 Operating Fund $57,899.82 Cash Reserves $ 113,461.09 Cash Reserves $ 203,190.25 Subtotal $ 3,670,312.08
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
Endowment
N.B. The Endowment Report is based on the calendar year (January 1– December 31, 2021). All other reports are based on the fiscal year (April 1, 2020–March 31, 2021). The Endowment Fund opened the calendar year at $3,092,278.00, and closed at $3,554,434.00, for a positive net change in portfolio value of $462,156.00. As of December 31, 2021, the portfolio consisted of 27% fixed income securities, 4% cash and cash equivalents, and 69% equities. It is managed by The Mahoney Group, with Raymond James as custodian.
Respectfully submitted, Philip C. Roventini, Treasurer
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
17
Photograph of Painting, 8 x 10", “Recognition—for Washington and the New Nation,” oil by Henry Hintermeister Photograph, 8 x 10", of Painting “Conference to Arrange for Evacuation of New York City, 1783,” by John Ward Dunsmore Tax Deed for André Monument to George Dickey, September 1, 1900, for $4.73 Nyack Country Club Scrapbook, 1890–97 Four Colored Postcards (“Decorative Metal Work,” “Carefree Home-owning,” “Invisible Safeguard,” and “For Factory or Honeymoon Cottage,” all by Toncan Iron), advertising for Chs. H. Sealey Roofing and Sheet Metal Work, Sparkill
Additions to the Research Library
The Life, Times and Services of Anthony Wayne, by O. J. Victor. Gift of Frederick Wagner.
A Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia and Lee McAlester, 1978. Gift of the Estate of Caroline Tapley.
CD, “Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins and Berlin Theatre Songs.” Masterworks Heritage Music Series, 1999. Gift of Susan Deeks.
Hair Design and Fashion: Principles and Relationships, by Miriam Cordwell and Marion Rudoy, 1977. Rockland: A Recollection, by Patrick Higgins, 1973. Gift of Naomi Kleinberg in memory of her parents, Richard and Carole Metzenberg Morrill Respectfully Submitted, Marianne Leese, Chair, and Senior Historian 18
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
Exhibitions Committee In April, we opened the History Center to the public with the second year of our special Suffrage Centennial exhibition, “Inside Out: Women, Fashion & The Fight for the Vote.” Curators Jennifer Brooks and Christine Kowalski mined the HSRC’s permanent collection for items of apparel and accessories that addressed questions about how the fight for women’s suffrage changed fashion, and how women’s fashion changed in response to the movement to obtain the vote. Also in April, we reopened the semi-permanent “Rockland Voices” exhibition, which illustrates the county’s rich history by highlighting key objects from the HSRC collection, with the special display “Mariel Farlow—Being of Light,” curated by Clare Sheridan. Our extended Suffrage Centennial celebration concluded with the 45th Annual Holiday Exhibition, “Playing with Fashion: Dolls and Dollhouses,” which ran from December 8, 2021, through February 28, 2022. The exhibition explored fashion trends of the mid- to late twentieth century as reflected through a range of dolls and dollhouses. Displays included a sixty-year timeline of dressed Mattel Barbie & Friends dolls and accessories; popular competitors that reveal sometimes complementary and sometimes controversial fashion trends; and dollhouse architecture and accessories in the midcentury modern style. Respectfully Submitted, Susan Deeks, Executive Director HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
19
Membership
There are currently 509 active members, which represents a .98% decrease from last year: 2021-22 11 44 128
2020-21 12 49 137
2019-20 12 37 133
Individual Libraries Lifetime Museum Patron Presidents Circle
114 17 8 0 3
111 15 8 0 2
120 15 8 1 1
Senior/Student
183 1 509
192 1 518
201 0 528
Blauvelt Fellow Centurion Family
Sustaining Patron
Our effort to increase membership in 2021-22 included: Continuing solicitation to social media followers to become active, paid members. Sending gratis issues of South of the Mountains to lapsed members with their renewal notices. Offering memberships in all event and program journals. South of the Mountains continues to be the most popular tangible benefit; discounts on trip and event fees are also a welcome membership benefit. We thank Marjorie Johnson and Marianne Leese for editing the journal and the contributing authors for making the publication unique in our region. We also thank Christine Kowalski for tracking memberships. Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not able to convene our regular group of mailing volunteers, so a special thank you goes to Ellen Brower and Teresa Loveman for their extra volunteer efforts Respectfully submitted, Clare B. Sheridan, Chair 20
