South of the Moiuitcuns

The Historical Society of Rockland County

Vol. 31, No. 4 October-December 1987

The Van Houten Farm, West Nyack

VAN HOUTEN FIELDS AND RALPH BORSODI

ROCKLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS - 40th ANNIVERSARY IN THIS ISSUE

Van Houten Fields and Ralph Borsodi John Scott has reconstructed the events in the life and career of Ralph Borsodi, Suffern philosopher and visionary. His experiments in "agrarianism for commuters" led to the formation of Van Houten Fields in West Nyack, the largest of Rockland’s back-to-the-land cooperative communities, started during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Page 3.

Rockland Center for the Arts —40th Anniversary Formerly the Rockland Foundation, the Rockland Center for the Arts celebrates its 40th anniversary. As a cultural center, it was in the forefront during the 1940s of Rockland's emergence from an isolated back-country rural community to a haven for artistic talents in many creative fields. Page 21.

An historical marker, sponsored by the Van Houten Fields Asso ciation, Inc. will be dedicated in celebration of the 50th anniver sary of their community, October 24 at 3 p.m. at Sickeltown and Van Houten Fields roads, West Nyack.

I he Ihstor y Center will be closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year s Day. The museum galleries are closed between exhibitions.

COVER PICTURE. 19th-century view of the Van Houten farm complex at 92 Sickeltown Road, West Nyack, as a working farm. The exact date of the painting and the artist are unknown.

ADDENDUM SM 31:3 (July-September 1987). The history students recognized at the Strawberry Festival on June 14 were each awarded a two-volume dictionary, thanks to Prentice-Hall, Inc. of West Nyack.

1 1987 The Historical Society of Rockland County Editor: Marianne B. Leese Chm. Publications Comm.: John Scott Ed. Layout: Imogene R. Mayer Senior Historian: Isabelle K. Saveli Printed by Print Sprint Van Houten Fields and Ralph Borsodi

by John Scott

In 1937, a group of people from Nyack Borsodi, Jr. was appointed secretary. and vicinity entered into discussions with Five trustees were duly elected: Ralph Ralph Borsodi of Suffern, nationally Borsodi, Jr., Homer T. Bogle, Wharton known author, economist and philoso Clay, W. S. Fitz Randolph and Chauncey pher, regarding his back-to-the-land de D. Stillman, a philanthropic financier. centralization experiments in providing Mrs. Wharton Clay was elected as com self-sufficient homesteads within com munity manager. Homer T. Bogle, field muting distances of cities. The 106-acre manager, submitted the preliminary plan Van Houten farm had become available of the proposed development prepared at West Nyack, and they wished to secure by C. Earl Morrow. It was generally ap support of Borsodi’s Independence Foun proved, subject to any corrections that dation and the School of Living, which a definite survey would show to be ne had earlier financed a small association cessary. of homeowners at Bayard Lane, Suffern. One- and two-acre sites were to be made The old Dutch farm was part of the available for homesteads in a coopera original Oblenis 800-acre tract estab tive community. Each homeowner would lished in 1732 on lots 11 and 12 of the lease the acquired land from the Founda Kakiat Patent in the area of present tion and receive an indenture of a 99- West Nyack. John Van Houten pur year lease. One large tract was set aside chased the land in 1837 and built the as a forest playground and another, with three-story brick building at present 73 a spring-fed pond, for water sports, tennis Sickeltown Road on the site of the origi courts, nature gardens and playgrounds. nal Oblenis farmhouse. The old Van Houten brick farmhouse An organizational meeting with prin was intended as a community meeting cipals of the Independence Foundation place to develop the cultural and social was held on November 30, 1937 at the life of the settlement. For years it served Borsodi homestead, “Dogwoods,” on De- as temporary apartments for families Baun Avenue, Suffern for the purpose of during construction of their new homes. organizing the Van Houten Fields Asso ciation as a self-administering body of Flight from the City homeowners. Ralph Borsodi, Sr. called Ralph Borsodi began his new style of the meeting to order and on motion was country living, later labeled as “agrari elected chairman of the committee. Ralph anism for commuters,” in 1919. He, his 3 wife Myrtle Mae Simpson and two small market and the beginning of the Great sons moved from New York City and Depression caused widespread unem rented a small unimproved farmhouse ployment and financial insecurity for on seven acres near Suffern. While Bor- millions of Americans. Borsodi offered sodi commuted to work in the City, they a better way of life and was proving it in began their initial family experiments. rural Rockland County. With little capital and a small income, they remodeled their first tiny building, learning the use of necessary tools, and began raising fruits and vegetables. Ac quiring a goat, cow and chickens, they tested their theories and dreams of self subsistence and economic freedom while enjoying the beauty of nature. In 1924, they selected a larger 18-acre site off present DeBaun Avenue in Suf fern to design and build the homestead they really wanted. Combining their own amateur labor with the skilled labor of “Dogwoods,” the Borsodi Homestead, local workmen, they cleared the land, 24 DeBatm Avenue, Soffem. gathered native fieldstone and built the west wing of the house to live in while Invited to the White House, Borsodi completing the rest. Construction was was asked to serve as a consultant in a based on Ernest Flagg’s experiments in large government homesteading project building attractive, economical, sturdy for the unemployed of the city of Dayton, houses made with a concrete slab and Ohio. After a short time, 1932-33, the available fieldstones for walls. project languished, mired down in in In a period of 10 years, they con ternal bickering and bureaucracy. He structed an enclave of five buildings, returned to Suffern to continue his including a barn and their own home writing and lecturing, promoting the stead, “Dogwoods,” which contained a School of Living and supervising various workshop for weaving, a laundry, billiard projects in Rockland and other areas of room, printing plant and an outdoor the country. swimming pool. Here they first experi His best-selling book, Flight from the mented with a theory called the School City, appeared in 1933 when the country of Living that would later lead to classes was mired in the depths of the Depres in self-sufficiency. sion. Firing the imagination of strug Borsodi had written several books on gling families, many with low-paying economics, but This Ugly Civilization, inner-city employment and an aimless published in 1929, brought him national future, the book described a way to seek attention. In it he deplored the smoke out a good agrarian life-style and gra stack industries and factories that he phically detailed his family’s experiences viewed as dominating civilization, con and accomplishments at homesteading tributing to the noise, congestion and in Suffern. filth in towns and cities and reducing Borsodi’s lecture tours and writings de the workers to servitude and mere cogs scribing the decentralization movement in the throbbing factory machinery. At and his family’s experiments in self- the same time, the collapse of the stock sufficiency received support nationally; 4 his theories gained the endorsement of considerable as they could do as much leading educators, sociologists, econo of the work as desirable, calling in help mists and numerous organizations. The when needed. The Independence Foun news media gave wide attention to his dation would also offer loan contracts activities, which often appeared in fea for the houses to be paid in 10 to 13 tured articles. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt’s years. To prevent substandard, unat interest in social engineering projects tractive buildings, construction plans brought her to “Dogwoods” to observe were to be reviewed by a committee. the Borsodi methods. The initial success of the Bayard Lane experiment in homesteading, coupled with his own family experiences, con Bayard Lane vinced Borsodi that larger, better or In 1935, Borsodi launched Bayard ganized groups could be developed. Van Lane, a small experimental cooperative Houten Fields offered the opportunity community off Route 202, Suffem, con he needed for the large-scale venture he sisting of a group of 17 houses built of envisioned would attract national atten native fieldstone by the Flagg method. tion and forever change the American Housed in a separate building, the School life-style. of Living was organized in 1936 to handle Come to the Fields research and promotion of the movement, and the Independence Foundation to In November 1937, The New York finance it. Most of the funds were de Times ran a feature article that caught rived from his associate, Chauncey D. the attention of many families, especial Stillman, a financier who had an absorb ly New York City dwellers looking for a ing interest in the decentralist move new and more satisfying life, some of ment. whom would be the pioneer settlers, “city The school taught the essentials of farmers,” in Van Houten Fields. do-it-yourself agrarianism, including canning, poultry raising, animal hus bandry, masonry, carpentry, use of tools and household equipment. A list of pro Old Farm in West Nyack Will Be Site posed publications was solicited na for New Cooperative Homestead Project tionally though only a few were ever completed for distribution. A new cooperative community to be A guild plan was formulated as a busi made up of homesteads which will be at ness relationship between owners and least partially self-sustaining and which builders. Homes could be constructed will be modeled after Ralph Borsodi’s by various building craft guilds under a School of Living Colony at Suffem, N. Y, special arrangement with the Indepen will be started next week at West dence Foundation. A professional staff Nyack. would provide architects, estimates, The second project provides for more record keeping and construction. The than fifty homes, making it more than guild wages were low but the workmen three times the size of the original [at eagerly accepted them since they were Bayard Lane]__ guaranteed year-round employment. The site of the new development will There was almost no other construction be the old Van Houten farm on the Sickles work in the county in those lean years. [sic] Road overlooking the upper Hack The benefits to the homeowners were ensack Valley__ 5 SPONSORS OF VAN HOUTEN FIELDS

