Reports from the Committees

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS

The 2022–23 committee consisted of Stephen Beckerle and Gordon Wren (co-chairs), Richard Anderson, Daniel Garcia, Art Gunther, and Veronica Boesch.

In mid-summer, the HSRC contracted with Frank Tucek & Son to replace a large section of fascia and soffit that had separated from the northwestern corner of the Jacob Blauvelt House roof. Some of the deteriorated woodwork was being held in place by an overgrown holly tree; the remainder had collapsed to the ground. Our thanks to the Tucek company for the timely repair and for continuing to inspect and maintain the roof they installed on the historic house in the late 1990s.

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

Bus Trips

The 2022–23 committee consisted of Anthony Benedict, Veronica and Bob Boesch, Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky, Jennifer Rothschild, and Gordon Wren. The committee enjoyed formulating and carrying out six events in the 2022–23 fiscal year as the Society emerged from COVID-19 restrictions. There were three bus trips, two Walks through History, and one Hike through History, with a total of 125 participants.

The six events in 2022–23 were:

 Bus Daytrip to Lyndhurst: A Tarrytown Gilded Age Mansion, Sept. 20

 Bus Daytrip: Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston, and Lunchtime Cruise on the Rip Van Winkle II, Oct. 12

 Walk through History: Rockland Cemetery with Joe Barbieri, New City Library, Sparkill, Oct. 19

 Walk through History: Oak Hill Cemetery with Jennifer Rothschild, Nyack, Nov. 6

 Bus Daytrip: Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia, Nov. 10

 Mystery Hike through History: Harriman State Park Cemetery, March 25

All of these events promote the HSRC as an organization and fulfill our local history mission. They raise funds to support that mission, build friendships and goodwill, and increase membership. We generally offer discounts for members on fee-based programs.

The events are spread out fairly evenly throughout the year, giving the HSRC visibility in advertising and community discussion. These events also keep us involved with other nonprofit organizations and businesses throughout the county and region.

Respectfully Submitted,

Susan Deeks, Executive Director

COLLECTIONS & LIBRARY

Serving on the 2022–23 Collections Committee were Andrew Glikin-Gusinsky, Jennifer Rothschild, Jennifer Lorenzo, Marianne Leese (Chair), Richard Sena, Winston Perry, and Clare Sheridan.

Dianne Macpherson, a retired archivist, has been volunteering on Thursdays in the HSRC research library for more than a year. With her experience as an archivist, she is knowledgeable in the proper handling of artifacts and the process of accessioning them into the permanent collections.

Frank Eberling Mail Wagon

Last fall, the Board of Trustees approved restoring the Frank Eberling Mail Wagon (ca. 1904). Lacking wheels, it currently sits on the floor in the east wing of the Blauvelt House barn. Besides wheels and springs, it needs a good cleaning, the canvas roof restored, interior furnishings restored, and the paint restored to its vibrant red, chrome yellow, white, and black. Frank Eberling (1886–1948) of New City used the wagon to deliver mail to the residents of the New City postal district. He went through several mail wagons this one was his first before switching to delivering mail by automobile in 1917. He served as the New City mail carrier for thirty years, retiring in 1934. The Journal-News at the time printed a lengthy article stating that he never lost a day of pay, and not once did the mail not get delivered. The article went on to detail his experiences as a mail carrier.

The Historical Society has arranged to have conservator Tad Fallon of Fallon and Wilkinson, LLC (Baltic, CT) provide a full assessment of the mail wagon, the cost of the restoration, and a timeline for restoration. He has made an initial assessment and by summer will provide a final report.

The family is anxious to see the mail wagon restored and willing to help with fundraising and publicity. Grandsons Ray and Frank Eberling have been working closely with the HSRC on the project. Frank Eberling is a professional videographer, who will be documenting the progress made on the mail wagon. In addition, they have a thorough knowledge of their family’s history, beginning with the emigration of the Eberlings from Germany to the Hudson Valley in the mid-1800s and the establishment of their shoe factory in New City.

Accepted by the Board of Trustees into the Collections

 Book, HighTor, 1936, by Maxwell Anderson. Gift of Donald Schmoll, New City. Autographed copy inscribed by the author to Gus Welty, handyman for Elmer Van Houten, who lived on South Mountain Road, New City, as did Anderson. The main character in High Tor, Van Van Dorn, is based on the life of Elmer Van Houten.

 C. E. Erickson Milk Crate, with 30 Half-Pint Milk Bottles. Gift of Zev Orser, Monsey. C. E. “Pete” Erickson (1902–93) and his wife, Olga (1902–94), were the third and last generation of the family to own and operate Woodside Dairy, Brick Church Road, Spring Valley (New Hempstead).

 Business Letterhead, Erickson Automotive, Monsey. Gift of Zev Orser, Monsey. More familiarly known as Erickson Olds, the dealership was owned and operated by Eugene Erickson, son of Pete and Olga Erickson.

