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Community Corner

Bronxville School Students Help Celebrate Eastchester's 350th Anniversary

On April 3, a variety of fine art pieces, drawings and film presentations, all created by students of the Bronxville School, will be on display in the school's multipurpose room and will highlight the rich history of Bronxville and its significance to the Town of Eastchester, which is celebrating its 350th anniversary this year.

The celebrations are being organized by the Eastchester 350th Anniversary, Inc., a non-profit group set up last year to encourage residents of Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe to contribute to the retelling of local history.

Bronxville village was incorporated into the town in 1898 and Tuckahoe was incorporated in 1903.

The organization's K-12 education initiative, sponsored by the Bronxville Historical Conservancy, has given local youngsters, including those in Bronxville, the opportunity to learn about the history of the Town of Eastchester, which was settled in 1664 when 10 families migrated from Fairfield, Conn.

Over the past couple of months, teachers in the Bronxville School have been working with students at all grade levels, helping them select projects based on a number of national themes, but adapting their research to local landmarks and events.

In addition to researching the town's growth during various periods of America's history, students are also being encouraged to examine a number of topics that are relevant to Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe. They include research on the characteristics of immigrants from southern Italy, especially those who worked in Tuckahoe's marble quarries; the migration of African-Americans from the South during World War I; how the town handled the Spanish flu during World War I and much more.

Organizers have asked students from all three communities to create essays, artistic compositions, films or videos, poems, dramatic presentations, mixed-media pieces or scholarly papers.

"I believe the Eastchester 350th anniversary initiative is helping our students learn about their village and town," said social studies curriculum leader Chris Doyle, who is leading the Bronxville School's efforts. "Many times students have heard stories about famous people, events or structures, but now, through this celebration, they can become the historians and help shape future knowledge about our community."

The exhibition of student work will take place on April 3 at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose room, which can be accessed from the Midland Avenue side of the Bronxville School building. For more information on the town's 350th anniversary celebrations, visit www.eastchester350.org.

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