Video: Mamaroneck murals update: first restored mural displayed

The first of the James Fenimore Cooper-themed murals that had been displayed in Mamaroneck High School is on public view again. See it installed in the lobby of Mamaroneck Cinemas in the video below, posted March 20, 2025.

The mural depicts the Defense of the Rock from The Last of the Mohicans. The Mamaroneck Historical Society led the effort to save seven murals when the school reconstructed the room where they had been displayed since the 1940s.

(Video courtesy of LMC Media)

Video: Stories of famous people in Mamaroneck, Larchmont

Joan Rivers' Larchmont jokes, and local stories involving Matt and Kevin Dillon, Jonathan Winters, Johnny Carson, Norman Rockwell, Gail Sheehy and others. A presentation at the Mamaroneck Historical Society March 18, 2025. Watch the video below or on YouTube.

Below the video, find time stamps for key parts of it.

Time stamps for key parts of the above video.

02:12: John Pritts, Historical Society president, on James Fenimore Cooper - 'Jim Cooper'

03:00: Cooper-related mural installed in Mamaroneck Playhouse

06:20: John Pritts on Matt Dillon and Kevin Dillon and friends on Mamaroneck Avenue

08:00: John Pritts on Jonathan Winters' impromptu performance

10:00: Researcher Mike Meaney on the Notables project on our website - profiles of over 60 famous and notable people with connections to Mamaroneck and Larchmont.

11:55: Joan Rivers' jokes about Larchmont

14:10: How Matt Dillon was 'discovered' by Hollywood at Hommocks Middle School.

16:30: Illustrator Norman Rockwell as a boy teases 'wayward girls.'

18:20: Norman's creative essay shortcut backfires.

19:30: 'Passages' author Gail Sheehy's Mamaroneck childhood memories.

21:00: How Gail Sheehy grew interested in writing; sneaking off to Grand Central in seventh grade

22:35: Comedian Jonathan Winters' 'throne,' bowling alley antics, Rye Neck High performance.

24:45: Ezio Pinza, opera and Broadway star, in traumatic encounter with government

27:00: Mary Mallon's notoriety for a disease, her Mamaroneck connection.

29:45: Robert Ripley of 'Believe It Or Not' and the exotic treasures in his 28-room Mamaroneck mansion.

Video: Mamaroneck murals update: where first restored mural will be displayed, more

Gail Boyle and John Pritts of the Mamaroneck Historical Society give an update on the James Fenimore Cooper-related murals removed from Mamaroneck High School. They discuss where the first restored mural will be displayed and what will happen next.

They talked Aug. 11, 2024, with Michael Witsch of LMC Media. (Video courtesy of LMC Media)

Watch the video below. Here are timestamps for some key moments in the video:

• 01:01 - History of the murals

• 09:40 - How the murals were removed

• 14:50 - Art conservation companies assess the murals

• 19:25 - Company chosen to restore the first mural

• 20:00 - Where the first restored mural will be displayed

• 24:50 - How the restoration was done

• 27:55 - Next steps

(Video courtesy of LMC Media)

How Mamaroneck Streets Got Their Names

Hear about the history, people, and strategies behind the names of Mamaroneck Village's streets in this April 16, 2024 presentation by society researcher Michael Meaney. It's based on research by him and Paul Rheingold. (Video by Dorothee Maver)

Key points in the video below (the numbers are time stamps):

Part 1

2: 38: Earliest roads connected Mamaroneck with the greater world.

Part 2

7:40: Streets reflecting Mamaroneck history, prominent families like the Heathcotes and Delanceys, and their roles in the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

17:05: Novelist James Fenimore Cooper marries Susan Augusta Delancey, lives for a time in Mamaroneck.

25:15: Streets named for the Founding Fathers.

Part 3

26:20: Mamaroneck's transformation from farms and estates to a suburb c. 1880-1920s.

28:00: How transformation happened: subdivisions.

28:30: Orienta attracts Gilded Age business titans seeking shorefront homes as escape from New York City bustle. They leave their mark on Orienta’s street names.

38:50: Rye Neck sees more farm-to-suburb transformation

40:25: Barry and Tompkins avenues named for George Barry and Noah Tompkins. Who they were.

42:00: Real estate names: 3 strategies in naming subdivision streets. Then, people behind more Rye Neck street names, including Guion, Jensen.

45:55: John Sterling and the streets with 'S' names in Rye Neck.

49:30: Shore Acres and the people and stars behind Taylors Lane, Alda Road, and Barrymore Lane.

Find much more on Mamaroneck streets in two reports on this website: Mamaroneck street name origins and Mamaroneck Village: How old is your street?

Mamaroneck Avenue Retrospective

Mamaroneck Avenue has been the commercial heart of Mamaroneck for a century and a half. Hear about the Avenue's origins, changes, and present in this March 19, 2024, presentation by society researcher Michael Meaney. (Video by Dorothee Maver)

Key points in the video (the numbers are time stamps):

1:20: Ages of the buildings on the Avenue

2:30: How to spot intriguing details on some of the Avenue's oldest buildings

6:30: How the business mix has changed over the decades

15:00: A countdown of the top 10 longest-running current businesses.

See selected slides from the presentation below the video. And find much more on Mamaroneck Avenue’s shops through the years on the Mamaroneck Avenue Nostalgia Tour elsewhere on this website.

