The ChronicleA Publication of

The Bronxville Historical Conservancy

FALL 2001

If only these walls could talk...

he medieval stonework on the mansion known as “Oakledge” at 5 Oakledge Road embraces ahome with a colorful history. Angry creditors beat on its doors in an attempt to wrest satisfaction from a disgraced banker...a 12-year-old boy held title to the magnificent mansion... a devastating fire marred itsimposing granite...victory gardens grew abundantly in its sprawling acreage...and it became the “Red CrossHouse” during World War II. Members of the Bronxville Historical Conservancy will learn much of its intriguingpast at the third annual house tour and annual membership meeting taking place within its walls on Sunday,November 4, 2001, thanks to the generosity and hospitality of its current owners, Laura and Brooks Klimley.

Built like a fortress with 18” thick walls in 1870 for John M. Masterton, the son of marble quarry ownerAlexander Masterton, the manor was remodeled in 1927 by architect Lewis Bowman, who gave it its gracefulTudor gables and dormers. He also added wings on the north and south sides, as well as windows, whichwere scant in the orginal plain, square structure that was surrounded on three sides by a porch. The interiorhas recently been completely redecorated and furnished in a style in keeping with the grandeur of the home.It’s one of Bronxville’s loveliest. Come see.

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The annual meeting of members willbe held on November 4, 2001 at 5:00p.m. at the Oakledge Mansion, 5 Oakledge Road, Bronxville, N.Y. Wehope that you will attend and also tourthe remarkable house that was origi-nally built in 1870 by John Masterton,son of village founder AlexanderMasterton, and has most recentlybeen refurbished in a magnificentlyhandsome manner by Laura andBrooks Klimley.

At the meeting we will report ondevelopments during the year includ-ing the receipt from the Frieda Riggsestate and sale by the Conservancy ofthe Abijah Morgan House at 339Pondfield Road. The terms of the sale,which subjected the house to restric-tive covenants intended to preserveand conserve the historic and archi-tecturally significant elements of thehouse, are believed to be the firstinstance in the village of the use of apreservation easement.

The net proceeds from the sale wereapproximately $950,000, after deduct-ing brokerage commission, and arenow available to the Conservancy forthe implementation of its purposes.The Conservancy directors are current-ly considering appropriate projects forConservancy support and guidelinesfor the making of grant requests.

At the meeting the following personswill be nominated as directors to serveuntil the next annual meeting of members:

Hank CoonPatricia DohrenwendCorky FrostDonald GrayMarilynn HillMary HuberAnna LeeRobert MacdonaldCarolyn MartinRory MillsonEloise MorganRobert RiggsNancy VittoriniJayne WarmanRobert WeinMayor Nancy Hand, ex officio

(continued on back page)

A warm welcome.The new owners of the Abijah Morgan house say the

house has a soul, spirit and history that they are already working to keep alive and beautiful.

Dear Members,

t was love at first sight. When Rada and Peter Petrovich steppedonto the vintage wooden floor boards of the oldest house in Bronxville, theyfell in love. “It reminded us of the old country where we are from,” said Peter,“and we immediately fell in love.”

The Petrovich’s purchased the home that was bequeathed to the HistoricalConservancy by Frieda Riggs, and by the end of June, moved from theirtemporary home in Eastchester into 339 Pondfield. “We’d been looking formore than a year for a home in Bronxville,” explained Rada. “When wefound this, we knew it was right.”

Born in Uzice (ooh-jee-sah), a small town in Serbia, Peter moved to theUnited States in 1965. He served his new country in Vietnam, and thenbegan a career as a public accountant. A few years ago, Rada and her 15-year-old daughter Miljana, came from Belgrade -- just 100 kilometers fromthe town in which Peter’s family lived for seven generations. They met inScarsdale, married, and now have an 11-month old daughter, Mina.

