Dobbs Ferry Historical Society

Dobbs Ferry Historical Society visit our website at: www.DobbsFerryHistory.org Our Archives are located at the Mead House which was bequeathed to the Society by Clara Mead in 1990.

The house is also available for community meetings and private functions.

Memorial Day 2026The inclement weather didn’t dampen Dobbs Ferry from honoring those who died serving their country.Alth...
05/25/2026

Memorial Day 2026
The inclement weather didn’t dampen Dobbs Ferry from honoring those who died serving their country.
Although the parade was cancelled, a well-attended ceremony in memory of our fallen heroes took place in the high school gym.
Members of American Legion Post #104, led by Ex-Commander Edward Hennessy, conducted the ceremony.
Rabbi David Reiser of Temple Beth Shalom gave the invocation.
America Legion Auxiliary President Paula McCarthy, read roll call of those who made the supreme sacrifice.
Former mayor, Don Marra served as grand marshal of the event. Majority leader of the NYS Senate Andrea Stewart Cousins, NYS Assembly member Mary Jane Shimsky and County Legislator David Imamura also spoke.
Mayor Christie Knell and Deputy Mayor Jessica Galen, along with village trustees Donna Assumma, Nitin Gupta and Laura Rothrock were also in attendance as were former village mayors Bob Mc Loughlin and Vincent Rossillo.
The Fire Department stood at attention as a tribute to the fallen.
Refreshments were provided by Tom Anderson of Doubledays Restaurant. Photos by Robin Costello.

Memorial Day honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.The monument in Memorial Park on Palisade St...
05/25/2026

Memorial Day honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
The monument in Memorial Park on Palisade Street honors these men and women.
Here are some faces behind the names.

Dobbs Ferry resident Ernest (Ernie) Howell was honored by Rivertowns for Refugees for his generous support to area refu...
05/18/2026

Dobbs Ferry resident Ernest (Ernie) Howell was honored by Rivertowns for Refugees for his generous support to area refugees today, Sunday, May 17 at a picnic at his home on Broadway. Rivertowns for Refugees acknowledged Ernie’s significant contributions that enabled refugee families and individuals from Afghanistan and Central America, as well as others, in meeting rent and other living expenses with a photo montage of families that have been aided by the group. Ernie’s contributions were all made in memory of his late wife, Jean.
Many of the refugees that Ernie helped and family members attended the event, preparing the food as well.
Ernie received plaques from New York State Representative Mary Jane Shimsky and Dobbs Ferry Mayor Christy Knell.The plaque from Knell proclaimed May 17th Ernest Howell Day in the village.
Ernie spoke of the importance of continuing to welcome newcomers, especially refugees, to the community at the event.
Howell, was born 100 years ago in Iowa. He received both a bachelor's and master's degree from Harvard.
Ernie has had a long and distinguished career. He served as a consultant for UNESCO and was assistant director at a YWCA Displacement Camp. He was a representative of the Asia Foundation in Ceylon( Sri Lanka), Bangladesh, Vietnam and New York. He also was an investment banker at the F. I. Dupont brokerage firm.
Ernie and his wife Jean were active volunteers in the community while raising five children. Photos: Robin Costello

Mirth, Mystery, & Mayhem took over the Mead House on Friday evening, May 8th.The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society played h...
05/10/2026

Mirth, Mystery, & Mayhem took over the Mead House on Friday evening, May 8th.
The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society played host to the Murder Mystery Company, an acting troupe that presented ‘A Murder Masquerade’ before a packed house at the fundraising event.
The actors provided red herrings along with witty repartee to the audiences’ delight.
Handhelds, a killer cocktail and homemade desserts was the evenings fare.
A good time was had by all.
The DFHS would like to thank everyone who attended and made the evening’s event a success!
Photos: Robin Costello, Ed Knecht, Carolyn White

Gearing up for the 250th…Board members of the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society took to the Little White Cemetery to spruce...
04/26/2026

