Crossroads of Rockland History

This episode (187) began streaming on June 15, 2026. On the June 2026 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History we turned our attention to the complex story of Peggy Shippen Arnold. Historian Char Weigel joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the wife of America’s most notorious traitor, Benedict Arnold. Char's research centers entirely on primary source documentation, offering a nuanced and f...

The May, 2026 episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History" began streaming on Monday, May 18, on all major podcast platforms and here on the HSRC website. In this episode, we revisited an interview from 2011 with the historian and author Robert A. Mayers (1930-2025) about his book The War Man: The True Story of a Citizen-Soldier Who Fought from Quebec to Yorktown. The book offers a unique...

The April episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History" began streaming on Monday, April 20, 2026 at 10:00am, on all major podcast platforms and on the HSRC website. Most people don’t know Nat Fein’s name—but they know his work. Fein, who lived in Tappan for many years, captured one of the most iconic images in American sports history: Babe Ruth’s final appearance at Yankee Stadium, a phot...

This episode began streaming on Monday, March 16, 2026.  On this episode we turned our attention to the new exhibition at the Haverstraw Brick Museum , “The Remarkable Landscape Design of Mary Mowbray-Clarke.” The museum’s Executive Director Rachel Whitlow and Educator Luke Spaltro joined host Clare Sheridan for a preview of this interesting and informative exhibition. They will also share the Bri...

The February episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History" started streaming on Monday, February 16, at 10 am. On this episode of Crossroads of Rockland History, host Clare Sheridan welcomed author Eve Kahn as she returns to discuss her latest work ahead of her March presentation at Sloatsburg's Harmony Hall. The focus will be on Kahn's new book, Queen of Bohemia Predicts Own Dea...

The January episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History" started streaming on Monday, January 19, at 10 am, on all major podcast platforms and here on the HSRC website. Host Clare Sheridan welcomed Timothy Englert , co-founder of Rockland County's Knickerbocker Ice Festival - he cofounded it with Rob Patalano (1964-2025).  Tim  shared the history of Rockland Lake's illustrious p...

The December 2025 episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History" started streaming on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 10 am, on all major podcast platforms and on the HSRC website. Host Clare Sheridan welcomed Pearl River librarian and local historian James Cassetta for a discussion of his newly published book, When God Awakens in the Hinterlands: A History of Religious Worship in Pearl River,...

The November episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History" starts streaming on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 10 am, on all major podcast platforms and on the HSRC website. Host Clare Sheridan revisited an earlier episode featuring Rockland County Historian Craig Long during which we discussed the importance of the Ramapo Pass in the American Revolution. In addition, host Clare Sheridan shar...

Episode began streaming on October 20, 2025 at 10am 2025 marks 50 years since the HSRC’s history center museum's cornerstone was laid, following years of work led by John Zehner. Zehner, president of the HSRC from 1954-1978, is widely recognized as the driving force behind the historical society's success in the mid 20th century. On this episode, Russell Woolley, a lifelong Rocklander sh...

On the September, 2025 episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History" host Clare Sheridan will welcome County Historian Craig Long and two members of the Tappantown Historical Society: Carol LaValle and Larry Vail.  They will all be on hand to discuss the  Historic Homes & Landmark Tour that will take place in Tappan on October 4, 2025.  In 1965, the Orangetown Town Board adopted the ma...

The August episode of "Crossroads of Rockland History" started streaming on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 10 am. On the August, 2025 episode of Crossroads, host Clare Sheridan welcomed Brad Conklin , chair of the Historical Society of the Palisades Interstate Park Region. Before the creation of the vast interstate park spanning New York and New Jersey, people lived and worked there in small...

Clare Sheridan will be joined by theatrical historian Richard Skipper . A talented entertainer, Skipper captivates his audiences wherever he goes, blending theater history, personal reflections, songs, and memories. We’ll discuss theater history; his upcoming performance at the Valley Cottage Library; and the role our public libraries play in the arts and in preserving the history of our communiti...

Crossroads revisited an earlier interview with Virginia Norfleet, founder of the Haverstraw African American Connection (HAAC), an organization that sponsors the annual Haverstraw Juneteenth Celebration.  Norfleet was also instrumental in the founding of the African American Memorial Park in Haverstraw.  Norfleet is also the 2019 recipient of  the HSRC’s Margaret B. and John R. Zehner Award for co...

