Radio Show / Podcasts
We are very pleased to announce that we have begun loading our archived podcasts to the following platforms: Apple Podcasts; Stitcher and Spotify.
166. Nyack Jazz Exhibition at the Historical Society of the Nyacks with Miriam Hoffman
To listen, click here.
(episode will stream at 10am on Aug. 19)
An excerpt of this interview aired on August 19, 2024 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM.
Miriam Hoffman, Trustee of the Historical Society of the Nyacks (HSN) joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the new exhibition at the HSN entitled “Nyack Jazz – The Golden Years of ‘The Office’ and its Forerunners.”
This exhibition focuses on the rich history of jazz in Nyack, beginning in the early 1900s, through the golden years of the bar called The Office in the 1970s, up to the vibrant revival of jazz today. This exhibition is fun for all jazz enthusiasts, jazz newcomers, and all those who find it fascinating that preschoolers discover their passion and are “hooked.”
Topics included musicians, their accomplishments, and Nyack’s music environment, which continues to nurture young talent. Some of the musicians discussed in this interview include: William Williams, Jack DePietro, Bill Evans, Arnie Lawrence, Eric Lawrence, Hildred Humphries, Bert Hughes, Sonny Oliver, Big Chief Russell Moore, Buddy Christian, Eddie Sauter, and others.
“NYACK JAZZ” is open every Saturday from 1 to 4 pm through September 28, 2024. Enter the HSN at 50 Piermont Avenue, Nyack, from the Nyack Library parking lot.
To learn more about the exhibition, visit: https://nyackhistory.org/nyackjazz
The Nyack Jazz Tribute Benefit Concert will take place on September 6, 2024 at the Nyack Center. Learn more and buy tickets here: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6376046Steve Bernstein, Erik Lawrence, Mark Patterson, David Budway, Don Falzone, Ben Perowsky and Jack DePietro will give a concert that includes jazz standards and jazz greats highlighted at our current Jazz exhibit.
Jack DePietro’s memoire is entitled: “My Life Behind Bars.” https://www.amazon.com/Life-Behind-Bars-memoir-DePietro/dp/B08XN7HXPK?dplnkId=963e9f59-8b59-46f3-a400-a5c5c4aa601e&nodl=1
Michael Houghton’s essay about Jazz in Nyack is entitled: “The Office: A Nyack Nightclub, 1975-1987.” It is available for purchase at the Historical Society of the Nyacks.
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
www.RocklandHistory.org
165. The Sparkill History Project with Larry Vail
This program originally aired on July 15, 2024.
On the July 2024 episode of “Crossroads of Rockland History” we turned our attention to the hamlet of Sparkill, NY.
Larry Vail of the Sparkill History Project joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the rich history of this community. Topics discussed were Skunk Hollow, Roads and Railroads, Rockland Cemetery, the Convent and Churches, Hotels, Early Environmental Movement, Oswald Bauer, and more.
Visit the Sparkill History Project at: https://www.sparkillhistory.org.
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Jeff and Will morning show, on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
www.RocklandHistory.org
164. Rockland County Place Names with Joe Barbieri
Episode originally aired Monday, June 17, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700
Did you ever wonder about the origins of place names in Rockland County? Joe Barbieri of the New City Library joined host Clare Sheridan to explore names such as Bulsontown, Stagg’s Corners, Hyenga Lake, Mosestown, Woodburn, Warren, and more.
Joe Barbieri is the Adult Services and Local History Librarian at the New City Library. He specializes in local history, assisting patrons in research using electronic and print sources. He is also a member of the Genealogical Society of Rockland County.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Books:
Cole , David, editor. History of Rockland County. The Historical Society of Rockland County, 1884.
Green, Frank Bertangue MD, editor The History of Rockland County. The Historical Society of Rockland County, 1886
Tompkins, Arthur S., editor. Historical record to the close of the nineteenth century of Rockland County, New York, Van Deusen & Joyce, 1902
Zimmermann, Linda, author. Rockland County Scrap Book. Eagle Press, 2004
Zimmermann, Linda, editor. Rockland County 1900-2000: Century of History. The Historical Society of Rockland County, 2002
Articles:
Maps:
Landmarks of Rockland County, 1975, Claire K. Tholl, The Historical Society of Rockland County
For more about the New City Library, visit https://newcitylibrary.org/rockland-room-local-history
For more about the Genealogical Society of Rockland County, visit https://rocklandgenealogy.org
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The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
163. Mike Hays of Nyack News & Views
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AM Radio.
Mike Hays joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss his weekly history column (Nyack People and Places) in Nyack News and Views. Nyack News and Views has been sharing community news and storytelling for sixteen years, and Mike Hays has worked diligently to bring Nyack’s rich history to its readers.
A thirty-five-year resident of the Nyacks, Mike Hays grew up the son of a professor and nurse in Champaign, Illinois. He has recently retired from a long career in educational publishing with Prentice-Hall and McGraw-Hill. He is an avid cyclist, amateur historian and photographer, gardener, and dog walker. He has enjoyed more years than he cares to count with his beautiful companion, Bernie Richey. You can follow him on Instagram as UpperNyackMike.
Read his column here: nyacknewsandviews.com/blog/category/…people-places/
Mike Hays is also the President of the Historical Society of the Nyacks. Learn more: nyackhistory.org/
162. New Exhibitions at the HSRC and the OHMA
Episode originally aired on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM Radio
We learned all about two new local history exhibitions opening in April 2024.
First, we explored “When This You See, Remember Me: Inscribed Quilts from Rockland County” at the Historical Society of Rockland County. The exhibition's guest curator, Peggy Norris, a member of the American Quilt Study Group, Ridgewood (NJ) Historical Society, and Genealogical Society of Bergen County, discussed how, through the quilts, we can learn about local women, the times in which they lived, and their textile artistry. Peggy will also give a presentation on the quilts on Sunday, May 5, at the HSRC.
“When This You See, Remember Me” runs from April 21 to October 27, 2024, and is open to the public on Wednesdays–Fridays and Sundays, 1–4 pm, and by appointment. Admission is $5 per person and benefits the Society’s education and preservation missions.
For information, visit www.rocklandhistory.org/program.cfm?page=1114
Then we focused on “Creating Community 1950,” the new exhibition at the Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives. Museum Director Mary Cardenas and Curator Elizabeth Skrabonja shared how a building, baby, and business boom exploded in Orangetown in the 1950s.
“Creating Community 1950” can be seen at the historic DePew House, 196 Chief Bill Harris Way, Orangeburg. It opens on April 21 and extends through November 2024. Exhibition hours are Tuesdays & Fridays 10 am–2 pm, and Sundays, 1–4 pm. Admission is free.
For information, visit www.orangetownmuseum.com
161. Piermont Historical Society Update
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 9:30am on WRCR 1700AM.
Host Clare Sheridan welcomed members of the Piermont Historical Society (PHS) to discuss their recent efforts to preserve and share the history of Piermont with the public.
The Piermont Historical Society is a dynamic organization ensuring that the unique history of the Village is passed down through generations of residents and shared with all of those who have an interest in this beautiful Hudson Valley.
The mission of the PHS is to preserve and protect the integrity of Piermont’s architecture, history and cultural heritage and to celebrate the history of Piermont. The vision of the Society is to make the history of Piermont a common narrative in the Village and beyond. Visit their website here: piermonthistoricalsociety.org/
The PHS's new film entitled "ALL ABOARD! Next Stop Piermont" will premiere at the Nyack International Film Festival on April 7, 2024.
To watch a sneak preview of the film click here: youtu.be/X8u9nCKSy-E?si=4gDZ9qx1OpLTxS-v
160. The Lafayette Theatre 100th Anniversary
This program originally aired on February 19, 2024.
To listen, click here.
Did you know that the Lafayette Theater in Suffern is Rockland's only single-screen movie palace? In operation since 1924, it marks its 100th anniversary this year!