 Business Letterhead, Spring Valley Airpark, Inc. Gift of Zev Orser, Monsey. Spring Valley Airpark was the last airport to exist in Rockland. C. E. Erickson was a partner with William “Bill” Bohlke and Theodore “Ted” Klink. Opening in 1947, the airport was sold in 1960, when it went by the name Ramapo Valley Airport, and closed in 1985.

 Postcard, Tomkins Cove Post Office. Gift of Nancy Casey.

 Photograph, Charles R. Lewis Post 8997 of the VFW. Gift of Nancy Casey. 8’’ × 10’’, Route 9W, Tomkins Cove.

 Photograph, Snapshot of Jim Farley (US Postmaster General under FDR), playing baseball at age 22 in his native Grassy Point, summer 1910. Gift of Nancy Casey.

 Letter, June 16, 1948, from P. J. Lenahan of Brooklyn to Joe, accompanying snapshot of Farley. Gift of Nancy Casey.

 Program, CelebrationoftheOpening of New Lowland Bridge and TomkinsCove–WestHaverstrawConcrete Road[Route9W],StonyPoint, September 23, 1922, containing the history of the bridge and list of speakers. Gift of Nancy Casey.

 Program, Testimonial Dinner to Hon. Maurice F. Maloney,Postmaster,onOccasionofthe“Layingofthe Coner[sic]StoneoftheHaverstrawPostOffice.”Gift of Nancy Casey. Elks Club, Haverstraw, 1935, autographed to Joe by US Postmaster General James A. Farley.

 Timetable booklet, New York Central RR Co., River Div.,No.14,WestShoreRailroad,WeehawkentoAlbany,Sept.25,1921. Gift of Nancy Casey. Includes Rockland.

 Ribbon Pin, Cheyenne Tribe, No. 223, Improved Order of Red Men, Stony Point. Gift of Nancy Casey. The Improved Order of Red Men was a fraternal organization established in North America in 1834. There were at least seven “tribes” of Red Men in Rockland County: Stony Point (Cheyenne), Haverstraw (Minisceongo), Congers (Kakiat), Nyack (Cohoto and Nyack), Suffern (Ramapo), and Spring Valley (Tappan). Today a few exist in upper New York State; none exist in Rockland County.

 Group photograph, 50th Anniversary, Cheyenne Tribe 223, Oct. 10, 1942, at Cedar Rest. Gift of Nancy Casey. 8” × 10”.

 Early Land Indentures. Gifts of Rockland Community

College Library: (1) 1785, between Daniel De Clark and Jacobus De Clark, Precinct of Haverstraw, County of Orange, 96 Acres; (2) 1799, between Johannes Polhamus, with consent of his wife, Mary, and Aurt Polhamus, Town of Clarkstown, 41 Acres; (3) 1800, between Aurt Ramsen, with Consent of His Wife, Kate, and Aurt Polhamus, Town of Clarkstown, 14 Acres.

 Artworks by William Stanley Wyatt. William Stanley Wyatt, familiarly known as Stan Wyatt, lived in Grand View with his wife, Alice, and taught art at Columbia University and Rockland Community College. In the late 1940s, the couple lived at Shanks Village, where Stan illustrated for the newsletter The Shanks Villager. Several of his cartoons were reprinted in Scott Webber's Camp Shanks and Shanks Village, an HSRC publication. Gifts of Greg and Fay Wyatt, New York, NY.

 Abstract painting, possibly Piermont, gouache on cardboard

 Abstract painting, gouache on cardboard.

 125thStreetEl,block print.

 AngelwithHorn , block print.

 TheOldManandtheSea , block print..

 Sebastiano Del Piombo, block print.

 Lobster,TurkeyandaWomanataButterChurn , block print.

 Sam and Alice Wyatt Christmas card, 1988, photograph of pencil sketch by William Stanley Wyatt.

 Humerusmagazines , Vol. II, No. 2, 1990, and Vol. IV, No. 1, 1992. Issues of locally produced satirical magazine, much of it illustrated by Wyatt, who was publisher and editor-in-chief.

 Frank M. Eckerson Sr. (1881–1965) Collection, containing family photographs, tintypes, fraternal order ribbons, eyeglasses, certificates, programs, a few letters and cards, a metal Social Security card, various badges, including those for volunteer fireman and Spring Valley Village Clerk, large framed photograph of Mr. Eckerson in his fireman’s uniform, ca. 1925. Gift of Robert J. Eckerson, great-grandson, Chester, NY. Frank Eckerson served as clerk of the Village of Spring Valley from 1932 until his retirement in 1953 at age 72. He was well-known as a blacksmith, which he took up full time upon retirement. He and his wife, Dorothy “Dora” Eckerson, lived above the blacksmith shop on Franklin Street throughout their married lives. Following his death, the HSRC acquired the contents of the blacksmith shop (housed in the Carriage House), business cards and blacksmith shop sign.

 Color postcard of Hotel Bader, Spring Valley, never mailed. Gift of Alvin Schaut, Plainfield, WI. The Evergreen Court, which burned last year and in which a resident and a fire fighter died, had been part of the Bader resort complex.

