Tag: art

Beacon Historical Society 61 Leonard Street Beacon, NY 12508

Beacon Historical Society 61 Leonard Street Beacon, NY 12508

Beacon Historical Society

61 Leonard Street

Beacon, NY 12508

(845) 831-0514

https://www.beaconhistorical.org/

https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHistoricalSociety/

Open: Sunday- Wednesday Closed/ Thursday 10:00am-12:00pm/Friday Closed/Saturday 1:00pm-3:00pm

Admission: Free but donations are accepted

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g47291-d15772700-Reviews-Beacon_Historical_Society-Beacon_New_York.html

The Beacon Historical Society at 61 Leonard Street at Christmas time

The outside of the building in the Summer

The sign for the Beacon Historical Society at Christmas time

The outside sign in the Summer

The Mission of the Society:

(From the Society pamphlet

The Beacon Historical Society was founded in 1976 to preserve, collect and interpret the rich history of the City of Beacon and its predecessor Villages of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan.

History of the Society:

(From the Museum website)

Established in 1976, the Beacon Historical Society showcases Beacon’s history through exhibitions, collections, programs, books and an informative monthly newsletter. The Beacon Historical Society is proud to serve as Beacon’s repository of rare photographs, paintings and prints, Hudson River ship models, objects and ephemera from local factories and Main Street businesses, records of local cemeteries and Civil War veterans, maps of Beacon, Fishkill Landing and Matteawan.

I recently did a walking tour of Downtown Beacon, NY and was impressed by the numbers of restaurants, bars and stores in the downtown area. It is an impressive downtown with very few empty stores and impressive and lively street life. On my first trip to the Beacon Historical Society I learned this was not always the case.

I recently visited this small historical society packed with information on the history not just of the City of Beacon but the surrounding Hudson River area. The museum gives an in depth view of the industrial history of the area and the highs and lows of many of the river communities. These small communities have seen a renaissance over the last decade especially during COVID and many of the older towns have seen new life being breathed into them.

The first exhibition I looked at was the Photographer Patrick Prosser exhibition (being shared with the Howland Cultural Center) ‘Work in Decay: The City of Beacon NY’.

Artist Patrick Prosser

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Beaconphotogroup/posts/30007658412154532

Photographer Patrick Prossner was born and raised in Beacon and a graduate of Beacon High School and SUNY New Paltz with BFA. His work on this project started in 1982 photographing the decay of his home town (Author’s Bio on BHS website).

The photographer moved to the area in the early 1980’s during a time when Beacon’s mills and factories were closing and the downtown was boarded up. It shows what the downtown business district looked like and the changes that were made to shape it today.

The sign for the exhibition

Pictures of the former industrial zone

The pictures showed a once vibrant industrial community and the changes once these factories closed.

The changes in the surrounding area

The exhibition really shows the transformation of these towns from the once industrial hubs to the artsy communities filled with galleries and bars that many of them have become.

Downtown Beacon today filled with art galleries, shops and small restaurants

The former mill is now a luxury hotel and restaurant overlooking the same waterfall that used to power the mill

These small communities factories have now become hotels, lofts and in some cases new cottage industries have moved in. Time transforms areas and what is old becomes new again.

The first floor gallery

The second exhibition that I walked through was the ‘From Haverstraw to Beacon: Inside the Brickyards the built New York City’, an extensive look at the brickyards and the clay deposits that once lined the Hudson River that build most buildings in the City in the end of the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries.

The exhibition sign

The map of the location of the brickyards along the Hudson River. This depended on the location of the clay deposits.

Transportation of freight and people for both recreation and business was described in this display of different boats down the Hudson River.

The display of understanding the brick business

Display of the different companies and processes of making bricks

The display of people that make up the industry

The process of mining, making, drying and creating the bricks that would end up in New York City

Some of the bricks and the companies from the New York market that were created in the region

Another display on the companies

More of the companies and processes to making bricks

The exhibition was a very interesting look at what was once a dominant industry in the area but like any industry as the clay ran out and building materials changed, the industry diminished in the area and that way of life changed. With it as well was the transformation of the area.