MRS. ALBERT AUSTIN, Piermont, N. Y. MR. FREMONT L. LOVETT, Vice-President and General Man ager, Rockland Light and Power Company, Nyack, N. Y. MR. WHLARTON CLAY, archiUcturai engineer, Nyack, N. Y.

MR. SEWARD COLLINS, editor of “The American Review," MR. KENNETH MacCALMAN, Superintendent of Schools, New York City. Nyack, N. Y.

MR. NILES M. DAVIES, Superintendent of Soil Conservation, Rockland County Extension Division, Cornell University: MR. SAMUEL MILLER, West Nyack, N. Y. Chairman Patrons Committee, G.L.F. Co-op., Congers, N. Y.

MR. LOUIS ELLINGER, chemical engineer, Valley Cottage, MR. LELAND OLDS, economist; Secretary of Uic New York New York. State Power Authority, Nyack, N. Y.

DR. ALVIN JOItNSON, Director of General Studies, Graduate School, Yale University; professor of economics; Director MR LEMUEL PARTON, journalist and author, Palisades, N. Y. of the New School of Social Research, New York City; Nyack, N. Y. MR. GUY P. RIGAUD, Superintendent of Schools, Spring Val ley, N. Y. MR. ROBERT D. KOHN. former President, American Institute of Architects, former Administrator, Housing Division of the Public Works Administration, Chairman of Commit MR. CHAUNCEY D. STILLMAN, editor of, “Free America” tee on Thrnne, New York World’ Fair 1939, Ossining, N. Y. New York City.

Consulting Landscape Architect: Surveyors: C. EARLE MORROW ESCHEN AND WHITEHEAD 400 Madison Avenue Civil Engineers New York City Sloatsburg, N. Y. INDEPENDENCE FOUNDATION, Inc.

Board of Trustees: MR. RALPH BORSODI, SufTern, N. Y., Director, The School of Lxvxng. MR. W. S. FITZ RANDOLPH, Sloatsburg, N. Y. MR. PHILIP M. GLICK, Bethesda, Maryland, Member, Illinois MR. BAKER BROWNELL, Chicago, Illinois, Northwestern Bar. University, MONSIGNOR LUIGI G. LIGUTTI, Granger, Iowa, President of Y^N •ALAN CLARK, SufTern, N. Y., Vice-President, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. Allied Products Company. MR. CLARENCE E. PICKETT, Philadelphia, Pa., Secretary, MR. SAMUEL D. DODGE, SufTern, N. Y. American Friends Service Committee. MR. BE DR. HAROLD RUGG, New York City, Teachers College, Colum bia University. MR. CHAUNCEY D. STILLMAN, Amenia, N. Y., Editor, "Free America"

Field Manager: New York Office: MR. HOMER T. BOGLE DR. KURT O. KAUFFMANN SufTern, N. Y. 220 Fifth Avenue Telephone: SufTern 229 Telephone: Lexington 2-8448 Auditors: Attorney: WILEY, BLACK & WHITE Certified Public Accountants MR. W. E. MAXFIELD Paterson, N. J. Maxfield and Miele SufTern, N. Y.

6 The Beginnings The enticements of the publicity and The pioneers, or first settlers, at the advertising were many and varied: the Van Houten Fields development were pleasures of homestead and country generally considered to be those who ar living for city dwellers, the agrarian life rived, cleared the land and commenced style, the low-cost acreage and the eco building between 1938 and 1941. The nomy of do-it-yourself construction when guild crews moved in where needed to desirable, all with almost unbelievably assist do-it-yourself owners; therefore, small monthly payments. For those buildings were in various stages of de families struggling through the Depres velopment, some stages lasting longer sion years of the 1930s, Borsodi’s utopian than the normal period of time when the offer was almost too good to be true. crews were unable to get to everyone as The homebuilder would pay for the needed. To avoid these delays, some leased land in monthly installments homeowners preferred private contrac ranging from $4.65 to $7.68 per acre, tors. For this reason, it has been difficult including taxes, road costs and commu to assess a time-sequence for finished nity improvement. Title was to remain homes in the project. During the war with the Independence Foundation as years, as materials gradually became trustee. unavailable, most construction ceased.

