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Welfare Island in the Time of Edward Hopper
“Blackwell’s Island ” Edward Hopper, 1928
EDWARD HOPPER’S VIEW OF BLACKWELL ISLAND
The announcement that Edward Hopper’s 1928 painting Blackwell Island would be auctioned at Christie’s on May 23rd has sparked a revival of interest in this work.
The painting is the subject of a lecture by Judith Berdy, President, Roosevelt Island Historical Society, in a program sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, at the New York Public Library Branch on Roosevelt Island, on Tuesday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m.
The painting features the north end of what is now Roosevelt Island and its dark silhouetted buildings includes the Metropolitan Hospital dome and other hospital buildings. The lecture will incorporate period photographs to explore the context of Hopper’s 1928 work.
Blackwell Island, owned by a private American collector, has frequently been exhibited at leading museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The work has never been auctioned before. The painting is being auctioned by Christie’s on May 23rd and will be on view at Christie’s, 20 Rockefeller Plaza from May 19 to 22, 2013.
The event is FREE and open to the public.
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Join Us For
JANE’S WALK NEW YORK
Roosevelt Island
Date: SUNDAY MAY 5, 2013
Time: 12:00 PM –2:30 PM
Walk Host: Judith Berdy and members of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society
Accessibility: Fully Accessible
Description: Explore different parts of Roosevelt Island from the South FDR Memorial to our Northernmost parks.
Meeting Place: Roosevelt Island Historical Society Visitor Center Kiosk at the Tram Plaza
Ending Place: Roosevelt Island Historical Society Visitor Center Kiosk at the Tram Plaza
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TIME TO UNWIND:
THE MOUNT VERNON HOTEL MUSEUM &
LEISURE IN JACKSONIAN NEW YORK
Built in 1799 and one of the eight oldest buildings in New York City, The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden interprets travel, leisure, work and play in diverse antebellum New York.
Dana Settles, Curator of Education, will describe the leisure activities of New Yorkers in the 1820s. Some highlights will include traditional toasts and activities in the taverns, and the guests who frequented these locales.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
The NYPL Branch Library, 524 Main Street, Roosevelt Island
Sponsors: The Roosevelt Island Historical Society and The New York Public Library, Roosevelt Island Branch
This program is FREE and Open to the Public
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society promotes awareness of our Island’s unique story and pursues preservation of its landmarks and artifacts.
This program is funded by the office of City Council Member Jessica Lappin
DIRECTIONS: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island.
Take the red bus for 25 cents or walk eight minutes north to 524 Main Street.
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The Uppity Women of Downtown New York
Presented by Kathleen Hulser, Public Historian
As New York grew in the 19th century, its reputation as sin city ballooned almost as fast as women’s skirts. Just living in such a volatile place could endanger a woman’s most precious possession: her reputation. Today, the search for women who tested boundaries and redefined roles turns up a passel of uppity gals whose bonnets and ribbons cannot hide their bold spirits. Hulser will lead a presentation of some fascinating personalities, including Nellie Bly and Emma Goldman, who have ties to Roosevelt Island.
Sponsors: The Roosevelt Island Historical Society and
The New York Public Library, Roosevelt Island Branch
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013 at 6:30 pm
This program is FREE and Open to the Public
This program is funded by the office of City Council Member Jessica Lappin
Row 1: Mary Rogers, Madam Restell, Emily Roebling. Row 2: Victoria Woodhull, Emma Goldman, Nellie Bly, Eleanor Roosevelt.
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Hurricane Sandy devastated our Lighthouse Park on October 29, 2012. The seawalls were breached; the park was flooded. The two wooden walkways leading to the lighthouse were destroyed. There was extensive damage to the park including loss of power to the lamp posts, loss of many older trees and new sink holes. Lighthouse Park is closed for the immediate future due to the extensive damage.
Photo by Judith Berdy 2012
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Click here to view the FDR Four Freedoms Park website.
The park is open Thursday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. only.
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On Friday, September 21st, over 50 members of Plattsburgh State University School Nurse Training Class of 1965 returned to Welfare Island, now Roosevelt Island. This group of students studied not only to be registered nurses but school nurse teachers. They were at Plattsburgh for an intensive four year program that ran all year. They received the equivalent of an RN and teaching degree in what would now take five years to complete.
The students spent their first and last year at Plattsburgh and came to NYC to do practical nursing at Metropolitan Hospital (The Met). By the time the Class of ’65 arrived, The Met had moved to Manhattan. Each day the students were driven from the Central Nurses Residence to The Met, which is located at 97th Street and First Avenue. The second year the students relocated to a residence, Draper Hall, which had been newly built in Manhattan.
The alumni had a tour of The Met on Thursday (9/20/12) and a full day of visiting the hospital and remembering their time there. On Friday (9/21/12), they came to Roosevelt Island where Judith Berdy, RIHS Board President, guided them on a full day tour of the island including Lighthouse Park, Octagon, Main Street, Southpoint Park as well as passing by many of our island landmark structures. Everyone was most impressed with the great views of The Met from Lighthouse Park; where a group photo was taken.
Though little is left of the sites some remembered, the island was most impressive to them and interesting memories were shared among the group. The nurses recollected how they became big city sophisticates and recalled that returning to campus was boring. It seemed that many of the students were busy swallowing goldfish.
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On Sunday, May 6, 2012 more than 50 people toured the Island led by four tour guides from the Roosevelt Island Historical Society.
Tour Guides from RIHS
People gathering for Jane's Tour with RIHS
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5th Annual Cherry Blossom Walk
Saturday, April 21stat 11 a.m.
Meet at the R.I.H.S.Visitor Center
Tram Plaza, Roosevelt Island
Reservations:
rooseveltislandhistory@usa.com or 212-688-4836
Suggested Donation $10 to RIHS
5th Annual Magnolia Blossom Walk
Sunday, March 25th, at 11 a.m.
Meet at The Octagon, 888 Main St.
Suggested Donation $10 to RIHS
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The Roosevelt Island Historical Society
presents
WINDOWS ON WELFARE ISLAND – Photographs by Dannielle Hayes
Octagon Gallery – 888 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044
February 18 – March 18, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily
Opening Reception
Sunday, Feb. 19th
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Sponsor:
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society
Thanks to:
Becker+Becker, PRC Management, RIVAA
