Bedford Hills Historical Museum

04/28/2026

If you missed our March 8, 2026, event at the Bedford Hills Community House, you now can watch the program in its entirety on our YouTube channel!

Please go to the comments below to find the link! And please share with any of your friends or neighbors who may be interested!

04/05/2026

Beautiful day for the Walking Tour of Bedford Hills - April 4, 2026. Thanks to everyone who participated!

03/15/2026

A few photographs from our March 8, 2026, program, An Afternoon with the Wood Family of Braewold Farm, held at the Bedford Hills Community House.

02/13/2026

Please join us on Sunday, March 8, at 3 pm, for an event celebrating the eight generations of the Wood Family who lived and farmed along Bedford's Croton Lake Road for nearly two centuries. The program will feature dramatic readings from the recently published memoirs of the late James Wood III. The readings—accompanied by images from the Wood family's extensive photo archives—will feature stories from Jim's own life of 97 years and tell of the lives and times of his ancestors who served as leaders within the Bedford community and beyond.

The event will take place in the Bedford Hills Community House and is open to all, free of charge.

11/25/2025

Celebrate the Holidays at the Museum!

05/10/2025

Now available for purchase —
The Wood Family of Braewold Farm: Reminiscences of James Wood III

This volume features the memoirs of the late James Wood III. A much beloved leader within the Bedford community, Jim was a founding and long-time Museum trustee. Jim's writings tell of his eight decades living on the Bedford farm his ancestors first purchased in 1809, including his childhood during the Great Depression, education, Navy service, career, farming activities, travels, and numerous community endeavors. The book also includes a history of the Wood family in Bedford and of their properties along Croton Lake Road, collectively known as The Woodpile. Like Jim, many Wood family members were leaders within both the community and their Quaker faith.

The volume includes over 300 photographs and illustrations, which well illuminate the Wood family's long history in the area and Jim's many colorful tales. Appendices include the journals of the author's grandfather, James Wood II (1839-1925), a former Bedford Town Supervisor who lived and farmed at Braewold over his entire lifetime.

To purchase the book, please go to: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=1QX8ilNfKOzy0B1YWzxr3ZAsz2zZrzpOHssk2IZz5rL

05/08/2025

ORAL HISTORIES NOW AVAILABLE ON THE TOWN OF BEDFORD WEBSITE

The Bedford Town Historian's office has made available the transcripts of oral history interviews of prominent and long-time Bedford residents who were active in local government, business, and civic and educational endeavors. These interviews were conducted in the early 2000s by Town Historian John Stockbridge and others. Those interviewed include three founding and long-time trustees of the Bedford Hills Historical Museum—Jaap Ketting, Dave Brown, and Jim Wood.

To read these transcripts, which offer a lens into Bedford community life over decades past, please go to: https://www.bedfordny.gov/820/Oral-Histories

02/21/2025

Opening of our Model Train show at the Museum - open to all and free of charge.

07/08/2024

From recent Fox Lane High School graduate Sam Griff comes the film The Woodpile, which will be shown at the Bedford Playhouse on Tuesday, July 23 at 7:00 pm.

The film explores the history of the Wood Family of Bedford and the homes the family built along Croton Lake Road in the latter half of the 19th century—collectively known as The Woodpile. Featured in the film are the houses' current owners, who discuss the unique history of each house and how each has been updated in a manner that honors its heritage.

Filmmaker Sam Griff was honored for his work on this project by being awarded this year's Fox Lane High School Tingley Scholarship.

Following the film there will be a Q&A session with filmmaker SamGriff, Bedford Town Historian John Stockbridge, and others.

For tickets and to see the film's trailer, go to:

Discover the stories of the incredible homes that make up Bedford's "Woodpile." This film is the winner of the 2024 Fox Lane High School Tingley Scholarship and the first feature by Sam Griff, class of 2024.

06/10/2024

Delighted to award the Jaap and Conny Ketting Memorial Scholarship to Fox Lane senior Taylor Scott. Congratulations, Taylor!