The Kingsbridge Historical Society

Kingsbridge and Spuyten Duyvil in the 1950s (at RSS Center for Ageless Living)
2024-10-09 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Halifax) | RSS Center for Ageless Living, 2600 Netherland Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10463
We found a mysterious object deep in the archives of the Kingsbridge Historical Society–an old-looking unlabeled canister of 8mm film. We were excited to see that the film depicted events in Kingsbridge in the early 1950s in color! These events were clearly important to local people at the time but it was unclear to us what was going on in the scenes. Only by referencing back issues of the Riverdale Press could we figure out what was happening. Join us at the RSS Center for Ageless Living for a special viewing of rare footage of Kingsbridge and Spuyten Duyvil in the 1950s. Kingsbridge Historical Society president, Nick Dembowski, will use the 1950s Riverdale Press to explain the scenes and explore the mindset of a tightly-knit community, which was uneasy about developments, both at home and abroad.
Please note that this event will be held at RSS (the RSS Center for Ageless Living) at 2600 Netherland Avenue beginning at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, October 9th.

The Battle for Marble Hill - Which Side Are You On? (with Bronx Borough Historian Angel Hernandez)
2024-09-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
The annual tradition of “annexing” Marble Hill sure is a good time but what is it all about and what started it all? Join our special guest, Angel Hernandez, who will break down the history and traditions of The Bronx’s claim to Marble Hill on Wednesday September 25, 2024 @ 7:00 at historic Edgehill (2570 Independence Ave).
For years, Angel Hernandez has led the charge into Marble Hill to claim it for The Bronx. Now he is Bronx County’s new official historian. Join us in welcoming Angel to Spuyten Duyvil at this free event (and as always, open to the public).

Neighborhood Panoramas: An Art and Photo Exhibit at Edgehill
2024-08-18 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-04 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-07-14 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-12 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-05 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s archive includes early panoramic photos of the neighborhood that have not seen the light of day in decades. Come see these rarely seen gems at our first exhibit at our new headquarters, Edgehill.
The photos depict scenes from Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Spuyten Duyvil, Marble Hill, and Inwood around the turn of the 20th century. You will be amazed by the neighborhood’s appearance when there was hardly an apartment building in sight.

Jazz at Edgehill: The Rale Micic and Abe Rabade Duo
2024-06-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
Join us for an evening of Live Jazz at Edgehill featuring the Rale Micic and Abe Rabade Duo! Serbian guitarist Rale Micic and Galician pianist Abe Rabade formed a duo in 2015, performing eclectic range of original music inspired by jazz, Galician and Balkan melodies.

Take a listen.

Since then this duo appeared at numerous stages including famed Carnegie Hall, Blue Note New York, Ibiza Jazz Festival, Cafe Central Madrid, Jamboree and many more. Their debut duo album entitled Americana is coming out this summer on the Spanish label Karonte.
Rale Micic is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to emerge from Serbia, exploring interaction between his Serbian musical roots and his extensive knowledge of jazz. A Spuyten Duyvil, resident guitarist Rale Micic performed and recorded with some of today’s highest profile jazz artist including Tom Harrell, Eric Alexander, Gregory Hutchinson, Joe Farnsworth, Delfayo and Jason Marsalis, Steve LaSpina, Nasheet Waits, John Abercrombie, etc
Pianist Abe Rábade, born in Santiago, Galicia, is a major musical voice in Spain. Writing for and performing with both small and large ensembles, Abe’s latest album “Tránsitos” features his trio with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Galicia.
Tickets available here.

EVENT POSTPONED The Battle for Marble Hill - Which Side Are You On?
2024-06-20 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
[DUE TO THE IMPENDING HEATWAVE, THIS EVENT WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER]
The annual tradition of “annexing” Marble Hill sure is a good time but what is it all about and what started it all? Join our special guest, Angel Hernandez, who will break down the history and traditions of The Bronx’s claim to Marble Hill on Thursday June 20, 2024 @ 7:00 at historic Edgehill (2570 Independence Ave).
Angel Hernandez is the official historian of Bronx County and president of the Huntington Free Library and Reading room.

The Villa Rosa Bonheur and the Fight to Save It
2024-06-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
In 2017, the beloved neighborhood landmark Villa Rosa Bonheur was bought by investors. Two years later, because of “as-of-right” real estate laws, this architectural gem was reduced to a pile of rubble and carted away. This presentation outlines the community efforts to try to save her, and when that failed, the co-naming of her location where she once stood as “Villa Rosa Bonheur John J McKelvey Sr. Way” as a way of memorializing her former presence in our community.
Stephanie Coggins arrived in the Bronx a few weeks after her 18th birthday to attend Fordham University, in 1979. Now 45 years later, Stephanie is a hard-core Bronxite, having lived in Belmont, Bedford Park, and now Spuyten Duyvil. (including a two-year stint in an apartment over the Fordham Road White Castle parking lot!) Arriving in Spuyten Duyvil in 2015, she became enraptured with the green space and architecture of this unique neighborhood. Inspired by the tragic loss of Villa Rosa Bonheur, she became involved in community activism related to that loss. Due to her efforts, in 2022 the intersection of Palisade Avenue and Bradley Terrace step street was legally co-named “Villa Rosa Bonheur – John J. McKelvey Sr Way”, to memorialize the loss of VRB to development. Her current activities include administration of two Facebook Groups based on local community issues, and memberships in Plant Native NW Bronx, and the Kingsbridge Historical Society. Stephanie is the current gardener at Edgehill, adding native and pollinator plants to it raised beds to enhance this historic landmark.

