History in Your Own Backyard
Community Cares welcomes this week's guest blogger, Clare Sheridan, President of the Historical Society of Rockland
There is no doubt about the historical richness of Rockland County. Numerous locations can be found throughout Rockland that represent, illustrate and help tell the stories of important milestones in history from the prehistoric periods to the present day. At the Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC), it is our goal to document, preserve and share this history with our fellow Rocklanders and beyond.
In order to meet our broad and challenging mission The HSRC offers various informative programs, scholarly publications and educational events throughout the year: Walking Tours, Radio Broadcasts, Museum Exhibitions, Festivals, Lectures, and there is even a collection of oversized reproductions of some of our most interesting historical photographs on view at the Palisades Center Mall.
In 2013, The HSRC will broaden these efforts even further. We are proud and delighted to announce a multi-year series of historic Rockland County day trips. This series entitled “History in Your Own Backyard” was developed as a continuation of the incredibly popular day trips that the HSRC offered in 2012. The 2012 trips were a series of bus tours, led by our municipal historians, through many geographic regions in our County: Orangetown, Clarkstown, Stony Point, Ramapo and Haverstraw. The new multi-year series will focus on specific themes: Historic Houses of Worship, Cemeteries and Pipe Organs in Rockland County.
The multi-year series will begin in 2013 with the towns of Orangetown and Clarkstown on Saturday, June 1st with a bus tour to explore the towns’ historic houses of worship – all over 150 years old! This trip, which is part of the NY State Path Through History Weekend, will include the Reformed Churches of Tappan (1694) and Clarkstown (1749), Greenbush Presbyterian (1812) and The Old Stone Church – Upper Nyack (1813 – the oldest church building in Rockland County), Iglesia La Mision - formerly St. Paul's Methodist - South Nyack (1843), Christ Episcopal, Sparkill (1847) and St. Charles AME Zion, Sparkill (1856). The trip will conclude after a delicious lunch at the historic Il Fresco Restaurant in Orangeburg.
The 2nd tour in the series will take place on September 21. Guests will tour by bus, several of Clarkstown’s and Orangetown’s historic cemeteries including Oak Hill, Mount Moor, Tappan, Snyder, Germonds, Martinus Hogencamp, Greenbush and Rockland (Sparkill). A knowledgeable guide will board the bus at each stop, presenting the history of each cemetery. In addition guests will learn about some notable people buried at each cemetery. Although guests will be disembarking at 2 or 3 cemeteries, these stops will NOT involve a lot of walking. The day will conclude with a buffet luncheon at Casa Del Mare in Upper Nyack.
The final tour of the 2013 series will take place on November 16. This bus tour will travel to sites of several of Orangetown’s and Clarkstown’s most historic and well-known pipe organs. Guests will experience these majestic instruments as their organists present classical, sacred and popular selections. The tour ends with lunch at Banchetto Feast in Nanuet.
In 2014 and 2015 the series will continue with similar tours to visit houses of worship, cemeteries and pipe organs in other geographic regions of the county.
These tours, along with all of our other mission-driven programs and events, will help us achieve our goal of sharing the rich cultural and historical aspects of our Preserve America County with our community. We hope that you will consider taking part in all that we have to offer at The Historical Society of Rockland County!
For further information about events and programs at The Historical Society of Rockland County including the “History in Your Own Backyard” series, please visit www.RocklandHistory.org. Find us on Facebook, send us an email at or call us at 845-634-9629.
About the Community Cares Blog and the Rockland Community Foundation
The Community Cares Blog, hosted by the Rockland Community Foundation, celebrates the spirit of giving in our community. Each week, we will post a story of philanthropy or shine a spotlight on an activity that is making a difference in the lives of our neighbors. We invite Rockland non-profits, individuals and businesses to contribute to the Community Cares blog by sending an email to .
As the umbrella charitable organization for the county, the Rockland Community Foundation is working to connect donors with the causes they care about most. Our grants support a wide range of interests and, with the support of Rockland residents and businesses, we are committed to a path of growth that will enable us to help the non-profit community continue their vital work. You can learn more by visiting us at http://www.rocklandgives.org.
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