THE BRONX COUNTY THE BRONX HISTORIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newsletter of The Bronx County Historical Society 3309 BAINBRIDGE AVENUE THE BRONX, NEW YORK 10467 OCTOBER 2015 – JANUARY 2016 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 1 PHONE: (718) 881- 8900 FAX: (718) 881- 4827 CELEBRATING 60 YEARS www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org Visit us on Facebook, Youtube, and OF SHARING BRONX HISTORY Twitter. The Bronx County Historical Society, It all started in September 1955 with a founded in 1955, is a private, non- simple question a reader of the “Bronx profit educational and cultural Bandwagon” column in the New York institution chartered by the New Post Bronx edition posed to the late York State Board of Regents. The journalist Burt Gumpert: “Why is there no Society is dedicated to the collection, Bronx Historical Society?” Recognizing a preservation, documentation need for such an institution, Gumpert and interpretation of the history and asserted that a historical society will be heritage of The Bronx and its people created by the end of that year. Soon from its earliest historical references enough, Gumpert, along with another in the 17th century to the present. seven individuals, met at the dental office The Society disseminates information of Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff to begin The by utilizing its collections in Bronx County Historical Society. The founders of The Society pose before Glover’s Rock in exhibitions, historical research, The Society began to give public lectures Pelham Bay Park, November 1960. Left to right in the production of publications and front row are Joseph Duffy, Theodore Schliessman, Fred to discuss object collections, local history, E.J. Kracke, John McNamara, and Bert Gumpert. In the documentaries, educational and and to build up support from fellow back row are Ronald Schliessman, Theodore Kazimiroff, cultural programming, the operation and Vincent Hunt. Bronxites. So entertaining and of our research library, The Bronx informative were these lectures that the The Bronx County Historical Society Collections. County Archives and two historic Burnside audience size began to increase, landmark house museums - the prompting The Society to seek larger c.1812 Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and venues. After outgrowing the West Farms the c.1758 fieldstone farmhouse branch of the New York Public Library, . Valentine -Varian House/Museum of The Society briefly operated in other Bronx History. libraries and churches, Fordham This newsletter is published three University and Lehman College. Walking times a year as a service to members tours became very popular at this time, while an annual journal began with its and friends. first printing in 1964, making it one of the The Bronx County Historical Society premier history periodicals in the tristate is partially supported through funds region today. and services provided by the NYC Then, in 1965, the historic 1758 The historic Valentine-Varian House being moved from Departments of Cultural Affairs and Valentine-Varian House on Bainbridge one side of Bainbridge Avenue to the other in 1965. The Parks and Recreation, the Historic Society took over the house as its first permanent location. Avenue was donated to The Society by Today, the house is open as the Museum of Bronx House Trust of New York City, William C. Beller, thus establishing the History. The Bronx City Council Delegation, first permanent headquarters of The The Bronx County Historical Society Collections. the Office of the President of the Bronx County Historical Society. Borough of The Bronx, The Bronx In Three years later, The Society opened the house as the Museum of Bronx History, the Delegations of the NYS Assembly borough’s very first museum celebrating its historic heritage. The Society continued to and the NYS Senate, the H.W. expand by taking on other historic sites and facilities. In 1975, The Society began to Wilson Foundation, the Astor Fund, administer the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, where the famous American writer spent his the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, The New York Times Foundation, the last years. Then in 1982, The Society once again expanded into another buidling on Verizon Foundation, the New York Bainbridge Avenue and opened it as a research library and administrative offices. The State Library, the New Yankee Society came into possession of another building just two doors away on Bainbridge Stadium Community Benefits Fund, Avenue. The latest building was opened as the Bronx County Archives in 2001. Today, the Susan Tane Foundation, the New The Bronx County Historical Society is considered to be one of the most active York Public Library, and the New historical societies in the state. To learn more about The Society, see page 3 for the York Community Trust. opening at the Museum of Bronx History of upcoming exhibitions on The Society’s history. The Bronx Historian Page 2 of 4 OCTOBER 2015 – JANUARY 2016 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 1 PURE GOLD COLLECTIONS DONATIONS Schools, businesses, The Society’s research library, object, and archival collections are a great resource. institutions, and associations in The Bronx are noted. We thank those who recently made the following donations (partial list): Castle Hill Funeral Directors Inc. Michael Alfultis – Maritime College commemorative medallion for its 140 years of maritime 1528 Castle Hill Avenue heritage (1874-2014). Est. 1925 The Cookie Factory Anonymous – P.S. 31 autograph album (1937). 