SOLD OUT - Spuyten Duyvil Chamber Players Special Benefit Concert
2024-05-19 16:00 - 17:30 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
This event is sold out!
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear live chamber music at beautiful Edgehill, Spuyten Duyvil’s only registered historic landmark. Proceeds will support the Kingsbridge Historical Society’s effort to restore Edgehill.
Join friends and fellow community members for a benefit concert by the Spuyten Duyvil Chamber Players. The group will perform music for harpsichord, violin, flute, horn, voice, and accordion designed to fill Edgehill with joy and moving sounds to welcome the spring season!
This event is sold out!

The History of Spuyten Duyvil presented by Nick Dembowski
2024-05-15 17:00 - 18:00 | RSS Center for Ageless Living, 2600 Netherland Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10463
Spuyten Duyvil’s history is really a microcosm of American history. Kingsbridge Historical Society President, Nick Dembowski, will trace its remarkable past from its Indigenous history, through the Revolution, to the Industrial era and beyond. The presentation will feature rarely seen maps and images to illustrate the story of a neighborhood, which some still remember as an area with large estates and few apartment buildings.
Please join us in the Riverdale Senior Services Center for light refreshments, the presentation and a Q&A with Nick.

Register here.

Daniel Hauben in Kingsbridge and Riverdale: Artist Retrospective
2024-05-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Edgehill, 2570 Independence Ave, Bronx, NY, 10463
Daniel Hauben lives in the Kingsbridge apartment he moved into with his parents in 1965, when he was nine years old. His earliest cityscapes depicted the view from his window, facing west across the Major Deegan, and up the hill to Riverdale.
Mr. Hauben has explored the world near and far, in paint, and has come back again and again and again to paint the neighborhood he knows best.
Come enjoy this retrospective presentation by Daniel Hauben of his art of Kingsbridge and Riverdale.

Pinkster Festival
2024-05-04 12:00 - 16:00 | Van Cortlandt House Museum, 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY, 10471
Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Pinkster at this year’s Pinkster Festival hosted by the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Van Cortlandt House Museum, and Kingsbridge Historical Society. Join us on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences.
– Live Music with Chief Baba Neil Clarke, Master Percussionist
– Story of Pinkster with the Pinkster Players
– Stories with April Armstrong, Master Storyteller
– Tours and Chats with Carla & Keyes, Interpreters
– Community Art Project with Tijay Mohammed, Artist
PLUS: Food from Voilà Afrique and crafts from African Masidi & Co for sale!
RSVP Suggested.
What is Pinkster?
Pinkster, a variation of the Dutch word Pinksteren, meaning “Pentecost,” was once a major holiday in colonial New York. The festivities uniquely blended Dutch Christian traditions with African rituals, shaping a distinct cultural celebration for enslaved and free people of African descent.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.

Pinkster's Legacy
2024-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Tune in for a captivating discussion with local historians, Lavada Nahon and Chief Baba Neil Clarke, as we unravel the significance of Pinkster, exploring its cultural, social, and historical importance.From Pinkster’s roots in the traditions of enslaved Africans to its enduring impact on contemporary society, Nahon and Clarke offer invaluable insights into the enduring spirit of resilience and community that define this uniquely northeastern holiday. Hosted by VCPA’s Arts Integration Strategist Ashley Hart Adams on Zoom.
RSVP in advance to receive a zoom link.
We hope you’ll join us in person for our annual Pinkster Festival on Saturday, May 4th from 12PM-4PM on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences. Admission is FREE!
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
About Lavada Nahon: Lavada Nahon is the interpreter of African American history for The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation-Bureau of Historic Sites. She is also a culinary historian focused on the 17th to 19th century mid-Atlantic region, with an emphasis on the work of enslaved cooks in the homes of the elite class. She has 18 plus years of public history experience working with a variety of historic sites, societies, and museums across the tri-state region. Lavada has developed educational programs, after-school programs, lectures and tours, period presentations and historic dinners for sites ranging from the New York Historical Society, Albany Institute of Art and History, Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, Johnson Hall, and many more. She worked as a museum associate and educator for Historic Hudson Valley for 12 years at Van Cortlandt Manor and Philipsburg Manor Upper Mills, and as a production coordinator for their special events team for 3 years. Her mission is to bring history to life by giving presence to the Africans and people of African descent enslaved and free in the landmass that was once New Netherland/New York in whatever way possible.
About Chief Baba Neil Clarke: Neil Clarke is internationally acclaimed as a percussionist involved with traditional African drumming and the percussive arts for more than half a century. In addition to his activities as a professional performer, Chief Baba Neil (as he is now affectionately called), has been active in arts in education programming for more than four decades as an educator and a consultant. He has conducted artist residencies and designed programming at all educational levels from elementary and middle school through secondary and college. he has served as a presenter and consultant for many of the major cultural institutions in the New York area including The Caribbean Cultural Center, the Museum of Natural History, and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, to name a few.
