Crossroads of Rockland History

Episode originally aired on Monday, April 21, 2025 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM. The topic of conversation was the Lawrence–Tonetti Waterfall in Palisades, NY. Also known as Peanut Leap Cascade, this natural waterfall was beautifully enhanced by sculptors Mary Lawrence and Francois Tonetti in the early 20th century by creating stream-fed pools, sculptural fountainheads, and a Roman-style pergola on the shore of the Hudson River. John Ratcliff, the grandson of the sculptors, joined host Clare Sheridan to share memories of this extraordinary place, which was once part of the larger Lawrence property in Snedens Landing.  The property is now contained within the Palisades Interstate Park, where thousands of hikers pass by its ruins as they descend the Shore Trail to the Hudson River.  We are pleased to share the details of an upcoming program at the Palisades Free Library: The Lawrence-Tonetti Waterfall: A History of the Peanut Leap Cascade from Snedens Landing to Palisades Interstate Park When: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6:30 pm Where: Palisades Free Library, 19 Closter Road, Palisades, NY 10964, (845) 359-0136 About the program: Join Francesca Costa (Palisades Interstate Park Public Historian), Jennifer Rothschild (Historical Society of Rockland County Programming Director), and John Ratcliff, grandson of the sculptors Mary Lawrence and Francois Tonetti as they tell the story of "The Waterfall" and how it has become a popular hiking trail within the park. This slide presentation and panel discussion explores the fascinating history of The Waterfall, a natural feature enhanced by Lawrence and Tonetti in the early 20th century with stream-fed pools, a roman-style pergola, and sculptural fountainheads. Once part of the larger Lawrence property in Snedens Landing, it became a favorite spot for moonlit gatherings of guests who arrived by boat, including fellow sculptors and painters, as well as the renowned architects Charles McKim and Stanford White, who helped design the pergola. This magical spot is now contained within the Palisades Interstate Park, where thousands of hikers pass by its ruins as they descend the Shore Trail to the Hudson River. To register, go to: https://southorangetownlibraries.librarycalendar.com/event/lawrence-tonetti-waterfall-snedens-landing-palisades-interstate-park-33538 [https://southorangetownlibraries.librarycalendar.com/event/lawrence-tonetti-waterfall-snedens-landing-palisades-interstate-park-33538] Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.WRCR.com&token=d189d5-1-1742162334879]. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms and at our website. The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. www.RocklandHistory.org [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.RocklandHistory.org&token=f7e981-1-1742162334879]

A 30-minute version of this interview  originally aired on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM. Crossroads celebrated both Women’s History Month and Saint Patrick’s day with a discussion about an exciting program coming up at Harmony Hall in Sloatsburg. [https://www.friendsofharmonyhall.org/]   Eve Kahn, the former Antiques Editor for the New York Times and Elizabeth Stack the Executive Director at the American Irish Historical Society will joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss Anna Frances Levins, the Irish American artist and entrepreneur who traveled widely to photograph remotest Ireland and created portraits of sitters ranging from Pope Pius X  to martyred Irish revolutionaries. Anna Frances Levins founded her own company, Levins Press, which published lavish books about the history of Ireland and Irish Americans, and her photos appeared by the hundreds in books, newspapers, and magazines. Levins also helped the newest Irish arrivals at Ellis Island, combating her era's bitter prejudices against immigrants. She eventually married one of her portrait sitters, an Irish baronet. Despite all of this, Levins has ended up in contemporary obscurity. About the guests: Eve Kahn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eve-kahn-03a078139/] is an Independent scholar and former Antiques Columnist at The New York Times.  She is an award winning author who writes about art, architecture, and design for the Times among other publications.  Elizabeth Stack, PhD, is the Executive Director of the American Irish Historical Society [https://aihsny.org/] in New York City. Dr. Stack was previously the executive director of the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany, NY and before that she taught Irish and Irish American History and was an Associate Director at Fordham University’s Institute of Irish Studies. She completed her PhD at Fordham, writing about Irish and German immigrants in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, as they grappled with the immigration restriction movements of that time.    About the Program: Anna Frances Levin on Sunday, March 30th, 2:00 pm at Harmony Hall, Jacob Sloat House in Sloatsburg, NY.  Tickets available at https://www.friendsofharmonyhall.org/events [https://www.friendsofharmonyhall.org/events] _____ The American Irish Historical Society will also host Eve Kahn for "Rediscovering Anna Frances Levins” on March 25th at 6pm.  Info here: https://aihsny.org/events-2/rediscovering-anna-frances-levins-forgotten-irish-american-photographer-publisher-political-activist-and-baroness [https://aihsny.org/events-2/rediscovering-anna-frances-levins-forgotten-irish-american-photographer-publisher-political-activist-and-baroness] Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.WRCR.com&token=d189d5-1-1742162334879]. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms and at our website. The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. www.RocklandHistory.org [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.RocklandHistory.org&token=f7e981-1-1742162334879]