Members of the Association at a 1938 ceremony signing a parchment to be enclosed in the cornerstone of the first house built at 60 Van Houten Fields. Other memorabilia enclosed included a penny, a newspaper of the year and a Baby Ruth candy wrapper. Signing the document (center) are Josephine and Clyde Robinson. Standing (1-r): Ole Pete (Peterson), Gordon Dean Smith, Fred and Esther Rockwell, Jesse Fry and Jean Ca risen. 7 Writer and producer Doris Faye, opera In the spring of 1939, a New York tenor Nino Tello and Buttercup at #60 Times ad appeared: Do You Earn A bout happily view the 1938 cornerstone placed $3000 a Year and Wished You Lived in in the first homestead built in Van Houten the Country? It encouraged readers to Fields by artist Gordon Dean Smith. The visit the School of Living and learn about house has been continuously occupied by projects getting under way, including creative people for half a century. Van Houten Fields, and stated that a representative would lecture at John Wanamaker’s to explain the advantages of living in the country and commuting to the City. Jo Robinson participated in the week-long exhibit. The publicity surrounding the Borsodi books, articles, lecture tours, exhibits, the School of Living and the four com munity projects then under way [Bayard Lane, Van Houten Fields, Stillwater (near Ossining) and Ringwood, New Jersey] together with Jo Robinson’s pro motional efforts brought to Suffern a constant stream of representatives from the U.S. Government and private organi zations throughout the nation and abroad. The guest book at the School of Living for August 19, 1939 recorded visits from representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Farm Security Administration, American The Robinsons Friends of Philadelphia and individuals Clyde (Robbie) and Josephine (Jo) from England, Germany, Sweden, Pales Robinson were living on Long Island tine, Canada, California, Illinois, Nevada, when they first read Flight from the Ohio, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ver City and saw The Times articles and mont, Massachusetts, Maine, Texas, other Borsodi publicity about his Rock Connecticut and New Jersey. land County homesteading activities. The Robinsons had leased their Van Clyde, an engineer, had a small plastic Houten Fields acreage in 1938 and tem products business in New York City and, porarily lived in an improvised shed (later visualizing a large market for this new turned into a chicken coop) while clear emerging industry, he became an inno ing the land, developing a garden and vator in plastic usages. getting their house (the third in the In 1938, the Robinsons visited the Fields) under construction in 1939. Bill Bayard Lane project. Jo took a position Wright, a local farmer, dug the founda as sales promotion manager at the School tion with a horse-team and scoop. They of Living in January 1939. Remaining moved into the shell and completed the in the City, Clyde commuted to Suffem house over the years while raising their by train on weekends and walked the family of five children —four of whom two miles to the school. were born after the move to the Fields. 8 Today the Robinsons still maintain a The Barths large organic vegetable garden that has helped nourish the family for almost half a century. After a day’s work at the In 1939, Warner (Bud) Barth started business, Clyde spends hours summer construction of a home for his parents, evenings working the ground—a favorite Bruno and Freda Barth, on their two- relaxation and therapy for physical acre lot at #78. They laboriously hand fitness. And Jo Robinson, a woman of picked the fieldstones for the Flagg- tremendous energies, still works out in style construction. The Barths main her numerous beautiful flower gardens, tained the typical Fields large vegetable carefully nurtured over the years. garden, raised chickens and sold eggs to the neighbors. Their expanding plastics business was eventually moved to West Nyack, where Bud Barth became proficient in all it developed into the present well-known phases of house construction in the Plastic-Craft Products Corp. Fields, including a method of splitting rocks for better fitted joints. He became an all-round handyman, completing several more houses of stone and the additions to numerous others, finally finishing a home of sandstone in the 1950s for himself, his wife Genevieve (Gen) and children at #203. A special hobby of the Barths and of great value to the settlement was acquir ing tiny tree seedlings and planting them in barren areas of the old Van Houten farmland. Gen Barth remembers their planting 1,500 in one day. Many of the large trees standing in the Fields today are the results of their efforts.

The Lymans Richard Lyman, a feature writer for the Herald Tribune, was living in New York City when the Borsodi publicity persuaded him to move with his family Octagenarians Josephine and Clyde Ro to the Fields. The acreage they selected binson at their home, 231 Van Houten was part of an earlier fruit orchard of the Fields. The old farm lane leading up the old farm, and some of the original trees hill is still visible between them and their are still producing. Coming up weekends, former neighbors, Fred and Esther Rock they cleared the house location, at #55, well, to the south. Both homes were the and gathered fieldstones. Then they lived scene of numerous festivities and parties in the present garage and helped with over the years. the construction. Theirs was one of the earliest houses built in the project. They soon learned the art of producing a boun- 9 tiful vegetable garden and maintained a in a family way, very tired from the long large one for many years. climb. Dorothy Lyman and Jo Robinson once The Peterson’s land was covered with estimated that their families each put trees and underbrush. They cleared an up about 500 jars a year of their own acre for the house. Bob dug the cellar produce during the years of World War with pick and shovel and moved a farm II. stone wall to the rear. He did much of the frame construction over a period of two years while they still lived in Spring Valley, but utilized expert help for heat ing, plumbing and electricity. The house provided the family with several small rooms on the first floor and an upper floor for building more rooms later. He finished off the fireplace, bookcases and other carpentry with newly acquired skills and soon became a source of infor mation and help to other amateurs at tempting construction for the first time. Bob had studied engineering and worked at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River for many years. He is also remem bered for clubbing around the county in the 1930s and 1940s as a part-time tenor sax player.

Richard Lyman, 86, and his daughter Janet Smithers in rear of the homestead at 55 Van Houten Fields. It is one of about 10 houses in the Fields built on the Flagg principle of using native fieldstone for walls on a concrete slab.

The Petersons

Marie and George (Bob) Peterson, from Spring Valley, were among the earliest to join the Association and build Marie Peterson (right) and her daughter in the Fields, at #123. Marie remembers Betsy Whelan at 123 Van Houten Fields. walking with her husband, accompanied Unlike many of the new arrivals, the Peter by Dorothy Lyman, to the top of the hill sons were Rockland residents, enticed by to view their purchase. The Lymans were the low-cost land and beneficial financial still living in the garage, awaiting com arrangements that allowed Bob Peterson pletion of their house. Both women were to do much of the construction himself.

10 The Masons struction. Moving up in September 1939, they Sam and Barbara Mason, now in lived in the Van Houten farmhouse while Chapel Hill, North Carolina, were early making arrangements for construction settlers in the Fields and were constantly of their homestead at #26. Like many of engaged in the social and organizational the young settlers, Trudy was awaiting activities there. In a recent letter to Jo the arrival of her first child, happy to Robinson, Sam writes: have it grow up in the country. “Some time ago you called to ask if I They had a typical large garden on knew the whereabouts of Chauncey their plot and were busily engaged dining Stillman, whose financial backing made harvest, canning and freezing hundreds it possible for Ralph Borsodi to set up of jars and packages of their own vege Van Houten Fields and other residential tables and fruit. areas of a similar nature. The Stillman family had made its money in oil and in later years that wealth was represented by Chauncey Stillman... who served on many boards and charitable organiza tions. In this year he would be 80 years old with last known address, Amenia, N.Y. “You may not remember but it was you who introduced me to Van Houten Fields. When the School of Living held its display in the John Wanamaker store I asked a friend to come with me. We were both interested in the display and our next move was to go to Suffem. At that time you were there and offered to drive us to West Nyack where, I might say, you gave an elegant sales pitch. What followed is history, with our being there I figure to be 29 years.”