Episode originally aired on Monday, April 21, 2025 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700 AM. The topic of conversation was the Lawrence–Tonetti Waterfall in Palisades, NY. Also known as Peanut Leap Cascade, this natural waterfall was beautifully enhanced by sculptors Mary Lawrence and Francois Tonetti in the early 20th century by creating stream-fed pools, sculptural fountainheads, and a Roman-style perg...

A 30-minute version of this interview  originally aired on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM. Crossroads celebrated both Women’s History Month and Saint Patrick’s day with a discussion about an exciting program coming up at Harmony Hall in Sloatsburg.    Eve Kahn, the former Antiques Editor for the New York Times and Elizabeth Stack the Executive Director at the American Irish...

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AM. Master storyteller and author Jonathan Kruk joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss his career as a Master Storyteller.  In April, Kruk will bring a family-friendly program to the Historical Society of Rockland County entitled: “Imps of Donderberg: The Lore of Rockland County.”   Topics discussed in this interv...

Episode originally aired Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9:30m on WRCR Radio 1700AM.   Crossroads of Rockland History revisited one of the most tragic events in Rockland History:  The 1914 murder of Eugene Newman by William V. Cleary.  In this re-broadcast,  host Clare Sheridan interviewed the grand-nephew of the murder victim, Eugene Newman.  Now living in Chicago, IL, Gene Newman shared the details...

Broadcast originally aired on Monday December 16, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700 AM Radio.  Beverly Schultz Csordas joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss her new book, The Olden Days: My Mother's Family History (1594-1997) . Csordas is a member of the Concklin family whose Orchards in Pomona have been owned and operated by the Concklin family for ten generations. By weaving together a wide var...

Episode originally aired on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 9:30 am, WRCR Radio 1700AM. We turned our attention to the historic Jacob Sloat house, also known as Harmony Hall, in Sloatsburg. The house is owned by the Town of Ramapo, but a small group of dedicated volunteers - The Friends of Harmony Hall - are working hard to preserve and restore this important place. Peter Bush, a member of the Friend...

Broadcast originally aired on Monday October 21, 2024 at 9:30 am on WRCR 1700 AM Radio. Bill Batson, incoming President of the Friends of Mount Moor Cemetery, joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the upcoming Veterans Day Program at Mount Moor Cemetery.  @billbatsonny @friendsofmountmoorcemetery Mount Moor African-American Cemetery, also known as Mount Moor Cemetery, is a historic African America...

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, September 16, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR Radio 1700AM We turned our attention to two notable September events relating to the American Revolution.  First, September 2024 marks the  244th anniversary of the capture, imprisonment and trial of British Major John André for conspiring with General Benedict Arnold. And it’s  the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Laf...

An excerpt of this interview aired on August 19, 2024 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM. Miriam Hoffman, Trustee of the Historical Society of the Nyacks (HSN) joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the new exhibition at the HSN entitled “Nyack Jazz – The Golden Years of ‘The Office’ and its Forerunners.” This exhibition focuses on the rich history of jazz in Nyack, beginning in the early 1900s, throug...

An Excerpt from this interview aired originally on Monday, July 15, 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AM We turned our attention to the hamlet of Sparkill. Larry Vail of the Sparkill History Project joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the rich history of this community. Some topics that were discussed were: Skunk Hollow Roads and Railroads Rockland Cemetery The Convent and Churches Hotels Early Environmental...

Episode originally aired Monday, June 17, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR AM1700 Did you ever wonder about the origins of place names in Rockland County? Joe Barbieri of the New City Library joined host Clare Sheridan to explore names such as Bulsontown, Stagg’s Corners, Hyenga Lake, Mosestown, Woodburn, Warren, and more. Joe Barbieri is the Adult Services and Local History Librarian at the New City Libr...

Broadcast originally aired on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 9:30 am, on WRCR 1700AM Radio. Mike Hays joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss his weekly history column ( Nyack People and Places )  in Nyack News and Views . Nyack News and Views has been sharing community news and storytelling for sixteen years, and Mike Hays has worked diligently to bring Nyack’s rich history to its readers.   A thirty-five...