Historical Treasures Enter Scarsdale's Digital Archive

A faded postcard of my 1912 home that I inherited when we purchased our house in 1990 has been sitting on my mantle ever since. At the time, the house looked more like an Adirondack lodge than a suburban residence.

Prompted by an event sponsored by the Scarsdale Historical Society on Sunday October 2, I pulled the photo out of its frame and found a note affixed to the back from the home’s second owner. Her note provided me with the name of the original owner and it was startling to realize that in 110 year only three families have lived here.

I took my postcard to the library and found others with historical mementos, documents, maps and photos of Scarsdale which the historical society scanned for digital preservation.

Some of the trove that was scanned that day included an original 1926 brochure for an auction of 234 residential plots in Heathcote Crest owned by Michael Zeller.  Just like today, the auction was to be held in a tent. The brochure promised the installation of water in every street and every lot and said, “gas and electric now available.”

Announcement of the auction of plots in Heathcote Crest in 1926

Also on view was this portrait of William Bailey Lang, one of the oldest of New York's iron merchants, who built Rowsley Cottage at 37 Drake Road in 1858 (now the home of the Scarsdale Women's Club). The photo is dated 1886 and was donated by the Scarsdale Women's Club. It's the first photo of Mr. Lang to become part of the Scarsdale Public Library's digital collection.

I met Diana Kiel and Les Jacobowitz, who brought in many treasures related to the Charles W. Dickel estate that was once on Post Road in Greenacres.

Christine Weston, now President of the Crane Berkeley neighborhood association brought in years of documents to scan. Among these was an invitation to a neighborhood clambake in 1973 with “coffee, tea and Sanka” served with dessert.

Diana Kiel and Les Jacobowitz display a photo of the Charles W. Dickel EstateFormer Scarsdale resident Seth Kaller brought an exhibit of some of the letters and documents from his collection including a letter relating to the Battle of White Plains that was fought in Scarsdale, and a copy of the Reynolds Pamphlet, which some may remember from the musical Hamilton.

Leslie Chang from the Scarsdale Historical Society said, “It was very exciting to see new Scarsdale treasures coming in for digital preservation, and I was thrilled the setting was so social and collaborative. I didn’t anticipate how much lively conversation there would be with all of the attendees enjoying and discussing each other’s mementos.”An invitation to a Hawaiian Clambake in Crane Berkeley in 1973.Sanka anyone?William Bailey Lang