How did they choose to live in Bronxville? Rada, a piano teacher for 21years, has several students in the area, one who lived in Bronxville. As mostparents, the Petrovich’s were impressed with the Bronxville school, andenjoyed the sense of community they felt here. “I want my children to bepart of the village, like my family was part of Uzice for so many years,” saidPeter, whose friends, he said, call him Momo. Miljana, whose family name isAsanovic, has already found friends at school. The high honors studenthopes to play basketball for the Broncos, and plans to continue playing hersport of volleyball on a Westchester club team. It’s clear this new Bronxvillefamily is happy being here in their new home.

“It’s older than America,” said Rada with a smile, as she spoke enthusiasti-cally of the property’s history. Noting the meticulous work being done bycraftsmen, it is already abundantly evident that they have every intention ofconserving and preserving the house in keeping with Conservancycovenants. Although the plan is to renovate over the next 6-7 years, they’reoff to an impressive start, beginning with the portion of the house that wasadded in 1937. Doors have been painstakingly handstripped of 15 coats ofpaint and then hand sanded to return them to their original lustre. Theporch, which had rotten beams and planks, is also being repaired to preserve the original detailing.

I

A passionate preservationistinspires villagers

he Sommers Center at Concordia College was filledto capacity on May 11, 2001, when Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.spoke at the third Annual Brendan Gill Lecture about his passion for preserving the environment. Kennedy hasearned an international reputation as its resolute defenderthrough a number of successful legal actions. He is probablybest known for his work in restoring the Hudson River.

“The Hudson River was a national joke in 1966,” Kennedytold the attentive audience. “Now it is a model for environ-mental protection. It is the richest water in the NorthAtlantic.”

Prior to his remarks about the history of the Hudson Riverand issues that are clearly a priority for him -- environmentaland economic policy -- Kennedy warmed the crowd withtalk of the Kennedy family. His grandparents, Joseph andRose Kennedy, lived in Bronxville from 1929 to 1938 in agrand home known as Crownlands on Pondfield Road.(Sadly, the estate was demolished in the 1950s). Kennedy

shared what it was like to bepart of such a famous clan.“I’ve enjoyed having membersof the Conservancy sharememories with me about work-ing for my father...actually, I’mused to that.

When I’m in Massachusetts, they’ll say, ‘you’re Bobby’sson.’ Or wherever I go, people will come up to me andsay ‘oh, you’re Jack’s nephew.’ Or ‘you’re Joe’s brother.’Or ‘you’re Ted’s nephew.’ When I’m in Maryland, they’lltell me ‘oh, you’re Kathleen’s brother’...and when I was inCalifornia last week, some students said ‘oh, you’reArnold’s cousin.’ ” (Robert Kennedy’s cousin, Maria Shriver,is married to Arnold Schwarzenegger).

In the beginning, he had the 350+ crowd enjoying agood chuckle. By the end of the evening, however, theroom thundered with applause for Kennedy’s commitmentto protecting the world’s natural resources -- not only in hishome state of New York, but throughout the world.

Kennedy pursues his passion with intensity. Just prior tothe lecture, he was on theisland of Vieques in PuertoRico, demonstrating againstthe use of the land as aNavy firing range.Conservancy co-chair BobRiggs had been relieved tolearn Kennedy had paidthe $3000 bail after his arrestthere, and would indeed,be in Bronxville to speak.

t

Kennedy enjoyed answering a host of questions from an admiring crowd during the reception which followed the lecture.

This summer while most members of the Bronxville Historical Conservancy were enjoying the warmthof the sun, others, under the guidance of editor Marilynn Hill, were sweating out the inaugural edition ofThe Bronxville Journal, the first in a series of Conservancy literary works devoted to primary research ofour village’s artistic, social and institutional history. In its pages you’ll meet Francis Edmonds, one ofNew York’s leading bankers, equally talented as an artist; Harriet Hubbard Ayer, a socialite who lived inBronxville’s insane asylum; and you’ll get a whole new perspective on women in the PTA...all that andmore, coming soon.

RememberingBronxville.

Here’s what you can look forward to when the Journalarrives this fall:

The Power of PlaceBy Paul Goldberger

The final event of theCentennial Celebration, agraceful and discerning lec-ture given by Brendan Gill’ssuccessor at The New Yorker,increased our awareness of theunusual qualities of Bronxville’sdesign.

