Nov. 27, 2013:  Judy Unis and Bill Dowling, co-chairs of The Bronxville Historical Conservancy, have announced a $10,000 grant to support the Eastchester 350th anniversary celebration's K-12 educational program next year.

In 2014, students in every school in Eastchester, Tuckahoe, and Bronxville--public as well as parochial and private--will have an opportunity to learn some local history:  that the town's roots go back to the Eastchester Covenant of 1665; that the marble quarries drew many early European immigrant workers and their families to the town; that world-renowned artists, authors, and celebrities have lived here; that the first president of the United States to serve as a Boy Scout did so here; and that the town has been home to four Congressional Medal of Honor winners, as well as countless brave soldiers who served in all the country's wars.

In addition to exploring these topics, the town's youngsters will be challenged to select a history project of their own. They will be asked to produce an essay, an artistic composition, a film or video, a poem, a drama, or a mixed-media piece focused on this rich past, dependent on the avenues for achievement offered in their own schools. Older middle and high school students may wish to develop research subjects into scholarly papers that will reveal even more of the town's unsung history.

To support these endeavors, the steering committee of Eastchester 350th Anniversary, Inc. approached each of the public school districts last year to solicit administrative and faculty support and asked The Bronxville Historical Conservancy if that organization would provide funding as the exclusive sponsor for the K-12 educational program.

Dr. Robert Wein, former co-chair of the Conservancy and Eastchester 350th Anniversary, Inc. committee member, said, "When we learned the scope of the project designed by Dick Forliano [current town historian and retired Eastchester Middle School teacher], I was delighted to present this to the Conservancy as a project worthy of being funded."   

After due diligence from the group's projects committee, headed by former Bronxville Mayor Nancy Hand, the Bronxville Historical Conservancy board enthusiastically approved the sponsorship. "The Conservancy’s mission is perfectly matched to that of the town's celebration of its heritage. We are pleased to play a part in increasing knowledge of our rich local history by supporting educators who wish to emphasize it in the community's anniversary year," noted Hand.

With encouragement from Bronxville's Jack Bierwirth, superintendent of the Herrick Schools on Long Island and also a member of the board of The Bronxville Historical Conservancy, the three town public school superintendents quickly indicated their support. Each appointed a district liaison for the 350th anniversary celebration, and an individual school faculty member was also selected to work within the various faculties. Town historian Forliano has reached out to the four other local elementary schools in the community and expressed his appreciation for their enthusiastic endorsement.

"With our eastchester350.org website launched, teachers and students have many resources right at their fingertips," said Forliano. "We have published this program online so that parents as well as teachers will have the opportunity to assist their children while enriching their own understanding of Eastchester, Tuckahoe, and Bronxville's past."

A click through the website section titled "Our History" reveals 17th- and early 18th-century founding documents, an explanation of what is meant by "Keeping the Covenant," and a catalogue of town and village vintage and modern photographs and maps, with credit given to the sources for each. 

Numerous links to state and county archives, to other historical repositories, and to research tools can also be found there. A section titled "Historians' Corner" yields copies of newspaper articles relative to the town's history and research undertaken in the past. 

Eastchester’s 350th anniversary celebration will feature lectures, educational programs for all students, a Siwanoy Country Club gala, a community day at Lake Isle with trolley tours and re-enactments, a supersize exhibit in the fall at Concordia College, and the publication of a well-researched and richly illustrated book on the history of the town.  

Residents and community organizations are invited to participate, to support the celebration with contributions, and to volunteer their own family and institutional memories. All local organizations are encouraged to submit their group's particular history and keep the town's birthday in mind when planning their own 2014 events. These histories and announcements can be posted on the new website. The steering committee reserves the right to edit and upload all website materials.

Residents may contact individual steering committee members or use the email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Although costs have been kept to a minimum, all the community programs require financial support.  

Contributions to Eastchester 350th Anniversary, Inc. are tax deductible, since the group is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Checks may be mailed to Eastchester 350th Anniversary, Inc., 40 Mill Rd., Eastchester, NY 10709.

Pictured here: Bronxville Historical Conservancy's project committee chair Nancy Hand and Eastchester 350th Anniversary, Inc. board member Bob Wein.

Photo courtesy Linda Doherty, Co-Chair, Steering Committee, Eastchester 350th Anniversary, Inc.