The former brick factories

The Brockway Brick Company that built Macy’s original building in Manhattan

There were smaller exhibitions as well all over the two floors of displays. First there was a handmade dollhouse on the first floor that is a favorite of the elementary school students.

The handmade dollhouse on the first floor

On the seconded floor is a display is the socially prominent Van Nydeck family. The family donated their family tree and many family heirlooms and portraits.

Part of the Schenck Van Nydeck family tree

The Van Nydeck family heirlooms

There was also artwork and artifacts from the surrounding community on display all over the museum.

The painting is by a local artist and the pottery is locally made

The window is a Tiffany window from a local church that the Historical Society saved for the museum

The first floor gallery

The docent told me after I toured the exhibition that there are more exhibitions being planned for the future.

Touring Downtown Beacon, NY:

After the trip through the Historical Society, I ventured and walked Downtown Beacon. The neighborhood has certainly changed since the early eighties.

Downtown Beacon today

Downtown Beacon today with Mount Beacon in the distance

The beautiful floral arrangements in the downtown today

Day Three Hundred and Forty-Two Private Members Nights at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) May 27th, 2025

Day Three Hundred and Forty-Two Private Members Nights at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) May 27th, 2025

Day Three Hundred and Forty-Two Private Members Nights at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) May 27th, 2025

What also is difficult is when two major museums have their Members Night on the same night. I had to do a lot of coordinating to go to both museums. What made it work is that both museums closed at different times with The Met closing at 10:00pm. I timed it perfectly.

Members Night at the MoMA ‘Behind the Flowers’ for the Hilma af Klint exhibition

The theme that evening was based on the Hilma af Klint exhibition

https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5779

Going this evening took a lot of planning as I had to teach in the morning and cut the lawn on the afternoon. I was already exhausted by the time I left for the City at 4:00pm. Even on this gloomy afternoon, the weather held and it was a nice evening.

The area around the museum was in full bloom that early evening

The event opened early at the MoMA with their event from 6:00pm-9:00pm and the Met went from 7:00pm-10:00pm so I was able to enjoy both with a lot of walking in between. It was worth it as I was able to see several exhibitions on my bucket list before they closed. With work and finals, it had been tough to visit both of them.

People were enjoying conversation and cocktails when I arrived at the MoMA that evening.

I decided to start my evening at the Sculpture Garden on the first floor. The weather was cloudy but still it was a warm evening. People were conversing near the fountains and listening to music. The lines for the cash bar never let up and they were about thirty deep the whole time.

The Sculpture Garden at the MoMA

While I walked around the gardens and fountains I noticed a lot of the art that they were featuring was really unique, some of which I had not seen before.

The gardens with the poppies in bloom

This beautiful mosaic of a octopus did not have a name

This metal artwork was towards the back of the sculpture garden

The Met at night is quite dazzling

The entrance to The Met in the evening

Looking down Fifth Avenue at night

The entrance in the Rotunda was filled with fresh flowers and members chatting away. I even saw some of the members I had seen at the MoMA earlier.

The floral arrangements were spectacular

The beauty of the Rotunda in the evening

Maybe because these Members Nights were on a Tuesday evening, they both did not seem as crowded as they had been in the past. The museum was crowded but not as crowded as the past two Member’s Nights. I think that I arrived at 8:00pm most people were starting to leave. What was nice was that the MoMA night went until 9:00pm and The Met Night went until 10:00pm so it gave me the time to run through both museums.

I started my tour of The Met in the Greek Galleries looking at the Cycladic Art. I always loved the looks of these works.

https://www.metmuseum.org/departments/greek-and-roman-art

The entrance to the Cycladic Wing

The Cycladic Gallery in the Greek wing

Some of the interesting cases I admired that night

I then did a quick tour of the Roman Galleries which I had not toured in detail since the galleries opened years ago.

https://www.metmuseum.org/departments/greek-and-roman-art

Touring the Roman Galleries

Touring the Roman Gslleries

Touring the Roman Galleries

After the tour of the Roman Galleries, I headed to the Egyptian Galleries, I wanted to explore the galleries and get a drink at the Members Bar.

https://www.metmuseum.org/departments/egyptian-art

I love the Egyptian Galleries. I have been coming here since 1973 and have loved them ever since.

I love the ancient hieroglyphics

For the last two Members Nights, the Members Bar was in the Temple of Dendur. It is always so well lit and the music was wonderful. It is a nice way to end the evening.

The Temple of Dendur lit for the evening

The Temple of Dendur was the perfect place to relax and have a cocktail

The crowds were rather large at the bar that evening

The Passion fruit cocktail was the specialty drink of the evening

It was another wonderful evening at both museums.

Smith Mansion Historical Museum 101 South Main Street Mahanoy City, PA 17948

Smith Mansion Historical Museum 101 South Main Street Mahanoy City, PA 17948

Smith Mansion Historical Museum

101 South Main Street

Mahanoy City, PA 17948

(570) 773-1034

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2203971582/posts/10160483727871583

https://www.mahanoyhistory.org/mahanoy-1973.html

Smith Mansion

Open: Appointment only by owner

Admission: Small Donation for restoration of the house

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g53087-d33088953-r1003860232-Smith_Mansion_Tour-Mahanoy_City_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

The front of the Smith Mansion

The historic plaque in the front of the home

The porch sitting area as you wait for your hosts to greet you

We were warmly greeted by our hosts and owners of the home. I had not realized that this is a private home and less of a museum. The only way to see the inside of the mansions by private arranged tour or when the owners have an open house either at Halloween or Christmas.

The History of the family and their fortunes:

(from WordPress.com article by Kubek: Project)

By the turn of the century, John Žinčak Smith had become the most accomplished Carpatho-Rusyn businessman and community leader in Mahanoy City, and in 1908, Smith moved his family from their modest West Centre Street home to this monumental mansion at the corner of South Main and East Spruce Street. Built at a cost of $40,000, the mansion included fourteen rooms, four chandeliers, wooden cabinets, and a number of stained glass windows (Mahanoy Area 2004, 15). 

Just as he changed his name from Ioann Žinčak to John Smith nearly 30 years earlier, his move from the predominantly Slavic, Catholic West End to the Anglo-Saxon, Protestant East End symbolized his meteoric rise from his humble origins to the economic elite of the region.

However, not all Carpathian-Rusyn Americans viewed Smith’s prosperity favorably. One parishioner penned an anonymous letter to the Carpathian-Rusyn newspaper Postup (The Progress) that sharply criticizes Smith as “a former nobody who wants to stand on the brow of the Rusyn people in America.” The author implies that Smith is embarrassed by being Carpathian-Rusyn, for “he doesn’t speak Rusyn with his children at home” and “is ashamed of his father’s last name” (“From Mahanoy City, PA: Our Chairman” 1908: 3).

We started our tour of the house in the main Living Room and foyer. This is one of the most welcoming houses and you can tell it was designed for entertaining and for a large family to live and enjoy.

The foyer of the house as you enter the home

On the first floor of the home was the formal Living Room and Dining Room of the home. The very energetic small dogs of the owners welcomed us as well.

The formal Living Room

The house still has all its beautiful and ornate moldings and fixtures. The owners told us when the family moved out, robbers had come in and stole the mansions elaborate fixtures and chandeliers so they had to replace them.

The green couch is the only thing outside some family portraits and pictures still original to the house

The portrait of Mr. Smith in the Living Room

The portrait of Mrs. Smith in the Living Room

The owners had collected the most beautiful antique and period furniture over the years which decorates all the rooms. Every piece of furniture and decoration fits each room perfectly. From the elaborate window treatments to the beautifully maintained fireplace, the room may be formal but it is still very comfortable and cosy. The house from the time you walk in has a very welcoming feel to it.

The formal Dining Room

The formal Dining Room is set for formal tour and at the holidays. For today, the owners tiny dog greeted us and wanted to play. The details on these chairs were just spectacular. What a design.

