Exhibit looks back at local life, history beginning April 18

Hudson Valley exhibits presents its latest exhibition, “Looking Back at Yesterday,” focusing on the families, institutions and traditions of North Rockland with an opening program Saturday April 18 at 2p.m. at the King’s Daughters Library on Route 202 in Garnerville.

The exhibit will consist of panels featuring old photos, enlarged post cards, newspaper clippings and other documents highlighting the early days of the North Rockland area.

Kicking  off the exhibition will be a 2 p.m. program featuring Haverstraw Supervisor Howard Phillips and North Rockland Schools Superintendent Ileana Eckert. Also speaking will be Rita diCarlo, president of the Ladies Societa Maria Santissima diMonteverginia, who will reflect on the annual Festa diMonteverginia that filled Haverstraw’s streets with crowds, colorful parades and fireworks.

Nick Loucas, president of Lucas Candy, will talk about his ancestors who founded the candy store 119 years ago. Other panels hold material on Pantano’s, Bernardo’s, Waldron’s Opera House which became Broadway Theatre, where George M. Cohan made  his debut. Among  individuals to be remembered are Phil Rotella, John Grant, Mike Fitzula, Ed Zugibe, Frank Matone and Jack Oldfield.

Other panels have photos of the Beacon on High Tor, which was erected in 1932 to guide airplanes. A similar beacon had served in the time of the Revolutionary War.

The exhibit is free and open to the public during normal library hours and is the latest in a series that has  highlighted such topics as life along the Minisceongo, the history of Letchworth Village, the contributions of veterans in general and women in the military, in particular, local emergency planning and our water resources.

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