With special guests Ari Benmosche and Craig Long, we turned our attention to history of the historic Lafayette Theater and learn about the ongoing festivities celebrating this landmark anniversary. The festivities—"100 Years of Film," showcasing classic movies from the 1910s to the 2010s—will run until March 3, 2024.
Learn more about the "100 Years of Film" celebration at https://lafayettetheatersuffern.com.
159. The John Green House Update with Win Perry
This program originally aired on January 15, 2024.
To listen, click here.
Clare Sheridan welcomed Winston C. Perry Jr., president of the John Green Preservation Coalition, who provided updates us on the progress of the preservation and restoration of the John Green House in Nyack.
The John Green House is the oldest remaining Dutch Colonial sandstone structure in the Village of Nyack. It was built by John Edward Green (1772–1842) in 1819. It is listed on both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places and is a Village of Nyack Historic Landmark.
https://www.johngreenhouse.org/
The coalition envisions a multiphase, multiyear project that will return the building to its beautiful appearance from the early 1800s, during which it served as business home for John Green, a sloop captain, lumber dealer, steamboat entrepreneur, church founder, and turnpike trustee. As the house is restored and made safe, it will be designed—both inside and out—to serve the community in exciting ways.
After a fifty-year career as an architect, Win Perry is devoting his time in retirement to local history and historic preservation. A lifetime resident of Nyack, he is a trustee of the Historical Society of the Nyacks, a former trustee of the Historical Society of Rockland County and member of the Rockland County Historic Preservation Board, and former Village Historian of Upper Nyack. A lifelong small-boat sailor on the Hudson, he is especially interested in Hudson River history.
158. Winter Wonderland Exhibition at the HSRC
The new episode of Crossroads of Rockland History is streaming now!
Listen here: https://on.soundcloud.com/skW51
Episode originally aired Monday, December 18, 2023 at 9:30 AM, on WRCR Radio 1700AM.
Jennifer Rothschild, the HSRC’s director of programming, joined host Clare Sheridan to talk about “Winter Wonderland: The 47th Annual Holiday Exhibition.” The exhibition celebrates winter and its gift-giving holidays by showcasing items from the HSRC collections that include children’s toys, books, and games; holiday cards and décor; snow-themed works of art; and more. They also discussed the candlelight tours of the historic Jacob Blauvelt house.
157. Soap Box Derby History with James Cassetta
The new episode of Crossroads of Rockland History is streaming now!
Or on any major podcast platforms.
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 9:30 AM, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM
We turned our attention to the Soap Box Derby. James Cassetta (History Librarian at the Pearl River Public Library) joined host Clare Sheridan to chronicle the derby's rollercoaster history—from its national origins to Pearl River’s thrilling ride; from its post–World War II arrival to a glorious rebirth and a second farewell in the 2000s.
Many of Mr. Cassetta's history presentations can be found at the Pearl River Library's Facebook Page. His recent presentation about the Soap Box Derby can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/100009042950014/videos/1358503054803533/
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Many of the HSRC's radio broadcasts have been archived and are available as podcasts on the HSRC website, and on all major podcast platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
156. Eberling Mail Wagon Restoration
The new episode of Crossroads of Rockland History is streaming now! The broadcast originally aired on Monday, October 16, 2023 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM
Listen to the podcast here
Frank Eberling and his brother Ray Eberling, New City natives, joined host Clare Sheridan for a discussion about the early days of New City and the wagon that their grand father used to carry mail on New City’s Rural Free Delivery routes at the turn of the 20th century.
Since the 1970s, when it was donated to our collection by the late Dr. Anthony Pavia, D.C., of New City, the HSRC has had in our possession this horse-drawn wagon. Ray and Frank are now working with the HSRC to restore it for display at the History Center in New City.
About the guests: Ray Eberling is a retired US Air Force lieutenant-colonel who holds a master’s in American studies from the University of Heidelberg (Germany) and has volunteered for many years with the University of Florida’s Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. Frank Eberling has been a filmmaker in South Florida for fifty years, producing more than 3,000 film and television broadcast projects as producer, writer, director, or cinematographer. He is also the author of the New City-based mystery novels Low Tor, Demarest Kill, and Jimmy Van Meter’s Last Refrain.
Ray and Frank Eberling will be visiting the HSRC with a presentation on this project: “The Eberling Mail Wagon: Rural Free Delivery in New City in the Early 20th Century,” on Thursday, October 26, 2023, 7 pm, at the Historical Society of Rockland County. Admission is $FREE, but reservations are required. Donations toward restoration of the mail wagon are gratefully accepted.
For details and the ticket link, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../the-eberling-mail-wagon...
Frank Eberling will also be appearing at the New City Library on Monday, October 23, 7 pm, to speak about New City-inspired fiction. This is an in-person and virtual presentation. Reserve your spot for that event at https://newcity.librarycalendar.com.
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#newcity #localhistory #eberling #usps #mailwagon #RocklandHistory
155. The Treason of the Revolution: the André / Arnold Affair
Broadcast aired Monday, September 18, 2023 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM Radio
We explored one of the most significant historical events in Rockland History: the Treason of the Revolution.
On September 22, 1780, American General Benedict Arnold and British Major John André met in the woods along the Hudson shoreline in Rockland County, and there began an act of treason that would become a pivotal point in the Revolutionary War.
We revisited an earlier episode during which host Clare Sheridan explored the history of the André-Arnold affair and discussed the people and places involved in this fascinating story of betrayal, secrecy, and deception with local historian Thano Schoppel of Tappan.
For more about Arnold and André, check out:
Tappantown Historical Society Colonial Day on Saturday, September 30, 2023, 12–4 pm. Great for families. Admissions is $FREE. For information, visit www.tappantown.org.
“A Spy in Our Midst—Major John André,” permanent exhibition on the Arnold-André Affair at the Salyer House, Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives. For information, visit www.orangetownmuseum.com
Culper Spy Ring, independent study project by Andrea Meyer. For information, visit wp.nyu.edu/archivesandpublichi…ats-to-andrea-meyer.
Revolutionary Rogues: John André and Benedict Arnold, Hardcover—Picture Book, published September 19, 2017, by Selene Castrovilla (author) and John O'Brien (illustrator). For information, visit www.goodreads.com/review/show/3007015936
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Jeff and Will morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
www.RocklandHistory.org
154. The Murals: Documentary by TG Jamroz
A portion of this interview aired on Monday, August 21, 2023 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM
Special guest TG Jamroz spoke about his new documentary, "The Murals," which delves into the art of Henry Varnum Poor, formerly of New City. The film features the New Deal–era Uptown Post Office Murals in Chicago and explores how and why they were made by Poor; why they feature Carl Sandburg and Louis Sullivan; and how they inspire people today.
“Through this filmmaking journey, I came to understand the outsized influence Poor had on the 20th century,” Jamroz says. “He might be the most unknown influential artist of the 20th century. He was involved everywhere with everything.
About the filmmaker: TG Jamroz is a filmmaker/performer who has written and directed many independent films, stage plays, and music videos. His projects have been screened at the prestigious Gene Siskel Film Center and around the world. He also has appeared as an actor in the film The Dark Knight and onstage in Chicago; written a one-act play that is being produced in New York City and Chicago; directed a six DVD volume of lectures by the world-famous theologian James Alison; and written and produced four albums of original music that can be streamed online under the name The Platinum Tears.
Learn more about The Murals at www.instagram.com/themuralsdocumentary or www.facebook.com/themuralsdoc
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We are pleased to announce Rockland County screenings of this new film on September 30, 2023, at the Historical Society of Rockland County (2 pm) and Rockland Center for the Arts (7 pm).
Both events are $FREE of charge, but RSVPs are required.
To register for the 2 pm screening at the HSRC (20 Zukor Road, New City), click here.
To register for the 7 pm screening at RoCA (27 South Greenbush Road, West Nyack), click here.
