Written by Marian Moore, Member, Anne Hutchinson Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

Oct. 8, 2014:  On Friday, October 24, town historian Richard Forliano will discuss new findings that have only recently been uncovered about Eastchester's fascinating history dating back to colonial and revolutionary times. The presentation will take place at the Anne Hutchinson DAR meeting in the Bronxville Public Library.

Included in the topics to be discussed are the story of Anne Hutchinson, the Puritan families that founded Eastchester starting in 1664, the town's most famous document, the Eastchester Covenant, the acquisition of the present town, the great election of 1733, and the divisions that took place during the American Revolution.

Special emphasis will be placed on the descendants of the town's founding families, including the Fowlers, Tompkinses, Pickneys, Drakes, Dusenberrys, Shutes, and Hoits.

Biography of Richard Forliano

Richard Forliano started his 37-year teaching career in 1968 when he became a history teacher at Eastchester Junior/Senior High School. He graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1966 with a bachelor of arts degree in history, was inducted into the National Honors History Fraternity, Phi Alpha Theta, and played varsity basketball and baseball. He received a master's degree in social studies from Iona College and went on to do future study at Georgetown, Yale, the University of Virginia, the Freedom Foundation, and Fordham University, among other places. He has served as a professor of education at Concordia College.

In 1988, he was appointed Eastchester town historian, a position he still holds today. From 1988 until 1991, he served as co-chairperson with Bunny Rappaport of the Bill of Rights Bicentennial Committee. In 1990, he published a book illustrated by the schoolchildren of Eastchester titled Eastchester: Birthplace of the Freedoms in the Bill of Rights. Since 2002, he has served as chairman of the board in charge of guiding Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site, the place where Eastchester was started in 1664.

Mr. Forliano wrote over 90 articles on local history for a column in the Town Report titled "Historically Speaking."  Copies of these articles may be reviewed on the website for the 350th anniversary of the town (http://eastchester350.org) under "Historians' Corner." 

With Sheila Marcotte, he has run one-week history camps on the grounds of the Eastchester Historical Society. In 2008, a Living History Tour of Tuckahoe and Eastchester sponsored by the Eastchester/Tuckahoe Chamber of Commerce was conducted, focusing on the people and businesses that were instrumental in the development of the town. He has conducted a number of tours of Eastchester, Tuckahoe, and Bronxville, both for the Bronxville Adult School and Eastchester's 350th anniversary celebration.

Over the last three years he has worked diligently with a team of volunteers, local historians, lawyers, teachers, and writers, led by editor Eloise L. Morgan, Bronxville village historian, on the publication of the first hardbound book on the interwoven history of Tuckahoe, Bronxville, and Eastchester. Mr. Forliano wrote one of the chapters for the book and served on the editorial staff. He also chaired the education committee for the 350th anniversary of the town that saw over 1,000 students participate in one of five presentations--exhibits, digital media, film, fine arts, and performing arts.

The event is free and open to the public.

Pictured here:  Eastchester town historian, Richard Forliano.

Photo courtesy Marian Moore, Member, Anne Hutchinson Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution