The Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909 recognized two pivotal events: the tercentennial of the Dutch discovery of New York’s famous river and the centennial of the invention of Robert Fulton’s steamboat. Each of these historic achievements promoted the settlement of the Hudson River Valley and the rapid development of commerce. Characterized by statewide pageantry from Manhattan to Albany, and a multi-week calendar of educational exhibits and museum events, the 300th anniversary also coincided with the heyday of the penny postcard. This practice of exchanging whimsical and picturesque novelties was newly adopted from Europe and the timing could not have been more perfect. Quintessential souvenirs of the 1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration included a vast array of postcards, featuring original images by blockbuster artist Bernhardt Wall, renowned publisher Raphael Tuck, and an official collector’s series from the Redfield Brothers. Author Edward F. Levine began collecting vintage postcards 40 years ago. Specializing in exposition cards, he has assembled one of the largest groupings of Hudson-Fulton Celebration postcards. Hear him speak about how what we think of merely as ephemera are actually important historic artifacts and art works that reveal a wealth of insights into our American culture. Preview the JHC’s own collection of vintage postcards from this historic year. Open to Historians’ Circle members; includes tickets for the lecture, a private preview for 2 of the upcoming exhibit and cocktails. To become a member of the Historians’ Circle, contact JHC Program Coordinator, Heather Craane at jayhc@earthlink.net or call (914) 698-9275.

   

Jay Heritage Center Archives

Nineteenth Century America saw the widespread influence of Romanticism on poetry, painting, and lifestyles. This influence was particularly apparent in the Romantic design of country houses, which were given the Romantic name, villas. This hour-long talk with slides reveals the development of the country house in the beautiful Hudson Valley. We'll see how architects Andrew Jackson Downing and Alexander Jackson Davis popularized the notion of the special qualities inherent in a county house. We'll investigate just what our ancestors meant by the term "picturesque" and see how picturesque ideals were promoted by writers such as Longfellow and Washington Irving. Then, we'll take a veritable tour of old country houses in the Hudson Valley, with a side trip to Newport, Rhode Island, using many rare period photographs that show how villas like "Sunnyside," "Lyndhurst," and "Olana" were furnished when the region was home to the likes of Washington Irving, Jay Gould, Frederick Edwin Church, the Roosevelts, and the Vanderbilts. An introductory program of authentic period music sets the scene and creates a lively, inviting mood for the audience. Barrymore Laurence Scherer is a music critic for The Wall Street Journal and a contributing editor of The Magazine Antiques, and Art & Auction magazine . He is author of the critically acclaimed book Bravo! A Guide to Opera for the Perplexed (Dutton-Plume), The History of American Classical Music (Naxos/Sourcebooks, 2007), and contributor to the book Giacomo Meyerbeer: A Reader (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008). As a lecturer he has given numerous presentations for institutions including the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, the New York Philharmonic, and the National Gallery. On radio, he has been a regular commentator for NPR's "Performance Today, " and on the nationally syndicated program, "First Hearing." Admission is free. Sponsored by the New York Council on the Humanities. Reservations are required. Please call Chris Voss at (914) 698-9275 or e-mail at cvossjayhc@earthlink.net

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY- Stephen L. Kass is a partner and founder of the Environmental Practice Group at Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP in New York. Prior to joining Carter Ledyard & Milburn, he was a founding partner of Berle Kass & Case, a firm specializing in environmental law from the field’s inception in the 1970s. He received his BA magna cum laude from Yale University in 1961 and his LLB cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1964. Mr. Kass has been an adjunct professor at Pace Law School and is currently an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School where he teaches courses on international environmental law and climate change, economic development, and human rights. Mr. Kass has written a regular column on environmental law for the New York Law Journal since 1986, is a past vice president of the New York City Bar Association, a director emeritus of Human Rights Watch, and a member of the board of directors of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. SYNOPSIS OF LECTURE Few lawyers today know John Jay other than as our nation’s first chief justice, the negotiator of an early treaty with Great Britain, and the namesake of a criminal justice college in New York City and a high school in Westchester County, New York. Yet, Jay did more than any lawyer of his era to make the laws and legal institutions of a young nation work to carry out the radical social and political changes promised by the Declaration of Independence. Alone among our nation’s founders, Jay combined professional law practice with legislative, executive, and judicial roles with both state and federal governments, whether as president of the Continental Congress, secretary of state of a newly-created nation, chief justice of both the U.S. and New York Supreme courts, principal draftsman of New York’s constitution, governor of New York, confidant of General George Washington, or ardent spokesman for democratic values, the abolition of slavery, public education, and, in his private life, respect for the natural environment. Behind his patrician façade, he was, and remains, a role model for today’s lawyers who seek to help our nation and the world confront escalating challenges to human rights, social equity, environmental protection, and the rule of law. To RSVP contact: Karen Ferro (914) 422-4327 or krerro@law.pace.edu

