South ot the ^yhfountciind published by The Historical Society of Rockland County 20 Zukor Rd., New City, New York 10956 Vol. 19, No. 3 July-September 1975 Present Dutch Reformed Church Dutch Reformed Church Iuilt 1835. As Rk-Built in 1788. -jrom Cole’s History of Rockland LIFE MEMBERSHIPS William H. Hand BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE Edward T. Lovatt Albert W. Munson Vern Wenger Mrs. Sophie J. Wilson IN MEMORIAM Robert Doscher Mrs. Evelyn Nelson Malcolm G. Field George W. Rhine Edward T. Lovatt R. Newton Sneden Albert W. Munson Mrs. Margaret S. Tomkins Mrs. Sophie J. Wilson A comprehensive checking of the society’s mailing list is under way. If you know of a member who is not receiving South of the Mountains, please •call or have that person call 634-9629 so that the society’s list and stencils may be corrected. Changes of address should be sent the society as soon as possible. Did you know that South of the Mountain reaches members in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massa­ chusetts, Mississsippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Caro­ lina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin ? COVER PICTURE: fourteen of the county’s churches were featured in a Faith of Our Father’s Historic Church Tour early in May of this year. Presented by the Clarkstown Garden Club, the Garden Club of West Nyack, Ramapo Valley Garden Club, Tappan Zee Garden Cub and the Garden Club of Spring Valley as a joint benefit for the historical society’s museum fund and the garden club’s civic projects, the tour was enhanced by special floral arrangements for each of the churches. These were supplied by the participating clubs, which also prepared a brochure pointing out historical, structural and decorative features of each church visited. Included in this first tour were the Russian Orthodox Church of South Nyack, Grace Episcopal Church of Nyack, the Old Stone Church of Upper Nyack, the Greek Orthodox Church of West Nyack, the Clarkstown Reformed Church of West Nyack, Central Presbyterian Church of Haverstraw, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Haver- straw, St. John’s in the Wilderness of Stony Point, Congers United Methodist Parish Church, the New Hempstead Presbyterian Church, Brick Church (Reformed) of Spring Valley and Wesley Chapel of Suffern, the Tappan Reformed Church and the Palisades Presbyterian Church. Our cover shows the oldest church in the county, founded in 1694. Within the circle is the earliest structure. To the left is the present building. ©1975 by The Historical Society of Rockland County Acting Editor: Mariruth Campbell Printed by Executive Editor: John R. Zehner PRINT SPRINT 2 ANNUAL AWARDS MAIN FEATURE AT STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL The annual awards made by the society to Rockland County high school students nominated by their faculties for outstanding interest and excellence in American history were for the first time made at the new Rockland Coun­ ty History Center in New City. Elaine Wilson Ward, standing in for her husband, William F. Ward of Suffern, donor of the awards who was hospitalized, made the presentations as each of the recipients was intro­ duced by society president John Zehner. Each student received a Funk and Wagnalls dictionary that may one day be a collector’s item as the vol­ Koshel photo umes were chosen from a last-of-the- Mrs. Ward and John J. Koshel type printing with leather bindings. Those so honored were Rosemary Olive and James Donaghy of Albertus Magnus, Bradley Andeozzi (in absentia) and Betsy August of Clarkstown South, Barbara Smith and Dale DeNunzio of Clarkstown North, Larri Harris and Robert Izenberg of Nanuet, Janice Fain and Steven Rabinowitz of North Rockland, Corinna Gardner and Frank Schwartz of Nyack, Michael Heinz and Sandra Zeralski (in absentia) of Pearl River, Beth Magalnick and Steven Miles of Ramapo, Gary Bowitch and Risa Weinrit of Spring Valley, Dale Lum and Carol Stella of Suffern, Patricia Castelli and John Koshel of Tappan Zee. A prayer "to the Creator of the Universe, who established for us the fact of history’’ and a plea that all assembled are ever made mindful of that fact and given an appreciation of our heritage was voiced by the Rev. John H. Maheras, pastor of The Church of St. Constantine and Helen, West Nyack. Speaker for the festival event was Charles V. Sansone, principal of the Fox Lane Middle School at Bedford, whose delightful "History on a Sunday afternoon” is well remembered by members who attended the 1972 strawberry festival at the Orangeburg Museum. Again, his message was, "History is very much alive!” Claiming the subject is not deadly, disinteresting or just to be tolerated—as some people seem convinced—but truly one way to study human beings, Mr. Sansone urged, "Enjoy the excitement of history.” "Hopes, aspirations and commitments have not changed over the years,” he said. As a schoolman, Mr. Sansone