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee offers the names of the following Historical Society members: Trustees nominated for a three-year term (Term 2025): •
Stephen Beckerle, Stony Point
•
Thom Kleiner, Sparkill
•
Jennifer Lorenzo, Stony Point
•
Lea Wolinetz, Suffern
Trustees continuing in office Term 2023 •
Anthony Benedict, Airmont
•
Veronica DeMeo Boesch, Airmont
•
Daniel Garcia, Congers
•
Joseph Holland Jr., New City
•
Philip C. Roventini, New City
Term 2024 •
Judge Victor Alfieri, Congers
•
Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky
•
Janet Oravec
•
Jennifer Rothschild
•
Derek Tarson, Nyack
Our thanks to Asha Paulose of Bardonia and Richard Sena of Haverstraw for their Board service. Respectfully submitted, Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky, Chair HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
21
2021–22 Programs and Special Events Thursday, April 22, 2021
Gallery Talk “Rockland Voices: Being of Light” The year 2020 marked the 40th anniversary of the installation of one of the most controversial public sculptures in Rockland. This virtual program looked back to the hot summer of 1980, when Mariel Farlow installed a monumental sculpture on the grounds of the Rockland County Courthouse in New City. The effort leading up to this extraordinary task was the culmination of months of preparation, proposals, designs, fabrication, creativity, hard work, and a bit of serendipity. The presentation explored the serendipity, controversy, and philosophy behind Being of Light, which still stands in front of the Courthouse, exactly where it was placed 40 years ago. Wednesday, May 19, 2021, and Thursday, May 20, 2021
Virtual Gallery Tour “Orangetown Suffragist” at the Orangetown Museum American women fought for more than seven decades to earn the right to vote. During that time, they organized, lectured, petitioned, lobbied, paraded, picketed and went to jail for daring to support suffrage. Curator Elizabeth Skrabonja provided an online virtual tour of this outstanding exhibition at the Orangetown His22
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
torical Museum & Archives, highlighting original objects and photographs on display and discussing the legacy Orangetown's activist women have left for us that promotes the advancement of women and girls in our community today. Wednesday, June 16, 2021, and Thursday, June 17, 2021
Virtual Gallery Tour Piermont’s Rich History: Train Station Museum The Piermont Historical Society came together in 2004 to preserve the village's old railroad station, located on Ash Street along the Old Erie Path rail trail. Originally built in 1883, the structure is the only station to survive from Rockland County's mid-nineteenthcentury railroad era. In this online presentation, PHS members and volunteers will provide a virtual tour of the Train Station Museum, which was preparing to reopen later in 2021. Wednesday, September 22, 2021, and Thursday, September 23, 2021
Virtual Gallery Tour “A Spy in Our Midst: The Story of the André-Arnold Affair” The Orangetown Museum’s “A Spy In Our Midst: The Story of HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
23
the André-Arnold Affair” examines the conflicted history of treason and betrayal that resulted in the execution of John André, a gentleman soldier who faced death bravely and left many to reflect on the tragedy of war. Orangetown Historian Mary Cardenas guided us through remarkable episode of the American Revolution, from the meeting of the two men on the Hudson’s shore at Haverstraw through the hanging of André in Tappan on October 2. Wednesday, October 20, 2021, and Thursday, October 21, 2021
Virtual Tour Inside the HSRC’s Jacob Blauvelt House The preserved Jacob Blauvelt Farmhouse in New City, built circa 1832 and home to the family until 1970s, is the gem of the Historical Society of Rockland County's collection. HSRC Education Coordinator Jennifer Brooks takes us on a virtual tour of the structure and the history of the Blauvelt family in Rockland County. In the presentation, she traces Jacob Blauvelt's lineage back to the Netherlands and follows his descendants into the twentieth century, using the home to contextualize the family who built it. The tour highlights the lifestyle of Jacob and Margaret Blauvelt and their five children in the early nineteenth century, the main period of the restored home's interpretation. She also 24