   

Princeton's oldest and most famous a cappella singing group, The Nassoons, will perform at the Jay Mansion in Rye on Sunday, April 5th at 4pm. Refreshments will be served after the 1 hour concert. There will also be tours of the Jay Mansion and Estate restored and lived in by philanthropist and Princeton graduate, Edgar Palmer, Class of 1903, and his family between 1911 and 1968. The Nassoons have entertained audiences all over the world and their most requested songs include "Just One of Those Things," "Moondance," and "Perfidia." Admission is free for JHC members and $10 for non-members. Reservations are recommended. Please call Chris Voss at (914) 698-9275 or e-mail at cvossjayhc@earthlink.net

On the evening of February 5, in celebration of Black History Month, Westchester County held its annual Trailblazers Awards Ceremony at Manhattanville College. Five African-American leaders and role models in our community were honored. As a highlight of the event, co-sponsored by the Westchester County Board of Legislators and Board of African American Affairs, guests were treated to the unveiling of a video about John Jay, who is well known for his role in creating the Manumission Society and establishing the first African Free School. The film, shot primarily in Rye at the Peter Augustus Jay House, featured actresses from the Jay Center's innovative school program about abolition called Striving for Freedom. The short movie was incredibly well received by an audience of several hundred. The film will next be distributed to all schools in the County, as a means to promote visitation to both John Jay's boyhood home in Rye and the Jay Homestead in Katonah, which are both member sites on the African American Heritage Trail, established by County Executive Andy Spano in 2004. A link to the video can be found below and also includes a clip about another wonderful heritage trail site, Philipsburg Manor. John Jay and both of his sons, Peter Augustus and William, were vocal advocates of emancipation. Peter Augustus Jay is singularly remembered for his stirring speech at New York State's 1821 Convention, urging suffrage for free black men. Programs sponsored by the Jay Heritage Center explore the Jay family's legacy of American leadership and themes of social justice which are still relevant today. To inquire about scheduling a performance of Striving for Freedom for your school, please contact the Program Coordinator, Heather Craane at (914) 698-9275 or jayhc@earthlink.net You may view the short film by clicking here.

Nina Kuzma-Sapiejewska will perform some of Chopin’s most riveting virtuoso piano works at the 1907 Van Norden Carriage House on Sunday, December 7th at 5 pm. Born in Warsaw Poland, Ms Sapiejewska received her formal training at the Academy of Music in Gdansk, where she studied with the renowned Professor Lusjan Galon, who studied with Frederic Lamon, a famous concert pianist who was one of Franz Liszt’s favored protégés. Only two generations from the technical mastery of Franz Liszt, Ms. Sapiejewska’s virtuoso style of performance is sure to thrill and enliven any community for whom she plays She has performed 14 times at Carnegie Hall (often playing all of the Etudes, a rarity in modern performances because of the unbelievable challenges in the texts), Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood, and many international music festivals as well as the Chopin & Friends” Festival in New York which she also founded. She received an award from the President of the Council of the City of New York in recognition of her outstanding cultural achievements. Guests will enjoy a complimentary winetasting with the performance generously provided by The Wine Gallery of Rye Brook. Tickets are $20 for Non-members, $15 for JHC members. For further nformation, please contact: Kate Kies (914) 329-0159 or katekiespublic@gmail.com

Elizabeth Barlow Rogers is the president of the Foundation for Landscape Studies. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Ms. Rogers earned a B.A. degree from Wellesley College and an M.A. in city planning from Yale University. In 1979, she was appointed Central Park administrator, and she was instrumental in founding the Central Park Conservancy in 1981. She led the Conservancy as president until 1996, when she founded the Cityscape Institute. In 2002, she created the Garden History and Landscape Studies curriculum at the Bard Graduate Center. Her published works include The Forests and Wetlands of New York City (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1971), Frederick Law Olmsted's New York (New York: Whitney Museum/Praeger, 1972), Rebuilding Central Park: A Management and Restoration Plan (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 1987), and Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2001). Ms. Rogers is a life trustee of the Central Park Conservancy, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the boards of The Battery Conservancy, the Society of Architectural Historians, the Library of American Landscape History, the Regional Plan Association, and the James Marston Fitch Foundation. She is an honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a recipient of the society's 2005 LaGasse Medal. This program has limited availability and is free to JHC members: reservations are required in advance. Please contact Chris Voss at cvossjayhc@earthlink.net

Mark Rostafin, an environmental consultant, who currently leads the sustainability practice as a Principal for The Stone House Group,will speak about his work on the Jay Mansion and other projects. When people think of sustainability applied to the (green building) they envision the modern design paradigm. However, people are increasingly recognizing the importance of preserving an existing structure rather than create a new one. Since historic buildings are inherently sustainable, preserving them maximizes the use of materials, infrastructure, environment etc. In this presentation, Mr. Rostafin, will focus on how “green” design is moving towards the reuse of buildings, and how sustainability in historic preservation impacts not only the environment, but a community’s cultural heritage. Lecture is free and open to the public. Reservations requested. Refreshments will be served at the 1907 Van Norden Carriage House after the program. For more information, call 914-698-9275 or email cvossjayhc@earthlink.net. Co-sponsored with the Environmental Advocacy Committee of Rye (EACR).