1844 Givan Avenue Est. 1954 Dan Eisenstein – Box of history books. Mario’s Restaurant Denise Ferrari – “Freedomland U.S.A.” official long-playing record, with its dust jacket 2342 Arthur Avenue (1960). Est. 1919 Vacuum World Naomi Freistadt – P.S. 60 class photograph of Kate Schlossberg (1925). 5902 Riverdale Avenue David Malatzky – Materials related to the Boy Scouts of America in the Borough of The Est. 1938 Bronx (1915 – present). WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Seth Marvin – Three autographed baseballs (Mariano Rivera, Lou Pinella, Paul O’Neill), (partial list) seven New York Yankees yearbooks (1987-2011) and a Yankees Magazine (2006). Hector Lopez Ballestros Lois Parker – Theodore Roosevelt High School diploma (1928). Brandon Berkowski Marie Bingham Barbara Blasucci Frank Uzzo, M.S. 180 – Bronx African American life-themed quilt, created by the students George A. Bradley of M.S. 180, under the guidance of former teacher, Janet Norquist-Gonzalez. Leonard Bronfeld FINANCIAL DONATIONS Cindy Cacciola Cash donations help The Society fund programming, publications, equipment Sandra Cardinali purchases, and build endowments. To double your donation, check with your employer Dara Caponigro for any available matching gift programs. We are grateful for the following Alison Castaneda contributions (partial list): Kevin Clyne Dr. Burton D. Cohen $10 - $99 $10 - $99 (continued) $10 - $99 (continued) Nathan Dallas Ruth Anderberg Vivian J. Mall Nina Wohl Daniel Diaz Joseph A. Barone Kathy McArdle Ira & Diane Zuckerman Elizabeth Dougherty William A. Brady Edward McLoughlin John C. Dougherty $100 - $999 Sara S. Berlan Catherine Miele June Fait MC Cox & Co. Joshua Fogel Howard A. Nenner Larry Barazzotto Nestor Danyluk Lilly Pappas Lovin George Hutch Metro Center Meghan Gonoude Wallis Doerge Harry A. Parsons The Shakespeare Club Betty Guman Marjorie Dovman Anne Payne $1,000 - $4,999 Roslyn Harling Lottie Esteban Joan Pendergast Shaurain Farber Donald Petersen Fordham University Liang Heng Susan Holland EarthShare NYC Gives Russell F. Ryer Mark Glander Annette Sambolin $5,000 - and over SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS: The Meredith Group Roy Silverfarb The Lucius N. Littauer Autographed copy, add $10 Neil Harrow Irving Skorka Foundation ! Blacks in the William Howze Marion Swerdlow Roberta Knight Colonial Bronx: Helen Klebanoff Karl Stricker Lloyd Ultan A Documentary History Gary Makufka $18.00 Nancy Serra-Spencer – 4 photographs of Edgewater Camp, 1920s. ! SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL JOURNAL Since 1964, the BCHS Journal has been one of the premier history journals in the tri-state region. The Journal’s articles, written with clarity and scholarly substance, are of interest to all who enjoy accounts of people, business events, mercantile gain, defending the nation’s interest, The Bronx: or the love of The Bronx. As an ongoing tradition for Bronxites to share their personal Then & Now experiences, The Society is accepting articles for its Journal. Do you have a Bronx story to $21.99 share? Kindly send in your article in Microsoft Word format along with 2-4 images or illustrations at 300dpi as email attachments to [email protected]. Make sure you include your contact information. The Bronx Historian Page 3 of 4 OCTOBER 2015 – JANUARY 2016 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 1 A WEEKEND OF CELEBRATIONS AT THE MUSEUM The weekend of October 17th and 18th will be festive at the historic Museum of Bronx History/Valentine-Varian House. The museum will not only celebrate its 13th year participating in the annual openhousenewyork citywide program, when city museums, including our two historic house museums, offer free admission, but will also celebrate The Society’s 60th anniversary, New York Archives Week, and National Hispanic Heritage Month. Edgar Allan Poe The Society will showcase items For from the its duration fine archives of the collection weekend, that The highlight Bronx County certain Cottage periods of Bronx Latino history. There will also be an information section where guides Historical Poe Park and bibliographies of The Society’s research library and archives can be perused. It is the Grand Concourse & perfect opportunity to learn about The Bronx County Historical Society and Latino history East Kingsbridge in The Bronx – for free! The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage will also offer free admissions for the Road weekend, so visit us. Owned by the New York City Department of Parks, it is EXHIBITIONS AT THE MUSEUM OF BRONX HISTORY operated by The Bronx 3266 BAINBRIDGE AVENUE County Historical Society. & EAST 208TH STREET, THE BRONX, NEW YORK 10467 The house is a member of the (718) 881 - 8900 MUSEUM HOURS: SAT 10AM - 4PM / SUN 1PM - 5PM Historic House Trust. (GROUP TOURS MON.-FRI.