THE BRONX COUNTY THE BRONX HISTORIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newsletter of The Bronx County Historical Society 3309 BAINBRIDGE AVENUE FEBRUARY 2017– MAY 2017 VOLUME 40 NUMBER 2 THE BRONX, NEW YORK 10467 PHONE: (718) 881 - 8900 FAX: (718) 881 - 4827 The Great War Centennial: The Bronx and World War I www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org World War I was a four-year conflict that Visit us on Facebook, Youtube, and altered the world, and yet at the centenary of Twitter. one of the largest wars in modern history, many Americans today are unfamiliar with The Bronx County Historical Society, its details. Through no fault of their own, founded in 1955, is a private, non - this war was mainly fought overseas with American forces only in the war from April profit educational and cultural 1917 to November 1918. However, in our institution chartered by the New York backyard we had one of the largest National State Board of Regents. The Society is Guard mobilization camps in New York City dedicated to the collection, in Van Cortlandt Park. In the original park plans, there were specifications for a parade preservation, documentation and interpretation of the history and ground solely for use by the National Guard heritage of The Bronx and its people of New York. Throughout the next three decades, the parade ground would go from from its earliest historical references DDDD National Guard polo ground to training and National Guardsmen takes a lunch break while preparing for duty at the in the 17th century to the present. Mexican border. Van Cortlandt Park, 1916. mobilization camp for one of the largest The Society disseminates information wars ever fought. Photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress. by utilizing its collections in The National Guard had, throughout this time, conducted mock battles in the park as a way to keep up exhibitions, historical research, with their training. On September 25, 1915, ten thousand guardsmen conducted a large public production of publications and display with events such as foot, flag, and machine gun drill and explosion of land mines. From 1916 documentaries, educational and to 1917, the Guard used Van Cortlandt Park’s parade ground to assemble troops going down to the Mexican border in search of Pancho Villa. When America declared war on Germany in April 1917, the cultural programming, the operation parade ground was used to assemble the 22nd Engineers, 23rd Regiment, 71st Regiment and others of our research library, The Bronx from southern New York State. County Archives and two historic From August 1917 to November 1918, the park was a revolving door for guard troops making their landmark house museums - the way down to rendezvous at the camp at Spartanburg, South Carolina before leaving for Europe. As c.1812 Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the war effort wound down, New York gave the final push to collect money for the war effort. April the c.1758 fieldstone farmhouse 1919 was Van Cortlandt Park’s last sham battle of the war, which included digging trenches, chemical Valentine -Varian House/Museum of warfare demonstrations and fireworks. Bronx History. There are facets of Bronx history, which still need research and study. The role of Bronx parks during This newsletter is published three World War I was paramount and there is still much times a year as a service to members to learn. For example, Pelham Bay Park was also and friends. utilized as a training ground during the war. As the centennial of the war continues throughout 2019, The Bronx County Historical Society The Bronx County Historical Society will continue to is partially supported thro ugh funds remember by having exhibitions, walking tours, and and services provided by the NYC lectures dedicated to one of the most important Departments of Cultural Affairs and wars in modern world history. Our spring exhibition, Over There: America & The Great War Parks and Recreation, the Historic will exhibit the items and memories of those who House Trust of New York City, The 1st Cavalry being mustered before going to the border, 1916. Bronx City Council Delegation, the witnessed this conflict. Photograph courtesy of the New-York Tribune. Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, The Bronx Delegations of the NYS Assembly and the NYS Senate, the H.W. Wilson Foundation, the Astor Fund, the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, The New York Times Foundation, the Verizon Foundation, the New York State Library, the New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, the Susan Tane Foundation, the New York Public Library, and the New York Community Trust. Religious service on the Van Cortlandt House grounds, 1917. The 1st Field Artillery preparing to leave for the Mexican border, 1916. Photograph courtesy of the New York Herald. Photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress. The Bronx Historian Page 2 of 4 February 2017 – May 2017 Volume 40 Number 2 PURE GOLD COLLECTIONS DONATIONS Schools, businesses, The Society’s research library, object, and archival collections are a great resource. institutions, and We thank those who recently made the following donations (partial list): associations in The Bronx are noted. Parker Gambino: 6 ironstone plates commemorating the 100th anniversary of North Side Savings Bank and highlighting Kingsbridge, Riverdale and Spuyten Duyvil history (1951). Glacken’s Bar & Grill 135 East 149 th Street Hebrew Home at Riverdale: Bronx Tourism Council video, “What’s Up? The Bronx!” Est. 19 40 (1993) and booklet, They Were Here – Some Bronxites Who Have Achieved. (1980). La Moderna Barber Shop 1529 Westchester Avenue Frank Higbie: Book, Secret Lives of the Underground Railroad in New York City: Sydney Est. 1962 Howard Gay, Louis Napoleon and the Record of Fugitives (2014). Varsity Army & Navy 1279 Westchester Avenue Gloria Jones: Three cigarette lighters (1940s) and a World War II Japanese bayonet with Est. 1938 sheath (1943-1944). WELCOME Robert A. Simpson: Five-point metal star that may have once been part of a medal or NEW MEMBERS decorative military or patriotic element to be worn as a pin or medallion (19th or early J 20th century). George & u Annabelle Leigh Andersen l FINANCIAL DONATIONS Jordan Copeland i Cash donations help The Society fund programming, publications, equipment purchases, e Sarita Eisenstark and build endowments. To double your donation, check with your employer for any t Michael Froning available matching gift programs. We are grateful for the following contributions: a Wendy Bailey Jacobellis Bernard Kaplan $10 - $99 $100 - $999 V Fred Mazelis e Sandra Cardinali Vollmer-Adair Agency Kim Neall Clean Jeans Dry Cleaners Hutchinson Metro Center Maureen Ann Ocasio l a Burton Cohen Monroe College Joel Pomerantz z Michael B. Collins Alice Golbert Jeffrey Reuben q EarthShare NYC Gives Sidney Horenstein Jennifer Seda u Evelyn Isaac James J. Houlihan Susanna Taylor e Arthur Kahn Automotive Industries z SOCIETY Paul G. Kelly Joanne Mastropolo Harvey Mate Norbert Sander PUBLICATIONS: N Patricia Mattson Autographed copy, add $10 i $1,000 - $4,999 Edward McLoughlin n Donald J. Petersen The New Yankee Stadium a Jerrold Wolfset Community Benefits Fund Blacks in the Lloyd Ultan Colonial Bronx: W A Documentary o SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL JOURNAL History h Since 1964, the BCHS Journal has been one of the premier history journals in the tri-state $18.00 l region. The Journal’s articles are of interest to all who enjoy accounts of people, business events, mercantile gain, defending the nation’s interest, or the love of The Bronx. As an C ongoing tradition for Bronxites to share their personal experiences, The Society is a accepting articles for its Nancy Serra-Spencer – 4 photographs of Edgewater Journal. Do you have a Bronx story to share? Kindly send in your Camp, 1920s. r article in Microsoft Word format along with 2 -4 images at 300dpi as email attachments to o l administration@bronxhistoricalsociety .org. Make sure you include your contact e information and a short bio. The Bronx: Then & Now W BEQUESTS $21.99 i You can support The Society's work by means of a bequest. The following paragraph is s suggested for your convenience, for insertion in your will: “I give and devise and bequeath, to The Bronx County Historical Society, located at 3309 Bainbridge Avenue, e mThe Bronx, New York 10467, incorporated with the New York State Board of Regents, a [insert the amount of money or describe the personal property or real estate], to be used n for the general purposes of The Society.” J i a Edgar Allan Poe Cottage Poe Park Grand Concourse & East Kingsbridge Road Owned by the New York City Department of Parks, it is operated by The Bronx County Historical Society. The house is a member of the Historic House Trust. The Bronx Historian Page 3 of 4 February 2017 – May 2017 Volume 40 Number 2 Celebrating Our Future Bronx Leaders! The Bronx High School Valedictorian Awards Program at the Museum of Bronx History Sunday, June 4, 2017 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Join us for another opportunity to accentuate the positive in The Bronx and to meet and honor our future leaders. The Society’s annual program honors Edgar Allan Poe valedictorians of different Bronx high schools at the Cottage national landmark Valentine-Varian House, home of Poe Park the Museum of Bronx History. Grand Concourse & East Kingsbridge The program begins at 1:00 PM with entertainment Road and tours of the Museum of Bronx History, along with refreshments. At 2:00 PM the awards ceremony Owned by the New York City Department of Parks, will commence. Each honoree will receive an it is operated by The embossed certificate and a package of books about Bronx County Historical our historic borough, published by The Society.