***
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Jeff and Will morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
153. Germond Family Murders: Dr. Vincent Cookingham
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 9:30 AM, on WRCR 1700 AM Radio
Dr. Vincent Cookingham joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss his new book, "The Germond Family Murders: A Forensic Conclusion to a Cold Case." His recent appearance at the HSRC was sold out, so this show offered listeners another chance to hear about Cookingham's forensic investigation into this ninety-year-old cold case.
Despite contemporary attention from Franklin D. Roosevelt and from Pinkerton Detectives, and more recently from amateur sleuths and the press, the Germond murders went unsolved until Dr. Cookingham’s investigation. The multiple murders of James (Husted) Germond; his wife, Mabel; and their two children, Bernice and Raymond, at their Dutchess County farm in November 1930 is one of the most famous crimes ever committed in the Hudson Valley.
About the author: Dr. Vincent Cookingham has more than fifty years of investigative and forensic science experience as a law enforcement officer, corporate executive, consultant, and university professor in forensic science. He has numerous peer-reviewed professional publications and books. He holds a PhD, with a doctoral dissertation in the forensic applications in white-collar crime. In addition, he holds an MBA and an MA from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice; a BS in forensic science; and three professional board certifications. Dr. Cookingham is a veteran of the US Marine Corps, as well as a native New Yorker who currently resides in Florida.
152. What Happened to Jackson Avenue: A Story of Urban Renewal - New Documentary Film
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 9:30 am on WRCR Radio 1700 AM
We learned about a new documentary film titled What Happened to Jackson Avenue: A Story of Urban Renewal. Clare Sheridan spoke with the filmmakers, Hakima Alem and Rudi Gohl. We also heard from members of the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, Craig Smith and Elise Stone, who are producing this powerful film.
What Happened to Jackson Avenue: A Story of Urban Renewal covers an urban renewal program in Nyack in the 1960s and ’70s that removed 125 families (79% Black). These families lost their homes, families, and community, as well as generational wealth valued at $30 million-$40 million. The film includes personal and emotional stories from individuals who were present and saw the destruction of their community. Now in their eighties and nineties, they want to be heard.
Screening dates in collaboration with Rivertown Film have been set: Saturday, June 24, 2023, 8 pm, and Friday, July 7, 2023, 8 pm, at The Nyack Center, 58 Depew Avenue (at intersection of Broadway and Depew), Nyack. To reserve tickets for a screening, click here: phoenixtheatreensembleorg.thundertix.com/even…3870
To watch a trailer for the documentary, click here: www.phoenixtheatreensemble.org/what-happ…ckson-ave.
To learn more about the film or the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, visit www.phoenixtheatreensemble.org.
151. Zita Johann with Tom Stratford “Along Came Zita”
Broadcast originally aired on May 15, 2023.
We explored the new book by local author Tom Stratford, titled Along Came Zita. The book has been described as “a story of one man's journey with Hollywood Gold”: Zita Johann (1904–1993), who lived for many years in Rockland County. A stage and screen actress, Johann is best known for her role opposite Boris Karloff in the film The Mummy. She debuted on Broadway in 1924 and made her first film appearance in D. W. Griffith's 1931 film The Struggle. After seven films, she quit movie acting to work in the theater, collaborating with John Houseman, to whom she was married from 1929 to 1933.
About the author: Tom Stratford is an actor and author who resides in the Hudson Valley. He has appeared in more than forty film and television productions. Along Came Zita is his first book. It follows the life of a famous classic movie star and the enthusiastic young man that came to know Zita Johann and whose teachings impacted him to this day. This is a story that involves Hollywood history, spiritualism, trust, theft, drama, and an ongoing pursuit for justice.
Tom Stratford gave a virtual author talk on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 7 pm. To view the recorded webinar, visit https://www.suffrageforward.org/past-events.
150. Getting There - Orangetown Rivers, Roads, Rails | New Exhibition at the Orangetown Museum
Episode originally aired on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AM
We explored “Getting There: Rivers, Roads, Rails,“ the new exhibition opening at the Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives. Mary Cardenas, Orangetown Historian and museum director; Elizabeth Skrabonja, exhibition curator; and Steve Schwinn, member of the Board of the Friends of the Orangetown Museum, joined host Clare Sheridan.
The exhibition, which features models, paintings, maps, a film and more, will open at the DePew House, 196 Chief Bill Harris Way, Orangeburg, on Sunday, April 23. It will be open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 am–2 pm and Sundays, 1–4 pm, through November 2023.
Learn more about the exhibition and auxiliary programs here: www.orangetownmuseum.com/events
149. The History of Avon with Craig Long - Crossroads of Rockland History
Broadcast originally aired Monday, March 20, 2023 at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM 1700
In recognition of March as Women's History Month, we delved into the history of Avon. Beginning as the California Perfume Company, it called Suffern, NY home for more than a century, making it one of the longest continuously running businesses in Rockland County.
Host Clare Sheridan welcomed Rockland County Historian Craig Long back to the program for a lively discussion about the history of Avon, its impact on Rockland County, and the role women played in its success.
After more than a century in the western Ramapo village of Suffern, NY, the international cosmetics conglomerate Avon Products plans to close up shop and move its research and development operations to Brazil and Poland.
To learn more about Avon's history in Rockland County, visit the HSRC's archived issue of "South of the Mountains" (South of the Mountains 1997-10, Vol. 41, No. 4)
Read it on NYHeritage here: https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/hsrc/id/3818/rec/1
148. Mr. Marshall comes to Hillburn with Dr. Travis Jackson - Crossroads of Rockland History
The February episode of Crossroads of Rockland History is streaming online now.
We recognized February as Black History Month. Host Clare Sheridan revisited the 2011 interview with Dr. Travis Jackson (1934–2021) about his personal memories and his extensive research related to the desegregation of the Hillburn schools and the role that Thurgood Marshall played in this important piece of Rockland history.
About Dr. Travis Jackson: Dr. Travis Jackson was born and raised in Hillburn. He was entering the fourth grade in 1943 when Hillburn families of color and the NAACP worked together to desegregate the Hillburn schools. The experience shaped young Travis Jackson, “I had an early understanding of what segregation does to people," he said in a 2004 interview. "I knew what it felt like, and that's why I became an educator." As an educator, Dr. Jackson was the first African American to teach at Suffern High School. He later became an administrator in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Dr. Jackson was a critical contributor to the quadracentennial celebrations in the county with key leadership roles in both the Tappan Zee Bridge with the Historical Society of Rockland County and the Mighty River Project with the African-American Historical Society of Rockland County, Rockland Community College, and the CEJJES Institute. Other awards included the Distinguished Alumnus at SUNY Cortland, Suffern High School Alumnus of the Year, the Ashby Award, which is the highest award that a Ridgewood teacher or administrator can receive. He was a member of the Rockland County Civil Rights Hall of Fame, and the recipient of the Margaret and John Zehner Award for historic preservation at the County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards.
To read Dr. Jackson’s article "Mr. Marshall Comes to Hillburn," visit our archived issue of South of the Mountains (vol.47, no. 1, 2003) at https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/.../hsrc/id/4450/rec/1
147. James Cassetta Pearl River Oral History Project - Crossroads of Rockland History
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, January 16, 2023 at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM 1700
Did you know that the Pearl River Public library is celebrating its 60th anniversary?
Host Clare Sheridan welcomed James Cassetta of the Pearl River Public Library to the program. In honor of its 60th anniversary, the library is inviting the public to share personal recollections in videotaped interviews. Memories including moving to Pearl River and living and raising families there will be compiled and edited to create a film for posterity.
We’ll learn all about the library’s anniversary and this interesting oral history project.
If you lived or live in Pearl River, and would like to share your personal memories, reach out to James (Jim) Cassetta at the Library at: (845)735-4084 extention 139.
