Local History Image of The Month | Archive
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July 2010
Rockland Lake, NY, Lighthouse
1910
#3628 from the local history collection
The Rockland Lake lighthouse stood in the Hudson River and just offshore of the cog railroad and docks where ice was loaded onto barges. Ferries like the Chrystenah would have also stopped at Rockland Lake Landing - and have used the lighthouse as a guide. The lighthouse always had a slight tilt. This postcard was sent to Cypress Hills, Brooklyn and has this note: "We are having a dandy time. Very busy this morning picking water lilies. Mary." -
June 2010
Mrs. Ella Bohr, 1950
#2224 in the local history collection
For many years, Mrs. Ella Bohr raised and lowered the flag at Memorial Park each day. Here she is hoisting the 48 star flag. -
May 2010
#3621
This early picture postcard view of the Nyack Library was recently acquired. Oh, how things have changed, yet soon enough we will reopen the original building. -
April 2010
Waiting for ferry to Tarrytown, Nyack, NY / 1930?
#3620 from the Local History Collection
At the foot of Main Street in Nyack, cars emerge from the ferry at the dock, while two rows of automobiles wait to roll onto the Tarrytown-bound boat. A billboard on the left advertises "Champion Dependable Spark Plugs.' On the right are signs proclaiming "Refreshments - Ice Cream Parlor - Gas." -
March 2010
Clarkstown Country Club: Two Women in Headstands
#0167
circa 1930
Two women are holding back to back headstands. Hudson River and a sailing vessel are in the background.
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February 2010
Rockland Theater: North Broadway
Photograph by Norman A. Burke
1930
The large Rockland Theater is centered in the picture, with the Club Diner on its right and other buildings on its left. Three cars are parked on the street. (#0257 from the local history collection: http://www.hrvh.org/u?/nyacklib,184) -
January 2010
World War II Rescue Boats Built in Nyack
February 1945
#0051 from the Local History Collection -
December 2009
Stagecoach at Ferry Landing, circa 1900
#0022 from the local history collection
A stagecoach carrying a woman and six men is stopped by the ferry landing. Four boys stand nearby. In the background is a huge piece of steam equipment. This photograph was made from a J. Elmer Christie glass plate negative and loaned to the library by Winston C. Perry, Jr. -
November 2009
Unidentified Historical Pageant in Nyack taken by Norman Burke
#7592 from the Local History Collection
On a Nyack stage is a gathering of historical figures, Native Americans and cowboys, miners and businessmen, an African-American and Lady Liberty. The huge flag in the background has 44 stars. Perhaps it is the Lyceum Theater. Thanks to Linda Goddard Schwartz for this recent donation and another old Norman Burke photograph. If anyone has more information about this image, email history@nyacklibrary.org, call 845-358-3370 ext. 23, or stop by the local history room. -
October 2009
Graycourt, the home of William Gray, circa 1885
This grand home was at the foot of Division Street on Broadway in South Nyack. There were no known photographs of the building until we recently acquired this photograph online. It surfaced in an estate sale in Texas, but now it has made its way back home to Nyack. We deduced the location by consulting the Breed's City Directory of 1894 where we found the address of William Gray. Upon consultation with South Nyack village historian Myra Starr we found in Cornelia Bedell's Now and Then Long Ago in Rockland County that President Grover Cleveland had been in the house in September 1889 and at that time expressed the opinion that it was the oddest and most attractive residence he had ever seen. In the 1930s it was remodeled and turned into apartments. The building burned in January 1959 and three women died in the fire. -
September 2009
Sept 2, 1918 Labor Day Parade
by Norman A. Burke
Forty men are carrying a huge flag down South Broadway. This postcard has the date written on the front, an unusual feature, and suggests that this was a Labor Day parade. Image #3173 -
May 2009
This is the Nyack Library on January 2nd 1921. We found this photograph in the files of Library Director James Mahoney. The library will be restoring the front doors starting late in May 2009 to look like they did in this photograph. -
April 2009
Broadway, Nyack
circa 1920
#3573
This recently acquired postcard shows a portion of Broadway in Nyack which has changed substantially. The buildings on the left of the postcard are now where Tallman Towers stand. Further down Broadway you can see the old Tappan Zee Playhouse. In the distance the Reformed Church is visible. On the right side is the Doersch building at the corner of Broadway and Remsen where the bank parking lot is located. -
March 2009
"The Fate of Hudson" float during the 1909 Hudson Fulton celebration parade in Nyack
October 6, 1909
#0910
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February 2009
Fishing: Emptying the Net
#0581
Ray Hand, photographer
February 24, 1946Three fishermen are emptying a net of striped bass while a boy watches. Left to right - Steven Orbine, Joseph Cella, Whit Johnson.