The Smiths Glen and Trudy Smith in front of their home at 26 Van Houten Fields. They moved Trudy and Glen Smith were attending a up from Forest Hills in 1939 and stayed in church gathering in Forest Hills when a one of the apartments in the brick farm young acquaintance enthusiastically told house until their house was completed in them of the School of Living exhibit and 1940. Faced with attractive scrap sand a lecture she attended at the John Wana stone from a New Jersey quarry, this was maker store in New York City. the first building not erected by the guild. In May 1939, the Smiths drove to the Glen commuted to employment in New Fields where they met Dorothy Lyman York City as an Internal Revenue Service and Evelyn McGregor, who showed them agent. The Smiths raised four daughters around. Houses were already under con during their early years at the Fields. 11 The Lojahns talked about it__ The first Sunday after the lecture we took our beat-up 1928 Ford and drove up to Suffem We were Alice Lojahn and her late husband told that Van Houten Fields was nearby William, an architect and interior design ... drove to Sickeltown Road and started er, signed up at the Fields in 1939. In up the steep, curvy [Van Houten Fields] 1940, he started a small cottage at #96, hill.” They met Gordon Dean Smith and where they lived until the main house Fred Rockwell, who had newly built was completed after the war. In 1960, houses. Mrs. Lojahn became the first librarian “We were willing listeners... we were in the new West Nyack library, located almost convinced before we left New in the abandoned schoolhouse on Straw- York City — They gave us some forms town Road. to fill out and told us we would be hearing from the group. Everything was ap proved, and I believe we paid about $400 for that acre. The original concept was to have a crew of workmen go around ... on a rotating basis for each building. I remember how disillusioned so many people were that the first idea of construc tion did not work out. Materials didn’t arrive when ordered__ how disappoint ed so many people were that this sound philosophy just didn’t work out and fin ally had to be abandoned. Bill and I de cided we would start out building a double garage... as living quarters until we built a house...we hired Herman Morris, a neighbor, who worked for the guild and built his own house. Bill took his two-weeks vacation to work with Herman__ ” Alice Lojahn at 96 Van Houten Fields, spading her organic garden she has tended since 1940, one of the pleasures of agrari anism. Disenchantment Murmurings of discontent were spread ing throughout the two Rockland settle The Mongers ments. Although an effective theorist of Irene and William Monger were among homesteading and agrarianism, Borsodi those who attended a lecture and the was not a good organizer. Some com School of Living exhibit at John Wana- plained that he insisted on overseeing maker’s. Having had the total experi every detail of construction; others, that ence with his family, Borsodi was a con the promises made to them of various vincing spokesman for the projects. kinds of assistance were never fulfilled, “It sounded intriguing," said Irene that the School of Living occupied most Monger, “ like paradise, the way he of his time. There was increasing dis- 12 satisfaction with the terms of the land Mr. Borsodi resigned as president of indenture that prevented their owning Independence Foundation, Inc., the the land in their lifetime. An elitist, credit organization which financed the Borsodi had an attitude of superiority experiment... that in the future he will that disturbed some who considered him, devote his time to directing the School at times openly, arrogant. Patience was of Living, near Suffern__ noticeably not one of his virtues. A combination of events befell the Borsodi activities in Rockland and in other communities, some still in the Glen Smith, though not a lawyer, had planning stages. The war in Europe and considerable legal knowledge and was our military build-up to supply support therefore delegated to negotiate with the for the Allies heated up the stagnant attorneys representing Chauncey Still economy and created new, better-paying man and the Independence Foundation, employment. ’’The continuing contro to work out an agreement to separate versy over land-tenure agreement and the Fields from the parent organization. shortages in building materials, which On August 17, 1940, after five prelimi curtailed new construction and furthered nary drafts, a contract was entered into, more discontent among the guilds, made and early in 1941, the new Van Houten it obvious that some new arrangements Fields Association was incorporated. had to be made. Three years after the project started, Chauncey Stillman, the financial angel, the Van Houten Fields settlers had se was going into active military duty. vered their connection with the Indepen Expressing a desire to consolidate his dence Foundation. Under the new ar financial holdings, he agreed to renego rangement, the land was sold to 20 fami tiate the earlier contracts to the satis lies established there, and mortgages faction of the homesteaders. were arranged with the Nyack bank. A long, page-one feature article in The Title to the road, pond and recreation New York Times, May 5, 1940 fully aired areas was granted to the new Van Hou the problem. Among the hopeful solu ten Fields Association, Inc. Unsold land tions: Borsodi's resignation. owned by the Foundation was to be sold only to families approved by the Asso Homestead Snarl Puts Theorist Out ciation. Smith was elected the first presi Ralph Borsodi, the economic theorist dent of the Association and served for who devised a $1,500,000 plan to enable several years. He remembers working city workers to operate productive home on the bylaws for seven or eight months steads between train schedules, has re while commuting on the West Shore linquished administrative control of his Railroad to the City. They remained Rockland County projects and two New virtually unchanged until a revision in York financial institutions are dealing the 1970s. with a reorganizing committee to com In 1941, a brochure was put out by plete his scheme along modified lines__ a the Association, soliciting families to long series of minor differences between come to Van Houten Fields, where com the author of the theory and the home munity life with the privileges of privacy steaders resulted several weeks ago in was available —“far enough from the city the stoppage of construction work. The for rural living, yet near enough for con building guilds were disbanded.. .and venient commutation." There was no

13 mention of farming, agrarianism or weav ally there were experiments with chic ing; but Borsodi’s own discoveries many kens, ducks or a goat and home canning, years before were acknowledged: that a but there is no record of anyone in the family with a home on its own land is a Fields having done any home weaving, family with roots, that the work that as recommended. goes into a home in the country is satis faction for the spirit and a joy of achieve ment. Fields Creativity From the beginning the Van Houten Fields development attracted numerous artists, writers, actors, musicians and craftsmen. Among the early settlers were: Fred Rockwell, garden editor of The New York Times, and his wife Esther, who collaborated with him on many horticultural books; Thomas Wil fred, famed lutenist and singer of Eliza bethan ballads and creator of Lumia, a visual art that uses moving light as a medium of expression; Hal Borland, nature writer for The Times and author of numerous books; Richard Lyman, Herald Tribune writer; and Fred Gruin, Times U.N. correspondent. Over the years others in the arts continued to arrive as well as educators, doctors, business and professional people, all contributing a varied mixture of person alities, adding to the social life of the Those who had to commute in those Fields. early years had excellent train service It followed that the children of these on the West Shore Railroad. Express homesteaders were able to take advan trains from West Nyack arrived at Wee- tage of those available talents surround hawken in 35 minutes, where ferries ing them'. At various times Dorothy rapidly took them to mid- or downtown Lyman taught harp and flute, Marian areas. Olin gave art lessons, and dancing classes The commuters, many of them busi were held in the former Rockwell house ness and professional people, had little by Elizabeth Riggs. Frances and William time for the complete agrarian life-style Irving of the Audubon group conducted of Borsodi’s back-to-the-land movement nature walks Saturday mornings. The that had seemed so enticing. Their free youngsters often excelled in schooling time was taken up with gardening, tend and entered into artistic as well as other ing a few fruit trees, completing their professional careers. “We didn’t push new homes, adding rooms as the families them,” said Dick Lyman, “but they were grew and enjoying the many social constantly in the top levels of their activities the group afforded. Occasion classes.”

