All Aboard! A Trolley Tour of Historic Scarsdale

Climb aboard for a journey through Scarsdale’s past as we celebrate the Village’s 325th anniversary (and America’s 250th)!

Scarsdale Trolley Tour 
📆 November 1, 2026
Departures at 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM & 3:00 PM
Members: $30 | Non-members: $45

EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT.
Spots may open up. Join the waitlist and we’ll let you know if tickets become available.

This family-friendly 90-minute guided trolley tour will explore the people, places, and stories that shaped early Scarsdale—from colonial farms and the Revolutionary era through the age of country estates, when horses still traveled Scarsdale’s roads.

Along the way, we’ll uncover remnants of an earlier Scarsdale that are still all around us—historic homes, former estates, and places where Revolutionary War events unfolded, all hiding in plain sight if you know where to look.

Tickets are very limited. Scarsdale Historical Society members receive a special discounted price.

Not a member? Now is a great time to join!

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FAQ

Where does the trolley tour begin?
The starting location and arrival instructions will be emailed to ticket holders before the tour.

How long is the tour?
The tour is approximately 90 minutes.

Is there a bathroom on the trolley?
No. There are no restroom facilities on the trolley, so please plan accordingly before departure.

Does the tour take place rain or shine?
Yes! The trolley tour will take place rain or shine.

Is the tour family-friendly?
Yes. The tour is family-friendly and open to history lovers of all ages.

How early should I arrive?
Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure. The trolley must leave on time, and we cannot guarantee that late arrivals will be accommodated.

Is the trolley accessible?
Please contact us in advance with any accessibility questions or needs so we can determine what accommodations are available.

Can I bring food or drinks on the trolley?
While not prohibited, food and drink should be limited.

Do I need to bring a printed ticket?
No printed ticket is necessary. Please have your Eventbrite confirmation available on your phone at check-in.

Can I change my tour time after purchasing a ticket?
All sales are final, and tour times cannot be changed after purchase.

Are tickets refundable?
All sales are final.

Can I buy a ticket on the day of the tour?
No, ticket sales will close before the event. Each trolley has limited seating, and tours may sell out.

Will passengers be getting on/off the trolley during the tour? 
We will be getting off the trolley once, weather and time permitting, for 5 minutes.

Can passengers board at a later stop or depart the tour early?
Passengers must board at the beginning of the tour. They can always get off the trolley to leave for an emergency, but they will need their own transportation back to the starting point.

Whom can I contact with questions?
Email us any time at info@scarsdalehistoricalsociety.org.

Banner Unveiling: Old Army Road

On Saturday October 17th, at 5pm, the community gathered at the corner of Old Army and Ardsley Roads to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Continental Army’s march through our area. A new banner display commemorates the troops who passed through present-day Edgemont-Greenburgh 250 years ago — and the Revolutionary history hiding in plain sight along a road we still travel today. .

Left to right: Jordan Copeland, Dylan Pyne, Peter Blier, David Stern and Leslie Chang at the Banner Dedication on October 17, 2026.

It was a Revolutionary escape route.

This week in 1776, today’s Old Army Road was more than a road — it was part of a vital route north as Continental troops moved toward White Plains after British victories around New York City. Traveling north on the west side of the Bronx River offered a safer alternative to the Post Road, where British forces were also advancing, with the river providing a natural barrier between the two routes.

The countryside looked very different from the suburban landscape we know today. Greenburgh was a sparsely populated farming community crossed by dirt roads, stone walls, fields and woodland. Continental soldiers moving through the area would have encountered farms and local residents along the way as the army prepared for its confrontation with British and Hessian forces at White Plains.

Days later on October 28, 1776, the Battle of White Plains was fought just a few miles to the north. Greenburgh, Scarsdale and the surrounding countryside became part of a much larger military landscape as troops maneuvered throughout central Westchester.

Today, the roads have been paved and the farms largely disappeared, but traces of that earlier landscape remain. Even the name Old Army Road offers a reminder that, 250 years ago, the roads beneath our feet were part of the unfolding American Revolution.

We’re grateful to Peter Blier, of the Edgemont AND Scarsdale Historical Societies, who spearheaded the effort to bring this commemoration to life - and to the Town of Greenburgh , Paul Feiner , Edgemont Community Council, Dylan F. Pyne , and all those who supported this effort.

Join Us at Mamaroneck 250

Commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with live music, storytelling, historical reenactments, hands-on exhibits, and activities for the whole family at a Living History Family Day:

📆 Sunday, October 18, 2026
Harbor Island Park · Mamaroneck, NY

** Special Reenactment at 1:30 PM **
Full event runs 1:00–5:00 PM

We’re revisiting the British army’s advance through our area in October 1776 - as General Howe and British Loyalists Phebe and Edmund Ward recount their experiences during these pivotal days and beyond, including stories of confiscation and divided loyalties.

From the moment British forces landed at Pell’s Point, they sought strategic locations and homes to serve as headquarters for General William Howe as his army advanced toward White Plains. Howe established headquarters throughout the area, including in Pelham, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Eastchester and Scarsdale. Hear General Howe and British Loyalists Phebe and Edmund Ward recount their experiences during these pivotal days and beyond, including stories of confiscation and divided loyalties.

In October 1776, Howe commandeered the Eastchester home of Patriot Stephen Ward before establishing headquarters at Scarsdale’s Griffen-Fish House on Mamaroneck Road. Situated on high ground overlooking the surrounding countryside, the Griffen-Fish House offered a strategic vantage point over today’s Post Road as British forces pursued Washington’s army toward White Plains.

