Crossroads of Rockland History

Episode originally aired on Monday, April 21, 2025 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM.The topic of conversation was the Lawrence–Tonetti Waterfall in Palisades, NY. Also known as Peanut Leap Cascade, this natural waterfall was beautifully enhanced by sculptors Mary Lawrence and Francois Tonetti in the early 20th century by creating stream-fed pools, sculptural fountainheads, and a Roman-style pergola on the shore of the Hudson River.John Ratcliff, the grandson of the sculptors, joined host Clare Sheridan to share memories of this extraordinary place, which was once part of the larger Lawrence property in Snedens Landing.  The property is now contained within the Palisades Interstate Park, where thousands of hikers pass by its ruins as they descend the Shore Trail to the Hudson River. We are pleased to share the details of an upcoming program at the Palisades Free Library:The Lawrence-Tonetti Waterfall: A History of the Peanut Leap Cascadefrom Snedens Landing to Palisades Interstate ParkWhen: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6:30 pmWhere: Palisades Free Library, 19 Closter Road, Palisades, NY 10964, (845) 359-0136About the program: Join Francesca Costa (Palisades Interstate Park Public Historian), Jennifer Rothschild (Historical Society of Rockland County Programming Director), and John Ratcliff, grandson of the sculptors Mary Lawrence and Francois Tonetti as they tell the story of "The Waterfall" and how it has become a popular hiking trail within the park. This slide presentation and panel discussion explores the fascinating history of The Waterfall, a natural feature enhanced by Lawrence and Tonetti in the early 20th century with stream-fed pools, a roman-style pergola, and sculptural fountainheads. Once part of the larger Lawrence property in Snedens Landing, it became a favorite spot for moonlit gatherings of guests who arrived by boat, including fellow sculptors and painters, as well as the renowned architects Charles McKim and Stanford White, who helped design the pergola. This magical spot is now contained within the Palisades Interstate Park, where thousands of hikers pass by its ruins as they descend the Shore Trail to the Hudson River.To register, go to: https://southorangetownlibraries.librarycalendar.com/event/lawrence-tonetti-waterfall-snedens-landing-palisades-interstate-park-33538Crossroads 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 and at our website. 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

A 30-minute version of this interview  originally aired on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM.Crossroads celebrated both Women's History Month and Saint Patrick's day with a discussion about an exciting program coming up at Harmony Hall in Sloatsburg.   Eve Kahn, the former Antiques Editor for the New York Times and Elizabeth Stack the Executive Director at the American Irish Historical Society will joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss Anna Frances Levins, the Irish American artist and entrepreneur who traveled widely to photograph remotest Ireland and created portraits of sitters ranging from Pope Pius X  to martyred Irish revolutionaries.Anna Frances Levins founded her own company, Levins Press, which published lavish books about the history of Ireland and Irish Americans, and her photos appeared by the hundreds in books, newspapers, and magazines. Levins also helped the newest Irish arrivals at Ellis Island, combating her era's bitter prejudices against immigrants. She eventually married one of her portrait sitters, an Irish baronet. Despite all of this, Levins has ended up in contemporary obscurity.About the guests:Eve Kahn is an Independent scholar and former Antiques Columnist at The New York Times.  She is an award winning author who writes about art, architecture, and design for the Times among other publications. Elizabeth Stack, PhD, is the Executive Director of the American Irish Historical Society in New York City. Dr. Stack was previously the executive director of the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany, NY and before that she taught Irish and Irish American History and was an Associate Director at Fordham University's Institute of Irish Studies. She completed her PhD at Fordham, writing about Irish and German immigrants in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, as they grappled with the immigration restriction movements of that time.  About the Program: Anna Frances Levin on Sunday, March 30th, 2:00 pm at Harmony Hall, Jacob Sloat House in Sloatsburg, NY. Tickets available at https://www.friendsofharmonyhall.org/events_____The American Irish Historical Society will also host Eve Kahn for "Rediscovering Anna Frances Levins” on March 25th at 6pm.  Info here: https://aihsny.org/events-2/rediscovering-anna-frances-levins-forgotten-irish-american-photographer-publisher-political-activist-and-baronessCrossroads 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

