Our 31st annual Spring Benefit Dinner at the Fenway Golf Club on Saturday, April 2, honored the New Choral Society of Central Westchester, its conductor, Dr. John T. King, its executive director, Betsy Broyd and its president, John Gould. The New Choral Society, in its 11th season, was honored for "providing sophisticated entertainment to so many people in Scarsdale and Westchester County with its presentations of great choral classics and chamber music". At the dinner, the Society also presented newly-established awards and crtificates of civic excellence to:

Rush Wilson, President of Scarsdale Improvement Corp., received our first Civic Award for his dedication and loyal support to the Historical Society and other non-profits in the Village.

Mary Dixon was honored with our first Community Service Award for her more than 25-year service to the Society as a volunteer, Membership Chair and Trustee, as well as active involvement with the Women's Exchange and Woman's Club.

Barbara Shay MacDonald received our first Historic Preservation Award for her service as a volunteer, Trustee, Vice President and Historian, writer and teacher of local history.

Special recognition was given to the family of Lynne and Ira Wilson of Wilson & Son Jewelers on its 100th anniversary of being in business in Scarsdale, and for its longtime support of the Society.

President Bill Doescher served as Master of Ceremonies and presented the awards. Geralyn and Ralph Della Cava were co-chairs of the event.

Volunteers Help Organize Collections; More Needed!

By Mimi Sherman

With the assistance of volunteer Toby Zucker-man, the transcription of the Hyatt letters is continuing. There are approximately 2,500 letters of Elvira and Caleb Hyatt and their respective mothers, dating from 1904 to the 1940's. We hope that their content will give us greater insight into the lives of Elvira and Caleb both before and after 1924, when they came to reside at 937 Post Road. Toby will soon assess the state of the collection of oral history tapes that have not been transcribed to see if they are still readable and if they are, she will begin to transcribe them.

Under the capable eye of volunteer Jane Stanley, the collection of pre-1900 books is now in a library format and a catalogue is being created. Some of the more fragile books will need special containers, but soon it will be possible to offer to both members and the public the opportunity to see and handle these wonderful survivors.

The collection of glass plate negatives is now properly housed. Part of the collection donated by Stephen Angell, these have images of houses and other places in the Scarsdale area. Most of them do not have titles or descriptions, and they are difficult to read accurately. The next step is to apply for funding through the New York State Library Association to have copy negatives made, so that they can be viewed and used more easily.

With the assistance of Dorothy Pandeleon the textile collection is being reviewed so that it more appropriately reflects the mission of SHS and can be better stored.

Volunteer help makes it possible to make progress in the curatorial arena. There are multiple opportunities for anyone who wishes to volunteer as the activities mentioned above, and others dealing with the collections, are pursued . Anyone with interest in donating a little time should contact Mimi Sherman, Consulting Curator, at 723-1744 .

Education Director's Report

By Susan Kaufman

Lina Goto, a senior at Scarsdale High School, will begin her internship at the SHS. Lina's fields of interest are history and art and we are fortunate to have her working with us on this project. Look for pictures of this activity on our Website later this spring.

The first-graders at Greenacres school will begin painting their murals based on the theme of "Family" in May. This is the culmination of a year-long program in which the students learned about the way of life of The Lenape, the Colonists and 19th- century Americans living in Westchester.

In addition to local schools -- Edgewood, Greenacres and Quaker Ridge -- in April we have hosted visits from the Westchester ARC in Mt. Kisco and from senior citizens from the Esplanade Residence in White Plains.

The Education Department has been running a club through the After-School program at Fox Meadow school called "Toys from Grandma's Trunk". The children have been having a great time making toys the old-fashioned way and have created Jumping Jacks, whirligigs, accordion fish, circus cut-outs, and other treasures.

100 Types of Bulbs In 28th Annual Sale

More than 100 varieties of bulbs will be offered in the Society's 28th Annual Dutch Bulb Sale. Order forms will be mailed to all members and former purchasers. Current members receive a 10% discount. Photos of the bulb flowers will be on display in the 1828 Quaker Meeting House.

The deadline for orders is Monday, June 13. The bulbs will arrive in mid-October; information about pick-up dates is sent to all purchasers. Please order your bulbs from the Society! The sale helps to support our education and exhibition programs. For additional information, phone the office, 723-1744.

CHH Restoration, Capital Campaign Continue

Thanks to funds raised in our Capital Campaign, painting of the Cudner-Hyatt House exterior is slated to begin in June, as is the much-needed installation of a new dry well. Last fall, the roofs of both the 1828 Quaker Meeting House and the Cudner-Hyatt House were replaced with new cedar shingles, and the exterior of the 1828 Quaker Meeting House was painted.

But the Capital Campaign is not over! We still have a long way to go! As part of our renovation project and to thank our donors for their kind generosity, we plan to install a beautiful brick pathway with the names of our supporters. For a donation of $300 or more to our 2004-2005 Capital Campaign, your name(s) will become an everlasting part of history.

We urge you to give generously to our 2004-2005 Capital Campaign! Take your place in Scarsdale history by purchasing a "named brick" for our new pathway!

Congratulations!

To new Scarsdale Board of Education members Barbara Guss Kemp (a former Society Dinner-Dance co-chair) and Linda Hillman Chayes.

Dates to Remember

"Ghosts of the Post Road" Exhibition Continues through the summer

Bulb Sale: Orders must be returned to the Society by Monday, June 13