All the moldings are original to the house and all the furniture is beautifully carved and elaborate. The owners told us said the chandelier they picked fit perfectly in the room.

The Dining Room chandelier and the original wood moldings

The window seat of the Dining Room lets in lots of light

The Dining Room may be formal but with all the windows the room lets in lots of natural light and with seating around the room it still feels welcoming and less formal.

We moved from the first floor to the second floor where the library and some of the bedrooms were located.

The staircase to the second floor with the elegant carved staircase

The family portrait of Mr. Smith’s mother greets you up the stairs

In the hallway of the second floor were photos and portraits of the family members which the third generation of the family did not want and sold to the current owners. It is amazing what family will not want of their own past.

Photos of the third generation of Smith’s who moved out of the area. These are of the children and grandchildren of the Smith’s

The Smith family photo in the late 1890’s

The Smith family again in the 1930’s

Our next room of the tour was the library where the owners books, paperwork and more art was located.

The second floor library

The work space, book shelves and the alcoves give the room that homey touch

The Alcove in the library looks over the City

The Library with the music boxes

The owners opened this music box and played for us

The video of the music:

The Library is such a great room just to sit and read, think and relax. I could see why they love it so much.

We then walked to the third floor and we toured the Tower Room, which really has an amazing view of the city. You could see all over town from here. The inside garden in the Tower Room is so beautiful and receives so much sun.

The Tower Room is one of the sunniest rooms of the house.

This room on the third floor of the mansion has the best views of Mahanoy City and looked like Mr. Smith’s message to the town that he had arrived. You could see all over town from this window. Now the room is used as a type of greenhouse for beautiful potted plants and flowers perfect with all the sunlight. This is one of the nicest room in the house.

The Curio Room where the owners keep their collections of knick-knacks and decorative items that line the shelves and tables of the house, there was another music box. One of the owners collected these treasures over the years and the house has lots of examples of these beautiful antiques that were created before radio and records.

The Music box playing:

The music box was once in a hotel lobby

The owners explained that part of the third floor is used for storage and for their collections. There were all sorts of small sculptures and assorted Knick-knacks that decorate rooms lining the shelves. The owners had done and amazing job on the upkeep of this beautiful home.

The last part of the tour was we went outside on this sunny morning to see the outside gardens. They were impressive for such a small space. The flowers were just starting to bloom and the trees were starting to bud over this cold patch of the early Spring. This weekend was the first weekend where the weather had been nice and started to warm up.

The garden in front of the house just as Spring was starting

The back walled garden and fish pound

The owners own the two homes next door to the mansion and have combined the back gardens. So they had this small fish pond stacked with Japanese fish and walls covered with vines. There is a small gazebo so that you can sit and relax outside in the warmer months.

The other side of the backyard garden just as Spring started

Faces pop up between the vines of the walked garden

The views of the downtown from the house

The tour concluded in the gardens. The owners were explaining how much more beautiful the gardens are in the late Spring and Fall.

The tour was wonderful and the owners could have not been more gracious with their time. They also explained how they will be opening their home again to the public during the holidays during Christmas and hopefully Halloween and how I should come back to visit.

The formal tour of the Smith Mansion again is by private tour only except at holiday Open Houses and can be arranged through the owners of the home. It really is an interesting look at areas industrial past and what life in local society must have been like at that time. It also shows how things change over time and fortunes are made and lost and business and families move on.

It was a wonderful afternoon of stepping back into the past.

Town Museum of Secaucus 150 Plaza Center Secaucus, NJ 07094

Town Museum of Secaucus 150 Plaza Center Secaucus, NJ 07094

Town Museum of Secaucus

150 Plaza Center

Secaucus, NJ 07094

(551) 257-7205

https://secaucusmuseum.org/

https://www.secaucusnj.net/town-museum/

https://secaucusnj.gov/resident/upcoming-events

Open: Sunday-Friday Closed/ Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm

Admission: Free but donations are accepted

My review on TripAdvisor:

The Town Museum of Secaucus at 150 Plaza Drive

The signs and sculptures outside the museum

The Town Museum is Secaucus sits in the former Municipal Building shared with the Secaucus Fire Department and the Community Recreation Center.