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AM.Master storyteller and author Jonathan Kruk joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss his career as a Master Storyteller.  In April, Kruk will bring a family-friendly program to the Historical Society of Rockland County entitled: “Imps of Donderberg: The Lore of Rockland County.”  Topics discussed in this interview include:  Washington Irving; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; The Goblin of Donderberg; Charles Dickens; A Christmas Carol; Hudson River; Rocklandia; The Hudson River; Pete Seeger and more.Best known for his solo shows “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “A Christmas Carol,” Jonathan Kruk has been featured on The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, and the BBC. In addition to performing for the New-York Historical, the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum, Pete Seeger's Clearwater Fest, the NYS Reading Teacher's Association, NYS PTA Conference, the Nassau County Museum, the Greater Hudson Heritage Network, Met-Life, and Pepsico, he has eight award-winning recordings and is the author of two books: Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley and Legends and Lore of the Hudson Highlands.His website is: https://jonathankruk.com/The upcoming program at the HSRC: In this family-friendly Sunday afternoon program, Jonathan will tell adventuresome stories about pirate treasure, bold patriots, ghost imps, Indian guides, and more.IMPS OF DONDERBERG: The Lore of Rockland County, with Jonathan KrukWhen:  Sunday, April 6, 2025,at 1:00 pm SHARPWhere:  Lower-level Community Room, HSRC History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New CityPrice:  $15.00/adult; $5/child (best for children in second grade or older) Learn more or get tickets:  https://www.rocklandhistory.org/family-program--imps-of-donderbergCrossroads 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

Episode originally aired Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9:30m on WRCR Radio 1700AM.  Crossroads of Rockland History revisited one of the most tragic events in Rockland History:  The 1914 murder of Eugene Newman by William V. Cleary.  In this re-broadcast,  host Clare Sheridan interviewed the grand-nephew of the murder victim, Eugene Newman.  Now living in Chicago, IL, Gene Newman shared the details of this dreadful event and the subsequent trial which has been described as a major scandal involving political and legal corruption in New York State.  Please note:  A version of this interview was aired on Monday, October 19, 2015 and was archived as episode 61.To read an outstanding article by  Cheryl Slavin , published by the Rockland County Times in 2014, visit:  www.rocklandtimes.com/2014/07/24/haverstraw-political-boss-shoots-newspaper-publisheTo see related photos and news clippings, visit our flickr album here:  www.flickr.com/photos/100479933@N04/albums/72157658442917045Crossroads 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 (live streaming 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

Broadcast originally aired on Monday December 16, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM Radio. Beverly Schultz Csordas joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss her new book, The Olden Days: My Mother's Family History (1594-1997).Csordas is a member of the Concklin family whose Orchards in Pomona have been owned and operated by the Concklin family for ten generations. By weaving together a wide variety of family documents and photos, and enhancing them with her own research, Beverly Csordas presents a historical and fascinating tale of her mother's heritage from the time the first ancestors arrived in Salem, Massachusetts. in the 1600s. https://www.orchardsofconcklin.com/Learn more about the author: https://beverlyscsordas.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 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.

Episode originally aired on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 9:30 am, WRCR Radio 1700AM.We turned our attention to the historic Jacob Sloat house, also known as Harmony Hall, in Sloatsburg. The house is owned by the Town of Ramapo, but a small group of dedicated volunteers - The Friends of Harmony Hall - are working hard to preserve and restore this important place.Peter Bush, a member of the Friends of Harmony Hall and a Sloat descendant,  joined host Clare Sheridan to share what the Friends of Harmony Hall have done so far this year and what is coming up at Harmony Hall. Learn more about the Friends of Harmony Hall here: https://www.friendsofharmonyhall.orgThe Friends of Harmony Hall 's Annual Victorian Holiday at Jacob Sloat's 1848 Greek Revival mansion will take place Sunday, December 8, 1-5 pm. Enjoy live music, sweet treats, and their signature hot mulled cider. Children's crafts and unique hand-made crafts in Ye Olde Holiday Shoppe - and, of course, a visit from Santa (1:30-2 pm) - will complete the day! Tickets are available at the FOHH website._____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

