THE BRONX COUNTY THE BRONX HISTORIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newsletter of The Bronx County Historical Society 3309 BAINBRIDGE AVENUE THE BRONX, NEW YORK 10467 FEBRUARY 2016 – MAY 2016 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 2 PHONE: (718) 881- 8900 FAX: (718) 881- 4827 A NEIGHBORHOOD’S HISTORY www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org Visit us on Facebook, Youtube, and SEEN THROUGH A FAMILY’S STORY Twitter. A large portion of the extensive archive at The Bronx The Bronx County Historical Society, County Historical Society consists of items donated from private collections of Bronx families. These founded in 1955, is a private, non- profit educational and cultural collections have been compiled by generations of institution chartered by the New Bronxites who have lived in a certain area of The York State Board of Regents. The Bronx for many years. Interestingly, a thorough study of these donated collections quickly reveals a historic Society is dedicated to the collection, preservation, documentation tale of a neighborhood or place. Whether it be a series and interpretation of the history and of photographs, letters, books, clothing, household heritage of The Bronx and its people items, or other objects, one’s family collection can from its earliest historical references offer a plethora of historical facts about a in the 17th century to the present. neighborhood that may not be available anywhere The Society disseminates information else. With every large family collection accessioned by utilizing its collections in into the collections of The Society, an extensive narrative about an important area can emerge. Such exhibitions, historical research, production of publications and was the story of the Ferris Family collection donated to The Society many years ago. documentaries, educational and cultural programming, the operation An image of May Alice Ferris in 1884. Her daughter, May Doherty, donated the Ferris of our research library, The Bronx Family Collection to The Society. County Archives and two historic The Bronx County Historical Society landmark house museums - the Collections. c.1812 Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and The Ferris Family of the c.1758 fieldstone farmhouse Westchester Town dates back Valentine -Varian House/Museum of to the 17th century, when the Bronx History. area was still hotly dipusted by the Dutch and English. As This newsletter is published three the town became the county times a year as a service to members seat for Westchester County, and friends. the Ferris name has graced the Westchester Square in the southeast Bronx still held remnants of its rural past in The Bronx County Historical Society 1910. The Ferris Family legacy dates back in this area to colonial times. is partially supported through funds TheDDDD Bronx County Historical Society Collections. and services provided by the NYC Departments of Cultural Affairs and town’s ancient records for hundreds of years. As a Parks and Recreation, the Historic classic example of how valuable family heirloom House Trust of New York City, collections are for historical research, the Ferris The Bronx City Council Delegation, Family Collection spans so far back that they help the Office of the President of the document almost 300 years of Bronx history. Today, Borough of The Bronx, The Bronx the Ferris Family name still holds prominence in Westchester Square, with one local street bearing the Delegations of the NYS Assembly and the NYS Senate, the H.W. name while a small Ferris Family burial ground sits Wilson Foundation, the Astor Fund, nearby on Commerce Avenue. A quick walk through the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, some of the area’s church graveyards will reveal more The New York Times Foundation, the Ferris family members, including Ms. May Doherty, Verizon Foundation, the New York one of the last Ferrises in the area who donated the State Library, the New Yankee collection on what The Society’s upcoming exhibition is based. See page 3 for the exhibition opening for Stadium Community Benefits Fund, A gentleman studies an artifact from the the Susan Tane Foundation, the New Ferris Family Collection at the Museum of “Westchester Town – Bronx Beginnings” at The Bronx History. Museum of Bronx History. York Public Library, and the New The Bronx County Historical Society York Community Trust. Collections. The Bronx Historian Page 2 of 4 February 2016 – May 2016 Volume 39 Number 2 WELCOME NEW COLLECTIONS DONATIONS MEMBERS (partial list) The Society’s research library, object, and archival collections are a great resource. We thank those who recently made the following donations (partial list): Terence Kearns Richard Lefkowitz Peter & Laurel Beechey: Freedomland USA informational brochure, 1960. Chang Liu Charmaine Lloyd Dan Boujoulian:J Poster showing actor Vincent Price posing in 1977 at the grave of Edgar Kathy Lubner uAllan Poe in Westminster Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland. Teresa Luckert l Sheila Brummel: P.S. 168 eighth grade class photograph (1930), 15 Bronx school report Susan Lynch i