Bronxville’s Insane Asylum:The Center of an 1890s ScandalBy Eloise L. Morgan

Alienist William Granger, proprietor of Bronxville’s for-gotten insane asylum, once had a remarkable turn-of-the-century socialite and founder of a leadingcosmetics company as an unwilling resident of hisestablishment.

The Destiny of Frieda Wildy RiggsBy Claudia Keenan

As remembered by a young friend, a cherished resi-dent’s contributions to her community were theresult not only of intellect and energy, but also ofher careful upbringing and experience as a socialworker.

In Search of a Local BardBy Jayne S. Warman

Comfortable at the center ofNew York City’s literati as well asin the canyons of Wall Street,this respected poet and brokermade fast friends of hisBronxville neighbors and alsoleft a recently-discovered smallbut tangible legacy.

Francis W. Edmonds: Artist,Banker and GentlemanFarmerBy Marilynn Wood Hill

The talented builder and first owner of Crow’sNest may be less well remembered than a later resi-dent of the mansion, but this nineteenth-centuryRenaissance man gave as unstintingly to his community as to his professional careers.

The Bronxville P.T.A. and The Social Control of YouthBy Claudia Keenan

In the decades before and after World War II, dedi-cated and well-meaning P.T.A. volunteers stemmedthe influence of mass culture on their privileged off-spring by defining social mores and designing socialactivities in the school.

Complimentary copies will be mailed to all Conservancy members. The Bronxville Journal will also be sold in local stores.

Have pen, will edit!A born wordsmith, Carolyn Martin has contributed her considerable talent to getting the

first issue of The Bronxville Journal ready for publication. As assistant editor, she has spentendless hours meticulously editing and proofreading.

As a founding member of the Conservancy, Carolyn immediately joined the JournalCommittee, a job well-suited to her capabilities. She authored three chapters of the 1998Centennial history, Building a Suburban Village, and before that served as editor and co-editor of the League of Women Voters community information book, This Is Bronxville.Carolyn also is a member of the Conservancy's House Tour Committee, an activity closelyrelated to her professional career as an Associate Broker with Bronxville-Ley Real Estate.

Carolyn and her husband, Keith Martin, have lived in the Bronxville area since the early1970s and all four of their children attended the Bronxville School. Carolyn Martin

A scale model of the original Bronxville Public Library is now on display atthe newly renovated building, thanks to the efforts of Conservancy boardmember Corky Frost who arranged for the gift which was given by ElizabethMouzon, granddaughter of architect Harry Leslie Walker. Its restoration wasfunded by the Bronxville Historical Conservancy.

The History Room has nearly doubled in size at the newly reno-vated Bronxville Library, occupying more than 800 square feeton the lower level. For the first time the Village collection is pre-served in an archivally-sound environment, complete with adedicated climate control system. Over 700 linear feet ofmetal shelving, a map case, cabinetry, a locked "treasury" stor-age unit, work tables, a copier, computer and historian's deskhave been installed. Lighting fixtures and windows are filtered toprotect against ultraviolet rays.

The Local History Room is primarily a document archive ofearly Bronxville and its people, with a limited number of artifacts.Thousands of black and white photographs and negatives(including some rare glass negatives), supplemented by severalhundred early postcards, record the images of more than acentury of Village life. Research files include Bronxville people,organizations and events. An almost complete set of Bronxville'sweekly newspapers, from 1902 to date, is available either onmicrofilm or in bound volumes. Researchers can access issues ofThe Villager from the 1930s to date.

The archive holds more than a dozen different books writtenabout Bronxville's past, as well as volumes penned by and aboutnotable residents. Its partial collection of Bronxville High Schoolyearbooks dates from 1925. The History Room also houses hun-dreds of pamphlets and magazine articles, including a wealth ofmaterial on the Lawrence Park turn-of the-century art colony.The Local History Room is available to researchers by appoint-ment. For more information, contact Conservancy member andVillage Historian Eloise L. Morgan at 779-9391.

Will Bronxville lose its historic Stone Arch Bridgeif Metro North succeeds in railroading a

third track through the village?