This presentation discusses the archeology of 19th century dwellings and their sites using examples from the lower Hudson Valley, contrasting residences of the elite (Jay Mansion in Rye), dwellings of lower status landholders in White Plains, and farmsteads in Putnam County. Dr. Boesch explains how the study of these varied domestic properties through Historic archaeology complements, frequently exceeds, and sometimes contradicts the documentary record for understanding past behavior. This lecture is funded by the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lecture is free and open to the public. Reservations requested. Refreshments will be served at the 1907 Van Norden Carriage House after the program. Please use Shady Lane entrance off 210 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY. For more info, call 914-698-9275 or email cvossjayhc@earthlink.net.

Eric Sanderson is a landscape ecologist, working at the boundary of ecology and geography, but gripped by history and the power of the informed human imagination. He mapped the Human Footprint and Last of the Wild, the first ever visual representation of modern humanity's impact on its only planet. Using some of the best available science, state-of-the-art GIS mapping and satellite technology, as well as compelling images created by some of the world's best photographers, author Eric Sanderson illustrates the mark of humans on planet Earth. He discusses avenues of action necessary to address our most pressing challenges, the severity of the problems, and what can be done to make life on Earth better. Admission $5. Students and seniors free. For reservations call (914)698-9275 or email jayhc@earthlink.net.

Cultural historian Judith Dupré will present “Places of Memory: The Evolving American Monument.” Ms. Dupré’s talk at the Carriage House will be illustrated with classic landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, as well as contemporary commemorative forms that speak to rebirth and transformation. With enthusiasm and panache, Ms. Dupré will explore how and why memorial design has changed, as Americans grapple with questions about who we are as a nation, an identity crisis that seems to preclude permanent structures and neoclassical forms, and encourages memorials made of glass, light, and other ephemeral materials. Tickets: $5 at door. Reservations recommended. Call 914-698-9275 or email jayhc@earthlink.net To open a PDF of the flier:Please Click Here

Author and Washington, D.C. attorney David O. Stewart will present the compelling story of the birth of the Constitution. Describing the founding of our republic as “an act of inspired improvisation,” Stewart reminds us that the crafting of the Constitution and creation on this enduring system of government is unique in history. The process was fraught with passionate conflict, highly-charged bargaining, and hard-won compromise. Stewart brings to light the work of some of the lesser known delegates, John Rutledge, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Oliver Ellsworth, and George Mason, and shows how their efforts may have been greater than those of James Madison, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. Tickets: $5 at door. Reservations recommended. Call 914-698-9275 or email jayhc@earthlink.net To open a PDF of the flier:Please Click Here

The Jay Heritage is proud to present “The Five O’Clock Room” a new seasonal series of educational programs for adults focusing on the topics most integral to the JHC’s mission of increasing an understanding and appreciation of American History, Architecture and Landscape. The Fall 2007 series is titled “AMERICAN SPLENDOR-GRAND ARCHITECTURAL WORKS, 1840-1930, An Authors’ Lecture Series” and consists of three lectures on that period of American architecture contemporaneous with the buildings on the Jay estate.

Kate Lemos & Bill Morrison, Carrere & Hastings-The Master Architect Series.
Carrere & Hastings are perhaps most famous for their design of the New York Public Library but there are so many more of their other New York monuments and buildings that will be the subject of this engaging talk and photo presentation.

Due to the ongoing restoration work at the Jay property, the series will he held at The Apawamis Club, 2 Club Road in Rye, New York. Each Sunday lecture will begin with a 4:30pm Reception with refreshments, followed by the Lecture, Author Q&A, and Book-Signing. Each lecture is $35 ; $90 for the series of three. Reservations are required. For more information and to order tickets, please call the Program Coordinator at (914) 698-9275.This series has been generously sponsored by Acanthus Press, Windward Development and Robert S. Burton, Architect.

Selections from an exhibit of period photos, newspaper accounts, and objects celebrating the ownership period of Warner Van Norden, who transformed the Jay farm into a Gilded Age estate. Van Norden was a prominent banker in the circle of J.P. Morgan. He bought the Jay Estate in 1905 and raised zebras and other exotic animals on the property. He built the large Classical Revival Carriage House and the Zebra Barn.