NEWSLETTER SPRING/SUMMER 2025
SPRING INTO SUMMER
After a year-long celebration of our 60th Anniversary in 2024, 2025 continues to offer distinctive programming and special events geared towards celebrating Rye’s unique, vibrant history. One of the major highlights this spring is The Unforgiving Yardstick, Women’s Roles and Struggles in Westchester County, a year-long exhibit focusing on the triumphs and challenges faced by women in Rye and the surrounding area.
Looking forward, you will not want to miss the ALL-NEW Historic Trolley Tour of Rye on July 20th and our ever-popular Fall Food and Whiskey Bash at the Knapp House on October 18th. We are also pleased to offer engaging new lectures and walking tours in partnership with Revolutionary Rye 250 as we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. See below and check our website for more information on these upcoming events and programs!
As always, we are grateful for this wonderful community and the generous support you have given us over the years. Your enthusiasm and excitement about our programming and events is what drives us to offer new and exciting options for you to get involved and help us preserve Rye’s rich heritage.
NEWS & EVENTS
UNFORGIVING YARDSTICK EXHIBIT
After much excitement and anticipation, we opened a fascinating new exhibit at the Square House Museum on March 20th. Generously sponsored by a grant from ArtsWestchester and Ambassador John Loeb, The Unforgiving Yardstick: Women’s Roles and Struggles in Westchester County, is a powerful, thought-provoking exhibit led by local artist Fleur Spolidor. Through a fusion of historical research and artistic interpretation, this exhibit sheds light on the lives, contributions, and challenges of women in Rye and the surrounding communities. Inspired by artifacts from Rye Historical Society’s vast collection, these works explore the intersection of fashion, identity, and societal expectations. Several historic and contemporary women featured in this exhibit have close ties to the Rye Community. Stop by the Square House to view this engaging exhibit - open now through March 2026.
SPRING LUNCHEON AND BOUTIQUE
America’s first murder trial was the topic of conversation at the Rye Historical Society’s Annual Spring Luncheon on May 8th at Shenorock Shore Club. Over 140 guests enjoyed a delicious lunch, a shopping boutique featuring favorite local vendors, and an engaging presentation from New York Times best-selling author Lauren Willig discussing her latest book, The Girl from Greenwich Street. Set in New York City the early 1800’s, Willig’s book explores the true story of Elma Sands, who disappeared from her Quaker cousins’ boardinghouse just before Christmas in 1799. After her body appears in a Manhattan Well, local carpenter Levi Weeks is accused of her murder and is defended by none other than bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Special thanks go to our event chairs Allison Young, Jackie Jenkins and Kendra Moran as well as our Board of Trustees and staff for putting together a fantastic afternoon of murder and intrigue. Over $30,000 was raised with funds going towards museum and educational programming and special events.
A DEBATE FOR THE AGES: RR250
Tensions were running high at the Square House on May 17th as three local high school students and RHS volunteers presented their original play: A Debate for the Ages. Co-sponsored by RR250 and with appreciative support from Doug Carey of Leaders of Tomorrow, this play explored influence the Revolutionary War had on family dynamics and relationships as the colonists attempted to navigate these difficult times. Attendees met Tamar and Ebenezer Haviland, their daughter Sarah and Tamar's uncle, Gilbert Budd, all of whom lived in the Square House before and after the war. Like so many others, their family was divided by the war - Ebenezer fought for the Patriots, while Gilbert sided with the Loyalists. Despite a very heated argument between Ebenezer and Gilbert regarding the Boston Tea Party, in the end, the family agreed to disagree, acknowledging that family is more important than politics. Following a big round of applause, the students engaged in a lively Q & A session with the audience (photo L to R: Isa Pierry, Caden Powers, Claire Kostek and Doug Carey).
DUBLIN WALKING TOURS
Back by popular demand, Rye Historical Society offered 2 tours on March 15th of the Dublin/West Rye neighborhood. Led by RHS Board Member Joie Cooney, these tours sold out quickly, offering an in-depth exploration of the fascinating Dublin neighborhood and the extraordinary men and women who built Rye. As one of the first working class neighborhoods in Rye, Dublin was named for the Irish immigrants who lived there for over 50 years. Following the large influx of Irish immigrants to the neighborhood, Italian individuals settled into the community, bringing with them masonry skills from home that created distinct stone houses (and even a chapel or two!) that still grace the narrow streets. With this blend of cultures, the West Rye neighborhoods are truly Rye's melting pot. At the conclusion of he tour, participants joined Cooney for a pint of Guiness at the Rye Roadhouse.