At this event, hear their stories and learn more about local history at The Friends of the Ward House, The Eastchester Historical Society, and The Scarsdale Historical Society

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Extended Interview with Ruth Friendly

The Full Interview Conducted by Film Director Lesley Topping for our Film, From the First Schoolhouse: A Scarsdale Story

Ruth Friendly, a former Scarsdale elementary school teacher and award-winning television producer, discusses her teaching career and her work with her late husband, Fred Friendly, a pioneer of broadcast journalism.

About Ruth Friendly

Ruth was raised in Manhattan by her parents Herman and Henrietta Weiss. Herman, a Bloomingdale's executive, had been with the company since 1914.

A graduate of Smith College (1945) and Teachers College, Columbia University (1957), her first career was as a faculty member in the Scarsdale School District, where she taught and worked on curriculum development for over fifteen years.  With husband Sandor Mark, she raised three children in the Quaker Ridge neighborhood. Son Jonathan Mark went on to serve as the Mayor of Scarsdale from 2015 to 2017.

Ruth’s students after a performance of their original play based on the 1735 trial of John Peter Zenger. A true story based in colonial New York, the landmark legal case that established the foundations of freedom of the press in America. Credit: Ruth Friendly, 1982.

Widowed at an early age, she subsequently met and married Fred Friendly, and they merged their two families – six kids under one roof.  

Ruth with husband Fred Friendly, a television producer and former president of CBS News. Photo Credit: Ruth Friendly

Ruth began her second career in 1982, working at Media and Society Seminars, founded by her husband Fred. Starting as a researcher, she moved on to become an editor, producer, and executive producer on more than 100 hours of programming airing nationally on PBS, including The Constitution: That Delicate Balance, Managing Our Miracles: Health Care in America, Ethics in America, and That Delicate Balance II: Our Bill of Rights.

After her husband’s death in 1998, Ruth took over as Director of Media and Society Seminars, and became Vice President and Senior Editorial Director of Fred Friendly Seminars (FFS) a successor organization that took over the production responsibilities.  The FFS programs produced for PBS include Minds on the Edge, Ethics in America 2, Our Genes/Our Choices, Who Cares: Chronic Illness in America, Epidemic, and Beyond Black and White: Affirmative Action in America.  Over the years, Ruth has also produced more than 300 non-televised seminars for medical, legal, educational, governmental, and civic groups across the country. 

Ruth at her desk at the Columbia University School of Journalism in 2009, where at 85 she continued to serve as the Vice President and Editorial Director of Fred Friendly Seminars: award-winning television programs. Photo Credit: Ruth Friendly

In the 2000s, Ruth served for eight years as a Commissioner on the New York State Commission of Nomination, Court of Appeals. She also served as a panel member for the Disciplinary Committee of the Appellate Division, New York Supreme Court.  She is an active board member of Riverdale Senior Services and Riverdale Neighborhood House.

Ruth delights in sharing her free time with her six children and their families, including ten amazing grandchildren, and five prized great-grandchildren.

Extended Interview with Ruth Friendly

Exclusive Content From From the First Schoolhouse: A Scarsdale Story

A Revolutionary ScarsTales is Here!

In this Revolutionary-themed episode of ScarsTales, Lori Rothman, Leslie Chang, and Jordan Copeland explore Scarsdale’s Revolutionary War-era history as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence. The conversation reframes Scarsdale not as the site of major battlefield glory, but as a community caught in the dangerous “neutral ground” between British forces in New York City and Patriot forces to the north. Jordan explains how local families endured raids, displacement, stolen livestock, and the daily instability of war.

The episode also looks at everyday life in early Scarsdale, from farming and hog management to road maintenance and communal responsibilities. A major section addresses Scarsdale’s history of slavery, including the role enslaved people played in building the town and the limited records that remain. Leslie then discusses the Historical Society’s oral history initiative and the search for recordings from a similar 1980s project. The episode closes with a preview of upcoming Revolutionary War-themed events, including Tavern 250 at Wayside Cottage.

We hope you’ll subscribe, rate, and review to help these stories reach more listeners.

TUNE IN

Toast 250! at Wayside Cottage - Sunday, June 14th

Wayside Cottage is the place to be on Sunday, June 14th, from 2 - 6 PM! 

Hosted by RW250 and the Junior League of Central Westchester, this lively Revolutionary-era tavern experience celebrates the Semiquincentennial (1776-2026) and the 325th anniversary of Scarsdale with music and merriment for all ages.

At Scarsdale Village’s oldest landmark, we’ll celebrate where the Varian family faced ever-present danger from Loyalist and British attacks during the Revolutionary War years.

FEATURING

Visits from: Martha Washington ★ British General Howe ★ Patriot Col. John Glover ★ …and More

Music by The Liberty Three

Games Hosted by Philipse Manor Hall

Quill Pen Writing

Weaving Demonstrations

Musket Drills with the 5th New York Regiment

Wayside Cottage Tours

Recognition of Witness Stones Project Honoring Those Once Enslaved

American Revolution Trivia—The Westchester Edition! (4:00 PM)

Tavern Fare and Libations for Purchase at the Captain Lawrence Food Truck

Colonial Sweets, Including Flag Day Treats for Kids

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FREE ADMISSION

📆 Date: Sunday, June 14
2:00 - 6:00 PM
Wayside Cottage at 1039 Post Road, Scarsdale, NY

All Ages Welcome