Pearl River Public Library
80 Franklin Avenue, Pearl River, NY 10965
(845) 735-4084
jcassetta@pearlriverlibrary.org
146. Dutch Holiday Traditions with Jennifer Brooks of the HSRC - Crossroads of Rockland History
Jennifer Brooks, Public Education and Outreach Coordinator at the HSRC, joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss Dutch Holiday Traditions. We traced the line between the traditions of early Dutch settlers in Rockland County and surrounding areas to the growth of our modern American Christmas. We explored the history behind our holiday traditions. Where did they come from? Who is Saint Nicholas, and how did he become Santa Claus? Why is the December season known for gift-giving and charity? What’s with the tree and the chimney? And what does any of this have to do with religion? We covered this fascinating history and shared some Dutch recipes and festive crafts to bring Rockland’s Dutch heritage to your home for the holidays.
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a non-profit educational institution and principle repository for documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House located at 20 Zukor road in New City, NY. www.RocklandHistory.org.
145. New Exhibit at Edward Hopper House with Kathie Bennewitz - Crossroads of Rockland History
A 30-minute version of this interview aired on Monday, November 21, 2022 at 9:30AM on WRCR Radio 1700AM.
2022 marks the 140th birthday of Edward Hopper. On this episode, we learned about about the events celebrating this extraordinary artist, who was born in Nyack, NY.
Kathie Bennewitz, executive director of the Edward Hopper House, joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the new exhibition at Hopper House, "Edward Hopper‘s Boyhood on the Hudson River and Emerging Artistic Vision," on view now through March 26, 2023; a new documentary about Hopper, "Hopper, An American Love Story" that was screened on November 16, 2022, at Rivertown Film; and the Whitney Museum’s new exhibition "Edward Hopper’s New York."Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
***
About our guest: Kathleen Motes Bennewitz, executive director of the Edward Hopper House, has extensive experience with Connecticut museums and nonprofits and has won several awards, including the Connecticut League of History Organizations Award of Merit in 2019 and 2020 and the Leadership in History Award, the most prestigious national award given by the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH), in 2017. She holds degrees in art history from Princeton University and the University of Delaware. After curatorial positions at the Amon Carter Museum and Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota, and in education at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, she served as director of exhibitions and programs at the Greenwich Historical Society (the historic site of the Cos Cob art colony) and Fairfield Museum and History Center. She has curated exhibits on American art and artists over her career and in Connecticut at the Lockwood-Matthews Mansion Museum, Norwalk Historical Society, Westport Historical Society, Westport Library, and Westport Public Art Collections. She and her husband, Scott, have twin adult daughters.
About the Hopper House exhibition: Curated by Carole Perry and Kathleen Motes Bennewitz, with Lynne Z. Bassett, this new exhibition, on view through March 26, 2023, showcases childhood drawings by the artist on loan from the Whitney Museum of American Art and works from private collections, including the Arthayer R. Sanborn Hopper Collection Trust, alongside Hopper’s school notebooks and artmaking materials and artworks by family members from the Museum’s Sanborn-Hopper Family Archive. Together, these objects provide a glimpse into Hopper’s early years, the influence of his boyhood proximity to the busy waterfront and commercial district of his hometown, and insights into his life at home and his family’s support of his developing talent and ambitions. www.edwardhopperhouse.org/hopper-boyhood.html
About the documentary screening: Phil Grabsky’s new documentary, Hopper: An American Love Story, was released in October 2022 to coincide with the Whitney Museum of American Art’s exhibition Edward Hopper’s New York and the Edward Hopper House Museum’s Edward Hopper’s Hudson River Boyhood and Emerging Artistic Vision. The acclaimed film explores the enigmatic personality behind the brush, taking a deep look into Hopper’s art, his life, and his relationships, and prominently features Nyack in its opening chapter. exhibitiononscreen.com/films/hopper/
144. HSRC on the Radio: Haunted History with Linda Zimmermann plus "Lavender"
Broadcast originally aired Monday, October 17, 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio.
We explored the Haunted History of Rockland County. First, host Clare Sheridan read the mysterious story of Lavender, and afterward we revisited a 2014 episode of "Crossroads" featuring an interview with the author, historian, and ghost hunter Linda Zimmermann.
Whether it’s the house on LaVeta Place in Nyack; Bosco; Clarkstown's Jane “Naut” Kanniff, and the last witch trial in New York; or the Goblin of the Dunderberg, Linda knows them all and shared them with us.
Linda Zimmermann, the author of more than twenty books, is a popular speaker and has made numerous appearances on television and radio. Her topics include history and science, and she has been investigating and writing about haunted sites for fifteen years.
The story of Lavender appears in Zimmermann's book entitled "Ghosts of Rockland County", a Spirited Books publication, 1998.
www.RocklandHistory.org
143. Burgess Meredith with guest Jonathan Meredith
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, September 19, at 9:30 am on WRCR Radio
We turned our attention to the life and legacy of the actor Burgess Meredith, who lived in Pomona, NY for thirty years. Meredith’s son, Jonathan Meredith, joined Clare Sheridan to share his memories of his father, growing up in Rockland County, and his father’s eclectic group of creative friends and neighbors, including Maxwell Anderson, Alan Jay Lerner, and more.
Jonathan Meredith is a professional musician living in Grass Valley, California. As a teen, he collaborated with Tony and Hunt Sales (sons of the comedian Soupy Sales) and fellow Rocklander Jon Pousette-Dart to form the group Tony and the Tigers, which opened for the Animals at Steel Pier in Atlantic City and performed twice on the popular television program Hullabaloo.
Burgess Meredith, the raspy-voiced character actor with unruly hair and a grimacing yet humorous nature, displayed versatile acting skills that kept him before cameras and on-stage for more than seventy years. He began life as George Burgess, the son of a Cleveland doctor. The family dissolved early on, and Meredith said he took solace in acting in school plays. He was accepted at Amherst College on a scholarship in 1926, but finances forced him to leave school. He worked as a merchant seaman, tie salesman, and peddler of vacuum cleaners before drifting to New York City and Eva Le Gallienne’s Student Repertory Group. “I had no money,” Meredith said in a 1976 interview, “but Eva took me in.”
He left the group in the early 1930s for roles in The Threepenny Opera, Little Ol’ Boy, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, and many other Broadway and off-Broadway productions. The playwright Maxwell Anderson, who was living in Rockland County at the time, became aware of Meredith’s talents and wrote the play Winterset with him in mind. A melodrama of a son out to avenge his father’s death, Winterset became not only a Broadway hit in 1935 but also a motion picture a year later, with Meredith re-creating his role as the son, Mio. It was the first of three stage portrayals that established Burgess Meredith as a significant actor. The other two were Van Van Dorn, who escapes civilization for a single evening in Anderson's play High Tor (1937), and Stephen Minch, who is permitted to return to the years of his youth in The Star-Wagon (also 1937). The critic Wolcott Gibbs praised him in the New Yorker as “brilliant, impressive, heartbreaking, vibrant and eloquent.”
If the phrase “actor’s actor” has any validity, Meredith was its prototype: His early credits also include Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth. He found an entire new career late in life as a scheming villain on television and as Rocky Balboa’s crusty manager in films. The image on this page is his portrayal of Van Van Dorn in High Tor.
***
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
www.RocklandHistory.org
142. New Exhibits - “Storytellers from Nyack” and “Uniquely Rockland”
“Storytellers from Nyack” and “Uniquely Rockland”
This program originally aired on August 15, 2022 on WRCR Radio 1700AM.
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 exhibition 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. Authors and Illustrators Featured in this exhibition are:
Jon Agee, Barbara Brenner, Carson McCullers, Beth Goff, Berta & Elmer Hader, Helen Hayes, Ben Hecht, Yaroslava Mills, Toni Morrison, Paul Peabody, Elizabeth Sayles, Mindy Warshaw, Skolsky, Michael Witte. Auxiliary programming has taken place in conjunction with this exhibition.
—> On May 28, 2022, Nick Norwood, Director of the Carson McCullers Center in Columbus, Georgia shared how McCuller’s Book “Sweet as a Pickle and Clean as a Pig” came about. Watched the recorded webinar
—> For information about future auxiliary programming, visit NyackHistory.org
Then Susan Deeks spoke about “Uniquely Rockland: Important, Iconic & Oddball Objects” from the HSRC Collection. Each item chosen for this exhibition tells a story about a person or group of people, place, or thing that existed (and may still exist) in Rockland. Text panels in the exhibition are based on the essay “A Brief History of Rockland,” by Thomas F. X. Casey, past County Historian and HSRC President.
141. The Orangetown Memory Project
Episode originally aired Monday, July 18, 2022, 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700
We learned about “The Orangetown Memory Project,” the new exhibition at the Orangetown Historical Museum and Archives. 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.
About the exhibition: Preserving the Past informs the future; it takes more than words, architecture and objects. It requires a type of literary imagination. History is about the continuity of place that occurs within the context of change. Living with landmarks can anchor a community and celebrate daily creative reciprocity. Period photographs present a type of magic mirror, and handwritten documents shift us into a slower, more formal gear. As we question who we are, finding out who we were adds immeasurable value to our daily lives. In this place that was settled by colonists from The Netherlands in the 17th century, the mysterious Dutch Merchant Wearing a Falling Lace Collar centers our exhibition. The story of how he got here is as serendipitous and colorful as our Blauvelt descendants. It is a celebration of now through the precious, the incommunicable past. It is a key to the future. Let’s consider what is old in a new way.
The Orangetown Memory Project is on view now:
Where: DePew House, 196 Chief Bill Harris Way, Orangeburg, NY
When: Now through November 22, 2022. Exhibition hours are Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 am-2 pm, and Sundays, 1 pm- 4 pm.
Learn more at the Orangetown Historical Museum's website: https://www.orangetownmuseum.com.
Special auxiliary programming is scheduled:
8/5 at 10:30am - Orangeburg Library Children’s K-6 Program Story and Craft
9/24 Time TBD - Yoga with Debbie at the Museum
10/10 Time TBD - “Bridgerton” High Tea Fundraiser
11/3 5pm - Annual Dinner at 76 House Fundraiser
12/4, 11, 18 Time TBD - Holiday Open House at the Salyer House
*****
140. Prof. David Bisaha on Millia Davenport
Episode originally aired on Monday, June 20, 2022, at 9:30am, on WRCR 1700AM
We turned our attention to the life and legacy of Millia Davenport.
David Bisaha, Assistant Professor of Theater at SUNY Binghamton joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss this remarkable and trailblazing woman who lived most of her life in Rockland County. Among her many contributions include writing the definitive book of theatrical costume history, The Book of Costume. Published in 1948, it remains the gold standard. (Royalties from the book were donated to the New City Library.)
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 31, 1895, to Charles B. and Gertrude Crotty Davenport, Millia Davenport lived in New City for more than 70 years. Her father and mother were biology teachers at Harvard and Radcliffe, respectively. They were genetic researchers and helped establish the Station for Experimental Evolution of the Carnegie Institute of Washington in Cold Spring Harbor, NY.
After attending Barnard and Parsons, Millia Davenport created artwork for and edited The Quill, a literary magazine. Later, she became one of the first female scenic design painters in America. She worked as a costume designer for a number of Broadway theater companies, including Maxwell Anderson's Playwrights Company and Orson Welles's Mercury Theater.
In 1981, she received an honorary doctorate in fine arts from the Parsons School of Design in Manhattan the same year that she received the highest honor given by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology for a lifetime of distinguished contribution to the performing arts. In 1991 the Costume Society of America established the Millia Davenport Publication Award recognizing excellence in costume scholarship.
Davenport died in 1992.
_____
David Bisaha is a scholar and practitioner who studies performance design, theatrical space and architecture, and the history of theatrical creativity. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theater at SUNY Binghamton. He specializes in the history of scenic design in the United States, mostly in the first half of the twentieth century, and in the more recent history of immersive and participatory performance. His other research interests include theatre historiography, cognitive sciences and performance, directing theory, and memory studies.
Bisaha’s current book project, American Scenic Design and Freelance Professionalism, is a cultural labor history of scenic designers and designing in the United States. At Binghamton, Bisaha teaches theater and performance history, dramaturgy, and theater theory in the MA and BA programs. He is the Curator of the Theatre Collection of the Department of Theatre, and is affiliate faculty and a steering committee member of the Material and Visual Worlds Transdisciplinary Area of Excellence (TAE). The Millia Davenport papers are housed there.
139. Kathleen Meehan Do on Robert R. Meehan - “Confessions of a Hayseed D. A.”
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, May 16, at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM
Kathleen Meehan Do visited the program to discuss the new book she edited entitled "Confessions of a Hayseed D.A." 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.
Kathleen Meehan Do discovered her father’s manuscript years after his passing. She has edited the text, researched cases cited by her father, and interviewed some of the key players whose names appear within book, creating a compelling narrative perfect for Rockland history enthusiasts.
About Robert Meehan: Robert R. Meehan was born in 1930 and died in 2004. He was District Attorney of Rockland County from 1965 to 1974. He would later go on to become NYS Special Assistant Attorney General for Medicaid Fraud and a Rockland County and New York State Supreme Court Judge until his retirement in 2000.
About Kathleen Meehan Do: Kathleen Meehan Do is a communications specialist who has served in the administration of New York Governor Mario M. Cuomo, Pennsylvania Congressman Joseph Sesak, and Rockland County Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell, as well as college presidents in New York and New Jersey.
Kathleen Meehan Do will appear at Barnes and Noble in Nanuet, NY on June 17, 2022 at 7pm to sign copies of her book.
138. Sidney Simon with Teru Simon and Mark Simon
This program originally aired on March 28, 2022. To listen, click here.
To celebrate Women's History Month (March 2022), Crossroads of Rockland History focused our attention on the women of South Mountain Road (Rockland County) who, like their male counterparts, were gifted artists and intellectuals. Historical Society of Rockland County's Executive Director Susan Deeks joined Clare Sheridan to discuss some of these notable women and why they deserve a prominent place in the history of American arts and letters. Lita Hornick, Martha Ryther, Lotte Lenya, Eva Zeisel, Bessie Breuer and Mary Mowbray-Clarke were discussed.
***
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Jeff and Will morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. If you want to listen to the live broadcast, and you aren't local, simply download the TuneIn Radio App on your smartphone or tablet and search for WRCR. We are pleased to announce that our archived podcasts are available for streaming on the www.RocklandHistory.org website and all of the major podcast platforms, including Apple, Stitcher, Google, and Spotify.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
137. Women of South Mountain Road with Susan Deeks
This program originally aired on March 28, 2022. To listen, click here.
To celebrate Women's History Month (March 2022), Crossroads of Rockland History focused our attention on the women of South Mountain Road (Rockland County) who, like their male counterparts, were gifted artists and intellectuals. Historical Society of Rockland County's Executive Director Susan Deeks joined Clare Sheridan to discuss some of these notable women and why they deserve a prominent place in the history of American arts and letters. Lita Hornick, Martha Ryther, Lotte Lenya, Eva Zeisel, Bessie Breuer and Mary Mowbray-Clarke were discussed.
***
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Jeff and Will morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. If you want to listen to the live broadcast, and you aren't local, simply download the TuneIn Radio App on your smartphone or tablet and search for WRCR. We are pleased to announce that our archived podcasts are available for streaming on the www.RocklandHistory.org website and all of the major podcast platforms, including Apple, Stitcher, Google, and Spotify.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
136. Dr. Joan Geisar and Skunk Hollow - Crossroads of Rockland History
Broadcast aired Monday, February 21, 2022 at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM 1700
We revisited the interview with historical archeologist Joan Geismar and the fascinating and little-known area known as Skunk Hollow. Dr. Geismar has been a practicing urban archaeologist since 1981 and wrote her dissertation on Skunk Hollow. She shares how she uncovered the history of this place through archeological research and discoveries.
Skunk Hollow or, “the mountain,” was a free black community from 1806-1905. The first known deed dated 1806 belonged to Jack Earnest from Palisades. In 1841, William Thompson, an African Methodist Episcopal itinerant preacher bought Jack’s house, built a church on his land, and became resident preacher. Over one hundred families lived in Skunk Hollow including Brown, Oliver, Sisco, Thompson, Williams and others.
135. Dedication : One-Person Show by Roger Peltzman - Crossroads of ROckland History.
Broadcast originally aired Monday, January 17, 2022 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM.
Clare Sheridan interviewed Blauvelt, NY native Roger Peltzman. Since his appearance on "Crossroads" in 2014, Peltzman has continued to explore his family’s harrowing story that took place in the wake of Hitler’s rise to power, with his primary focus on his uncle, the piano prodigy Norbert Stern, who perished in Auschwitz at 21 years old.
Sheridan and Peltzman discussed the new developments surrounding Peltzman's new one-person show entitled Dedication which explores his family’s history, its impact the world of music and on his own personal journey.
134. Rachel Whitlow and the Haverstraw Brick Museum Exhibition - Crossroads of Rockland History
Broadcast originally aired December 20, 2021 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio
Did you know that we can discover the future by studying the past? The Haverstraw Brick Museum is doing just that!
Clare Sheridan’s guest was Rachel Whitlow, acting director of the Haverstraw Brick Museum. We discussed the Museum’s new innovation series of exhibitions; interesting collaborations with organizations, including the Pratt School of Architecture; and the museum's goal to engage the community through history, STEAM education, and hands-on living history experiences.
Learn more at: www.haverstrawbrickmuseum.org
133. AJ Schenkman: “Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York”
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, November 15, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AM
Spies! Loyalists! Tories! Conspiracy! Strange messages? Codes in invisible ink?
We turned our attention to Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York, the new book by A. J. Schenkman. The author was interviewed by host Clare Sheridan.
The American Revolution was first and foremost a civil war that tore at the very fabric of families, as well as society. Patriots were determined to separate from England, while Loyalists were just as determined to defeat what they saw as a rebellion.
Many do not know that during several critical periods, the war was almost fatally undermined by English sympathizers or, in some cases, opportunistic Patriots. Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York is a compilation of twelve stories regarding important moments in New York State's history during the American Revolution.
Royalties from the sale of this book will benefit People's Place, a non-profit organization in Kingston, NY www.peoplesplace.org/
About the Author: A.J. Schenkman teaches history in the Lower Hudson Valley and writes about the history of Ulster and Orange counties. He is the Town of Gardiner Historian. Since his start writing for local newspapers, Schenkman has branched out into writing for magazines, blogs, and academic journals in history and other subjects. In addition to his current book, he has written others, including Unexpected Bravery: Women and Children of the Civil War, which is now out in paperback.
Learn more at the author's website:
www.ajschenkman.com/
***
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Jeff and Will morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. If you want to listen to the live broadcast, and you aren't local, simply download the TuneIn Radio App on your smartphone or tablet and search for WRCR. We are pleased to announce that we have begun loading our archived podcasts to Apple Podcasts; Stitcher, and Spotify platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
132. Ralph Blauvelt: “400 Years in America: 17th Century Immigrant Ancestors”
Broadcast originally aired Monday, October 18, 2021, at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700
Ralph Blauvelt joined Clare Sheridan to speak about his new book, "Four Hundred Years in America: 17th Century Immigrant Ancestors." This is the story of the first immigrant settlers in New Netherland, some of whom are Blauvelt’s own ancestors. Their lives are reconstructed from the documents they left behind, and their stories are those of strangers in a strange land trying to build a new life.
Read more about the new book here: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/four-hundre…lt/1140167170
***
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Jeff and Will morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. If you want to listen to the live broadcast, and you aren't local, simply download the TuneIn Radio App on your smartphone or tablet and search for WRCR. We are pleased to announce that we have begun loading our archived podcasts to Apple Podcasts; Stitcher, and Spotify platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
#New Netherland, #New Amsterdam, #Blauvelt Descendents, #New York City, #Genealogy, #Bergen County
131. Major André’s Toe and FEVER by Mary Beth Keane
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM
In this two-part episode, Clare Sheridan read “The True Story of Major André’s Toe,” as written by Palisades Historian Alice Gerard. (The story appeared in the HSRC's South of the Mountains history quarterly). This story is relevant right now, because one hundred years ago, Major John André’s remains were exhumed by order of the Duke of York and moved from Tappan (the site of André’s hanging) to Westminster Abbey. In terms of legends and lore, the truth about this story is one of the most frequently asked questions of our staff at the HSRC.
Just as a reminder, André was the British major who entered into the treason of the American Revolution with the notorious traitor Benedict Arnold.
Part 2 revisited Clare’s interview with author Mary Beth Keane about her book FEVER, the historical fiction exploration of Mary Mallon, a.k.a. Typhoid Mary—a story of that is more relevant today than ever!
Learn more about Mary Beth Keane here: marybethkeane.com/
SOUTH OF THE MOUNTAINS (ISSN 0489-9563) is published quarterly by The Historical Society of Rockland County. Receiving this quarterly is one of the tangible benefits of membership in the HSRC. Single copy price of South of the Mountains is $5, including postage and handling. Learn more here: www.rocklandhistory.org/page.cfm?page=838
130. Tappan History Scavenger Hunt with Carol LaValle
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, August 16, 2021, 9:30 am, on WRCR AM 1700
We learned all about the history scavenger hunt happening in Tappan, NY - now through 8/31/21. That’s right: If you love a history challenge, now’s your chance to take part! My guest, Carol LaValle, from the Tappantown Historical Society, will be on hand to discuss the details surrounding this fun, educational and family-friendly event, co-sponsored by the Tappan Library.
The scavenger hunt is ongoing throughout the month of August.
For more information, visit the Tappan Library here: www.tappanlibrary.org/localinfo.asp
To learn more about the Tappantown Historical Society visit: www.tappantown.org/
***
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30am, right after the morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month.
If you don’t live locally, you can still listen to WRCR by downloading the TuneIn Radio App on your smart phone, smart device or tablet and searching for WRCR Radio. If you can’t listen live, we offer the broadcast on demand on all of the major Podcast Apps, as well as on our website at www.RocklandHistory.org.
To view an index of past programs and listen to sound recordings, click www.rocklandhistory.org/page.cfm?category=22.
129. Steve Possell: 50 Years in Local Radio
Broadcast originally aired Monday, July 19, 2021, 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AM
We turned our attention to the life and career of Steve Possell, who's retiring after a fifty-year career in local Rockland County radio.
First at WRKL and now at WRCR, Possell has had an impact on local radio and our community that can only be called significant. We learned about how he got started in radio, his favorite moments over the past decades on the air and his plans for retirement.
Read more about Steve Possell here: rcbizjournal.com/2021/06/18/wrcrs…retire-in-august
***
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700 AM. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. If you don’t live locally, you can still listen to WRCR by downloading the TuneIn Radio App on your smart phone, smart device or tablet and searching for WRCR Radio. If you can’t listen live, we offer the broadcast on demand on all of the major Podcast Apps, as well as on our website at www.RocklandHistory.org.
To view an index of past programs and listen to sound recordings, click www.rocklandhistory.org/page.cfm?category=22.
128. Toni Morrison Retrospective with Brenda Ross
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, June 21, 2021, 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AM
Clare Sheridan welcomed author Brenda Ross, curator of the new exhibition at the Historical Society of the Nyacks on the life of the local celebrity and Nobel Prize–winning author Toni Morrison. The exhibit covers a refreshing set of Morrison’s life lessons and offers a glimpse of her that has not been well explored before, including her insights on the creative process, Black women and feminism, and capturing “the Black voice.”
