By Erin Saluti, Member, Board of Directors, The Bronxville Historical Conservancy

Nov. 4, 2015:  On the evening of Friday, October 16, The Bronxville Historical Conservancy offered its second, authentically spooky run of the popular Ghosts of Bronxville to a sell-out crowd. After the successful introduction of the event in 2013, the Young Families Committee delighted in introducing a new group of 225 children and their chaperones to Bronxville's fascinating history. 

Navigating the steep rises and valleys of the maze-like Hilltop by candlelight, the "Ghosters" weaved their way back in time to meet some of Bronxville's most important historical figures from the late 19th century when Lawrence Park (the "Hilltop") was a burgeoning art colony. The audience was transported to the 1890s through meticulously detailed sets, including authentic period props and hand-painted backdrops by artist Marc Pollack.

Five homes played host to a "ghost," portrayed by actors from the Sarah Lawrence College graduate theater program. Donning historically accurate attire, each ghost spun the true tale of his or her life in Bronxville at the turn of the century through scripts by Conservancy board member and event co-chair Erin Saluti. Window silhouettes designed by Conservancy board member Anderson Kenny glowed in upper-room windows of each house, specifically referencing each ghost's tale. 

Under the guidance of director Emily Ritger (also a Sarah Lawrence graduate student), the five "ghosts" included Talia Langman as Mary Fairchild MacMonnies Low (an artist who appeared in her former studio at 25 Prescott Avenue); Ethan Graham-Horowitz as William Van Duzer Lawrence (founding father of Bronxville and of the eponymous Lawrence Park, Lawrence Hospital, and Sarah Lawrence College) on his beautiful stone veranda at 12 Sunset; Sterling Figueroa as Edmund Clarence Stedman (the "Poet of Wall Street," stockbroker, and editor of the works of Edgar Allan Poe) on the porch of 2 Wellington, across the triangle from his original dwelling; Jackie Harris as Harriet Hubbard Ayer (cosmetics tycoon, involuntarily committed to Dr. Granger's Asylum in Bronxville by her husband) at 2 Governors; and Brad Crownover as William Augustus Bates (Bronxville's earliest architect and designer of most of the shingle-style homes in Lawrence Park) at one of his designs, 22 Gladwin. 

Using an original illustrated map by artist Bill Dowling, the groups of Ghosters followed a predetermined route, encountering many eerie apparitions along the way. Eight talented Bronxville High School actors clad in period attire portrayed a macabre mother (Olivia Samios), ghostly girl (Natalie Arenzon), two Dr. Granger's Asylum patients (Kathleen Conaton and Gabby Markola), a spectral servant (Dryden Quigley), a train conductor (Danny von Albade), a morbid milkman (Griffin Garbarini), and a spooky violinist (Hilary Rizzo). In addition, traditional harvest games such as doughnut-on-a-string and pumpkin and spoon races were spread out along the route to control foot traffic. 

Co-founders and committee chairs Erin Saluti, Michelle McBride, and Stafford Meyer developed the concept of Ghosts of Bronxville in early 2013 with the goal of involving families with young children in the history of Bronxville. Stafford Meyer elaborated, "We hoped to create a fun and educational event that would make Bronxville history relevant, stand the test of time, and become part of the fabric of the village."

For its second run, they invited families to engage on a deeper level by enlisting committee members Emily Liggit, Cece Heraty, Maree Cutaia, Christine Fitzgibbons, Laura van Tienhoven, Lyndal Vermette, Jennifer Russo, and Tina Adams Hallaby to assist in all manner of production, including costume selection and lighting and props, as well as the complicated facilitation of the event. The co-chairs sang the praises of the committee, commenting on their creativity, initiative, and willingness to jump in with both feet. Michelle McBride remarked, "From researching and carving historically accurate jack-o'-lantern faces to managing the intricate check-in process, we are incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm and 'all-in' commitment of our incredible committee." 

In addition, 60 villagers volunteered to work at the event, each contributing to the evening's success. Co-chair Erin Saluti observed, "The committee was thrilled to have involved such an energetic and engaged event staff of all ages" and specifically cited the Taylor/Conaton family participation, spanning three generations: Arthur Taylor, lending his porch for William Van Duzer Lawrence's appearance at 12 Sunset; his daughter, Margaret Conaton, serving as the Bronxville High School actor coordinator, and her daughter, Kathleen Conaton, portraying a "wandering ghost." Saluti continued, "The multi-generational aspect of this event is very special and uniquely Bronxville. Although the Ghosts of Bronxville is specifically geared towards children, the involvement of all age groups--from grandchild to grandparent--contributes to its rich atmosphere." 

To see photos, click here: Bronxville Historical Conservancy Ghosts of Bronxville 2015.

The Young Families Committee looks forward to providing more unique opportunities for village families to become involved with the history of Bronxville. 

The Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded in 1998 to record and preserve Bronxville's history and to celebrate the culture and life in the village today. The Young Families Committee encourages the engagement of school-age children and their parents with the history of Bronxville and the mission of the Conservancy. For more information about the Conservancy or to become a member, please visit http://bronxvillehistoricalconservancy.org/.

Pictured here:  A ghost of Bronxville.

Photo above and photos in link by Richard D. Cole