Broadcast originally aired on Monday October 21, 2024 at 9:30 am on WRCR 1700 AM Radio.Bill Batson, incoming President of the Friends of Mount Moor Cemetery, joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the upcoming Veterans Day Program at Mount Moor Cemetery.  @billbatsonny @friendsofmountmoorcemeteryMount Moor African-American Cemetery, also known as Mount Moor Cemetery, is a historic African American cemetery located at Palisades Center, West Nyack in Rockland County, New York. It was established in 1849 and contains approximately 90 known graves including veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I. Among the notable burials are Lafayette Logan, a Buffalo Soldier who fought with the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and several members of the 26th United States Colored Infantry Regiment.Event Details:Buffalo Soldiers of Rockland County and Friends of Mount Moor CemeteryPresent :A Veterans Day ServiceMonday, November 11th, 202412NoonMt. Moor Cemetery1000 Palisades Center DriveWest Nyack, New York 10994(Palisades Mall)For information contact: 845-362-6227_____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.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

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, September 16, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AMWe turned our attention to two notable September events relating to the American Revolution.  First, September 2024 marks the  244th anniversary of the capture, imprisonment and trial of British Major John André for conspiring with General Benedict Arnold. And it's  the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette's triumphant farewell visit to America which included a stop here in Rockland County. To commemorate these two events, we looked back to two interviews from past episodes of this program:AJ Schenkman, who spoke about his book Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York, which includes the André–Arnold Affair (2021). Seline Castrovilla who discussed her books Revolutionary Rogues: John André and Benedict Arnold and Revolutionary Friends: Washington and Lafayette (2018).  Then,  host Clare Sheridan read an excerpt from the terrific book, Life Along the Hudson,” by Allan Keller.  This excerpt beautifully describes Lafayette's important and historic trip up the Hudson.  AJ Schenkman is the author of several books about local and regional history. He has written for many magazines, blogs and academic journal including numerous articles about Hudson Valley History in Ulster Magazine, the Time Herald Record, Chronogram, and on his website, Ulster County History Journal. He is a teacher in Ulster County and the Historian for the Town of Gardiner. Selene Castrovilla is an award-winning nonfiction and fiction author who is dedicated to uncovering hidden truths about both our nation's history and about ourselves.  Through reflection, we can be our own change.Lafayette Historical Marker: We are pleased to announce the recent unveiling of a Lafayette Trail marker.  The marker was installed in Haverstraw, NY, on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 10 am ET to commemorate the bicentennial of Lafayette's stop in the Haverstraw Bay on September 15, 1824.200 years ago (09/15/1824), General Lafayette was forced to spend time in Haverstraw Bay due to the grounding of the steamboat "James Kent" on the Oyster Bank.This unfortunate turn of events marked the beginning of the North (Hudson) River segment of Lafayette's Tour and had a significant impact on the rest of Lafayette's day, September 15, 1824. Indeed, originally scheduled to be welcomed at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, around 10 AM, Lafayette would only arrive there early in the afternoon because of the delay accumulated near Haverstraw.The Lafayette Trail, Inc. commemorated this historic occasion with the Village of Haverstraw, the Haverstraw Brick Museum,  The County of Rockland, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Together, they (quite literally) marked the historical kickoff of this important segment of the tour! ***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. 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

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 included:  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/nyackjazzThe 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=1Michael 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. _____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

An Excerpt from this interview aired originally on Monday, July 15, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AMWe turned our attention to the hamlet of Sparkill. Larry Vail of the Sparkill History Project joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the rich history of this community.Some topics that were discussed were:Skunk HollowRoads and RailroadsRockland CemeteryThe Convent and ChurchesHotelsEarly Environmental MovementOswald Bauerand others***Crossroads of Rockland History airs every third Monday of the month on WRCR 1700AM.  Afterward, the broadcasts are saved and archived as Podcasts.  They can be streamed from RocklandHistory.org or from any major podcast platform. 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.

