Bedford Hills Historical Museum

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!

05/31/2023

Another story from long-time and founding Museum trustee Jim Wood III, which appeared in the May 26, 2023 issue of the Record Review.

Editor’s note: Longtime former residents Jim and T***k Wood hosted a Rhododendrons & Ice Cream Party at their family home, Braewold, each spring for 50-plus years. For many residents, the

05/15/2023

Please join us at the Museum with local author Susan Allport for a presentation of “The Stone Walls of New York and New England” on Thursday, May 18, 7:30pm. Hear about the historic stone walls traversing the woods and fields of our region, with discussions of why they were built and how. These walls, when we come upon them, certainly cause us to ponder their provenance and the lives of those people who loved and farmed in Bedford many years before us.

Copies of Allport’s Sermons in Stone will be on sale.

The Bedford Hills Historical Museum is located at the town of Bedford, 321 Bedford Road, Bedford Hills. For more information, contact [email protected]
Or
[email protected]

12/30/2022

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree of 1950! 🎄

An essay by long-time Museum trustee Jim Wood III that appeared in the December 23, 2022 issue of the Record Review. Jim's ancestors first purchased and established their farm, Braewold, in Bedford in the very early 1800s.

11/17/2022

Come and hear about Bedford’s role in the Civil War with a reenactor and historian. This Thursday, November 17, 2022, beginning at 6:00 pm.
With Bedford Town Historian John Stockbridge and Bedford Hills resident and Civil War educator & reenactor Justin Parker.

Learn about life as a Civil War soldier and about the military units that drew most enlistees from the Bedford area – notably, the 6th NY Heavy Artillery Regiment. Also discussed will be the political and socioeconomic backdrop to wartime Westchester County, and focus will be made on a few of the Bedford men who saw battle with the Union Army.

A highlight of the evening will be a reading of excerpts of the wartime correspondence between Private James Muller and his guardian, former Bedford supervisor and Bedford Farmers Club founder Arnell Dickinson. The original letters are now the property of the Town of Bedford and some are on display at the Bedford Hills Historical Museum.

Justin Parker will be outfitted with the uniform and kit of an enlisted soldier. He is currently
the elected historian of the 67th New York Volunteer Regiment, a Civil War reenactment group based on Long Island. www.newyorkcivilwar.com

This event is free and open to the public and will take place on Thursday, November 17, 6-7:30pm, at the Bedford Hills Historical Museum. The Museum is located in the lower level of the Bedford Town House, at 321 Bedford Road in Bedford Hills.


Contact: Ellen Cohen at (347) 470-4253 or [email protected]

color>: Remembrance DayGettysburg, PA color>: Monthly Meeting & Drill at the GrangeSayville, NY color>: Christmas at St. John's ChurchOakdale, NY See our Schedule Page for full list of events

10/03/2022

The Bedford Hills Historical Museum is pleased to announce “Bedford During the Civil War,” an evening presentation scheduled for November 17, 2022, beginning at 6:00 pm.

Participating will be Bedford Town Historian John Stockbridge and Bedford Hills resident and Civil War educator & reenactor Justin Parker. Learn about life as a Civil War soldier and about the military units that drew most enlistees from the Bedford area – notably, the 6th NY Heavy Artillery Regiment. Also discussed will be the political and socioeconomic backdrop to wartime Westchester County, and focus will be made on a few of the Bedford men who saw battle with the Union Army.

A highlight of the evening will be a reading of excerpts of the wartime correspondence between Private James Muller and his guardian, former Bedford supervisor and Bedford Farmers Club founder Arnell Dickinson. The original letters are now the property of the Town of Bedford and were the subject of the Bedford Hills Historical Museum’s 2007 exhibit “Letters Home.” These letters offer many insights into the life of a soldier’s life - from the tedium of camp life to the anxiety of battle – in contrast to the day-to-day life and concerns of a Bedford farmer.

Justin Parker will be outfitted with the uniform and kit of an enlisted soldier. He is currently the elected historian of the 67th New York Volunteer Regiment, a Civil War reenactment group based on Long Island.

This event is free and open to the public and will take place on Thursday, November 17, 6-7:30pm, at the Bedford Hills Historical Museum. The Museum is located in the lower level of the Bedford Town House, at 321 Bedford Road in Bedford Hills.

07/25/2022

The “Seaboards” baseball league, Bedford Hills, c. 1940. From Michelle Lee Hodge. Her uncle, Richard “Dick” Lee, is in the photo.