“THE HISTORY OF CROTON POINT PARK” A ZOOM Presentation by the Westchester County Historical Society
The Westchester County Historical Society continues its observance of the Westchester Park’s Commission 100th Anniversary with a virtual presentation on the history of Croton Point Park. The free zoom program will be presented by Marc Cheshire, the Village Historian for Croton-on-Hudson, on Sunday, November 13 at 4 PM.
From the time of the first Native American settlements (dating back 7,000 years) to capping the Westchester County garbage dump, Croton Point reflects the county’s history unlike any other public park. Remains of “oyster middens” from Native American occupation here can still be found along the shore. Evidence of the early lucrative brick-making business and commercial vineyard can be found in the thousands of discarded bricks along the shoreline and on the south side the boarded-up entrances to vaulted wine cellars. This history, along with tales of witches who once guarded Captain Kidd’s buried treasure, how the cannons fired at the British ship Vulture led to the capture of Major John André and the plans by the county to transform Croton Point into Playland West, are also related in Mr. Cheshire’s illustrated presentation.
Established in 1874, the Westchester County Historical Society is one of the oldest historical societies in America and the only organization that collects and promotes the county-wide history of Westchester. The Society’s comprehensive and accessible collection of books, pamphlets, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, maps and atlases, and images pertaining to the history and genealogy of Westchester County is housed in the state-of-the art temperature-and humidity-controlled environment of the Westchester County Records Center located at 2199 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY, 10523.
