John Corry: Twenty-Five Years Ago in Bronxville: September 1991
Editor's note: John A. Corry's column features events that happened in Bronxville 25 years ago. He selects newsworthy items to include in his column from historical sources, including the Review Press-Reporter (which is no longer published). Many of the people involved in these happenings still live in Bronxville. Many do not but have left their mark on Bronxville.
By John A. Corry
Sep. 14, 2016: School Honored. It was announced that at a front lawn White House ceremony on September 25, President George H. W. Bush would present the school with an award as one of 225 national "high schools of excellence." Together with the Pleasantville School, it was only one of two schools in Westchester to be so honored. The school was represented by board President Andrew Quale, Assistant Principal Michael Saltman, and English teacher Linda Miller. Back in Bronxville, new school superintendent John Chambers announced that he would emphasize scholarship, character, leadership, and service. The first two, he stressed, were already well represented.
Adult School. The Bronxville Adult School launched an eight-lecture series called "Trends of the '90s." The first lecture, on business trends, was given by Bankers Trust management committee member George Vojta. In it, he predicted a period of "great optimism" in the global economy, calling the previous five years a period of "tuning up" following the oil shock, debt crisis, and two recessions in 1974 and 1985. The fall of Communism was helpful. The next presentation was to be on health care delivery.
School Track. The school board rejected the recommendation of a subcommittee that the $200 nonresident use fee be halved. A Review-Press Reporter editorial disagreed: "Bronxville is not an island. It is and has to remain an integral part of the larger community."
Dangerous Chemical at Concordia. A county bomb squad removed a highly unstable and potentially dangerous chemical from Concordia and took it to a Peekskill military base, where it was detonated. It had been discovered by a biology professor while he was taking inventory in a storage room in Brunn Science Hall. No one had any idea how long it had been there. It was removed early in the morning so students would not be disturbed.
Mansion for Sale. Under the heading "invitation of elegance," the large residence at 274 Pondfield Road was advertised for sale at $2.75 million. A Bowman creation, it featured, among other special qualities, a "beamed and vaulted living room." It had been the home of Donald Rundlett, who had died while playing golf at Siwanoy. (The property is currently on the market for $5.495 million.)
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Link to Village of Bronxville One Square Mile Monthly Newsletter
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
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