The White Plains Historical Society
Treasures of White Plains
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On loan from brother Don Baird and sister Barbara Ludemann, decendents of Jacob Purdy.
Pinchbeck Family Exhibit
From the collection of the White Plains Historical Society
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Courtesy of Drew Mosher.
"Proposed Restoration of the Nicholas Fisher House, White Plains, N.Y." Howard H. Battin, July 1965.
From the collection of the White Plains Historical Society|
This architectural drawing was submitted by Howard H. Battin, a White Plains architect and member of the Westchester County Historical Society, following an announcement in local newspapers that the historic Fisher House was being demolished. According to Renoda Hoffman, the house was built by John Fisher about 1746 on a site that is now encircled by the Orchard Street entrance ramp for I-287. His patriot son Nicholas was born in the house, as was his daughter Ann, the widow of North Castle patriot Elijah Miller. Notes on the back of the drawing's matt indicate that the Fisher house and property could be restored to Mr. Battin's design for $60,000. Despite his best efforts, the house was vandalized and demolished in 1966. A modern office building, now empty, was built in it's place and occupied for many years by the American Lung Association. Battin, a native of Wausau, Wisconsin, was an award winning architect who, among other things, designed the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Library in Hyde Park. He resided in the North Broadway section of White Plains, and died at St. Agnes Hospital on January 3, 1976 at the age of 80. |
A gift of Maureen M. Kenney (Director, POW'R Against Tobacco of the American Lung Association in New York).
Details of a commemorative porcelain plate designed cir. 1910 by the White Plains Chapter of the D.A.R
From the collection of the White Plains Historical Society|
The plate depicts the first White Plains courthouse (erected in 1758 on the current site of the White Plains Armory), where New York's 4th Provincial Congress received the Declaration of Independence; and where the charter creating New York State was signed on July 9, 1776. The building was later burned with the rest of the village on November 4, 1776 by American troops after the Battle of White Plains (against Washington's orders). This plate was struck in honor of the monument standing in front of the Armory and dedicated by the D.A.R. on June 14, 1910, which commemorates the old courthouse as The Birthplace of New York State. |
Gift of Bruce Handler.
Abraham Lincoln Centenary Competition Certificate, 1909
From the collection of the White Plains Historical Society|
"Honorable Mention" certificate awarded in 1909 by the New York Times to Elsie Moress of the Eastview Avenue School for her "Abraham Lincoln Centenary" writing composition. Ms. Moress graduated White Plains High School in 1915 and later attended Barnard College. The certificate is signed by Adolph Ochs (1858-1935), owner and publisher of the New York Times, and later a White Plains resident. Ochs' country estate, "Hillandale," located on Homeside Lane, is now the offices of the White Plains Board of Education. |
Gift of William Donworth.
Aerial photo of Main Street, White Plains cir. 1930
From the collection of the White Plains Historical Society|
From scrapbook of baseball all-star Roger Quick. Buildings include (clockwise from top right) White Plains High School (demolished in 1940's for Macy's); Home Savings Bank (now Zanaro's); the fourth Westchester County Courthouse (demolished 1977 for the Galleria Mall); Realty Building (demolished); Bar Building (landmarked 2007), R.K.O. Keiths Theatre (with compass point - demolished for the Ritz Carlton); Grace Episcopal Church (constructed 1865); County Trust Company (now Chase Bank); City Hall; and the 1903 Methodist Church (demolished 1959 for Sears). |
Gift of Andrea Soukup.
Servant's pass (slave pass) and an image of the author of the pass, Col. Silliman, 1776 during Battle of White Plains
From the collection of Bruce Handler
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on image for more detail.
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Courtesy of Bruce Handler.
White Plains Columbus Day Celebration, North Broadway, cir. 1930's.
From the collection of the White Plains Historical Society| Main Photograph: White Plains Columbus Day Celebration, North Broadway, cir. 1930's. Officers of the Antonio Meucci Lodge #213 in the assembly include Elena Tedesco, Antonio Castaldo, Rocco Magnotta, Leon J. Magnotta, and Dominic Borelli. Courtesy Antonio Meucci Lodge- Antonio Capicotto, archivist. |
| Inset photograph: Columbus statue dedication on October 15, 1915 at it's original location, 85 feet south of its current location (entire photograph can be seen in Yesterday in White Plains by Renoda Hoffman at page 217). |
Courtesy of Peter R. Zuzolo.
White Plains Elementary School students cir. 1915.
From the collection of the White Plains Historical Society|
From scrapbook of baseball all-star Roger Quick. |
Gift of Andrea Soukup.
Four photographs of a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" of the United States Army Air Service taken at Gedney Farm, May 31, 1919.
From the collection of the White Plains Historical Society
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on image for more detail.
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From scrapbook of baseball all-star Roger Quick.
Gift of Andrea Soukup.
This bayonet was found long ago on the field of the Joshua Hatfield farm in White Plains. It once belonged to Hudson Valley landscape artist Eunice Hatfield-Smith.
From the collection of Bruce Handler
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on image for more detail.
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Courtesy of Bruce Handler.