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January 2009
Aniline Dye Company Fire on Hudson Avenue
#0633
from the Mary Virginia Parkhurst Collection
January 31, 1919On January 31, 1919 the Aniline Dye Plant on Cedar Hill Avenue in Nyack exploded and burned. The force of the explosion blew out all of the windows in the Liberty Street School. On the right side of this photograph you can see the corner of the old South Nyack train station.
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December 2008
#0181
Dorothy Hand Crawford, photographer
December 15, 1955Crowds gathered on a cold December 15, 1955 for the official opening of the Tappan Zee Bridge. There are flags, a color guard, and a band. Cameramen stand atop cars. Many cars and a bus are in line in the eastbound lane, ready to drive across the bridge. The bridge is said to be named Tappan Zee after the Tappan tribe of Native Americans who once lived in the area - and for the Dutch "zee," an open expanse of water. Later in 1994, the bridge would be renamed Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge in honor of the former governor.
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September 2008
Upper Nyack School Students
Image #1952
1913The Upper Nyack Centennial history tells us that there were only two teachers on staff at this school up until 1924 and this picture seems to confirm it. The school was built in 1885 at a total cost of $6,219.53.
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August 2008
Tappan Zee Playhouse
#4130
1958The Broadway Theatre was built as a movie house but was reincarnated as the Tappan Zee Playhouse, which was on the summer stock circuit.
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June 2008
Junior Orangetown Fire Engine Company #1
#0042
circa 1885A group of boys in firemen's uniforms pose with a miniature pumper. Pictured are: Wilton Heesz, Louis Odell, Russell Beebe, Henry Obehrens, R. Garrabrant, Harry Doersch, Dick Turneau, Harry Christie (flag), Edward J. Gilhuley, Harry Koch, Fred Christie, Harry Williams, M. Wescl, W. W. Schupner, J. Campbell, Gus Strack, John B. Odell.
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May 2008
The Old Stone Church
#0005
1889This is the Old Stone Church in Upper Nyack in the late 19th Century. It was dedicated on March 2nd, 1814. William Palmer, Nicholas Williamson, and John Green, met at the latter's house in Upper Nyack and adopted this resolution: "Resolved, that this be regarded a meeting to organize and build a Methodist Epsicopal Church; RESOLVED:-That we begin to build the Church to-morrow morning, Carried." (Old Nyack, p. 18) See what the Old Stone Church looks like today: The Village of Upper Nyack is proud to present a preview and exhibit of its new public space at the Old Stone Church during the Goosetown Bazaar Sat, May 31, from 11 to 3.
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April 2008
Unveiling of the Lincoln Boulder
#0872a
June 13, 1908The children of Nyack raised money to pay for the plaque which has Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address inscribed on it. Nyack’s veterans of the Civil War gathered for this picture with the new memorial. Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert, later wrote a letter thanking the children of Nyack who had contributed to the memorial. This letter is still in possession of the library.
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March 2008
South Broadway looking north after the Blizzard of 1888
#0037
Sepia, March 1888A record of 20.9 inches of snow fell during the three day period of March 11-14. Doersch Brothers Grocers and the Reformed Church are on the left. The headline from the March 17, 1888 Rockland County Journal read: "Buried Under the Snow: the Most Severe Storm Ever Seen in this Region," and began saying: "We know that people's memories are sometimes misleading, and that more importance is generally given to unusual events than they deserve; but if there is any record in the history of this region that shows a snow-storm so gigantic and so violent as the one which fell here this week, we have failed to hear of it. Even the 'oldest inhabitants' looked with wonder on Tuesday morning upon the huge drifts which loomed up in every direction."