Episode originally aired Monday, June 17, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700Did 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, 1886Tompkins, Arthur S., editor. Historical record to the close of the nineteenth century of Rockland County, New York, Van Deusen & Joyce, 1902Zimmermann, 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, 2002Articles:  Alpert, Norman W., A Treasury of Information in Place Names.  South of the Mountains 1980-07, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp 17-22. Maps: Landmarks of Rockland County, 1975, Claire K. Tholl, The Historical Society of Rockland CountyLionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "Map of Rockland County, New York" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1854. (AKA the O'Connor Map) For more about the New City Library, visit https://newcitylibrary.org/rockland-room-local-historyFor more about the Genealogical Society of Rockland County, visit https://rocklandgenealogy.org***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.

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.***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

Episode originally aired on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM RadioWe 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 https://www.rocklandhistory.org/program.cfm?page=1114Then 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 https://www.orangetownmuseum.com***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

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:  https://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:  https://youtu.be/X8u9nCKSy-E?si=4gDZ9qx1OpLTxS-vCrossroads of Rockland History is a program of the The Historical Society of Rockland County.  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

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, February 19, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AMDid you know that the Lafayette Theater in Suffern, NY is Rockland County's only single-screen movie palace? In operation since 1924, it marks its100th anniversary this year! With special guests Ari Benmosche and Craig Long we turned our attention to the history of the Lafayette Theater and learned 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.   The  centennial celebration will culminate with three events:  1) Metropolis  - Friday, March 1, 2024, 7:30 PM2) Neil Berg's 100 Years of Hollywood - Saturday, March 2, 2024, 7:30 PM3) 100th Birthday - Sunday, March 3, 2024, 1:00 PM  Learn more about these events and purchase tickets at https://lafayettetheatersuffern.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. 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

Episode originally aired Monday, January 15, 2024 at 9:30 am on WRCR radio 1700AM. Host Clare Sheridan welcomed Winston Perry, President of the John Green Preservation Coalition who updated us on the progress of the preservation and restoration of the John Green House in Nyack, NY.The John Green House (JGH) is the oldest remaining Dutch Colonial Sandstone structure in the Village of Nyack NY, built by John Edward Green (1772-1842) in the year 1819. It is listed on both the New York and National Registers of Historic Places, and is a Village of Nyack Historic Landmark. In our (multi-phase, multi-year project) vision, we will return the building to its beautiful appearance from the early 1800s during which it served as business home for John Green, sloop captain, lumber dealer, steamboat entrepreneur, church founder and turnpike trustee. As the house is restored and made safe, it will be architected - both inside and out - to serve the community in exciting ways.Winston C. Perry (Jr.), President - After a 50-year career as an architect, Mr. 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 member of the Rockland County Historic Preservation Board, and former Village Historian of Upper Nyack. A life-long small boat sailor on the Hudson, he is especially interested in Hudson River history.www.RocklandHistory.org

Episode originally aired on Monday, December 18, 2023 at 9:30 AM, on WRCR Radio 1700AMJennifer 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 holiday candlelight tours of the historic Jacob Blauvelt House.  To learn more about “Winter Wonderland” exhibition, click here.To learn more about the Candlelight Tours, click here. *** If you can't listen live, locally, on WRCR 1700AM, another great way to hear our program is to to download the TuneIn Radio app (Apple Store or the Google Android store) and then search for WRCR 1700. Using this app, one can listen on a handheld device, a smart speaker or a  computer.  And as always, the broadcast will be available as a podcast,  on the HSRC Website, or on all major podcast platforms.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 9:30 AM, on WRCR Radio 1700 AMWe 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/***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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, October 16, 2023 at 9:30am on WRCR 1700AM. 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, go to: https://www.rocklandhistory.org/event.cfm?page=1065Frank Eberling will also be appearing at the New City Library on Monday, October 23, 2023 at  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.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