The colorful bicycle sculpture outside the museum

The inside of the museum has a large collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the Town of Secaucus and the surrounding community. Each section of the room has a different theme to it.

The main gallery of the one room museum

The Town Museum of Secaucus used to be the old library space and has now been converted into a town history museum displaying all aspects of life past and present in Secaucus, NJ. There is a wide array of displays in the museum.

The main gallery of the museum with old electronics and housewares

The museum has a very extensive collection of artifacts from the Secaucus Fire Department next door. There is a lot of old and current equipment on display and a very detailed account of the events on 9/11 in New York City.

The 9/11 display from the Secaucus Fire Department

Fire apparatus and bunker gear from the former Mayor of Secaucus

The full Secaucus’s Fire Department display

Being so close to New York City, the community was affected by the events of 9/11. There are many artifacts and pictures from that day displayed here.

Next to the fire department display was an exhibit of the military contributions in town.

The Military and Town history display

The museum has a lot of artifacts of electronic equipment of the past. From rotary phones to old typewriters, the museum showcases items from the 1950’s to the 1970’s.

The electronics of the past

A collection of cameras from a local collector

A movie camera from early picture days

The back part of the museum

The museum’s covered the history of the town and events of different time periods. You could visit important dates in time.

The historical collection

An old Victrola with records was playing

The history of Laurel Hill on display

Laurel Hill was a section of town the used to house several hospitals including an Insane Asylum. These hospitals used to treat all illnesses.

The museum has a collection of household appliances

The progression of the American household is shown in the museum as well. Home furnishings, decorative items and every day equipment like telephones and typewriters, once a big part of our lives have been reduced to relics of the past yet show how they educated us and grew our lives.

This includes an old washing machine

Other pieces of household decor

Local artifacts

An old switch board from the local company

There was even a selection of children’s toys in the cases and a 1950’s Lionel train running overhead.

Children’s toys of the past

Children’s toys of the past

The Children’s playthings of the past show that not much has changed in child development. The use of these items to train children for their futures in commerce and homemaking have been part of our lives since before the Industrial Revolution.

The most interesting display and it is tucked in the corner of the museum is the exhibit of Presidential candidate Henry Krajewski.

Presidential Candidate Henry Krajewski

From tavern owner to Presidential candidate, we see the rise of a local politician. Though he campaign was not a success, there is a lot to be said of the spirit of this man’s political campaigns.

There is a lot to see and do at the Town of Secaucus Museum. There is everything from the history of the beginnings of the town from the Dutch to modern times to where the town will grow. There is a rich collection at the museum and a lot to see.

Some of the history of the town

The museum is situated in Downtown Secaucus where a lot of local shops and restaurants are located. As I walked around the downtown in search of a place for lunch, I weaved through the series of local businesses. There is a nice selection of places to eat.

I ate at Chico’s Pizza and Restaurant at 161 Front Street and had the most delicious lunch at this Mexican/Italian restaurant.

Chico’s Pizza & Restaurant at 161 Front Street

https://www.facebook.com/people/Chicos-Pizza-and-Restaurant/61551382461348/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46812-d33058238-Reviews-Chico_s_Pizza_Restaurant-Secaucus_New_Jersey.html?m=69573

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

Chico’s Pizza & Restaurant 161 Front Street Secaucus, NJ 07094

The lunch was excellent. I started my meal with a slice of Cheese pizza which seemed to call to me. It was crisp, gooey and the sauce was packed with flavor.

The start to my lunch

After this excellent slice of pizza, I ordered a Sausage Calzone. The calzone filled two plates and was loaded with chopped sausage and three different types of cheese.

The Sausage and Cheese Calzone

The calzone was beyond delicious. When I cut it open, the cheese and sausage oozed out with a wonderful combination of flavors. The red sauce for dipping was so well spiced.

The small restaurant sits at the edge of the downtown and serves the most wonderful food at such reasonable prices.

The beautiful painting outside the restaurant