Refuges from Racism Along the Hudson River

07 Feb 2022

Refuges from Racism Along the Hudson River

February 7, 2022
The Hastings Historical Society
6695 Views
1 Likes
1800s

Mars Plater

For our annual meeting in 2018, Mars Plater — then a doctoral student in History at Rutgers University — used photos and historical accounts to give a program titled, “Up at Dudley’s Grove: 19th Century Steamboat Excursions to Hastings-on-Hudson.” Dudley’s Grove was a recreation area on the […]

07 Jan 2022

What’s Behind the Yellow Jacket’s Name?

January 7, 2022
The Hastings Historical Society
12258 Views
9 Likes
Hastings High School

By Barney Smith

Last year, then-freshman Barney Smith asked the Historical Society for information on the derivation of the “Yellow Jackets” as the High School team name. We had fun digging around in old yearbooks and sent him a TON of raw info. This is Barney’s resulting article, […]

03 Sep 2021

From Marble Dust to Soda Water

September 3, 2021
The Hastings Historical Society
10009 Views
3 Likes
1800s, Industry/Commerce

by Henry Levin

According to Rich Steeves, a local resident and frequent contributor to the Historical Society, the Hastings marble quarry located along the Old Croton Aqueduct had more uses than previously assumed. Hastings may seem unconnected to soda, being a somewhat health-occupied village, but in the 1800s […]

03 Aug 2021

The Housemen

August 3, 2021
Natalie Barry
7850 Views
9 Likes
1960s, Remembrances

by Natalie Barry

Students of Hastings High School from the mid-1960s may remember a group of young men (three village residents, plus a city boy) who were members of a band called The Housemen. This group of friends were good musicians and played at several of the high […]

27 Jun 2021

Demystifying George Harvey

June 27, 2021
The Hastings Historical Society
10500 Views
4 Likes
1800s, Art, George Harvey

By Chris Kemble

I recently inherited a painting, a gift to my mother decades ago. Hidden in a corner of my parents’ bedroom, I had never seen it before. The curious title on the back says The Terrace of the Artist’s at Hastings, NY. The artist and date […]

18 Jun 2021

Minnijean Brown of the “Little Rock Nine”

June 18, 2021
The Hastings Historical Society
12691 Views
4 Likes
1960s, Remembrances

by Mark Sameth

Minnijean Brown — one of the historic “Little Rock Nine” — lived in Hastings in 1958 and 1959. Minnijean came to Hastings when she was 16, after having been harassed, threatened, and ultimately expelled (for “verbal retaliation”) from the Arkansas high school she helped integrate […]

03 Apr 2021

Hillside Kids’ Q&A About Hastings History

April 3, 2021
The Hastings Historical Society
9450 Views
3 Likes
Hastings History

by Natalie Barry

For the last several years, I’ve been asked to come into Hillside School and talk to the 2nd graders about Hastings history. I always look forward to it, as the kids are always great fun and so appreciative of learning about our village’s past. This […]

19 Feb 2021

Abraham Lincoln’s First Passage through Hastings

February 19, 2021
The Hastings Historical Society
8375 Views
3 Likes
1860s

By Mark Sameth

Abraham Lincoln was here. More precisely, he passed through here. Four times. This winter marks the 160th anniversary of Lincoln’s first passage through – as it was known then – “Hastings-Upon-Hudson,” as President-elect aboard The Inaugural Express a little after 2:30 PM on the afternoon […]

29 Dec 2020

The Mystery of the Mount Hope Tea House

December 29, 2020
Richard Lovejoy
11599 Views
17 Likes
1910s, 1920s, 1930s, Hastings History, Hudson Heights, Mount Hope Boulevard

by Richard Lovejoy

Recently Michelle Bohuniek, a former Hastings resident, asked us for any information we might have about her former residence at 357 Mt. Hope Boulevard. Specifically, she was interested in what we knew about a tea room that she had heard operated in her house and […]