Tuckahoe History Committee Hosts Open House Oct. 10

By Tuckahoe History Committee

Where Did All those Exhibits Go?

Some of them went to Tuckahoe Town Hall and you are cordially invited to come see them.

Eastchester and its villages of Tuckahoe and Bronxville celebrated 350th years of history in 2014. There were many events and exhibits around town. One exhibit at Concordia’s OSilas Gallery highlighted the area’s marble industry. When this exhibit ended many items were donated to Tuckahoe Town Hall and its History Committee. They will proudly show them off to everyone at their first annual Open House on October 10 AM to 2 PM, Tuckahoe Town Hall, 65 Main Street in Tuckahoe.

Tuckahoe was once the Marble Capital of the world, yes even over Italy. These new items are a testament to that time and now comprise a permanent ‘mini-marble’ museum in the lobby. When you visit imagine stepping onto that original marble slab used at the nearby Ward House, now part of Concordia College. During the 1800s that slab was a stepping stone to enter horse-drawn carriages of the day. Step Inside the courtroom to view beautiful recent photos of the many buildings constructed of Tuckahoe marble, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

Spend a few minutes perusing two large wall maps. One map highlights the quarries during their heyday and another highlights their locations today. The hundreds of stonecutters who worked in the quarries went down hundreds of feet to mine the marble. Step over to the quarry diorama to get this sense of depth.

Take in a newly-produced slide presentation. The presentation uses an urban renewal map from the 1960s and original photos from the Eastchester Historical Society and other local sources to compare the main part of town now and then. The photos show 19th century storefronts and rowhouses, many trimmed in marble, before they were displaced for urban renewal. The map shows the buildings that now exist along Main Street and Columbus Avenue.

Feel free to stop by the town hall lobby any Wednesday morning when the group is hard at work cataloguing and collecting all that residents continue to drop off. Enjoy the village’s past and present especially these latest enhancements. But better yet, come to their first Open House at Tuckahoe Town Hall on Saturday October 10th from 10 AM to 2 PM. This event is free and open to the public.

Schools and organizations are encouraged to make an appointment for group tours anytime.

Photo credit: Lissa Halen, Curator, Eastchester Historical Society