14 William Riggs, a theatrical set designer, stands at the rear of 48 Van Houten Fields that he and his wife Elizabeth have occupied for two decades. It was one of the earliest homes built in the Fields by Fred and Esther Rockwell, who became leaders in the new coopera tive. Their gardens were a showplace of colorful new and experimental varieties of flowers, often described in their horticultural writings. The second floor was the scene of numerous parties and square dances with live music by three fiddlers and most recently has been used as a dance studio by Elizabeth Riggs.

Reminiscences and none of us ever got around to Evelyn McGregor and husband Archie weaving. We were always uneasy about read a New York Times ad and came to renting the land on which we built —even the Fields in 1941. Interviewed by local with a 99-year lease.” papers on several occasions in later years, she remembered: Jo Robinson tells of the time her son “At first they (the surrounding West Dale arrived, the third child born to the Nyack residents] thought we were crack Fielders. There was a terrible blizzard pots and some of us were. I think we’ve the night before they were to come home pretty much melted in by now. With from the hospital and the car couldn’t men working in the city, we were never make the hill. The community rallied to farmers the School of Living expected. the emergency, rounded up a sled, met We all had gardens, picked wild berries mother, baby and husband Robbie and did canning —some raised chickens carrving the suitcase and hauled all up — but we were far from self-sufficient the hill. 15 Robbie recalled: “They gave us the buffets of goodies, Swedish glogg was land for $4.68 a month, taxes included. sail—all in a lovely woodland setting, Can you imagine? And the bank was especially when it snowed.” enthusiastic. We were asked if we didn’t want more when we took a building loan.” Judith Johnson, a film and television writer, was the 15th child born to the Janet Lyman recalls: “We were a Fields. In the early 1940s her parents friendly group of children roaming Ted and Lois Johnson, bought a tiny around the Fields, visiting and walking house in a secluded Fields area and gra to school with never any fear. No one dually added to it over the years with locked doors in those days. We felt wel their own labor, sometimes using tools come almost everywhere. Mother had a from the community borrowing pool. large jar of homemade cookies standing Her father served on the Association in the rear kitchen window. All the chil Committee and would get calls for help dren knew the goodies were for them any time of the day or night. There was when passing by. Of course the birthday a community spirit and an immediate parties, Christmas parties, Easter egg response of neighbors to any emergency. hunts and days at the pond and play An oft-told family tale is of an excava ground contributed to the friendly close tion for a cellar under the first addition ness of our community.” to their cottage. A sudden downpour Janet remembers a family financial filled the hole with water, and the house crisis that arose when a fine, very ex itself was threatened to be undermined pensive violin became available at a rea in the deluge until neighbors rushed in sonable price but still very high by their to help shore it up. standards. It was either the violin or a Judith recalls: “Our house sat at the much-needed roof for their house. She top of the hill and, as I wasn’t allowed to got the violin and went on to a lifetime walk down by myself, where the few career as a concert violinist and violist, other children were, my early years were performing (as Janet Lyman Hill) in spent more or less by myself. I was Europe, Asia, South America and alone but never lonely. There were still throughout the U.S. Her sister Dorothy hummingbirds and bluebirds, silver fox and brother Richard also became accom and deer, a Great Horned Owl at the plished musicians although her brother Rockwell’s, wild pheasants fanging the is a history professor as well as an active melons at the Soucy’s. On summer even writer. ings, I fell asleep to the sound of the brown thrush, and tennis balls whacked The Mongers: “Many times as we sat back and forth by the grownups at the in our so-called living room, a young Fry's. At night, it was so quiet that I fawn or deer, skunk, raccoon, would imagined I could hear polliwogs breath amble up to the screen and peer in at us ing in the marshes and salamanders ... enchanting moments. thinking under rocks. “The Christmas holidays were so much “How I finally got together with the fun —almost another world from the city other children was more a function of life we were used to —like the turn of the gravity, I believe, than anything else. century. People went around singing Someone had discovered that if you carols, homes were opened, there were started a sled at the top of the Hill at the

16 big oak in the island and let it descend, passing, in turn, the Hal Borland’s, Like other Field settlers the Glen around the curve at the Ballou's, thence Smiths were aware they were viewed down the gully at the Robinson’s, across with certain reservation and some sus the lower snake of the VHF road (a parent picion—“these city people” invading the always stood guard) and onto the Gue- region with their strange ideas of com lich’s sloping lawn (they were lovingly munal living. There were some mutter- indulgent), one could easily reach Sickel- ings about “communists” overheard at town Road within five minutes. We loved Ramey Jones’ store, the half-way stop this secret sleigh-riding, in hidden safety between the Fields and the railroad sta from the outer life, which eventually tion. “We never knew of one communist became a beloved tradition passed down among us," said Glen. “They called us from us early children to the next gene 10-cent millionaires.” ration. “It was the fear of the unknown,” said “ We went to school in local style— Trudy Smith, “yet we were as normal as there were no buses and most of us daily apple pie in November. We wanted to worked our way through an intricate get back to the land and raise a family.” system of gullies, stream beds and woods to reach the West Nyack School (now the West Nyack Free Library). “Thus, we began our reluctant emer The Fields Today gence into the ‘real’ world. It doesn’t matter that in succeeding years, we, They were not out to revolutionize the one by one, have joined that group known world: they were mostly survivors of as ‘grownups,’ and one by one, scattered the worst depression America had ever to distant parts of the country and the known, existing on a tiny income and world —we all still know where home desperately seeking a better way of life is.” for themselves and their children. Those early Fielders, though more affluent today, remember Borsodi and Stillman In a recent interview Alice Lojahn with considerable affection and respect remembered: “We began as a group with despite their many differences, for they common objectives. World War II start could not have succeeded without their ed and all traveling was restricted so the support and financial assistance. group further unified with social activi Although somewhat insulated in their ties of our own. The Woman’s Club, enclave with common problems and founded in 1939, planned year-round aspirations and their own numerous events: a Christmas holiday children’s community activities, Van Houtenites party and a party with choral singing, were often involved in serving on school Easter egg hunt, attic sales and 4th-of- boards, PTAs and other cultural and July picnics held at the pond. There business organizations in the country. were treasure hunts, square dances with It is significant that four of the original fiddlers in Rockwell’s upper level, fund trustees of the West Nyack Library, raising parties and roof-tree celebrations Clyde A. Robinson, Patricia O’Neill, for the new houses framed in, and of Arlene Lay and Glen D. Smith, together course, a party or gathering for many with Alice Lojahn as first librarian, were other events.” from Van Houten Fields. Their names