Learn how Morrison usually began her novels at their end; her opinion about writer’s block; how writing is similar to acting as the writer becomes the character; and much more. This is the first exhibit to open in the Historical Society of the Nyacks’ new museum space on the first floor of the DePew Building at 50 Piermont Avenue. It is open to the public on Saturdays, 1–4 pm.
About Brenda Ross: Brenda Ross has honed her craft through years of writing workshops. She holds a bachelor of arts in creative writing from SUNY Empire State College. Her acclaimed novel, Bibsy, was completed in the Novel Writing course at Sarah Lawrence College.
To learn more about the Toni Morrison exhibition, visit nyackhistory.org/2021/05/21/current-exhibit.
To learn more about Brenda Ross and her book visit: www.authorbrendaross.com.
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700 AM. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. If you don’t live locally, you can still listen to WRCR by downloading the TuneIn Radio App on your smart phone, smart device or tablet and searching for WRCR Radio. If you can’t listen live, we offer the broadcast on demand on all of the major Podcast Apps, as well as on our website at www.RocklandHistory.org.
To view an index of past programs and listen to sound recordings, click www.rocklandhistory.org/page.cfm?category=22.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
127: Joyce Bulifant and Joel Vig Remeber Helen Hayes
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, May 17, 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AM
We turned our attention to the first lady of the American Theater, Helen Hayes.
Joyce Bulifant, Hayes’s daughter-in-law, shared her fond memories of the stage and screen star Helen Hayes; of her father-in-law, the playwright Charles MacArthur; and of their famous house in Nyack, Pretty Penny. We reminisced with Bulifant and then learned about an effort to establish Pretty Penny as a literary landmark from Joel Vig, who, through the Literary Landmark program, has been working to create lasting legacies from some of our best-known authors.
Known as “The First lady of the American Theater,” Helen Hayes had a legendary career on stage and in films and television that spanned more than eighty years. The accomplished entertainer acted from age five to eight-five. She appeared on Broadway at age eight, and over the next several years received much acclaim for her performances. With the expansion of movies in Hollywood, Hayes moved to California to pursue films. In 1931, she won a Academy Award as Best Actress for The Sin of Madelon Claudet. Hayes also received accolades for her Broadway performances in Mary of Scotland (1933) and Victoria Regina (1935). She is the first woman to receive all four entertainment awards: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. One of her final triumphs came in 1990 with the publication her autobiography, My Life in Three Acts. The memoir became a best seller. Hayes died on March 17, 1993, in Nyack.
A star in her own right, Joyce Bulifant is perhaps best known for playing recurring supporting roles and doing guest spots on television series such as Perry Mason, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and Dr. Kildare. Beginning in 1971, one year into the eight-season run of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bulifant landed an assignment as a regular on that program; she played Marie Slaughter, the wife of the amiable newswriter Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod), which carried her through the final season of the series. During the 1970s she also appeared as a regular contestant/participant on the game show Match Game alongside such “Me Decade” stars as McLean Stevenson and Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star Betty White. Bulifant's small-screen work continued unabated for several decades; in time, she also moved into occasional bit parts and supporting roles in feature flms. More recently, she has written two one-woman shows—My Life upon the Wicked Stage and Remembering Helen Hayes with Love—which she has performed in various theaters. She is also the executive vice president of the Dyslexia Foundation. Joyce's book "My Four Hollywood Husbands" is available wherever books are sold and the audio book is coming soon!
Joel Vig created touring productions for the Arkansas Art Center and the Nebraska Arts Council, is a contributor to the textbook Creating a Sense of Occasion (Holt), and is a guest lecturer at college theatre departments. He has worked as a director, stage manager, performer and designer, on Broadway, off Broadway, at Theatre at Sea and regional theatres. He originated the title role in the Off-Broadway "Best Musical," Ruthless, and appeared in the original Broadway cast of the Tony-winning musical Hairspray.
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am on WRCR radio at www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month.
www.RocklandHistory.org
126. Harriet Tubman - Journey to Freedom Sculpture Comes to Haverstraw
The broadcast originally aired on Monday, April 19 at 9:30am on WRCR 1700AM locally here in Rockland County.
Virginia Norfleet, of the Haverstraw African American Connection joined Clare Sheridan to discuss the upcoming arrival of the extraordinary sculpture: "Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom" by artist Wesley Woffard. The statue will be placed for several weeks in Haverstraw African American Memorial Park.
Ginny spoke about this exciting event for Rockland County, and shared details of of the auxiliary programs being planned around this nationally-touring sculpture.
Learn more about this exciting event here: https://www.thehaac.com/
Virginia “Ginny” Norfleet is the founder of the Haverstraw African American Connection (HAAC). The mission of the Haverstraw African American Connection is to research, recover, preserve and teach the rich culture and contributions of African American’s with emphasis on the African American people of Haverstraw N.Y. H.A.A.C is a Non-Profit 501c3 agency. Through public outreach, dialogue, exhibits and other community initiatives, we will promote knowledge, acceptance and appreciation of our heritage.
About the Artist: Wesley Wofford, an Emmy- and Academy Award-winning sculptor, works from his private studio in the National Forest of North Carolina. His studio is filled with sculptures at various stages of completion, the large commissions occupying the same space as portraits, gallery pieces, and maquette studies. He was awarded Signature Status with the Portrait Society of America in March 2015 and is an elected member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Portrait Sculptors Society of the Americas. Wofford’s sculpture is recognized on a national and international level, with various awards and publications celebrating and featuring his work.
125. Miriam Cordwell - The First Lady of Hairstyling
Broadcast originally aired Monday, March 15, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM
Miriam Cordwell, the trailblazing and award-winning hair stylist known as the first lady of hair dressing was the topic of the March (women's history month) episode. Judith Brodil, Cordwell’s niece, joined Clare Sheridan to discuss the life and legacy of her aunt, who for decades was the preeminent style sophisticate working out of her salon in New City. Cordwell was an innovator and left a legacy of important books about her field.
A Rockland County native and an artist in her own right, Judith Brodil is retired from a career as an executive in the graphic arts industry; like her aunt, she was frequently on a plane while raising two children. She lives in New City in a house designed and built circa 1952 by her father, Miriam’s brother John R. Bradley. Judy tells us, “One thing that was truly great about my aunt is that she recognized all types of women and men regardless of their race or religion. My father was the same way. … Miriam was such a force, but she did it nicely, which is why I think she was so beloved.”
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Steve and Jeff morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. If you want to listen to the live broadcast, and you aren't local, simply download the TuneIn Radio App on your smartphone or tablet and search for WRCR. We are pleased to announce that we have begun loading our archived podcasts to Apple Podcasts; Stitcher, and Spotify platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
124. History and Impact of Urban Renewal on Nyack, NY
Broadcast originally aired on Monday, February 15, 2021, 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AM
During the middle of the 20th century, New York City's suburbs, including Nyack, were the site of massive urban renewal projects. Joining Clare Sheridan were Owen Voutsinas-Klose, author of Race, Power and Urban Renewal on the Hudson, and Bill Batson, whose family was directly impacted when their home was seized by eminent domain to make way for urban renewal in Nyack.
Owen Voutsinas-Klose is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in politics, philosophy, and economics. A lifelong Nyack resident, he currently serves as on the staff of New York State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick.
Bill Batson is an artist, writer, and activist who lives in Nyack. He has worked for nonprofits, labor unions, and government in New York State as an organizer, writer, and public relations specialist. For more information about his work, visit https://billbatsonarts.com.
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Steve and Jeff morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. We are pleased to announce that we have begun loading our archived podcasts to Apple Podcasts; Stitcher, and Spotify platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
www.RocklandHistory.org
123. Craig Long - Rockland County Historian
This program originally aired on Monday, January 18, 2021 on WRCR Radio 1700AM
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
Rockland County Historian Craig Long stopped by to discuss the history of the Smith House, the Ramapo Pass, The Clove Road and the new historical markers that relate to these historic sites in the Town of Ramapo.