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AM. Master storyteller and author Jonathan Kruk [https://jonathankruk.com/] joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss his career as a Master Storyteller.  In April, Kruk will bring a family-friendly program to the Historical Society of Rockland County entitled: “Imps of Donderberg: The Lore of Rockland County.”   Topics discussed in this interview include:  Washington Irving; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; The Goblin of Donderberg; Charles Dickens; A Christmas Carol; Hudson River; Rocklandia; The Hudson River; Pete Seeger and more. Best known for his solo shows “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “A Christmas Carol,” Jonathan Kruk has been featured on The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, and the BBC. In addition to performing for the New-York Historical [https://www.nyhistory.org/], the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum, Pete Seeger’s Clearwater Fest, the NYS Reading Teacher’s Association, NYS PTA Conference, the Nassau County Museum, the Greater Hudson Heritage Network, Met-Life, and Pepsico, he has eight award-winning recordings and is the author of two books: Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley and Legends and Lore of the Hudson Highlands. His website is: https://jonathankruk.com/ The upcoming program at the HSRC:  In this family-friendly Sunday afternoon program, Jonathan will tell adventuresome stories about pirate treasure, bold patriots, ghost imps, Indian guides, and more. IMPS OF DONDERBERG: The Lore of Rockland County, with Jonathan Kruk * When:  Sunday, April 6, 2025,at 1:00 pm SHARP * Where:  Lower-level Community Room, HSRC History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New City * Price:  $15.00/adult; $5/child (best for children in second grade or older)   Learn more or get tickets:  https://www.rocklandhistory.org/family-program--imps-of-donderberg [https://www.rocklandhistory.org/family-program--imps-of-donderberg] Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com [http://www.wrcr.com/]. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.   The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. www.RocklandHistory.org Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.WRCR.com&token=d189d5-1-1742162334879]. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms and at our website. The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. www.RocklandHistory.org [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.RocklandHistory.org&token=f7e981-1-1742162334879]

Episode originally aired Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9:30m on WRCR Radio 1700AM.   Crossroads of Rockland History revisited one of the most tragic events in Rockland History:  The 1914 murder of Eugene Newman by William V. Cleary.  In this re-broadcast,  host Clare Sheridan interviewed the grand-nephew of the murder victim, Eugene Newman.  Now living in Chicago, IL, Gene Newman shared the details of this dreadful event and the subsequent trial which has been described as a major scandal involving political and legal corruption in New York State.   Please note:  A version of this interview was aired on Monday, October 19, 2015 and was archived as episode 61. To read an outstanding article by  Cheryl Slavin , published by the Rockland County Times in 2014, visit:  www.rocklandtimes.com/2014/07/24/haverstraw-political-boss-shoots-newspaper-publishe To see related photos and news clippings, visit our flickr album here:  www.flickr.com/photos/100479933@N04/albums/72157658442917045 Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700 AM (live streaming at www.WRCR.com). Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month.  www.RocklandHistory.org Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.WRCR.com&token=d189d5-1-1742162334879]. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms and at our website. The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. www.RocklandHistory.org [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.RocklandHistory.org&token=f7e981-1-1742162334879]

Broadcast originally aired on Monday December 16, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM Radio.  Beverly Schultz Csordas joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss her new book, The Olden Days: My Mother's Family History (1594-1997). Csordas is a member of the Concklin family whose Orchards in Pomona have been owned and operated by the Concklin family for ten generations. By weaving together a wide variety of family documents and photos, and enhancing them with her own research, Beverly Csordas presents a historical and fascinating tale of her mother's heritage from the time the first ancestors arrived in Salem, Massachusetts. in the 1600s. https://www.orchardsofconcklin.com/ [https://www.orchardsofconcklin.com/] Learn more about the author: https://beverlyscsordas.com [https://beverlyscsordas.com/] _____ Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County [https://www.orchardsofconcklin.com/], airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com [http://www.wrcr.com/]. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.   The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.WRCR.com&token=d189d5-1-1742162334879]. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms and at our website. The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York. www.RocklandHistory.org [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.RocklandHistory.org&token=f7e981-1-1742162334879]