Broadcast aired Monday, September 18, 2023 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM RadioWe 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.comCulper Spy Ring, independent study project by Andrea Meyer. For information, visit https://wp.nyu.edu/archivesandpublichistory/2009/10/05/congrats-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 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3007015936***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

A portion of this interview aired on Monday, August 21, 2023 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700 AMSpecial 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 https://www.instagram.com/themuralsdocumentary or https://www.facebook.com/themuralsdoc***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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 9:30 AM, on WRCR 1700 AM RadioDr. 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.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 1700 AM Radio 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, NY.www.RocklandHistory.org

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: https://phoenixtheatreensembleorg.thundertix.com/events/213870To watch a trailer for the documentary, click here:  https://www.phoenixtheatreensemble.org/what-happened-to-jackson-ave.To learn more about the film or the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, visit https://www.phoenixtheatreensemble.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, NY.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired Monday, May 15, 2023, 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700We 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.Along Came Zita is available now at  BOOKBABY.  After May 29, 2023, it will be available wherever books are sold. Tom Stratford will be giving a virtual author talk on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 7 pm. The event is free and open to all. Details and registration info are here: https://www.suffrageforward.org/upcoming-events.***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

Episode originally aired on Monday, April 17, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AMWe explore “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, jjoined  host Clare Sheridan. We'll find out why transportation matters in a place where the journey is a part of the adventure.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: https://www.orangetownmuseum.com/events***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

Broadcast originally aired Monday, March 20, 2023 at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM 1700In 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_____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

Broadcast aired Monday, February 20, 2023, 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700Crossroads of Rockland History  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.To read Dr. Jackson's article "Mr. Marshall Comes to Hillburn," visit the HSRC's  archived issue of South of the Mountains (vol.47, no. 1, 2003) at https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/hsrc/id/4450/rec/1.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. "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 he received 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 Historic Preservation Merit Awards._______________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 are not local and you want to listen to the broadcast, simply download the TuneIn Radio App and search for WRCR.  After the broadcast, the program will be available as a podcast on all major podcast platforms.  Check out many of our recorded broadcasts 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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, January 16, at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM 1700Did 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 Library80 Franklin Avenue, Pearl River, NY 10965(845) 735-4084jcassetta@pearlriverlibrary.org

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, December 19, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AMJennifer 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'll cover this fascinating history and share some Dutch recipes and festive crafts to bring Rockland's Dutch heritage to your home for the holidays.*  * *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.

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.***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. 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. 

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 will share 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.  ***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. 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. If you can't listen live, the recorded broadcast will be available as a podcast on the www.RocklandHistory.org website (under the "Podcasts" tab), as well as 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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, September 19, at 9:30 am on WRCR RadioWe  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 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

Episode originally aired on Monday, August  15, 2022, 9:30 am, on WRCRThe  August, 2022 episode focused on the new exhibitions at the Historical Society of the Nyacks and at the Historical Society of Rockland County.Miriam Hoffman was  on hand to discuss “Storytellers from Nyack & Nearby,” the current exhibition at the Historical Society of the Nyacks. The exhibit features the work of 14 authors and illustrators of children's books, including the local authors Berta and Elmer Hader, who wrote the first children's book by Americans. The exhibit includes fascinating stories about the authors and illustrators, reviews of some of their noteworthy books, and many stunning illustrations. Several of the books are set in Nyack, with scenes from decades ago that are still recognizable. In addition to the Haders, the authors and Illustrators featured in the exhibition are Jon Agee, Barbara Brenner, Carson McCullers, Beth Goff, Helen Hayes, Ben Hecht, Yaroslava Mills, Toni Morrison, Paul Peabody, Elizabeth Sayles, Mindy Warshaw Skolsky, and Michael Witte.“Storytellers from Nyack & Nearby” will appeal to anyone who loves children's literature (who doesn't?) and anyone who is interested in Nyack history. The exhibition will be welcoming visitors through mid-September. The museum is in the Depew House, 50 Piermont Avenue (enter from the Nyack Library parking lot). It is open Saturdays, 1-4 pm. Donations are encouraged.Auxiliary programming has also taken place in conjunction with “Storytellers from Nyack & Nearby.” 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. The recorded webinar is available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zjflXSqgF4. For information about future auxiliary programming, visit NyackHistory.org.Susan Deeks spoke about “Uniquely Rockland: Important, Iconic & Oddball Objects” from the HSRC Collection. The collection of the Historical Society of Rockland County comprises thousands of objects that date from the early 18th century to the present. It includes important collections of furnishings original to the family of Jacob Blauvelt, who lived in the historic sandstone and brick farmhouse next door from about 1832 to 1970, as well as objects original to the early farms, industries, and people of Rockland County have donated for more than a century. 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. The exhibition will be open through October 30 at the History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New City. Admission: $5 per person (children 6 and under admitted free).***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

