Historical Society of the Nyacks

THE JOHN SCOTT ARMCHAIR WALKING TOURS - FALL, 2009 - VENUE CHANGE
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE NYACKS and THE FRIENDS OF THE NYACKS ANNOUNCE the schedule for the 2009 Fall Season of THE JOHN SCOTT ARMCHAIR WALKING TOURS.

This popular program, now in its fourteenth year, features slide presentations on local history, architecture and related cultural subjects. THE ARMCHAIR WALKING TOURS are dedicated to the memory of John Scott, Rockland County's great Historian. The programs are produced by Bob Goldberg. Venue change for the October 8 program.
The opening September program, "THE  EX-SLAVE’S FORTUNE:  THE STORY OF CYNTHIA HESDRA“ will be presented by Dr Lori L.Martin. Dr. Martin was born and raised in Nyack, and is Assistant Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the department of African-American Studies. Dr. Martin is the author of a book and forthcoming article about Cynthia Hesdra.

Cynthia Moore was born a slave in Tappan. During her fascinating life,she married Edward Hesdra, a Jewish man from Virginia, purchased her freedom and went on to own and operate several successful businesses in Nyack and New York City and acquired significant real estate in this area. At the time of her death in 1879, she was one of the wealthiest persons in all of Rockland County

The program will be presented first at the Nyack Center, 58 Depew Avenue in Nyack, on Wednesday evening,  Sept. 23 at 7:30PM and will be repeated the following afternoon,Thursday, Sept. 24 at 2:00 PM. at Congers Lake Memorial Park, 6 Gilchrest Road, about 1.6 miles up Route 303 from the Valley Cottage Library, on the left.		 Cynthia Hesdra GravesiteCynthia Hesdra's Gravesite
 
The October and second program in the series, "NYACK COLLEGE, HIGH ON A NYACK HILL" will be presented by a former president of Nyack College and Seminary, Dr. Rexford Boda. Founded in New York City in 1882 as the the Missionary Training Institute, the school relocated to South Nyack  in1897.  Dr. Boda will describe the growth of Nyack College from its founding 127 years ago by Dr Albert Simpson, as a strictly religious institution which offered one year certificate programs, to its present stature in in the academic world, where it now offers programs leading to careers in education, business, ministry, community development and more.Dr Boda’s presentation will also include many interesting notes on the historic buildings  located on the hilltop campus and on the changing campus life itself.

The program will be presented first at the Nyack Center, 58 Depew Avenue in Nyack, on Wednesday evening October 7 at 7:30 PM and will be repeated the next afternoon, Thursday, October 8 at 2:00 PM at the Valley Cottage Library 110 Route 303 in Valley Cottage. Call 268-7700 to register for this program.
 The InstituteNyack College, 1908
 

The third and final program of ARMCHAIR WALKING TOURS, “THE TOWERS OF NYACK” will be a delightful walk along Nyack’s  streets to spot the the many towers which crown its homes, churches and public  buildings. This tour will be presented by Bob Goldberg, the producer of the ArmChair Walking Tours and a frequent  presenter
of programs. For many years Bob conducted the walking tours for the Friends of the Nyacks

Nyack likes to celebrate its Victorian  architecture and  the most visible and distinguished elements of that architecture are the towers which adorn these buildings.
This  program is a virtual walking tour through the Nyack  villages and will show over 100 slidesof the fanciful, unique, and occasionally functional towers which grace the homes, churches and public buidings of Victorian Nyack.

The program will be presented first at the Nyack Center, 58 Depew Avenue in Nyack, on Wednesday evening , December 2 at 7:30 PM, and will be repeated the next afternoon, Thursday, December 3  at 2 PM, at Congers Lake Memorial Park, 6 Gilchrest Road, about 1.6 miles up Route 303 from the Valley Cottage Library, on the left.

 Towers of NyackOne of the Towers of Nyack
 

All programs are free and open to the public, but contributions are encouraged to defray the costs of production. Click here for directions to Nyack Center , here for directions to the Valley Cottage Library, and here for directions to the Congers Lake Memorial Park.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL BOB GOLDBERG AT 845.268.3838.