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
explores how the lives of the Blauvelts were impacted by Rockland’s industrial boom of the nineteenth century and suburbanization in the twentieth century and its life post-1970s as a historic site preserved for future generations. Sunday, October 24, 2021
8th Annual Fall Festival
With Heritage of West Nyack and the Town of Clarkstown In celebration of Rockland History Month in October and to continue our focus on collaboration and preservation, the HSRC teamed up with Heritage of West Nyack and the Town of Clarkstown again for the annual Fall Festival. The one-day event was held at Germonds Park in West Nyack to raise awareness of ongoing efforts to preserve the historic Vanderbilt Budke and Traphagen farmhouses, now owned by the Town of Clarkstown and under preservation. Saturday–Sunday, December 4–5, 2021
60th Annual St. Nicholas Day Festival Each year since 1961, the HSRC has welcomed children of all ages to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. This traditional program is a highlight of the holiday season, and many adults who enjoyed the event as children now bring their own families. This year, 67 children accompanied by 78 parents, grandparents, and other adults enjoyed the HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
25
eight St. Nicholas Day performances, with an additional 20 children enjoying special COVID-safe St. Nicholas Day takeaway boxes. Special thank go to Richard Anderson (St. Nicholas), Jennifer Brooks (storyteller), Christine Kowalski, Maryann Monteferrante Kay Levinson, Jennifer Lorenzo, Jennifer Rothschild, Derek Tarson, and other volunteers who helped our guests learn about early Dutch holiday traditions; visit with St. Nicholas; enjoy spiced cider and ginger cookies by the open hearth; and discover holiday treats left in the children’s shoes. Sunday evenings, December 12 & 19, 2021
Candlelight Tours
of the Jacob Blauvelt House Sixty-five adults and children joined us this holiday season for special Candlelight Tours of the decorated Jacob Blauvelt House, experiencing Dutch American holiday traditions of the 1830s. Two tours were held each evening on the Sundays of December 12 and December 19. We thank Jacquelyn Drechsler for providing beautiful nineteenth-century flute music for the tours. Candlelight Tours require a great deal of volunteer support. Special thanks in 2021 are due to Thom Kleiner, Kay Levinson, Maryann Monteferrante, Stephanie Patiris (docent), and Jennifer Rothschild. 26
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
Outreach HSRC in Print
South of the Mountains The history quarterly South of the Mountains is the flagship publication of the HSRC and a tangible benefit of membership in the Society. Highlights from 2021–22 issues include “Nyack's Mystery Man: Who Was Edward D. Hesdra?” by Michael Nevins, M.D.; “Where Was Nyack's Underground Railroad Station?” by Winston C. Perry Jr.; and “John I. Haring: A Memoir,” by Firth Haring Fabend; and “Andrew Möller Anderson, Master Builder,” by Albert Arthur Anderson Jr. In addition, we bade a sad farewell to important HSRC members Caroline Tapley, Travis Jackson, and Nancy Casey in memorial articles. South of the Mountains, a winner of the Greater Hudson Heritage Network Award for Excellence, is published four times a year, thanks to editor Marjorie H. Johnson, consulting editor Marianne Leese, and our many contributors. HSRC on the Radio
Crossroads of Rockland History Our monthly radio program broadcast on WRCR 1700 AM and streaming on www.WRCR.com entered its tenth year in 2021–22. “Crossroads” featured the following programs: HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
27
April 2021: “Harriet Tubman Comes to Haverstraw,” with Virginia Norfleet
May 2021: “Memories of Helen Hayes,” with Joyce Bulifant
June 2021: “Toni Morrison Retrospective Exhibition,” with Brenda Ross
July 2021: “A Life in Rockland Radio,” with Steve Possell
August 2021: “Tappan Scavenger Hunt,” with Carol LaValle, Tappantown Historical Society
September 2021: “Major André's Toe,” by Alice Gerard, and “Typhoid Mary,” with Mary Beth Keane
October 2021: “Blauvelt Family History: Four Hundred Years in America,” with Ralph Blauvelt
November 2021: “Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York,” with A. J. Schenkman
December 2021: “STEAM at the Haverstraw Brick Museum,” with Rachel Whitlow
January 2022: “Dedication,” with Roger Peltzman