Episode originally aired Monday, July 18, 2022, 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700We  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, NYWhen:  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 Craft9/24    Time TBD -  Yoga with Debbie at the Museum10/10 Time TBD -  “Bridgerton” High Tea Fundraiser11/3     5pm  - Annual Dinner at 76 House Fundraiser12/4, 11, 18 Time TBD  - Holiday Open House at the Salyer House*****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. 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 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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Episode originally aired on Monday, June 20, 2022, at 9:30am, on WRCR 1700AMWe 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.***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. We are pleased to announce that we have begun loading our archived podcasts to 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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, May 16, at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AMKathleen 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.***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. 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 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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired Monday, April 18, at 9:30 am, on 1700AM WRCRThe life and artistic legacy of the late Sidney Simon (1917–1997). On the occasion of an exhibition of Simon's works at the Blue Hill Art and Cultural Center (Pearl River, NY), two of Simon's children, Teru Simon and Mark Simon, joined Clare Sheridan to share memories of their father, his art, his life and their own recollections of growing up in Rockland County.About the artists: Sidney Simon was an American painter, sculptor, muralist, art school cofounder (Skowhegan), and American Official War Artist. One of his sculptures, the Four Seasons Fountain Sculpture, is located at One Worldwide Plaza in New York City. A small maquette of this monument will be on display, along with other works by Simon, through Fall 2022 at the Blue Hill Art and Cultural Center.Teru Simon is an artist working in the mediums of ceramics sculpture, pottery, painting, and prints. She attended Bennington College and received her undergraduate degree from UWW at Skidmore College and her masters in fine arts through Vermont Studio Center and Johnson State College. She spent more than thirty years teaching art to all ages in public and private schools and colleges and retired from teaching in 2011.Mark Simon is a graduate of Brandeis University and the Yale School of Architecture. He worked in several architecture offices before being hired by Charles Moore, his former teacher and dean at Yale. They collaborated on a number of homes, and in 1978 Simon was named a partner at Moore Grover Harper, which eventually became Centerbrook Architects. Mark is a pioneer in the practice of “green” architecture, beginning with his design in 1973 of an Earth House that was built into a hillside and decades later continues to take advantage of the clean heating and cooling energy of terra firma. Today Mark's practice ranges from private houses and highly crafted furniture to commercial, institutional, academic, and religious projects. His innovative design has been noted by Time Magazine and the New York Times, among others, and he is the recipient of 112 architectural awards, including the prestigious American Institute of Architects Architecture Firm Award received by Centerbrook received in 1998.Learn more about Sidney Simon here: https://www.sidneysimon.comLearn more about the Blue Hill Art and Cultural Center here: http://www.bluehillartandculturalcenter.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 Will 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 broadcast, and you aren't local, simply download the TuneIn Radio App on your smartphone or tablet and search for WRCR.  After the show, the broadcast will be available for streaming anytime on all major podcast platforms. We are pleased to announce that many of our archived podcasts are also available on all major podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts; Stitcher, Google Alexa, etc.).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