17 are inscribed on a June 5, 1960 bronze creased to 70, completing the community plaque there, commemorating the instal of small-acreage plots it set out to be lation of the present library. half a century ago. While it may not be The Fields are still governed by the the functional agrarian cooperative Bor- Association as formed by the early resi sodi envisioned, it is one of the most dents. According to President William attractive places to live in Rockland Sweet, the board of directors, now in County. creased from five to seven, compiles an Much of the homogeneous spirit and annual budget. Families abide by a closeness of the community of the strug revised set of bylaws and pay taxes to gling and aspiring settlers is gone, but maintain their roads and basic services. Van Houten Fields remains a pleasant, Homeowners must become members and secluded place where many now enjoy sign an agreement to that effect to get a middle and upper class income status of clear title. Commercial enterprises are the affluent postwar years. banned but there are no restrictions as On any clear day residents can be to race, color or creed. New residents seen walking up and down the hill, some are no longer screened by a membership with dogs, on their own private road and committee. waving to neighbors and passing cars in The 20 pre-war homesteads have in a friendly way as they did in the old days.

(1-r) Glen Smith, Alice Lojahn, William Sweet and Trudy Smith enjoy the annual (1987) Fourth of July picnic at the Van Houten Fields picnic area with pond in the rear.

Borsodi in Later Years

Borsodi’s restless intellect and inde Myrtle Mae Simpson Borsodi, who fatigable energy left little time for relaxa had been so closely involved with her tion. Continuing his lecturing and husband in the movement, lecturing and writing, he published in 1945 his most taking part in the numerous experiments prophetic book, Inflation Is Coming. at the school, died in 1948. He remarried Numerous problems led to the sale of in 1966. the School of Living to a private home steader in 1945: Mrs. Borsodi’s ill health, Among Borsodi’s new ventures were the uncertainties of the economy during several trips to India and the founding the war years when many products were of Melbourne University in Florida, where unavailable and the increasing difficulty he supported a homesteading movement in traveling. along with an institute for land trusts. In

18 Exeter, New Hampshire he spent his bering the triumphs and failures there last years busily testing new monetary of his decentralization experiments, he theories, espousing his ideas and beliefs said, “The visit almost reduced me to in articles and books, trying to identify tears over and over again.” And as The the problems of mankind and society Record finally described him, “He stood and searching for answers. tall and lean as ever, 87 years of age, and

Ralph Borsodi, author of 24 books, philo Myrtle Mae Simpson Borsodi, a Kansas sopher and visionary of awesome energies, farm girl, Borsodi's wife and companion was often called the prophet of decentral who shared his visions and became a driving ization. His experiments in Rockland were force in the School of Living, lecturing and never fully realized, but his imprint remains conducting experiments. They drew on her in the communities of Van Houten Fields farming experience as they began their and Bayard Lane. new life in rural Rockland.

His bestseller, Flight from the City, gazed silently at Dogwoods, the house had a resurgence of sales in 1961 and he started building stone by stone half a 1972 paperback editions when it was century ago.” discovered by the hippies generation Considered to be one of the foremost interested in communal living. American intellectuals of his era, Ralph In 1973, Borsodi revisited Rockland, Borsodi died at Exeter in 1977, 90 years meeting with old acquaintances at of age. Bayard Lane and Van Houten Fields. A His 24th book, Inflation Is Stealing! feature article in The Bergen Record Let's Stop Those Who Cause It, was magazine supplement pictured him sent to the publisher 10 days before the reminiscing with homesteaders. Remem accident that caused his death.

19 Refer ences

“The Plowboy Interview,” Mother Earth News, March 1974. “A Man for All Seasons,” Green Revolution, Dec. 1977. “Homestead Notes,” School of Living, No. 17, Jan. 1935. “Announcement of Courses,” School of Living, 1935. Sunday Record Magazine, N. Y. World Telegram, June 24, 1973. “Agrarianism for Commuters,” South Atlantic Quarterly, Spring 1980. “West Nyack Community Defies Time’s Passage,” The Journal News, Dec. 4,1977. “Old Farm, West Nyack...New Coop. Homestead,” N. Y. Times, Nov. 20, 1937. “Early Dutch History Brought to Life” The Leader, Dec. 9, 1937. “Utopian Dream,” Independent, June 24, 1965. “Homestead Snarl Puts Theorist Out,” N. Y. Times, May 5, 1940. “Ralph Borsodi, 1886-1977, Prophet of Decentralization,” Catholic Worker, Jan.1978. “Local Couple Recall School of Living,” Rockland Review, Dec. 1, 1982. “The Borsodi Homestead: A Design for Complete Living,” by Leontine Zimiles, Connection, May 1978. “Ralph Borsodi Reshaping Culture,” by Mildred Loomis, unpublished manuscript, 1978. “Ralph Borsodi: The Flawed Prophet of Decentralization,” by Chuck Yeager, Green Revolution, Dec. 1977. “The School of Living,” by Valerie Redler, typed manuscript, 1983. “The School of Living News,” Aug. 19, 1939. “Van Houten Fields,” a five-page memoir by Irene W. Munger Ellison. Taped interview with Clyde and Josephine Robinson and interviews with numerous early settlers still living at Van Houten Fields and Bayard Lane Associates.

Borsodi Books: This Ugly Civilization, Harper & Bros., 1929; Flight from the City, Harper & Bros., 1933 (numerous reprints inclothand paper); Inflation Is Coming, 1945, School of Living, reprinted 1946, 1947,1948; Education of the Whole Man, M.C. Kathari, India, 1963. 4

RECENT ACCESSIONS:

* Two 1957 Town of Clarkstown assessor maps. U.S. topographic map, 1943 edition, Haverstraw quadrangle, Upper Nyack to Tomkins Cove, Hudson River, Croton Bay to Verplanck. U.S. topographic map, 1940 edition, from New York State line, including Skunk Hollow to Verdrietege (Hook Mountain) and west to Sickeltown and Germonds. Given by the West Nyack Library.

* Photo of famed Harrison & Dailey 1915 fire in Nyack. Given by the family of William A. Scott, who helped fight the fire as a charter member of Chelsea Hook & Ladder.

