New Rochelle Historical Association wants your COVID-19 story

The Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association has been documenting the history of New Rochelle since 1886.

In 1908, it saved the Thomas Paine Cottage and later opened it as a Historic Home Museum. It maintains the Sophia Brewster One-Room Schoolhouse, the oldest surviving in New Rochelle. Now it wants New Rochelleans to help them document and preserve for future generations the COVID-19 New Rochelle story.

March 1, 2020 life was pretty much normal in New Rochelle. The corona virus was just the third or fourth news story. Social distancing was not in the vocabulary and school kids were at school. Life started to change on March 2nd when the first New Rochelle resident tested COVID-19 positive. The eyes of the country were upon New Rochelle as cases multiplied, March 12th a Containment Zone was put into place. Who thought the National Guard would be rolling into the City next and Glen Island Park would turn into a testing center - but it all happened. Pretty soon the whole country would be asked to #stayhomesavelives and everyone’s life changed.

The Historical Association wants to hear your story of how COVID-19 has affected your life. This is a New Rochelle story they feel strongly needs to be documented and preserved for future generations. They are asking everyone, young and old, and local businesses to send in their stories. They are requesting photos, videos, artwork, just about anything be sent.

“All stories & donated items are important; all items received will be preserved”

Plans are also in the works for video interviews as well as an old fashion time capsule filled with the New Rochelle story of COVID-19 2020. The capsule will eventually be buried on the grounds of the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum.

They are requesting you send digital items to Huguenot.NRHA@gmail.com. All non-digital items mail to Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association 20 Sicard Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804. Include a description of all items sent and your name and address. Items received without senders name & address will be accepted as an anonymous donation.

“We have a story to tell and it is our responsibility as New Rochelle’s Historical Association to tell that story; New Rochelle’s story.”

Donations may be used in future exhibits or publications by the Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association