Episode originally aired on Monday, March 28, 2022 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM.To celebrate Women's History Month,  we turned our attention to the women of South Mountain Road (Rockland County) who, like their male counterparts, were gifted artists and intellectuals.HSRC 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._____During the program,  research suggestions were made:  South of the Mountains is the quarterly history journal of the Historical Society that has been published continuously since 1957.  It is one of the tangible benefits of membership in the Historical Society of Rockland County.  South of the Mountains 1988-07, Vol. 32, No. 3This entire issue was devoted to Maxwell Anderson and includes excellent articles written by Alan Anderson; Quentin Anderson and an fine piece by Isabell Savell about High Tor and how it became incorporated into the Palisades interstate park system. South of the Mountains 1996-04, Vol. 40, No. 2This issue includes an article written by Alan Anderson entitled “The Artists Find South Mountain Road.”  Anderson introduces his essay as a “ inkling of how a quiet farming area in lower New York State was invaded by artists right after the end of the Great War.”Hesper Anderson's "South Mountain Road: A Daughter's Journey of Discovery"***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 others.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.RocklandHistory.org

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.Learn more about Skunk Hollow here: aahsmuseum.org/dt_portfolios/skunk-hollow/_____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

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. Watch a short trailer of Peltzman's performance here: https://vimeo.com/660428184www.RogerPeltzman.comCrossroads 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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired December 20, 2021 at 9:30am on WRCR RadioDid 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***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. www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, November 15, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AMSpies! 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.  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: https://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.

Broadcast originally aired Monday, October 18, 2021, at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700Ralph 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 Descendants#New York City#Genealogy#Bergen County

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AMIn 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 revisits 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***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. 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. After the broadcast, you can find the program on all major podcast apps.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

Monday, August 16, 2021, 9:30 am, on WRCR AM 1700We learned all about the history scavenger hunt happening now in Tappan, NY. That's right: If you love a history challenge, now's your chance to take part!  Carol LaValle, from the Tappantown Historical Society, joined Clare Sheridan 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, 2021 .For more information, visit the Tappan Library here: www.tappanlibrary.org/localinfo.asp***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.www.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired Monday, July 19, 2021, 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AMWe 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.

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, June 21, 2021, 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AMClare 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.

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, May 17, 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AMWe 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._____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

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, April 19, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AMVirginia "Ginny" Norfleet of the Haverstraw African-American Connection appeared to tell us about how the 2,400-pound bronze statue entitled Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom by Wesley Woffard will make its way to Rockland County. The nationally-touring sculpture will be unveiled in Haverstraw on April 20 and will stay through the Juneteenth holiday. Ginny spoke about all of the interesting programs surrounding this special visit and how the public can see the sculpture and be part of this series of history-making events.  Virginia Norfleet is the founder of the Haverstraw African-American Connection, whose mission is to research, recover, preserve, and teach the rich culture and contributions of African Americans, with an emphasis on the African American people of Haverstraw. Learn more about the sculpture and the  associated events at  https://www.thehaac.com/The sculpture Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom depicts Tubman confidently leading a young girl on the Underground Railroad to freedom from bondage. “There is a lot of embedded symbolism within the narrative of the piece,” says Wesley Wofford, the creator of the statue. “The contours of the base represent the Maryland/Delaware Peninsula, where Harriet was enslaved, eventually escaped, and continued to return for her freedom raids. The dramatic step up/cut is the Pennsylvania state line, and they are stepping out of the slave states to an elevated freedom. The dress is enveloping the young girl, billowing protectively like a flag, and is meant to represent all the legal protections afforded every United States citizen-a symbol of the future equality to come. Each hand on the sculpture signifies an attribute: Determination, Protection, Fear, and Trust. The young girl is leaning out to get a better look at where Harriet is taking her with a look of trepidation on her face. She is gripping Harriet’s right arm tightly, but her delicate finger grasp is cautiously hopeful. The girl is off balance and tentatively taking a step forward-her left foot precariously hanging off a cliff, illustrating the danger and peril of the journey. The shackles are broken, and the atrocities of slavery are left forever behind.”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.Learn more about the Haverstraw African-American Connection at www.thehaac.comwww.RocklandHistory.org

Broadcast originally aired Monday, March 15, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AMMiriam 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.www.RocklandHistory.org

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