20 Rockland Center for the Arts — 40th Anniversary

In 1946, the Rockland Foundation, courses and a showcase for local artists precursor of the Rockland Center for the has blossomed into a major arts organiza- Arts, Inc., was founded by Helen Hayes, tion, offering courses and programs to Henry Varnum Poor, Kurt Weill, Lotte all segments of the community. The Lenya, Maxwell Anderson and Maurice school now offers over 100 courses, Heaton, among others, as a haven and including introductory courses, inten- focal point for a select group of artists sive advanced programs and special and their families. Originally located in workshops. Courses are available for the old Knights of Pythias on North everyone from pre-schoolers to senior Broadway in Nyack, the Foundation citizens and are taught by experienced encouraged and hosted exhibitions by professionals, all currently doing creative local artists and concerts by important work in their fields, mucisians. Writers were frequent In celebration of its 40th year as an visitors. active cultural center in Rockland In 1960, Mrs. Maryann Emerson, a County, the Rockland Center for the generous benefactor, made her home on Arts will hold a gala dinner at the Rock- Greenbush Road in West Nyack, its land Country Club on October 23. outbuildings and 10 acres of land avail- Honored will be the creative people who able as the Foundation’s permanent have given meaning to the center and home. The name was changed to “Center the community which has lent its sup- for the Arts” in 1972, three years after a port. Helen Hayes is the honorary chair- new studio building was opened. Since man. that time, the center has become a full- An attractive journal with photographs blown, community-based organization and narrative highlighting the distin- dedicated to education and every aspect guished 40-year history will be distributed of art and culture. at the gala occasion and throughout the What began with a modest offering of coming year.

21 Gift Suggestions

For that special person on your list of gifts to buy, consider a publication from the Historical Society of Rockland County.

• Dutch Recipes from a Colonial Kitchen, compiled by Helena Hora, 96 pages, 13 photos, paperbound, $6, has 86 recipes with Dutch/English titles accompanied by historical notes.

• The Artist and the Unicorn: The Lives of Arthur B. Davies, by Brooks Wright, 134 pages, 14 photos and illustrations, hardbound, $9.95, examines the artist’s life and his significance in the emerging world of modem art plus the influence Rockland had on his career.

• Woodsmen, Mountaineers and Bockies: The People of the Ramapos, by Ralph Ses sions, 54 pages, 35 photos and illustrations, paperbound, $3.50, presents a wide range of information on the history and life-styles of the people of the Ramapo Mountains.

• How Things Began... in Rockland County and Places Nearby, by Wilfred B. Tal- man, 301 pages, 18 photos and illustrations, paperbound $9.95, is a compilation of articles historian Talman wrote for local newspapers over a 20-year period. It is salty, candid but carefully researched history.

• The Tonetti Years at Snedens Landing, by Isabelle K. Saveli, 206 pages, over 100 photos and illustrations, paperbound, $9.95, is an account of the star-studded en clave in the southeastern comer of Rockland County and the remarkable woman, Mary Lawrence Tonetti, who created it.

• Index to Personal Names in Cole’s History of Rockland County, compiled by the Index Committee of the Historians Roundtable of Rockland County, 136 pages, 40,000 name citations, hardbound, includes all names in the Tappan and Clarkstown baptismal records. Regular price, $26: special holiday price, $20.

• History of Rockland County, by the Rev. David Cole, D.D., 1884, new edition with name index, 555 pages, 59 engraved portraits, 23 maps and views, hardbound, contains invaluable information on local families from the earliest Dutch settle ments in New Amsterdam through two and one-half centuries. Regular price, $45; special holiday price, $40. Indians of the Lower Hudson Region: The Munsee, by Julian Harris Salomon, 94 pages, over 50 photos and illustrations, hardbound, $15.95, paperbound, $8.95, brings together from various sources the history of the nurthern branch of the Lenni-Lenapi. 22 • Julian O. Davidson (1853-1894): American Marine Artist, by Lynn S. Beman, 72 pages, 46 photos and paintings, paperbound, $20, is an exhibition catalogue that includes a supplemental listing of all known works of the famed Nyack artist and gives the history of the Davidson and Merritt families.

• Landmarks Map of Rockland County, 1975, revised 1987, 34" x 45", black on white or sepia on buff, $9.95, gives valuable historical tidbits and marks with red dots the location of the old sandstone houses in the county.

10% discount for members on any of the above books. For mail orders, add $1.50; $2.50 for Cole’s History of Rockland County (whenever possible, we suggest this heavy book be picked up at the History Center). New York State residents add sales tax.

Visit our gift shop in the History Center museum for further gift ideas.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

July 1, 1987 — August 31, 1987

Renaud & Mary Ann Bleeker Mr. & Mrs. Sam MacDonnell Haverstraw, NY Pearl River, NY Margaret Clayton Debra A. Mounaro Brooklyn, IA Nyack, NY James G. Curran Patricia E. Mullaney Peekskill, NY Portsmouth, NH Debby Davis Stanley Rabadan Spring Valley, NY Bronx, NY Mr. & Mrs. Warren DeSantis Mary Ruiz New City, NY Chester, NY A. H. Gunther, Sr. Mrs. John J. Williamson Pearl River, NY Norfolk, VA Henry & Kathy Jackson Gordon Wren, Sr. New City, NY Spring Valley, NY Peter Kaczala Laura M. Wright Wesley Hills, NY Sparkill, NY Mi mi Korb Geary Zern Pomona, NY Verplanck, NY Eric Charles Kurtzman Katherine Zuppardi Sloatsburg, NY Bronx, NY

23 IN MEMORIAM

Frances Bingham William Wallace McKenzie Ruth M. Brandrup Charles Myneder Howard Hale Clark Julian H. Salomon James Firth Haring Esther Taylor Herbert J. Heiling Louise Winkley

JAMES FIRTH HARING (1906-1987) died August 26 at age 80. A lifelong resident of Rockland County, he was a tenth-generation descendent of the original Tappan settlers in what is now Rockland County. A longtime member of the Historical Society, Mr. Haring served with the Marines in Cuba and Nicaragua, 1925-29, and was a member of the Veterans of Fo reign Wars. He was a locomotive engineer with the New York Central Railroad until his retirement in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Addler), two daughters, Jennifer Haring and Firth Fabend, and two granddaughters. Mrs. Fabend recently traced their branch of the Haring family from Jan Pietersen Haring, one of the original Tappan patentees, through the ten generations, spanning three centuries (see South of the Mountains, April-June 1985).

CHARLES MYNEDER (1925-1987), a longtime member, former trustee and vice president of the Historical Society, died August 27 at age 62. Mr. Myneder, a graduate of Iowa University, received his law degree from the University of Michigan. His legal training was helpful in preparation of the agreement leading to the consolidation of the Tappan Zee and Rockland County historical societies to form the present Historical Society of Rockland County. He also helped prepare the bylaws that established the Society as an educational corporation chartered by New York State. During his six-year term as trustee, he helped edit and publish South of the Mountains and contributed numerous articles for the quarterly. Among his other activities he was involved in setting up the three-dimensional Camp Shanks mural at Orangetown Town Hall. His late wife, Barbara, also an active member and volunteer of the Society for many years, was honored in 1979 with the establishment of a memorial garden in her name on the History Center grounds. Mr. Myneder is survived by a daughter, Devin Thein.

