President’s Report

The history of the early years of the United States is the history of early Rockland. The names we learned in school can be found all around us here today: George Washington, Anthony Wayne, John Suffern, the Marquise de Lafayette, Johannes DeWint, and even the name Hudson pervades our everyday lives.

This is one of the reasons the Historical Society of Rockland County has drawn members since we were granted a charter by the New York State Board of Regents on September 2, 1965. We are the repository of all things Rockland.

As a history teacher in Rockland County for thirty years, I have long appreciated the efforts of those who have worked to preserve our local history, both in their writings and in their determination to stop the demolition of historic buildings. Our Historical Society hosts the Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards to encourage county businesses and homeowners to respect the infrastructure of our past and show that it is still a viable alternative for our communities today. As a museum, our exhibits highlight the people and events that have made their mark on our history.

During the 2022 Columbus Day weekend, I had the privilege of attending the dedication of Helen Hayes’s former home in Nyack as Rockland’s first Literary Landmark. We hope there will be more designations to come. The Literary Landmark designation is a program of United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. Two of the main speakers were Rocco Staino, director of the Empire State Center for the Book, and our own executive director, Susan Curry Deeks. It was a special designation since Miss Hayes’s husband, Charles MacArthur, was a journalist and Broadway playwright, as well as a Hollywood screenwriter. The afternoon included meeting Miss Hayes’s former daughter-in-law Joyce Bulifant and the Hayes–MacArthur grandchildren. Everyone was gracious, and the lovely weather contributed to the enjoyment of the home’s grounds.

This year we hope to resume our Annual Dinner and Preservation Awards. The Annual Dinner is our major fundraiser of each year. Due to the difficulty of planning a celebration during the past three years, we have not been able to count on the dinner for fundraising.

The silver lining this past year is the wonderful response we received during our Annual Appeal. Our appreciation of the generosity of our members cannot be overstated. Once again, thank you for helping us carry on our mission.

Respectfully submitted,

Veronica DeMeo Boesch President, Board of Trustees