Horace Greeley House Programs: Women’s History, Local & NYC Water History, Antiques, and House Tours

Spring Programs & Events at the New Castle Historical Society

Women’s History, Local & NYC Water History, Antiques, and House Tours

(Chappaqua, New York) - This spring, the New Castle Historical Society, located in the Horace Greeley House Museum in downtown Chappaqua, NY, will host several events that will encourage Hudson Valley residents, and visitors alike, to actively engage with and experience local history and heritage.

The NCHS kicks off their spring calendar with a “Spring into History” Lecture Series. On March 23rd at 7:30 pm, the NCHS invites guests to the Horace Greeley House for an evening of Hudson River Valley history as presented by Vernon Benjamin, author of The History of the Hudson River Valley: From Wilderness to the Civil War and The History of the Hudson River Valley: From the Civil War to Modern Times. In honor of Women’s History Month, Mr. Benjamin will focus his talk on “Women in Hudson Valley History.”

On April 2nd, from 3 pm – 5 pm, the NCHS invites its members and the public to its 51st Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting will be held at a little-known spectacular historic site in the Town of New Castle, the Croton Valley Meetinghouse. The Croton Valley Meetinghouse is a Town of New Castle Historic Landmark whose history is deeply tied to the area’s Quaker heritage and to the development of the New York City water supply. At the meeting, speaker Marc Chesire will present the talk “Croton Water”- the story of how a mighty river was dammed, diverted, and sacrificed to save New York City from fire and pestilence and create the great metropolis it is today. Mr. Cheshire has a passion for the history of the Croton Aqueduct and shares what he learns on his blog, Croton: History & Mysteries (www.crotonhistory.org). He is on the board of Croton Friends of History and works for a top dealer in rare historic documents.

Later in April, the NCHS teams up with the Rago Arts & Auction Center to offer an Antiques Roadshow-style Appraisal Day at the Greeley House. On Saturday, April 22nd, visitors are invited to have their family heirlooms or garage sale treasures appraised at the Horace Greeley House. The appraisals will be conducted by special guest experts Sebastian Clarke (generalist), Katherine Van Dell (jewelry), Mick Byers (fine art), and Jennifer Pitman (silver), of the Rago Arts and Auction Center. Sebastian Clarke will also present the lecture, “Tales from the Antiques Roadshow."

The NCHS will continue its “Antiques in April” theme by participating in the Bedford Antiques Show on April 29th and April 30th, with their popular “Gold in Your Attic" antiques booth. The “Gold in Your Attic” booth will feature everything from antiques, silver, and vintage jewelry, to several one-of-a-kind treasures. The event will be held at Bedford Historical Hall, rain or shine.

In May, the NCHS’s popular “Castles of New Castle” House Tour returns on May 18th. This event, one of the society’s main annual fundraisers, provides ticketholders with the opportunity to explore five exquisite homes in the Town of New Castle. All proceeds from this event benefit the New Castle Historical Society. Tickets for the event will be available beginning mid-April

If you would like more information regarding these programs, please visit www.newcastlehs.org or contact NCHS Executive Director Cassie Ward at director@newcastlehs.org or 914-238-4666.