NATIVE AMERICAN PRESENTATIONS
AT THE OSBORN
On March 26, Trustee Joie Cooney presented "Native Americans in Rye" for residents of Sterling Park Independent Living at the Osborn. Over 40 attendees heard Joie share the history of the Munsee Lenape living in the Rye area before and after contact with Europeans. The talk discussed several possible fates for the Munsee, who largely disappeared from our town by the mid-18th century but survived in other areas. Joie closed with an overview of both federal and state-recognized Lenape tribes that exist today and took questions from the highly-engaged audience. On April 29, RHS Intern Josie LaRiccia followed up with a presentation on The Morgan H. Seacord Collection. In 1965, Seacord donated a large collection of thousands of archaeological finds from the Long Island Sound coast of Westchester County to the Rye Historical Society. The presentation was well received, with attendees admiring how the collection brought Native Americans of the Long Island Sound back to life. Josie examined the intricate, detailed work of the well-crafted projectile points, their origins, materials and uses. She also presented Seacord’s hand-drawn maps of Lower Westchester where he and his relative, Darius, did all of their surface-collecting. RHS will continue to collaborate with The Osborn to provide thought-provoking, engaging historic lectures in the months to come.
HISTORIC HOME MARKERS
BE A PART OF RYE HISTORY!
Our Rye History Marker program is designed to celebrate the visible local history in the homes and buildings that surround us – we believe a community that celebrates its history is a community that preserves and maintains its history. Take a quick drive around town and you will see the beautiful bronze plaques proudly displayed on historic homes all over Rye.
Introduced in 2016, RHS continues to offer this program to recognize and celebrate homes and other structures in Rye that exemplify our community’s rich heritage. The focus is on homes built prior to 1942 (the year the City of Rye was incorporated) that maintain much of their original architectural style.
For more details about the program and how to apply for a home marker
SPOTLIGHT ON:
COLLEGE INTERNS : WINTER/SPRING 2025
We were very fortunate to have three bright, creative interns from Purchase College who, in addition to performing numerous other tasks, were all instrumental in the execution and presentation of our Unforgiving Yardstick Exhibit.
SOFIA RISHEL
Sofia Rishel is a junior at Purchase College where she is majoring in Arts Management and Media Studies and minoring in Museum Studies. She has been an Exhibitions intern at the Rye Historical Society since September 2024, creating monthly mini-exhibits showcasing items from the RHS collection.
AGNESA RRACI
Agnesa Rraci is an Archives Intern at the Rye Historical Society who studies Women’s History and English and Global Literatures at SUNY Purchase. Her experience at the Rye Historical Society has furthered her interest in archival work and she plans on studying Library and Information Science with an Archives concentration in graduate school.
STEPHANIE PAQUIN
Stephanie Paquin is a Purchase College sophomore, majoring in graphic design. She enjoys using her creativity to help others, and hopes to continue taking on new challenges in the design world. With photos taken by volunteer photographer Jim Frank, Stephanie created the graphics for the Unforgiving Yardstick Exhibit.
We are grateful to this generous community and hope you will continue to support us going forward!
Donating is so easy – you can give on our website www.ryehistory.org/support
donate by Venmo (@ryehistory), or send your donation to Rye Historical Society, 1 Purchase Street, Rye, NY 10580.
UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS
WITNESS STONES CEREMONY
MAY 27, 2025
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
JULY 4, 2025
HISTORIC TROLLEY TOUR OF RYE
JULY 20, 2025
REBELS, REDCOATS & RYE: A REVOLUTIONARY WALKING TOUR
OCTOBER 11, 2025
RR250 TALK: PRELUDE TO THE REVOLUTION WITH LEAR BEYER
OCTOBER 12, 2025
FALL FOOD & WHISKEY BASH
OCTOBER 18, 2025