Statement of Purpose: The Rye Historical Society preserves two of the oldest structures in Westchester County: The Square House Museum, an 18th c. tavern and inn in downtown Rye, and the Knapp House Archives, believed to be the oldest residential structure in the county.
Mission: To discover, collect and preserve any material which may help establish or illustrate the history of the area; to disseminate knowledge of local history, and to foster public awareness of, and pride in, the heritage of the Rye community.
a) To bring together those people interested in history, and especially the history of the area now comprising Rye, New York;
b) To discover, collect and preserve any material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of the area, such as histories, diaries, genealogies, pamphlets, manuscripts and letters, as well as museum materials, such as pictures, paintings, relics and material objects illustrative of life, conditions, events and activities of the past and the present;
c) To provide for the preservation of historical buildings, monuments and markers; and
d) To disseminate a knowledge of local history, and to foster a public awareness of, and pride in, the historic heritages of the Rye Community.
The Society offers educational programs for children and adults, changing exhibits and archival research in local history for residents and school children of our community, as well as for visitors from near and far. Through historic site tours and education programs, the Museum interprets life in Rye from the 18th century to the present day. We are the only small local history museum in Westchester that has a professional staff and is accredited by the American Association of Museums for its high standards of museum programming.
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Dear Friends:
So much has happened since I stood before you last June. Our Capital Campaign “Rye History: Moving Forward” is underway, and in addition we have been given a Challenge Grant to put a fire suppression system in the Knapp House Archives. We laid down the plans for the re-interpretation of the Mead Bedroom at the Square House into a “Please Touch” 18th c. Tavern Bedroom, and the room will undergo its renovation over the summer. We have spent time exploring the history of a fascinating Rye community, and both the Square House and Knapp House are alive with activity. There is always a lecture, exhibit, or event to be found taking place at the Rye Historical Society.
Last fall we set our sights on Greenhaven. A few days before ‘Walk Historic Greenhaven” Barbara Mathews Hancock hosted an evening talk titled “Growing Up In Greenhaven”, where she read excerpts from Reggie Corwin’s memoirs of growing up on Brevoort Farm at the turn of the century, and Greenhaven resident Margot Burgheimer shared recollections of Greenhaven in the 1950’s. Not only was Barbara’s house on the walking tour, but she was also the host for our recent spring Gala event “Seaside Speakeasy”. Thank you Barbara for your incredible generosity and support.
The Knapp House continues to thrive under the direction of our archivist Richard Hourihan. It became obvious that as the Archives grew, there was a need to address the threat of fire. Much research was done to determine the proper type of system and the cost of the undertaking. Last fall, the City Council presented us with a Challenge Grant for a Knapp House Fire Suppression System. If we raise $30,000 in 2007 the City will match that and we can begin to install a system. We are certain that we can meet this challenge by the end of 2007.
When Kristina Bicher left her position as Executive Director this spring, she agreed to stay on as a Trustee to work on the Capital Campaign. Under her guidance, the campaign “Rye History: Moving Forward” has raised $168,000 to date. Of this $14,500 is earmarked for fire suppression, or approximately half of the $30,000 needed for the Challenge Grant. We feel confident that the community will continue to support us as we move forward with this endeavor.
In April 2007 we welcomed Dr. Ruth Herron Smalt as our new Executive Director. Not only does Ruth have a strong background in education and administration, but as a lifelong resident of the community, she has her own history with the society. Her father Doug Herron was a Trustee and our Treasurer for twenty years, her mother was an active volunteer, and her three daughters have been through many of our programs over the years. She has made the transition a smooth and easy one, and it a pleasure to have her as a member of the staff.
At our recent Spring Gala “Seaside Speakeasy” the support of the community was clear. The plan for a re-interpretation of the Mead Bedroom at the Square House has been underway for two years. The room will be transformed into an 18th c. Tavern Bedroom. Unlike other spaces in the museum, this is a “Please Touch’ room. Visitors will be able to put on clothes, lie on the beds, and imagine they were spending a night in a Tavern on the Post Road in the 1700’s. The “Giving Tree” at the Gala this year included all the items needed to transform this room. Each and every item was donated, and the project is underway!
None of these things could happen without the support of the membership of the society, which has remained strong. On behalf of the Rye Historical Society, I want to thank the membership, as well as the dedicated staff, trustees and volunteers, which keep The Rye Historical Society the vibrant, healthy organization that it is today.
