By Suzanne Davis
Sept. 21, 2023: The Village of Bronxville plans to mark the milestone of its 125th birthday with a fall festival on Sunday, October 1. The celebration will include live music, food, arts and crafts and a special exhibit detailing the town’s rich history.
The festivities run from noon to 4pm on Pondfield Road between Village Hall and the Library, and also on Palumbo Place.
The Bronxville Police Department will barbecue hot dogs and hamburgers, and many village businesses have donated food and drinks, including hot cider, coffee and ice cream. Behind Village Hall, the police department will also man “First Responders Row,” which will offer interactive displays of police, fire, EVAC and DPW vehicles as well as other activities.
Kids can pick up a “festival passport” and have it stamped at various stops throughout the event. Passport prizes will be awarded at the end of the route.
“This will be a fun-filled event for all ages and provide an opportunity for the community to celebrate Bronxville,” said Lisa Rao, 125th Anniversary Committee Chair. Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin, Village Trustees Mary Taylor Behrens and Helen Knapp and several village residents are also on the planning committee.
All festival attendees are invited to visit the Bronxville Historical Conservancy’s display outside Village Hall. They are also encouraged to visit the community table section, featuring many of the village’s beloved organizations, including the Village Library. In addition, commemorative 125th anniversary merchandise will be available for purchase.
New York-Presbyterian Westchester is the lead sponsor of Bronxville’s 125th celebration. Additional generous sponsors will be announced at the October 1 event.
Bronxville was officially incorporated as a village in 1898, with residents (only 10 percent of them) voting 25 to 8 in favor, according to Building A Suburban Village, Bronxville, New York, 1898-1998. The book was published in 1998 in honor of Bronxville’s Centennial celebration.
The rain date for Bronxville’s 125th anniversary celebration is Sunday, October 8.
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.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400