cards (1934-1941), 3 P.S. 70 commendation cards (1935) and 3 Hebrew school/Mount Eden Thomas R. Maeglin e Caroline Maloney Center report cards (c. 1930s). t Matthew Mariano a Stephen Marmon Harriette M. Connors-DeLuca: Pen and ink sketch copy print of the Edgar Allan Poe th James & Lisa McDonnell Cottage, done in the early 20 century by donor’s grandmother, Harriet Claire Reynolds. V Esther Medrano eKaren Mercurio: Framed photographic portrait showing the graduating class of June 1919 Rafael Moure lfrom P.S. 6, West Farms. Schur Management Co. a Barbara McNenney zKen Shavell: 134 buttons for Bronx and New York City-wide political campaigns (c. 1950s- Joan O’Kray 1980s). David & Anne Payne q Syeven Payne u e FINANCIAL DONATIONS Kate Pedatella Cash donations help The Society fund programming, publications, equipment Patricia Perlo z purchases, and build endowments. To double your donation, check with your employer Mary Quinones for any available matching gift programs. We are grateful for the following Edward Reilly N contributions (partial list): Robert Rooney i Danile Rose n $10 - $99 $10 - $99 (continued) $100 - $999 (continued) Barabar Rose a Robert Rowe Sig Balka Edward McLoughlin Lisbeth Mate Keith Rubenstein W Joseph Barone John McManus C.J. Mattison Sally Ann Schneider o David Begley Bernadette Meyer Frances Pandolfi Thomas Schneider h Sara S. Berlan Lilly Pappas Ed Perlmutter Jack Valverde l Donald J. Petersen G. Prlain Julieta Velazquez Robert Burke Annette Sambolin Henry G. Stroobants Nina Wohl DaraC Caponigro Robert Stonehill Robert Sander Beatrice Walsh a William Casari Pat Ward L. Suarez Vinton Thompson rAnna Marie Castagnetta Vivian Warren Roger A. Wines o Michael Collins Maria Swerdlow Sue Novick Wasko John J. Doddy Jerrold Wolfset Wood Heights Democratic Club l Kevin Watson e Regan Dowdall Ira Zuckerman Matthew Westall $100 - $999 Robert Fass Carole Wiseman $1,000 - $4,999 Galgano & Associates W Joan A. Finger Jian hong Xu Marie Bingham i Joseph L. Frango Susan Tane Shan chen Xia Children’s Corner Learning Center s Joseph J. Gannon Bronx Lebanon Hospital SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS: Clean Jean Dry Cleaners e EarthShare NYC Gives Fordham University Autographed copy, add $10 Michael Antolino Construction Historic House Trust of NYC m Mark Glander a Sanford Glatzer John B. Dillon Krasdale Foods Robert Fox Blacks in the n Judith Herbert Malkin Fund Colonial Bronx: Frank J. Franz MarieJ King Pizzagalli Foundation A Documentary i Sidney Horenstein History Miriam Korman Preservation League of NYS $18.00 a Susan Lally Walter Lewis n Wolinetz Management $5,000 - and over NancyAnthony Serra Loscalzo-Spencer – 4 photographs of Edgewater Camp, 1920s. Tami Luhby Brian McCarthy Lloyd Ultan h o The Bronx: n BCHS received a Technical Assistance Grant from the Preservation League of New York Then & Now gState to complete an Accessibility Study for the Valentine-Varian House. The Technical $21.99 Assistance Grant Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts and Xthe Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo uand the New York State Legislature. S h The Bronx Historian Page 3 of 4 February 2016 – May 2016 Volume 39 Number 2 BRONX HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIANS AWARDS PROGRAM Sunday, June 5, 2016 Join us this year in honoring The Bronx’s High School Valedictorians. The program begins at 1:00 PM with entertainment, refreshments, food, and tours of the Museum of Bronx History. At 2:00 PM, the awards ceremony will commence with gifts to the students and special awards to honor an educator of the year, a business person of the year and individuals who have supported the arts and humanities. The Museum of Bronx History is located at 3266 Bainbridge Avenue and East 208th Street. The program ends at 3:00 PM. Edgar Allan Poe Cottage To make a donation to this wonderful event, contact The Society (718) 881-8900 or donate online at Poe Park http://www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/valedictorian Grand Concourse & East Kingsbridge Road Owned by the New York City EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM OF BRONX HISTORY 3266 BAINBRIDGE AVENUE Department of Parks, it is & EAST 208TH STREET, THE BRONX, NEW YORK 10467 operated by The Bronx (718) 881 - 8900 County Historical Society. MUSEUM HOURS: SAT 10AM - 4PM / SUN 1PM - 5PM The house is a member of the (GROUP TOURS MON.-FRI. BY APPOINTMENT) Historic House Trust. Westchester town ððð bronx beginnings ! April 14 – October 9, 2016 Opening Reception: April 14, 2016 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM Museum of Bronx History/Valentine- For further information, and to rsvp, Varian House please contact The Society (718) 881-8900 3266 Bainbridge [email protected] Avenue th & East 208 Street SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL JOURNAL Owned by The Bronx 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 County Historical Society, and scholarly substance, are of interest to all who enjoy accounts of people, business events, mercantile gain, defending the nation’s interest, the house is a member of or the love of The Bronx.