Gearing up for the 250th…
Board members of the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society took to the Little White Cemetery to spruce up the headstones and monuments there.
The cemetery on Ashford Avenue is the final resting place of several veterans including one from the Revolutionary War.
From 1795, the cemetery was owned by Martin Lefurgy until he
donated it in 1823 to the Presbyterian congregation whose Little White Church adjoined the property( today, the site of Dobbs Ferry Lutheran church). The last burial took place in the late 1800s.
The congregation deeded the church to the village in 1962.
Thank you to Co-Presidents, Robin Costello and Carolyn White and Board Members Marie Ciccimarra, Frank Farrington and Jenn Tucci for their hard work.
Photos: Robin Costello, Carolyn White

On the last day of women’s history month…In 1966, Elizabeth Von Bernuth became Dobbs Ferry’s first woman village trustee...
03/31/2026

On the last day of women’s history month…
In 1966, Elizabeth Von Bernuth became Dobbs Ferry’s first woman village trustee, running on the Republican ticket.
Elizabeth would also become the village’s deputy mayor that same year.
Born Elizabeth Saunders in New York City, she married Carl Von Bernuth in 1939.
The couple moved to the village in 1941 where they would raise their son, Carl and daughter, Jean. The family lived on Osceola Ave.
Elizabeth worked in real estate and was active in various community, school and religious organizations.
While running for trustee, Elizabeth called for comprehensive planning for the village.
As trustee, Elizabeth would serve as liaison to the library and waterfront committees.

Let the madness begin…The Dobbs Ferry High School girls basketball team of 1928/ 29 had a winning season placing third ...
03/19/2026

Let the madness begin…
The Dobbs Ferry High School girls basketball team of 1928/ 29 had a winning season placing third in countywide court play that year.
The team’ photo was featured in the sports pages of the Dobbs Ferry Register newspaper.

St. Patrick’s Day elections…St. Patrick’s Day was a lucky charm for Walter V. Danahar, a six-term mayor of Dobbs Ferry, ...
03/17/2026

St. Patrick’s Day elections…
St. Patrick’s Day was a lucky charm for Walter V. Danahar, a six-term mayor of Dobbs Ferry, who was elected twice on March 17th.
Danahar, who served from 1949-61, was the first Democrat to become mayor of the village.
During the course of his election bids, Danahar ran on the Democratic, Independent and Republican tickets.
Danahar was a history teacher at Dobbs Ferry High School for more than 25 years, beginning in 1938, when he moved to the village.
He lived with his wife, son and daughter at 41 Belden Ave. Later he and his wife would move to 100 Cedar St.
Born in 1907 in NYC and raised there, he earned his undergraduate degree from Manhattan College and his masters from Iona.
Danahar was a popular figure in the community, belonging to and presiding over school, civic and religious organizations.
He died suddenly of a heart attack in 1963 while shopping in the village. He was 55.

He’s the Grand Marshal….Dobbs Ferry’s own Frank Farrington is the Grand Marshal of the 30th annual Sleepy Hollow St. Pat...
03/15/2026

He’s the Grand Marshal….
Dobbs Ferry’s own Frank Farrington is the Grand Marshal of the 30th annual Sleepy Hollow St. Patrick’s parade.

The grand marshal honor is bestowed on an individual who has exhibited extraordinary community involvement.
Frank has contributed to many aspects of our community. A life-long resident of Dobbs Ferry, Frank has served as a member of the Village Board of Trustees and as Deputy Mayor.
He is a 52 year member of the Dobbs Ferry Volunteer Fire Department, rising through all the ranks to serve as Chief of Department.
Frank has served as president of the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society and is currently serving on its board of trustees.
He spearheaded the effort to place a veterans’ monument in the Little White Church Cemetery on Ashford Ave and composed the tribute to the veterans on the monument.
Frank is a lector and Eucharistic minister at Sacred Heart Church and was a founding member of the village’s youth baseball league.
He is a retired FDNY Captain who survived the 9-11 attacks after being buried under the rubble of the collapsed South Tower.
He and wife, Marilu, have three sons and 10 grandchildren.

Dobbs Ferry resident Stephen O’Leary has been selected as a parade aide.
He is active in youth sports and religious education in the community. Photo by Robin Costello

Address

12 Elm Street
Dobbs Ferry, NY
10522

Telephone

+19146741007

Website

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