 Pamphlet by Eleazar Lord Defending Decision that Piermont Be the Eastern Terminus of the New-York and Erie Rail Road, ca. 1835. Gift of Marjorie H. Johnson, Worthington, MA. It includes a letter from Winthrop Gilman of Palisades and, in the same handwriting, a paper cover saying the pamphlet was received from Edward F. Pierson of Ramapo. Pierson was a nephew of Eleazar Lord of Piermont, the Erie’s first president.

 Book, Harper'sNew-York and Erie Rail Road Guide , 1855 edition, with fold-out map. Gift of Susan Deeks, Greenwood Lake, NY.

 Photograph, Spring Valley High School Class, 1929, framed, 11” × 23”. Gift of Barbara Elco, Narrowsburg, NY, and her siblings Donald P. Frederick and Carolyn F. Hauber. Taken on a class trip to Washington, DC, in front of the Smithsonian, the photograph includes Leroy (Lee) C.

Frederick, father of the donors; Mildred (Toots) Durie, later Vranisky, former HSRC member and volunteer, who helped to identify everyone, including nicknames; and Leland (Pussyfoot) Rickard Meyer, high school principal and former active volunteer and member of HSRC.

Further Additions to the Permanent Collections

The following were found unprocessed. No object number was found on them. No paperwork was found as to who the donor was.

 Bound Copies of Carworth Farms Quarterly Letters, New City, and four accompanying booklets about research on laboratory Animals.

 Photograph, Centenary rock quarry, Congers.

 Photograph, Haverstraw waterfront, ca. 1904.

 Photograph, J. F. Green & Bros. Hardware Store, ca. 1860–77.

 Two photographs, J. Eberling Shoe Factory, New City: one of factory; the other of group standing in front of the factory.

 Three photographs, Rockland Light & Power Co., foot of Gedney Street, Nyack: (1) gas plant and holder; (2) interior View; and (3) storage tanks.

 Photograph, unidentified men and boys watching earth removal on vacant lot, Nyack.

 Photograph, paper mill and pier, Piermont, 1909.

 Photograph, Beckerle Lumber & Supply Co., Spring Valley, Route 59, ca. 1940.

 Photograph, W. Spencer Forshay Cigar Co., Monsey (now Wesley Hills).

 Photograph, ruins of Old Dunderberg Spiral Railway Office, Jones Point.

 Postcard, The Old Mill, West Nyack.

 Photograph, Hook Mountain quarrying operation, Upper Nyack, about 1890.

 Shipping Crate, metal egg crate for mailing two dozen eggs.

 Five postcards, Nyack Hospital, mailed 1905–28.

 Eight photographs, 1903 flood in Hillburn and Sterlington.

 Color steel engraving, Sparkill schoolhouse, Rockland Road.

 Typewritten manuscript, 22 pages, “History of Old Cemetery in Upper Nyack,” ca. 1931, and letter from George H. Budke to Mrs. Sayres. The speech was given by Mr. Budke at the commemoration of Major Smith’s grave by the DAR. Gift possibly of Jerome Johnson, Esq.

 Photograph, elderly Dr. Lucy Virginia Meriweather (1862–1949), seated with a spaniel dog.

 Receipt to Dr. V. W. Davis [Davies], dated Sept. 9, 1895 for freight charges from Jersey City to Congers, West Shore Railroad, for two cases wine, 80 cents total. On back in pencil is handwritten on one end “corn” and “straw” with numbers following, and on other end “Jan. 96, 38 bushels rye, 41 sold, 57 in all, half mine.”

 Twenty-nine photographs by Elizabeth Rose for HSRC exhibition catalog Pascha: The Traditions of Easter in Rockland County, 1984.

 Black-ink caricature, unidentified gentleman in profile, ca. 1930, with a jaunty air. Difficult to make out the artist’s signature.

 Program, First Annual Banquet, Hotel Astor, May 10, 1913, The Rockland County Society of the State of New York. Speakers: F. R. Wood, President; Judge A. S. Tompkins; Hon. Calvin Tomkins; John C. Heyn, Historian; Hon. David M. Neuberger; Hon. John S. Bell; Hon. Otis H. Cutler. The Rockland County Society was founded in 1912 and was a predecessor to HSRC.

 Medical certificate signed by Albert S. Zabriski, MD, of Suffern, Medical Examiner in Lunacy, July 21, 1891. Dr. Zabriski certifies that he examined Mrs. William Sisco of Hillburn and she is insane. Certificate includes description of Mrs. Sisco and describes her behavior: “She acts silly indulges in singing songs in public rather indecent & obscene in her songs and expressions leaves her home frequently and wanders about Also from the testimony of numerous neighbors there can be no doubt that her mind is not right and that she is insane.”

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Finance

N.B. The Finance Committee reports are current as of March 24, 2023. 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.

FY Income was 318,877 versus a plan of $277,104. This favorable outcome was due to receipt of CARES Act Employee Retention Credit refunds, as well as higher than projected Annual Appeal donations, admissions fees, tuition fees, and research revenue.

FY Expenses were $280,858 versus a plan of $277,104. This unfavorable outcome was due to emergency maintenance/repair costs and increased costs of services due to unexpectedly high post-COVID-19 inflation.