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 Cascade from Snedens Landing to Palisades Interstate Park When: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6:30 pm Where: Palisades Free Library, 19 Closter Road, Palisades, NY 10964, (845) 359-0136 About 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-33538 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 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. She is the biographer of artist Mary Rogers Williams (1857-1907) and writer Zoe Anderson Norris (1860-1914). Eve Kahn appeared on Crossroads of Rockland History to discuss Edith Varian Cockroft of Sloatsburg (Episode 95, September, 2018). 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. She has a master’s degree in Anglo-Irish Relations in the 20 th Century from University College Dublin in Ireland. From Listowel, in Co. Kerry, Elizabeth sees a huge connection between her own experience as an immigrant, and the important mission of the Society to preserve and share Irish contributions to American history. “Major areas of interaction between Ireland and America have included diplomacy, economy, education, nationalism, tourism, culture, philanthropy, and the free flow of capital. However, immigration has given the most significant and lasting link. We explore all these topics in the Society.” About the Program: Anna Frances Le 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, 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 Kruk When:Where:Price: Learn more or get tickets: https://www.rocklandhistory.org/family-program--imps-of-donderberg 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

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-publishe To see related photos and news clippings, visit our flickr album here: www.flickr.com/photos/100479933@N04/albums/72157658442917045 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 (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.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. _____ 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 _____ 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, 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

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

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, February 19, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM Did 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 PM 2) Neil Berg's 100 Years of Hollywood - Saturday, March 2, 2024, 7:30 PM 3) 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 1700AM Jennifer Rothschild, the HSRC's director of programming, joined host Clare Sheridan to talk about “Winter Wonderland: The 47th Annual Holiday Exhibition.” The exhibition celebrates winter and its gift-giving holidays by showcasing items from the HSRC collections that include children’s toys, books, and games; holiday cards and décor; snow-themed works of art; and more. They also discussed the 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 aired Monday, September 18, 2023 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM Radio We explored one of the most significant historical events in Rockland History: the Treason of the Revolution. On September 22, 1780, American General Benedict Arnold and British Major John André met in the woods along the Hudson shoreline in Rockland County, and there began an act of treason that would become a pivotal point in the Revolutionary War. We revisited an earlier episode during which host Clare Sheridan explored the history of the André-Arnold affair and discussed the people and places involved in this fascinating story of betrayal, secrecy, and deception with local historian Thano Schoppel of Tappan. For more about Arnold and André, check out: www.tappantown.orgwww.orangetownmuseum.comCulper Spy Ringhttps://wp.nyu.edu/archivesandpublichistory/2009/10/05/congrats-to-andrea-meyerRevolutionary Rogues: John André and Benedict Arnold, Hardcover—Picture Bookhttps://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 AM Special guest TG Jamroz spoke about his new documentary, The Murals, which delves into the art of Henry Varnum Poor, formerly of New City. The film features the New Deal–era Uptown Post Office Murals in Chicago and explores how and why they were made by Poor; why they feature Carl Sandburg and Louis Sullivan; and how they inspire people today. “Through this filmmaking journey, I came to understand the outsized influence Poor had on the 20th century,” Jamroz says. “He might be the most unknown influential artist of the 20th century. He was involved everywhere with everything. About the filmmaker: TG Jamroz is a filmmaker/performer who has written and directed many independent films, stage plays, and music videos. His projects have been screened at the prestigious Gene Siskel Film Center and around the world. He also has appeared as an actor in the film The Dark Knight and onstage in Chicago; written a one-act play that is being produced in New York City and Chicago; directed a six DVD volume of lectures by the world-famous theologian James Alison; and written and produced four albums of original music that can be streamed online under the name The Platinum Tears. Learn more about The Murals at 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 Radio Dr. Vincent Cookingham joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss his new book, The Germond Family Murders: A Forensic Conclusion to a Cold Case. His recent appearance at the HSRC was sold out, so this show offered listeners another chance to hear about Cookingham's forensic investigation into this ninety-year-old cold case. Despite contemporary attention from Franklin D. Roosevelt and from Pinkerton Detectives, and more recently from amateur sleuths and the press, the Germond murders went unsolved until Dr. Cookingham’s investigation. The multiple murders of James (Husted) Germond; his wife, Mabel; and their two children, Bernice and Raymond, at their Dutchess County farm in November 1930 is one of the most famous crimes ever committed in the Hudson Valley. About the author: Dr. Vincent Cookingham has more than fifty years of investigative and forensic science experience as a law enforcement officer, corporate executive, consultant, and university professor in forensic science. He has numerous peer-reviewed professional publications and books. He holds a PhD, with a doctoral dissertation in the forensic applications in white-collar crime. In addition, he holds an MBA and an MA from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice; a BS in forensic science; and three professional board certifications. Dr. Cookingham is a veteran of the US Marine Corps, as well as a native New Yorker who currently resides in Florida. 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/213870 To 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 AM1700 We explored the new book by local author Tom Stratford titled Along Came Zita. The book has been described as “a story of one man's journey with Hollywood Gold”: Zita Johann (1904–1993), who lived for many years in Rockland County. A stage and screen actress, Johann is best known for her role opposite Boris Karloff in the film The Mummy. She debuted on Broadway in 1924 and made her first film appearance in D. W. Griffith's 1931 film The Struggle. After seven films, she quit movie acting to work in the theater, collaborating with John Houseman, to whom she was married from 1929 to 1933. About the author: Tom Stratford is an actor and author who resides in the Hudson Valley. He has appeared in more than forty film and television productions. Along Came Zita is his first book. It follows the life of a famous classic movie star and the enthusiastic young man that came to know Zita Johann and whose teachings impacted him to this day. This is a story that involves Hollywood history, spiritualism, trust, theft, drama, and an ongoing pursuit for justice. 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 1700AM We 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 1700 In recognition of March as Women's History Month, we delved into the history of Avon. Beginning as the California Perfume Company, it called Suffern, NY home for more than a century, making it one of the longest continuously running businesses in Rockland County. Host Clare Sheridan welcomed Rockland County Historian Craig Long back to the program for a lively discussion about the history of Avon, its impact on Rockland County, and the role women played in its success. After more than a century in the western Ramapo village of Suffern, NY, the international cosmetics conglomerate Avon Products plans to close up shop and move its research and development operations to Brazil and Poland. To learn more about Avon's history in Rockland County, visit the HSRC's archived issue of "South of the Mountains" (South of the Mountains 1997-10, Vol. 41, No. 4) Read it on NYHeritage here: https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/hsrc/id/3818/rec/1 _____ 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 AM1700 Crossroads 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