Ardsley Historical Society

10/14/2026

Did you know that Ardsley was once the fourth-largest population center in America?

In the summer of 1781, Washington’s Continental Army camped where Ardsley High School and Concord Elementary stand today. Rochambeau’s French army camped nearby in Edgemont. It was the first time the two allied armies met, and the only time they camped side by side. During those six weeks, this area held more people than anywhere in the country except New York, Philadelphia and Boston.

The Rhode Island Regiment camped here too. It was an integrated unit of Black, Native American and white soldiers, and a French officer called it the best-drilled and best-dressed unit on parade.

Then, on August 14, 1781, word arrived that the French fleet was sailing for the Chesapeake. Washington gave up his plan to retake New York and marched south. Two months later, the British surrendered at Yorktown. The road to victory started here.

Join us this Sunday!

“The American Encampment in Ardsley” with Peter Marcus
Sunday, October 18 at 2:00 PM
Ardsley Community Center, 18 Center Street

You’ll also learn the history behind local street names like Flintlock Lane, Powderhorn Road and Captain Honeywells Road. And you’ll see a real Revolutionary War cannonball that was found in Ardsley in 1988.

05/22/2026

On behalf of the Ardsley Historical Society, we invite you to a special community event — the dedication of the Lewisohn Memorial Garden.

This Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, at 2:30 PM, we will gather at Ardsley High School (500 Farm Road, Ardsley) in celebration of America's 250th anniversary to pay tribute to fourteen Ardsley students who gave their lives in World War II. At the heart of the Memorial Garden stands a long-lost World War II memorial tablet bearing their names, to be unveiled and restored to a place of public honor.

Please note there is no rain date for this event. We encourage you to check the weather forecast as the date approaches and dress accordingly.

All are welcome, and we hope you will join us for this meaningful commemoration.

05/04/2026

The excitement is building — and so is the Lewisohn Memorial Garden.

On May 1, the first day of National Military Appreciation Month, under sunny skies, we broke ground after years of planning. Joining our Board at the ceremony, golden shovels in hand, were members of the Ardsley Village Board, the Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Matthew Block, and a history class from Ardsley High School, about to begin their World War II unit — who, as Dr. Block observed, were watching history being made.

We are within $5,000 of our $50,000 fundraising goal. Here's where things stand:

• Construction begins today,Monday, May 4th.
• The benches are being fabricated.
• The history-filled informational sign has been ordered.
• The Memorial Day dedication (Monday, May 25th) is taking shape — the Ardsley High School Select Chorus will perform America the Beautiful and The Star-Spangled Banner, which was sung at the close of the 1954 dedication.
• We hope to welcome relatives of the fourteen Ardsley students who made the supreme sacrifice.

If you haven't yet donated, now is the moment. Every contribution brings us closer to honoring these fourteen young men with the tribute they deserve.

To donate please visit: https://www.ardsleyhistoricalsociety.org/lewisohn-memorial-garden

05/01/2026

Today, the Ardsley Historical Society hosted a formal groundbreaking ceremony for the Lewisohn Memorial Garden at Ardsley High School. This event marks the official start of construction for a landmark dedicated to local history and remembrance.

The Memorial Garden is located on the historic grounds of the former Heatherdell Farm, Lewisohn’s nearly 400-acre estate. At the heart of the Memorial Garden will be the restoration of a 1954 bronze plaque bearing the names of fourteen Ardsley students who made the ultimate sacrifice.

A subsequent dedication ceremony will be held on Memorial Day.

04/06/2026

We are pleased to share our latest Timepiece essay, "Amici Usque Ad Aras: From Ancient Athens to Ardsley – Sic Transit Gloria Mundi," which traces how a Latin phrase traveled across the centuries to Ardsley High School and what it reveals about our community's identity.

We also want to remind you of these upcoming events:

On April 19th, we will be hosting a public program entitled "A Conversation on the History of the Ardsley Little League: Celebrating 70 years - 1956-2026" at the Ardsley Community Center. All are welcome.

Further, on Memorial Day, we plan to dedicate the Lewisohn Memorial Garden at Ardsley High School.

As always, we invite you to support our sponsors, and if you have not done so, please renew your membership in the Ardsley Historical Society, now in its 44th year of service.

As dates go, April 6th does not ring loudly in American memory, but on that day in 1917, Congress passed a declaration of war, formally bringing the United States into World War I. At the time, Ardsley was represented by John Francis Carew, a Democrat, who joined the lopsided 373–50 House majority...

03/30/2026

Please join us on April 19, 2026 at 1:30 PM for a trip down Ardsley Baseball's memory lane!