24 RUTH M. BRANDRUP* 1916-1987), lifelong antique dealer, died July 5 at age 70. She had participated in the Historical Society’s craft courses as an instructor of American antiques and was a frequent lecturer and instructor at Rockland Community College and at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. She was a member of the International Society of Appraisers and wrote a bimonthly column for the Town Journal of Bergen County, New Jersey. Mrs. Brandrup is survived by her husband, Clair L.; a daughter, Judith Claire Kerwin; and a son, Douglas W.

LOUISE WINKLEY (1919-1987), office manager at the Historical Society since 1976, died September 7. Known for her kindness, calmness, patience, diplomacy and faithful dedication to her job at the Society, she was once referred to as the voice with the smile that answered the telephone. She served as secretary, treasurer and pianist at the United Pentecostal Church in Riverdale, New Jersey for 16 years. Her husband, the Rev. John A. Winkley, is a chaplain of the Eastern District of Prison Ministry, and with him she served as a spiritual counselor and handled a large volume of prisoner correspondence, working seven days a week. She also served as a volunteer at Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw for several years. Besides her husband, Mrs. Winkley is survived by a son, Jerry, and a daughter, Sharon.

JULIAN H. SALOMON (1896-1987), a life member of the Historical Society, died in Suffem, September 8 at age 91. He contributed numerous articles to South of the Mountains and was the author of two books on Indian lore: The Book of Indian Craft and Indian Lore, published by Harper Brothers in 1928, and Indians of the Lower Hudson Region: The Munsee, published by the Historical Society of Rock land County in 1982 and reprinted in 1987. Mr. Salomon was a lifetime member of the Boy Scouts of America and in the 1920s, served as Rockland County’s first Boy Scout executive. Among his numer ous awards were the Boy Scouts’ Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service to the scouting movement and a merit citation in 1986 by the Rockland County Legis lature for outstanding service with the county’s Park Commission. A retired landscape architect, he was a member of the American Association of Landscape Architects and the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. Mr. Salomon is survived by his wife, Margaret Molsen; a daughter, Catherine Scales; and a son, Richard.

25 Working the Land

Below are pictures from the Society’s recent exhibition on farm tools and farming in Rockland in the 19th century.

The majority of 19th-century Rockland farms were between 100 and 300 acres. Major crops were com, rye, oats, buckwheat, hay, potatoes and vegetables. Apples were also an important product, and most farmers kept a variety of animals. Neigh bors bartered and helped each other with major tasks, such as harvesting and slaughtering.

Using traditional wooden plows with an attached iron cutting edge, or share, to break the ground, two men and two yolk of oxen could plow, on average, one acre per day. With the introduction of cast iron plows in the 1830's, the pace doubled. Pictured here is a rare Dutch-style plow (circa 1790) of the type found only in the Hudson and Mohawk River Valley. Gift of Morris Van Houten.

After plowing the earth, the farmer dragged a harrow across the field to further break up the soil. Of ancient design, spike harrows were used in Rockland County throughout the 19th century. This one was on loan from the Monroe Museum Village.

26 HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATION

SNEDEKER FARM, 74 Endicott Street, Congers, July 26, 1987. (1-r) Mr. & Mrs. Martin E. Holbrook, proprietors of the Snedeker farmhouse, HSRC President Gordon F. Coyle and Clarkstown Super visor Charles E. Holbrook. From 1736 to 1840, the Snedeker family occupied the northern portion of the Pond Patent. A portion of the house was built circa 1747 by Johannes Snedeker, a captain in the local colonial militia. Garret Snedeker served as supervisor of the Haverstraw precinct from 1736-1737. In 1840, Abraham Conger purchased most of the original estate. The homestead remained in Sne deker hands until 1909.

WANTED: Energetic, pleasant people who enjoy sharing information, ideas and skills with other people. Volunteer as a museum guide, Sundays 2 to 5 p.m. or weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Debra Clyde, 634-9629.

PLEASE NOTE. This issue of South of the Mountains has been published a month earlier than usual to coincide with the Van Houten Fields anniversary celebration. In November, look for the Historical Society’s newsletter in the mail.

WHERE IS SPRING VALLEY, NEW JERSEY? Arnold Knapp of West Nyack responded to our query in “Accessions” of last quarter’s South of the Mountains regarding the whereabouts of Spring Valley, New Jersey. He tells us that it was originally a part of Paramus and that a fire company was off Forest Avenue near Midland.

HISTORY CENTER, 20 Zukor Road, New City, N.Y. 10956. Museum hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 12 to 4 p.m.; Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.; at special hours by phoning 634-9629. Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coming events, unless otherwise noted, will be held at the History Center. Membership, which includes mailed copies of SOUTH OF THE MOUNTAINS, is $20 family, $15 individual, $10 senior, $7.50 student.

27 COMING EVENTS EXHIBITS: Thru Nov. 15 —“Historic New York” — paintings of historic sites by Berna- dine Brooks, including 11 of Rockland’s most famous landmarks.

Nov. 29-Jan. 24 — Winter Festival and 12th Annual Doll House Exhibit — selec tion of doll houses, miniature rooms, dolls, toys and games. Joan and John Bruckler, curators. Also, the Women’s Committee Holiday Boutique, offering a selection of doll house miniatures for sale. Special museum hours: Wednesday, Saturday and Sun day, 1-5 p.m. $1.50 donation.

PROGRAMS :

Oct. —Craft Workshops — open-hearth cooking, gravestone rubbings, Sat. & Sun. cornhusk dolls, Indian pottery and basketry workshops. By registration only.

Oct. 18, Sun. —Autumn Harvest Festival — early American craft demonstra 1-5 p.m. tions. Folk music by the Ramapo Fault Band.

Oct. 24, Sat. —“An Evening with Diedrich Knickerbocker” — one-man act by 8 p.m. Stephen Mills at the New City Library (co-sponsor).

Nov. 21, Sat. —Historical House Tour — tour six spectacular sites in the Town 10-4 p.m. of Ramapo. Tickets $14; $12 in advance; $2 discount to members. Box lunch available for $5. Phone HSRC for reservations.

Dec. 5, Sat. — St. Nicholas Festival — Dutch Christmas for young children. 12-3 p.m. By reservation only.

Dec. 13, Sun. —Candlelight Tour — evening tours of the decorated Jacob Blau- 6-8 p.m. velt House. $2 donation.

ONGOING:

Sun. —Guided tours of the Jacob Blauvelt House and herb demon 2-5 p.m. strations.

Our sincerest thanks to a FRIEND who is sponsoring this issue because of the deep conviction that local history is an important part of our heritage and should be preserved in the written word.