Gallery: Selected slides from the Mamaroneck Avenue Retrospective presentation

The Story of the Battle of Heathcote Hill

Mamamaroneck Historical Society President Peter M. Fellows tells the story of the Revolutionary War Battle of Heathcote Hill during a presentation on October 17, 2023. The presentation was given during a society members meeting at the Woman’s Club of Mamaroneck. (Video by Dorothee Maver)

Richard M. Kemper Park history, beautification

The park and memorial on the grounds of Mamaroneck High School remembers Mamaroneck Town residents killed in World War II. Its history, educational role, and beautification efforts were recounted at the Mamaroneck Historical Society's November 21, 2023, Monthly Members Get-together.

View a video of the presentation below. The numbers are the time stamps in the video.

2:10: Jan Northrup on Kemper Memorial education efforts

15:18: Profiles of honorees

18:15: Information sought about some honorees

20:10: John Esposito recounts park beaufication efforts since 2012

39:10: Film on the history of the Richard M. Kemper Memorial Park.

Honoring Veterans Throughout History

Watch the Historical Society’s 2022 annual meeting, which included a presentation honoring veterans and election of society officers.Peter Fellows was elected president of the Historical Society, John Pritts trustee, Phyllis Kaskel recording secretary, and Mike Tripicco archivist. They will serve two-years terms.

Here are time stamps for parts of the meeting and presentation:

1:25: Business meeting begins

4:10: New Historical Society President Peter Fellows on his plans

7:55: Formal vote on officers

11:50: Presentation to outgoing Co-Presidents John Pritts and Gail Boyle.

18:05: Veteran Jim Camera reads his short stories inspired by his service in Vietnam

34:45: Al Bender, commander of American Legion Post 347 in Larchmont, discusses the history of local veterans organizations

51:15: Barbara Pearson, commander of American Legion Post 90 in Mamaroneck, discusses her family's extensive military service.

The video is courtesy of LMC-TV.

View photos from the Honoring Veterans Throughout History event

Tap on the arrows to move through the photo gallery of the Honoring Veterans event and the Historical Society’s election of new officers. The photos are courtesy of Barrie Proctor Bonnacci.

A COLLECTION OF VIDEOS AND OLD FILMS ON MAMARONECK'S UNIQUE HISTORY.

Thank you to LMC-TV for contributing resources from their archives.

https://lmcmedia.org/show/know-your-neighbors-historical-murals-at-mhs/

Click on the link above to watch Mamaroneck’s Sunny Goldberg interview Mamaroneck Historical Society’s co-presidents Gail Boyle and John Pritts discussing the Save the MHS Murals efforts of the community.

Replay: Liz Slade and Band at Harbor Island Bandstand

Liz Slade and her Band play folk and bluegrass music and music for dancing at the bandstand at Harbor Island on May 14, 2022.

Darla Shaw as actress Ethel Barrymore on Barrymore’s, career, years in Mamaroneck

Hear Dr. Darla Shaw as she takes on the role of Ethel Barrymore and tells the story of the Barrymore family presence in Mamaroneck for over 50 years - 1909 to 1959.

Guitarist Carlos Pavan: Celebrating our History and Heritage through Music

Argentine Guitarist & Composer Carlos Pavan performs at the Christian Science Society Church on Fenimore Road in Mamaroneck on March 19, 2022. The performance was sponsored by the Mamaroneck Historical Society.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor’s office and the New York State Legislature and administered by ArtsWestchester.

Slavery in Mamaroneck Township

Jack Brewer reminisces about Brewer’s Hardware, marinas

Darla Shaw interviews Jack Brewer, whose family owned an iconic Mamaroneck business for 140 years, Brewer’s. The interview took place Dec. 2, 2021, on Zoom. Viewers also shared Brewer's stories. The event was co-sponsored by the Mamaroneck Historical Society and Mamaroneck Public Library.

Brewer talked about topics including these (with timestamp in the video):

• The family’s history in Mamaroneck – 2:55 into the video

• Depression’s impact – 5:05

• Lumber yard burns in 1950s – 8:00

• ‘Dedicated to the store’: What made John Brewer, Brewer’s special – 9:10  

• ‘A changing world’: Why Brewer’s Hardware closed – 29:30

• Mamaroneck school memories – 32:30

• Most important guideline for being an entrepreneur – 35:34

• Viewer stories and questions – 36:30

Historical Society 2021 annual meeting and OCRA presentation

The Mamaroneck Historical Society reviews its 2021 activities and elects board trustees during its annual meeting Nov. 16, 2021, at the Mamaroneck Women's Club.

Then, four Mamaroneck High School seniors in a civic-action program, Original Civic Research & Action, present their idea to align Mamaroneck Village election years with federal election years to increase local election voter turnout.

More information: Read a summary of the meeting and a message from Mamaroneck High School teacher Joe Liberti about the school’s civic-action program and initiatives.

Larchmont-Mamaroneck’s roots: Exploring our nationalities

A Zoom presentation on April 28, 2021

Explore our interactive look at Larchmont-Mamaroneck’s 90 ethnicities

Dr. Larry Faltz presentation on the ceiling of Grand Central Terminal as part of the Mamaroneck and Larchmont Libraries One Book/One Community program on Feona Davis’ THE MASTERPIECE.