A Colonial Innkeeper’s Holiday Celebration
Dec
1
to Dec 14

A Colonial Innkeeper’s Holiday Celebration

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Back by Popular Demand, Rye Historical Society presents “A Colonial Innkeeper’s Holiday Celebration” Guided holiday tours of the Square House Museum

Join the Rye Historical Society on a festive journey through time with “A Colonial Innkeeper’s Holiday Celebration” at the Square House Museum.

Step back in time as you explore the Square House Museum and learn about the holiday traditions of the Haviland family. Discover how they managed the Square House during the holiday season and celebrated the winter festivities as a family. Christmas in Rye two centuries ago featured unique traditions that have evolved over time. Unlike today, there were no candy canes, Christmas stockings, or festive trees adorning homes. Instead, the Havilands enjoyed apple pudding for something sweet and indulged in bowls of hot, spicy punch. The families may have made pomander balls or delighted in crisp gingerbread cookies and sipped rich hot chocolate.

WHEN: Sunday, December 1 st (during Mistletoe Magic), and Saturday December 14 th

WHERE: Square House Museum, One Purchase Street, Rye, NY 10580

Guided Tours are on a first come, first served basis, beginning at the bottom of each hour and lasting approximately 20 minutes, followed by an informal Q&A session. Scheduled tour times are 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30.

Admission is FREE and open to the public, with donations gratefully accepted. This program is appropriate for adults and children ages 10 and up.

For more information, please call (914) 967-7588 or visit our website (www.ryehistory.org/events)

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“Native Americans in Rye” Lecture, Q & A and Artifacts from the Morgan Seacord Collection
Nov
16
3:30 PM15:30

“Native Americans in Rye” Lecture, Q & A and Artifacts from the Morgan Seacord Collection

Embark on a voyage through time as we uncover the rich legacy of the Native Americans who once called Rye, NY their home. Guiding us through this engaging presentation and interactive Q&A session is Joie Cooney, a Rye resident and Rye Historical Society Board Member. Drawing upon a trove of resources, including artifacts from the Rye Historical Society's collection, insights from local historians, Lenape descendants, and eminent scholars, Joie will delve into 13,000 years of Native American history. Learn about Rye's first residents - how they lived, the historical events that shaped them, what they left behind, and their survival as a people. 

Attendees will also have the unique opportunity to view select Native American artifacts from our Morgan Seacord Collection* currently being catalogued by Josie LaRiccia. Josie began volunteering with the Rye Historical Society in 1993 as part of an archaeology course at Norwalk Community College, where she identified and catalogued over 1500 artifacts from the Morgan Seacord Collection. After a decades-long hiatus, she reconnected with RHS in 2023 while enrolled in SUNY Westchester Community College’s Historic Preservation Certification program. Since then, Josie has created an online inventory of all 1500 artifacts, including original hand-written notes, some dating as far back as the late 1800’s. Fascinating artifacts on display at the presentation will include arrowheads, projectile points and other tools for fishing and hunting, as well as unique hand-drawn maps dating back as far as 1918. 

Attendance is free and open to the public. A reception with wine and cheese will precede the lecture. 

*Morgan H. Seacord (1879-1971) was an attorney and author heavily involved in the Huguenot and Historical Association of New Rochelle and the Westchester County Historical Society. In 1965, he donated a large collection of thousands of archaeological finds from the Long Island Sound coast of Westchester County to the Rye Historical Society. 

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