February 2022: “Revisiting Skunk Hollow,” with Joan Geismar
March 2022: “Women of South Mountain Road,” with Susan Deeks
To date, 134 programs and excerpts are available for download or for Podcast listening. The New York 28
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
History Blog continues to pick up “Crossroads” and share it with the larger New York State History Community through their platform. In addition to providing links under the “Podcasts” tab on the RocklandHistory.org website, we are pleased to announce that our archived podcasts continue to be available on all of the major podcast platforms, including Apple, Google, Stitcher, and Spotify. HSRC on the Internet
Website and Social Media From April 2021 to March 2022, 16,443 individuals visited the HSRC website at least once (up from 13,489 in 2019-20). Some 84% percent of them were first-time visitors to the website (versus 85% last year), and they looked at 46,091 pages, for an average of 1.79 pages viewed per user per session. The majority (93%) lived in the United States and accessed the website via broadband connections. The number of people who “Like” our Facebook page grew again this year, from 4,623 on April 1, 2021, to 4,887 on March 31, 2021. Most of our Facebook friends live in Rockland, with the remainder in the New York metropolitan area and a few out of state and overseas. The HSRC continued to email the “Flashback Friday” feature to members each week. The column, compiled by volunteer Clare Sheridan, curates items of local history significance that were originally published in Rockland County newspapers between 150 and 50 years ago. Each column is also archived on the RocklandHistory.org website, under the “Research” tab. These consistent periodic publications allow the HSRC to leverage
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
29
social media to engage new audiences. Social media platforms on which we are participating include Instagram, Facebook, SoundCloud, Tumblr, and Twitter. Our presence on these sites, where we share the history of Rockland County with images, text, and video, has continued to increase. Using the insights and metrics from social media our goal is to convert these casual users into active, paid members and supporters of the society. In addition, the HSRC’s online media continues to be available through the New York Heritage portal (https://nyheritage.org), a move that brings even more history enthusiasts to our digitized collections.
❖
❖ ❖
https://nyheritage.org/organizations/historical-society-rockland-county
30
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY Please consider becoming a member of The Historical Society of Rockland County!
Beyond the sheer knowledge that you are helping to preserve Rockland County’s legacy of land and culture, you will also receive the following tangible member benefits: • Quarterly mailings of South of the Mountains, the only
journal of Rockland County history, published continuously since 1957. • Seasonal mailings of our Calendar of Events and/or
newsletters. • 10% discount on HSRC publications, maps, and items in
our Museum Shop. • Reduced fees for HSRC programs and services. • Free admission to the Jacob Blauvelt House and to
most of the HSRC’s exhibitions. Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Phone: ___________________ Cell Phone: Email (required): Circle: Student/Senior: $25 Centurion: $100 Museum Patron: $1,000 Individual: $40 Blauvelt Fellow: $250 Sustaining Patron: $2,500 Family: $50 President’s Circle: $500 Benefactor: $5,000 Payment: My check for $_________ is enclosed. Credit Card # ______________________________________ HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report
31
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and the principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its mission is to acquire, preserve, and exhibit objects, buildings, and sites that reflect the history of Rockland County and to research, document, promote, and publicize the county’s rich historical heritage for the people of Rockland. The HSRC is open to the public Wednesday–Friday, 10 am– 5 pm year-round and on Sunday, 12–4 pm, during exhibitions, events, and programs. Library research and tours of the Jacob Blauvelt House are available by appointment by contacting (845) 634-9629. www.RocklandHistory.org Special thanks to Stephen Beckerle, Jennifer Brooks, Thom Kleiner, Christine Kowalski, and Clare Sheridan for the photos used in this report and archived on our Flickr site at https://www.flickr.com.photos/100479933@N04. 32
HSRC ◆ 2021-22 Annual Report