Respectfully submitted,
Adrianne dePolo Becker, President
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Highlights of 2006
SQUARE HOUSE EXHIBITS IN 2006:
MAJOR:
Danger and Division: Rye During The Revolution
September 11: Rye Remembers
MINOR:
Native American Tool and Weapons
Early American Toys and Games
Old Deeds and Documents
Spotlight on Historical Costumes: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS/WORKSHOPS:
First Week Free Program
Stories at the Square House: Samantha from American Girl Doll
Be My Valentine
Stories at the Square House: Addy from American Girl Doll
February Vacation Camp: Presidential Food & Facts
Stories at the Square House: Felicity from American Girl Doll
Saint Patrick’s Day History & Lore
April Vacation Camp: Decorative Crafts
Hands-on-History Colonial Camp
Old Fashioned Toys
Glass Painting
Big Apple Bonanza
Crewelwork for Kids
Native American Traditions
Holiday Ornaments & Gifts
Holiday Treats
ADULT PROGRAMS:
Curator Talk: Native American Tools & Weapons
Curator Talk: Preserving Family Heirlooms
Curator Talk: Early American Hand Tools
History Through Film Series
FAMILY EVENTS:
Madam Knight Rides Again
Revolutionary War Encampment on the Village Green
Family Pumpkin Carving
Candlelight Tours
VISITATION AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS: In the calendar year 2006, Rye Historical Society served over 6,000 people, including Square House, Knapp House and school-related programs. Eighteen different schools from New York City and Westchester and Putnam counties were served through on-site programs, outreach and Traveling Trunks.
FUNDRAISING: The fundraising for the year 2005 included: Direct Mail Campaign, “Rye Treasures” Estate Sale and Annual Spring Gala Benefit: “Rooted in History, Growing for the Future”
Grants: In 2005, we were grateful to receive grants from The Junior Section of the Women’s Club, the Rotary Club of Port Chester, The Rotary Club of Rye, The Agatha Durland Foundation (formerly the Visiting Nurses Association), the Women’s Association of Rye Presbyterian Church, Midland School PTO, Milton School PTO, the New York Council for the Humanities, and a private family foundation.
Memorial Gifts: The RHS received gifts in 2005 in honor of F. Mitchell Cummins, William Carpenter, John Dunne, Emily Johnson and Charles Moxhay (see Treasurer’s Report).
STAFF: We were pleased to welcome two new staff members in 2005. Our new curator is Jarod Kearney. He received a BA in History and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His professional experience includes tenure as Executive Director of the Hallockville Museum Farm and Folklife Center in Riverhead, New York and educational experience at the Greensboro Historical Museum.
Jennifer Plick is our new educator. She comes to the Society with extensive experience in museum education, having most recently been Interpretive Programs Manager for the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich. She has also worked for Historic Hudson Valley and the John Jay Homestead State Historic Site. She has a BS in History from Mercy College.
STRATEGIC PLANNING: In addition to receiving our reaccreditation, the Society received a grant-funded Public Dimension Assessment Report which outlines the ways in which the Society responds to community needs. This report, in conjunction with our Long Range Plan, will help the Board of Trustees continue to adhere to the standards set forth by the AAM and accomplish the goals set forth in the mission statement of the Society.
VISITATION AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS: In the calendar year 2005, total audience served was 6,800. This included some 900 related to the Knapp House and 3,200 related to school programs. Sixteen different schools were served from New York City and Westchester and Rockland counties.
KNAPP HOUSE UPDATE
Activities:
The Knapp House is open 3 days a week to researchers of all types. Research requests are also undertaken for individuals in other states and countries. There are three educational gardens to enjoy.
The Knapp House offers a variety of exhibits, art shows and unique lectures. New exterior signs were installed at the Knapp House early in 2006.
Knapp House Exhibits:
-“Whatever Happened to Cottage Park?”
-“Boston Post Road: circa 1800.” Rare map on loan to the Society
-“Fletcher Steele: Landscape Architect”
Knapp House Talks:
-“Civil War Aftermath: African Americans in Rye”
-“Chasing the Dumpster: Collecting American Newspapers.” Talk by Vincent Golden, Curator,
American Antiquarian Society
-“Sui Generis: Dorothy Sterling of Rye”
-“Young Scholar Series:
“Both Sides of the Border: Daniel Merritt, Revolutionary Soldier.” Talk by Craig Smith, Yale University
“The Anthropological Contributions of Elsie Clews Parsons.” Talk by Vibha Gokhole, Colgate College
“Gentlemen Officers of the Revolutionary War.” Talk by Craig Smith, Yale University
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Herron Smalt, Ph.D.,
Executive Director
TREASURER’S REPORT
The financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2006 are complete and have been audited by Buck and Sturmer who found that these financial statements “present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Rye Historical Society as of December 31, 2006”.
Turning our attention to these statements, we can see that Assets now stand at $1,324,359 and are composed primarily of property and equipment of $732,968 (which is almost entirely the Knapp House property), and $539,023 in investments, which serve as the endowment of the Society. The endowment has grown through increased contributions as a result of our capital campaign, and from unrealized investment gains of over $59K.
The activities highlighted in the Director’s report had a strong influence on membership and contributions in 2006. Membership contributions were $41,436; and fundraising events brought in $68,135 for the year.
Fundraising events are one of the mains sources of revenue for the Historical Society, but can be adversely affected by things out of our control, such as weather. To “diversify” our income stream, we have embarked upon a capital campaign with a goal of dramatically increasing the endowment so that it can substantially support our operations.
The Rye Historical Society continues to be in good financial condition due to the support of the citizenry of the City of Rye, allowing it to continue its mission of preserving and maintaining Rye’s unique heritage.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Horvath, Treasurer