This episode of Crossroads of Rockland History has been made possible by a generous contribution from the Town of Ramapo. The HSRC is grateful for their support of our efforts to share local history with the people of Rockland County.
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Steve and Jeff morning show, on WRCR radio 1700 AM. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. To listen live, tune in to 1700 on your AM dial, or download the TUNEIN Radio APP on your smartphone or tablet and search for WRCR. After the live broadcast, listeners can listen to a recording of the show as a podcast. These podcasts can be found at our website www.RocklandHistory.org, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. www.RocklandHistory.org
122. Muriel Fox and NOW
This program originally aired Monday, December 21, 2020 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
Clare Sheridan welcomed Muriel Fox to Crossroads of Rockland History. While living in Tappan, Muriel Fox made history with Betty Friedan when they, and other prominent feminists, founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966. A powerhouse herself, Muriel Fox is a world traveler, feminist, wife, mother, and a retired public relations executive who was once included in Business Week magazine's list of "100 Top Corporate Women.”
Fox spoke about her career and her work with NOW, as well as her contributions to other organizations, including those which are right here in Rockland County. Fox shared exciting news about 2021—when she and other feminists around the globe will celebrate the 100th birthday of Betty Friedan. This event will take place on February 4, 2021 at 7pm. For more information visit: www.veteranfeministsofamerica.org/
Or visit their FACEBOOK page here: https://www.facebook.com/VeteranFeminists
121. “Shopping List for Murder” - Author Tess McCormack
This program originally aired on Monday, November 16, 2020, at9:30 AM, on WRCR 1700 AM and WRCR.com.
Please note that this eposide includes discussion around topics including sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, physical violence, and harassment. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult. We also encourage you to care for your safety and well-being. If you or someone you know needs help please contact the Center for Safety and Change: www.centerforsafetyandchange.org/
Clare Sheridan welcomed author and Rockland County native Tess McCormack to discuss her book "Shopping List for Murder." It is the true story of a young girl’s horrific experiences long before the “Me Too” movement would usher in intolerance of abuse, and the courageous lawyer who fought for her future.
Tess spoke about her connection to the story and what inspired her to write the book. Then we opened up the phone lines for listeners' questions and comments.
The book is available at Amazon.
It is also available at Books & Greetings in Northvale, NJ.
About the Author: Tess McCormack is a native of Rockland County and spent most of her life in the area. She began her career in the U.S. Air Force as a communication specialist at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. She then returned to Rockland County and became an active volunteer and supporter of numerous charitable and community organizations, including Nyack Hospital and United Hospice of Rockland, among many others. The list of awards and commendations she has received is long and include "Woman of the Year” from Helen Hayes Hospital and the Medal of Honor from Good Samaritan Hospital. McCormack received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from St.Thomas Aquinas College in 2016. Now living in Florida, she remains active and visits Rockland as often as she can.
120. Hon. Nita Lowey and Historian Isabelle Savell
This program originally aired on October 19, 2020
Crossroads of Rockland History continued our year of Women’s History in celebration of the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment with two guests!
First, the Hon. Nita Lowey joined Clare Sheridan to discuss her distinguished career in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lowey shared her reflections on the importance of women’s voices in the political process and memories of her historic career. Congresswoman Lowey has served as a U.S. Representative from New York since 1989. In 2018, she became the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee. She will retire at the end of this term.
Then we turned our attention to the preeminent historian Isabelle Savell, whose comprehensive research documented the history of the women from Rockland County who spent seven decades fighting for the vote. Savell wrote Ladies Lib: How Women Got the Vote, the go-to text for those interested in suffrage history in Rockland County. Savell’s granddaughter, Becky Savell, phoned in to discuss all of the important research that her grandmother did as Senior Historian at the Historical Society of Rockland County; she shared fond memories of her grandmother, as well.
"Isabelle Savell was a lovely, brilliant, beautiful lady, “said Gene Setzer of South Nyack. "She was one of the stalwarts, and one of the finest history researchers we’ve ever had around here—a beautiful writer so useful to the community.”
119. New Exhibitions at the Historical Society of Rockland County
This program originally aired on September 21, 2020.
The September 2020 episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History," focused on the two new exhibitions on view now at the Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC).
Mariel Farlow and her daughter Michele Lehtis appeared to discuss the monumental sculpture "Being of Light - Image of the Human Soul." We explored the true meaning of what may be the most controversial piece of public art in Rockland County with the artist herself and heard part of a poignant reaction to the controversy from the artist's daughter.
Then, Jennifer Brooks, curator of "Inside Out: Women, Fashion & The Fight for Suffrage," spoke about the use of highlights from HSRC's permanent collection to address questions about how the fight for women’s suffrage changed fashion, and how women’s fashion—and lives—changed in response to suffrage. These exhibitions are on view now at the HSRC. Please visit www.RocklandHistory.org for details about how you can visit.
118. League of Women Voters Turns 100
This program originally aired on August 17, 2020.
Happy 100th anniversary to the League of Women Voters!
Marilyn Cohen, vice president of the Rockland County Chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV), talks to Clare Sheridan about the national nonpartisan group that has been doing active grassroots organizing for 100 years with the belief that voters should play a critical role in democracy.
The conversation covers the history of the LWV nationally and here in our community, and what the LWV is doing now to prepare for the upcoming election.
We are very pleased to announce that we have begun loading our archived podcasts to the following platforms: Apple Podcasts; Stitcher and Spotify.
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Steve and Jeff morning show, on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. During 2020, our focus is Women’s History in celebration of the Suffrage Centennial.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
www.RocklandHistory.org
117. Women's History Summer Reading
This program originally aired on July 20, 2020.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
The topic: Woman Suffrage Centennial Summer Reading. Joining Clare Sheridan were Anya Berg of the Palisades Free Library and Katie Karkheck of the Valley Cottage Library. The librarians shared their recommendations for books that celebrate the Suffrage Centennial. We also opened the phone lines for listeners' suggestions and questions.
Anya Berg recommends:
1. The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, by Elaine Weiss
2. Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote, by Susan Ware
3. Women Will Vote: Winning Suffrage in New York State, by Susan Goodier and Karen Pastorello
4. Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger, by Rebecca Traister
5. Activism into Art into Activism into Art: A Personal History of Feminist Art, by Cristina Biaggi, founding member of www.SuffrageForward.org
And the forthcoming Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All, by Martha S. Jones (due for release in September 2020).
Katie Karkheck recommends:
1. Suffrage: Women's Long Battle for the Vote, by Ellen Carol DuBois
2. Why The Marched Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote, by Susan Ware
3. The Scarlet Sisters: Sex, Suffrage and Scandal in the Gilded Age, by Myra MacPherson
4. Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activist : A Graphic History of Women's Fight for Their Rights, by Mikki Kendall, illustrated by A. D'Amico (a graphic history of the various struggles and fights for rights from ancient times to today, intended for teens)
And for kids, Miss Paul and the President: The Creative Campaign for Women's Right to Vote, by Dean Robbins, illustrated by Nancy Zhang
Clare Sheridan recommends:
• Shout: Poetry for Suffrage, by Susanna Rich
• Remembering the Ladies: From Patriots in Petticoats to Presidential Candidates (Telling Her Stories), by Carol Simon Levin (coloring book for kids and adults – perfect for the pandemic!)
• The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote (paperback), by Elaine Weiss
• Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait? Alice Paul, Woodrow Wilson, and the Fight for the Right to Vote, by Tina Cassidy
And Ladies Lib: How Rockland Women Got the Vote, by Isabelle Savell
For information about the Palisades Library, go to www.palisadeslibrary.org
For information about the Valley Cottage Library, go to www.valleycottagelibrary.org
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Steve and Jeff morning show, on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. During 2020, our focus is Women’s History in celebration of the Suffrage Centennial.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. www.RocklandHistory.org