Press Releases & Past Events

• Helping Preserve Yorktown's Heritage, Sponsors Support the Yorktown Historical Society's "Best Dam Race"
  Press Release: August 25, 1999
• Yorktown at War 1775-1783
  May 19, 1999 at 8 PM, The Yorktown Museum
• Benefit Antique Appraisal
  May 12, 1999 at 7:30 PM, The Yorktown Museum
  Pre-registration by May 7, 1999
• "Yorktown Historical Society and Taconic Road Runners Race Against Time with the "Best Dam Race" in Support of Historic Preservation
  Press Release: May 10, 1999
• "Preservation Begins at Home" During Preservation Week 1999
  Press Release: May 4, 1999
• Preservation Week Proclamation
  Linda G. Cooper, Town Supervisor, May 4, 1999
• Yorktown Historical Society Preservation Week Speech
  

• February 28, 2008, Thursday, 7:30pm – Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, Yorktown Heights. Black History Month. “History of African Americans at the Van Cortland Manor.” Presented by Lavada Nahon of Van Cortland Manor. Meeting with Croton Friends of History.


• March 27, 2008, Thursday, 7:00pm (note time change) – The John C. Hart Memorial Library, Community Room, East Main Street, Shrub Oak. “DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) History -- National and Local”. Women's History Month. Presentation by Jeriann Boniello of the local Mohegan DAR Chapter. Jeriann became a member after researching her heritage 8 years ago and has now applied for membership in the Mayflower Society. She currently holds two state officer positions in the DAR.


• April 24, 2008, Thursday, 7:30pm – Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, Yorktown Heights. “Peekskill's Personal Connection with Abe Lincoln” The presentation is by John Curran who has been Peekskill’s civic historian since 1994 and is also Peekskill’s Lincoln Society’s Vice President. He is the author of several books on Peekskill.


• May 17, 2008, Saturday, 5:00pm – Participation in the Yorktown Community Day at Strang Middle School., Yorktown Heights. Planned Program: Rhode Island 1st Regiment Re-enactors will speak on Rhode Island Regiment's role in the Yorktown Pines Bridge Battle in 1781. A commemorative ceremony is planned to be held at the Rhode Island Regiment Memorial at the First Presbyterian Church on Rt 202. Times to be announced.


• May 21, 2008, Wednesday. 7:30pm – Peter Pratt’s Restaurant, Croton Hts. Road, Yorktown Hts.“The French Expedition Particuliere in New York, 1781 and 1782” by Col. Jim Johnson of Marist College, plus a brief Annual Meeting.


• June 19, 2008, Thursday, 7:30pm – Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, Yorktown Heights, Nutrition Room (lower level). Joint program with The Taconic Postcard Club and the Friends of the Yorktown Museum. “Yorktown History and Postcards of the 19th and 20th Century” by authors Linda Cooper, Adele Hobby, John Tegeder and Susan Lane. Presentation will be based on their recent (2008) book “Yorktown.”


• November 15, 2007, Thursday, 7:30pm--The John C. Hart Memorial Library, Community Room, East Main Street, Shrub Oak. Joint program with the Hart Library. “An Object of Great Importance - The Hudson River During the American Revolution”, by author Christopher DiPasquale, a teacher in the Yorktown School District. The role of the Hudson River during the early part of the Revolutionary War will be presented.


• December 6, 2007, Thursday, 7:30pm--The John C. Hart Memorial Library, Community Room, East Main Street, Shrub Oak. Joint program with the Hart Library, “Artifacts - Show and Tell”. The Yorktown Historical Society once again invites its members and the community to join them for a year-end get together. Refreshments will be served. Tables will be set up to display and talk about their special collection or family heirlooms. If space is needed contact Monica Doherty (914-245-5153). All are invited to participate.


• January 24, 2008, Thursday, 7:30pm--The John C. Hart Memorial Library, Community Room, East Main Street, Shrub Oak. “The Poughkeepsie - Highland Railroad Bridge.” Traffic started in 1889, the surface burned in 1974, and it is now in the process of being resurrected. The history and structure is of great interest and the potential restoration as a walkway is of current interest. The presentation is by Fred Schaeffer, Chairman of the Walkway Project.


• November 19, 2006, Sunday, 2:00pm--John C. Hart Library, Community Room, Shrub Oak.  Joint Program with the Hart Library.  "Researching Information on Military Veterans."  John P. Lozito will present  a detailed workshop on finding and understanding records related to 20th century American military service.  People involved or interested in family history and American history will find this useful and informative.  Detailed handouts will be provided.  Pre-registration: Hart Library Reference Desk or 914-245-5262 ext 227.
  
  
• November 28, 2006, Tuesday, 7:30pm--Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, Nutrition Center (lower level).  Joint meeting with the Taconic Postcard Club.  "The Next Stop Chappaqua:  A Railroad Buff's View Over the Past 140 Years."  Steve Swirsky's talk will focus on the relationship between the railroad and the community of Chappaqua.  Included are numerous postcard images of train stations south to Grand Central, as well as images of the old Putnam Line and the New York Westchester & Boston Electric Line (1912-1937).
  
  
• December 7, 2006, Thursday, 7:30pm--Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, Senior Room (#104).  "Artifacts--Show and Tell."  This is a year-end get-together to have members and attendees present their items of history.  Bring your artifacts and/or writings.  Enjoy dessert and beverages.
  
  
• January 25, 2007, Thursday, 7:30pm--Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce St., Yorktown Hts., Nutrition Center (lower level).  "The Belden House (Carmel)and Early History of the Site."  Eugene J. Boesch of Westchester and Putnam Historic Preservation Groups will present the eighteenth and early nineteenth century history of this significant historic building and discuss its potential for yielding additional archaeological information.
  
