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

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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.
 
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.

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.org

The 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.
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.
 
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.

www.RocklandHistory.org

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 @friendsofmountmoorcemetery

Mount 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 Cemetery
Present :
A Veterans Day Service
Monday, November 11th, 2024
12Noon
Mt. Moor Cemetery
1000 Palisades Center Drive
West Nyack, New York 10994
(Palisades Mall)
For information contact: 845-362-6227

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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month.

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 1700AM

We 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!
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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month.

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/nyackjazz

The Nyack Jazz Tribute Benefit Concert will take place on September 6, 2024 at the Nyack Center.  Learn more and buy tickets here:  https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6376046

Steve Bernstein, Erik Lawrence, Mark Patterson, David Budway, Don Falzone, Ben Perowsky and Jack DePietro will give a concert that includes jazz standards and jazz greats highlighted at our current Jazz exhibit. 

Jack DePietro’s memoire is entitled:  “My Life Behind Bars.” https://www.amazon.com/Life-Behind-Bars-memoir-DePietro/dp/B08XN7HXPK?dplnkId=963e9f59-8b59-46f3-a400-a5c5c4aa601e&nodl=1

Michael Houghton’s essay about Jazz in Nyack is entitled:  “The Office: A Nyack Nightclub, 1975-1987.” It is available for purchase at the Historical Society of the Nyacks.

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Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.

The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.

www.RocklandHistory.org

An Excerpt from this interview aired originally on Monday, July 15, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AM

We 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 Hollow
• Roads and Railroads
• Rockland Cemetery
• The Convent and Churches
• Hotels
• Early Environmental Movement
• Oswald Bauer
• and others

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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 AM1700

Did you ever wonder about the origins of place names in Rockland County? Joe Barbieri of the New City Library joined host Clare Sheridan to explore names such as Bulsontown, Stagg’s Corners, Hyenga Lake, Mosestown, Woodburn, Warren, and more.

Joe Barbieri is the Adult Services and Local History Librarian at the New City Library. He specializes in local history, assisting patrons in research using electronic and print sources. He is also a member of the Genealogical Society of Rockland County.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Books: 

• Cole , David, editor. History of Rockland County. The Historical Society of Rockland County, 1884. 
• Green, Frank Bertangue MD, editor The History of Rockland County.  The Historical Society of Rockland County, 1886
• Tompkins, Arthur S., editor. Historical record to the close of the nineteenth century of Rockland County, New York, Van Deusen & Joyce, 1902
• Zimmermann, Linda, author.  Rockland County Scrap Book. Eagle Press, 2004 
• Zimmermann, Linda, editor.  Rockland County 1900-2000: Century of History. The Historical Society of Rockland County, 2002

Articles:  

• 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 County
• Lionel 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-history
For more about the Genealogical Society of Rockland County, visit https://rocklandgenealogy.org

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The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.

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.

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The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.

www.RocklandHistory.org

Episode originally aired on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM Radio

We learned all about two new local history exhibitions opening in April 2024.

First, we explored “When This You See, Remember Me: Inscribed Quilts from Rockland County” at the Historical Society of Rockland County. The exhibition's guest curator, Peggy Norris, a member of the American Quilt Study Group, Ridgewood (NJ) Historical Society, and Genealogical Society of Bergen County, discussed how, through the quilts, we can learn about local women, the times in which they lived, and their textile artistry. Peggy will also give a presentation on the quilts on Sunday, May 5, at the HSRC.

“When This You See, Remember Me” runs from April 21 to October 27, 2024, and is open to the public on Wednesdays–Fridays and Sundays, 1–4 pm, and by appointment. Admission is $5 per person and benefits the Society’s education and preservation missions.

For information, visit https://www.rocklandhistory.org/program.cfm?page=1114

Then we focused  on “Creating Community 1950,” the new exhibition at the Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives. Museum Director Mary Cardenas and Curator Elizabeth Skrabonja shared how a building, baby, and business boom exploded in Orangetown in the 1950s.

“Creating Community 1950” can be seen at the historic DePew House, 196 Chief Bill Harris Way, Orangeburg. It opens on April 21 and extends through November 2024. Exhibition hours are Tuesdays & Fridays 10 am–2 pm, and Sundays, 1–4 pm. Admission is free.

For information, visit https://www.orangetownmuseum.com

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The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.

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-v

Crossroads 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