On its shoulders rode the train that carried WilliamVan Duzer Lawrence to Bronxville in the late 1800’s.This sturdy gentleman is tucked away among thetrees that line the Bronx River Parkway Reservationnear Parkway Road. The river rushes through its stal-wart legs then cascades over rocks in a delightfuljourney. It seems to stand watch as the gurglingwaters that swirl around its feet give playful ducks anadventurous ride. Seventy-nine feet in length andthirty feet wide, the venerable old man has survivedfloods and sprawling suburbs in its 137 years, but thisfellow may soon lose face if Metro North succeeds inits plan to add a third track to its Harlem Line.

Built in 1864 of rustic granite blocks, the handsomeStone Arch Bridge has the original CorneliusVanderbilt stone marker embedded in its side.However, if the Third Track project goes through, itsappearance will be forever altered. “The originalsolution Metro North offered,” said Mayor Hand,“was to build a steel and concrete slab addition tocarry the third track.” With continued pressure fromthe mayor and other officials, Metro North devised adesign which doesn’t completely obstruct the dou-ble barreled arches of the historic structure, andincorporates a granite facade in keeping with itsstone body. “Even with this design, we’re going tolose a landmark bridge because it will essentially beblocked. The new steel span with its stone veneerwill jut out 16 feet into the Bronx River ParkwayReservation.”

Is it going to happen? No one knows for sure atthis point. What we do know, however, is howpainstakingly our mayor has worked to protect theinterests of village residents and preserve an historictreasure for generations to come.

Local History RoomBIGGER THAN EVER

Take a Good Look

at Me Now

The Bronxville Historical Conservancy was

established in 1998 to further the understanding and

appreciation of the history and current life of the

Village of Bronxville, New York.

The Conservancy furthers its mission through the

presentation of programs, publications, lectures and

special events that foster an awareness of the

Village’s architectural, artistic and cultural heritage

and lends its support for projects designed to

strengthen and preserve those legacies.

Have you renewed your membership?

This spring the Conservancy reached out to the entire communitywith an invitation to join. We’re happy to welcome 60 new mem-bers as a result of that effort!

Hank Coon reports there are still some members who have yet torenew their annual membership for this year. If you’re one, simplymail your check to the Conservancy at our new post office boxaddress: P.O. Box 989, Bronxville, NY 10708. You don’t want to missan invitation to the House Tour, your complimentary copy of theJournal and more. Call Donald Gray at 779-2043 for information on membership levels and all the benefits of being amember of the Bronxville Historical Conservancy.

The Bronxville Historical Conservancy

P. O. Box 989

Bronxville, NY 10708

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBronxville, NY 10708

Permit #166

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

HISTORIC HOUSE TOUR& ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Oakledge Mansion5 Oakledge Road

Sunday, November 4, 2001

Tour 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.Membership Meeting & Cocktail Reception

5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Please, members only.Call Anna Lee at 961-8936

for information and reservations.

A letter to members....(continued from front cover)

All of the nominees are incumbents except forCarolyn Martin and Robert Wein. Carolyn, asassistant editor of The Bronxville Journal, hasplayed a major role in the Conservancy’s first historical publication, and Bob, who has lived inBronxville since 1942, is serving on theConservancy's Strategy and Grant ApplicationCommittee charged with initiating proposals forthe use of Conservancy funds and developingprocedures for the receipt and consideration ofgrant applications.

A financial statement for the Conservancy, asprepared by our treasurer, Hank Coon, is enclosedwith this mailing.

We look forward to seeing you on November 4,2001.

Sincerely,Marilynn Hill and Robert RiggsCo-Chairs

Coming soon!The Conservancy will soon have its own web pages aspart of the history section of the Village of Bronxville’swebsite. Look for it soon at www.villageofbronxville.com

Want to write for The Chronicle?Please contact Editor Nancy Vittorini if you would liketo contribute articles and/or photographs to The Chronicle regarding what you most cherish inBronxville’s history...or your work with theConservancy...or perhaps a letter to the editor. We’d like to hear from you!