  
• February 22, 2007, Thursday, 7:30pm--Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce St., Yorktown Hts., Senior Room (#104).  Black History Month.  Michael Lord, Site Manager of the Phillipsburg Manor, will present "History of Enslavement in the Hudson Valley."
  
  
• March 22, 2007, Thursday, 7:30pm--John C. Hart Library, Community Room, 1130 E. Main St., Shrub Oak.  Joint program with the Hart Library.  "In Words of Women."  Landa Freeman, Louise North, and Janet Wedge, independent scholars, will present the reading of letters and diaries of women of the American Revolution and early Republic.  These women are patriots, loyalists, and slaves--some well-known and others not.
  
  
• April 26, 2007, Thursday, 7:30pm--Yorktown Community & Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce St., Yorktown Hts., Senior Room (#104).  Joint meeting with the Taconic Postcard Club.  "Carnival on the Hudson: The Hudson Fulton Celebration of 1909."  Dick Schreiner will describe the gala joint celebration of Henry Hudson's discovery of the river in 1609 and Robert Fulton's successful experiment in steam navigation in 1807.  The celebration from Sept. 17 to Oct. 9 included fly-overs by Orville Wright and Glen Curtiss.  A collection of programs, postcards, photos and advertising matter will be displayed.
  
  
• May 16, 2007, Thursday, 7:30pm--Peter Pratt's Restaurant/Inn, Croton Hts. Rd., Yorktown Hts.  Also the Yorktown Historical Society's Annual Meeting.  "A history of the Progressive Summer Colonies of Northern Westchester."  Dr. Jerome Thaler will discuss the origins, makeup, differing political outlooks, and activities of six summer communities that were formed in the 1920s and 1930s.  The factors in their early growth and subsequent decline will be discussed.
    
  
• June 28, 2007. Thursday, 7:30pm--Either the Yorktown Community Center or Westchester County Hanover Farms.  Arrangements are being worked out.  Go to the WebSite or later publicity.     

• "The Nasty Affair at Pines Bridge". On May 14, 1781, the British and Loyalists initiated a guerilla raid on the all black 1st Rhode Island Regiment which had the responsibility to guard the Pines Bridge crossing of the Croton River. The group was headquartered at the Davenport House in the Croton Heights area of Yorktown and was under the command of Lt. Col. Greene. A monument to those almost 100 patriots who died or were captured in the battle is located at the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown. The story is to be presented by Carl Oechsner with comments by Lincoln Diamant and Monica Doherty.


• A just published book on the battle will be available to current and new members of the Yorktown Historical Society. The book is based on Revolutionary War research done about 50 years ago by Allison Albee, a noted Westchester historian. The book was prepared and edited by Monica Doherty. The introduction is by Lincoln Diamant, a local author and historian, as well as a long time supporter, who will be moving from the area in July.


• September 28, 2006, Thursday, 7:30pm--Thursday, 7:30pm--Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, off of lRt 134 Yorktown, Carriage House Meeting Room. "Teatown History, Folklore, and Vision". Fred Koontz, Executive Director, will review the history and folklore behind Teatown Lake Reservation and will discuss his visions for the future as director.


• October 26, 2006, Thursday, 7:30pm--Yorktown Community Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, Senior Meeting Room (104). Joint Meeting with The Taconic Post Card Club.
  "The History of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway" To be presented by Andrew Chiusano, President of the Mt. Beacon Inclined Railroad Society.


• May 14 - 20 Historic Preservation Week Special Event held on Saturday, May 20, the Friends of the Amawalk Meeting House will host a tour of the Meeting House that is presently undergoing historic renovation.  A talk with slides on its historic preservation efforts will be presented by architect, Charles Henkel.  Refreshments will be served.

• Wednesday, May 24 - Yorktown Historical Society Annual Meeting - Noted author Gray Williams will present a narrated slide program on historic buildings and sites in Westchester that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places which will be held at Peter Pratt’s Inn, 673 Croton Heights Road, Yorktown, beginning at 8 p.m.

• Y2K Gathering for Cornhusker Graduates
  Date: July 20 to 23, 2000
  Location: Banner Elk, NC
  George Daugherty, a 1950 graduate of Yorktown High School, is organizing an Y2K gathering for Cornhusker graduates from the 40s and 50s. The gathering will be held in Banner Elk, North Carolina, a small and quaint community, similar to old Yorktown Heights. Located centrally on the East coast, Banner Elk is convenient for most graduates. All Yorktowners are invited and all proceeds will be donated to the Yorktown Historical Society. For more information, please contact George Daugherty at gdaugherty@ccmail.gc.cc.fl.us


• October 14, 2000 – Fall Foliage Walk – Save this date to visit the quarry in Sylvan Glen Park. Judy Shepard will conduct a fall foliage walk through the park on October 14 (rain date October 21) 2000 at 9:30 AM. Pick up a brochure about this special park at Yorktown Town Hall or the John C. Hart library.


• October 16, 2000 – Yorktown Planning Board Meeting – discussion of the Hallock House subdivision. Click here to read an article from The North County News.


• November 4, 2000 – Yorktown Memory Day program, scheduled for November 4th, at the Field Home/Holy Comforter, Catherine Street. Members of the community will be encouraged to bring their family mementos or historic artifacts to display and talk about. Oral history, family information and personal recollections that could be recorded will also be welcome. Time and format will be, announced at a later date. Community members interested in participating are encouraged to contact the Yorktown Historical Society, Box 355, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Click here for October 9, 2000 Press Release.


• November 13, 2000 – Networking Meeting co-sponsored with The New Yorktown Chamber of Commerce. 6 to 8 PM at The Kitchawan Institute, 712 Kitchawan Road (Route 134), Millwood, NY 10546. Click here for more information.