felt local history is the basis for all historical studies; that local history does not have to fight for a place in the curriculum (though there might be battles over how local history should be taught and studied); and that we can either turn young people off or encourage their interest and zest. And here, in this sparking of enthusiastic concern and curiosity, he suggested, is where a society such as ours can exert great influence. (see also pp. 18 and 19) 3 SPECIAL REPORT General Fund Raising Chairman Robert W. Reardon reports an encour­ aging response to his May 15th letter to members soliciting gifts to the museum fund. Donors contributing $1,000. or more and exclusive of those who are sponsoring rooms or other designated areas, include Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Allison, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Burghardt, John J. Crowley, The Dellwood Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. W. Arnold Finck, Miss Eleanor Fitch, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Gibbons, Dr. and Mrs. John F. Hopf, Jr., Leland Rickard Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. St. Lawrence, Mr. and Mrs. Dean B. Seifried, Mrs. Gustav Svahn, Miss Gladys G. Weber, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Zehner, Mr. and Mrs. Garret Buchanan, Dr. and Mrs. George R. Sharpless, Schofield and Colgan, In Memory of Regolo Venturini. Their names will be listed as patrons on the bronze plaque in the entrance lobby of the new building. The following have been sponsored or are being reserved by request: library, map room, three exhibit windows, sales (display), collection preser­ vation and east exhibit on the first floor; kitchenette and vault on the ground floor. Miss Gladys G. Weber, chairman of the advance gift committee, will welcome inquiries about memorial opportunities still available in the new museum building. Her phone is 634-6970. *Gifts to the society for endowment HISTORY FOR SALE with accent or museum purposes through estate on Rockland’s people, places and settlements will be credited to the events through membership in the newly established Benefactors Fund. Historical Society of Rockland The first such gift recorded is from County. Membership includes re­ the estate of Miss Ethel Storms of ceiving the society’s quarterly. Nyack in the amount of $5,000. Cost through December 1976 is When drawing or revising your only $5. Makes a wonderful gift will, your thoughtfulness can have tre­ for friends or relatives. Mail check mendous implications for the society’s or money order to the Rockland permanence and financial well-being. County History Center, 20 Zukor * Business corporations and profes­ Road, New City, New York sional offices of attorneys, physicians 10965. and dentists may join the society as PLOT FOR SALE: residentially group members for the period from zoned (R22); 100-fqot frontage, October 1, 1975 to September 30, adjoining Orangetown, on the east 1976. Dues range from $10 and $25 side of Greenbush Road, West to $50. Group Members receive the Nyack; approximately one acre; quarterly, South of the Mountains, owned by Historical Society of and all notices. Upon request addi­ Rockland County. Interested? tional copies of each quarterly issued Contact the society’s executive will be forwarded for distribution in secretary, Mrs. Anese Ash, 634- their offices. 9629. * *The County Trust Company has contributed generously to the production of the 1860’s version of the play, "Rip Van Winkle”, sponsored at Sunnyside of the Sleepy Hollow Restorations (Washington Irving’s home in Irvington) by the New York State American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. 4 ELIXIR OF LIFE GROWN IN HAVERSTRAW by Daniel deNoyelles In the early days of this century, in the cool shaded arbors of latticework at the southern end of Hudson Ave­ nue, Haverstraw, grew a secret plant. Not the marijuana or poppy of today’s culture but a truly beneficient plant if you believed its mystic powers. It was not grown for local consumption but destined for Chinese families of great wealth or for drug dispensers in the Orient. The plant was called ginseng. In the Asia of those days (and maybe today also) its root was literally worth its weight in gold. The gardener of the fabulous plant was Josiah Felter, a noted businessman of Haverstraw. He was a scion of well-known North Rockland family and one of the political greats of the township. Growing ginseng in America often turned out to be somewhat like the —from auothor’s photo file Dutch tulip bulb scandal of the 17th An exceptionally fine root Century, or like the romantic Spanish gold mine which vanished before a prospector’s gloating eyes, or perhaps like the gold brick swindle of the 1880’s. During the 19th Century thousands of Americans were victimized by fly-by-night promoters who promised easy riches to those who would grow ginseng at home under artificial cultivation.