Scarsdale Suffragists Documentary Premieres at Scarsdale Public Library with Two "Sold Out" Screenings

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Women Rising: The Scarsdale Suffragists premiered December 16th with two fully reserved screenings at Scarsdale Public Library. The film tells the little-known story of the courageous women behind the suffrage movement in Scarsdale and how their work shaped the community. We also unveiled two new photo exhibits that evening in partnership with the library’s Local History Librarian, Daniel Glauber.

The film was introduced by President Randy Guggenheimer, who shared some insights about making the film. There were countless mentions of Scarsdale’s suffrage meetings, rallies and dances in newspapers, yet there were no photographs of the women in the library’s photo archives. In search of photographs and firsthand stories about these women, relatives were tracked down all over the country. Guggenheimer stated, “With this new film and exhibits, we give these trailblazers proper recognition and individual identities. When you leave the library tonight, you’ll remember the names of Florence, Josephine, Bella and Edna.”

Women Rising features trailblazers like Florence Bethell who lectured, wrote, marched and lobbied for womens’ right to vote - at a village, state and national level. In the face of apathetic and sometimes hostile attitudes toward women’s suffrage, the women used creative approaches to educate Scarsdale women on suffrage - from porch parties to suffrage dances. 

The screening was followed by a Q&A panel with film participants.

Front (left to right): Nancy Horrigan, Archivist for the Scarsdale Woman’s Club, Lesley Topping, Filmmaker, Barbara Davis, Director of the Westchester County Historical Society. Back, left to right: Linda Leavitt, former Editor-in-Chief of the Scarsdale Inquirer, Daniel Glauber, Scarsdale Public Library Local History Librarian, Leslie Chang Trustee and Associate Scarsdale Village Historian Historian.

In closing, Guggenheimer emphasized that this suffrage movement was a milestone in a longer fight. “The spirit, bravery and resilience of the Scarsdale Suffragists is an inspiration, but we must remember that their crusade was just one pivotal step in the continued battle for equal women’s rights and suffrage.”

After the screening event, attendees visited the Local History Center to see the new suffrage exhibits. For only that night, there were some museum-quality suffrage artifacts on display, thanks to our trustee and collection-builder, Seth Kaller. The exhibits are on display at the Scarsdale Public Library through January.

The film is now available online! Click here.

The entire collection of our films can be viewed here.

Now Streaming: "The Village: The History of Downtown Scarsdale"

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This film explores how Scarsdale’s business district grew from a humble train depot and a few wooden buildings to the iconic Tudor-style commercial center we have today. 

The Village will take viewers on a journey spanning more than 200 years, beginning with a colonial-era mill on the Bronx River. Archival photographs capture the development of Scarsdale’s earliest businesses and “downtown” streets, when horses clip-clopped on dusty roads. The film chronicles the factors that contributed to Scarsdale’s suburbanization, and the prominent, community-minded residents that developed the business district that still stands today. 

This half- hour documentary is directed and edited by local filmmaker Lesley Topping, with appearances by village historians Jordan Copeland and Leslie Chang, and Peter Blier from Scarsdale Central Taxi. It is part of an ongoing series from the Scarsdale Historical Society on the history and neighborhoods of Scarsdale. All the previous films can be viewed at https://www.scarsdalehistoricalsociety.org/videos.

Watch the Newly Digitized Film, “Scarsdale in World War II”

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Scarsdale in World War II, created and released by residents in 1946, chronicles how Scarsdalians united and rallied in support of the war effort in the 1940s. It was produced and screened as part of a fundraising campaign for Jewish refugee children.

The original 16mm film was found in storage at the Scarsdale Public Library, and all 1,200 feet of film has been digitized and preserved by the Scarsdale Historical Society. This historic treasure presents a stunning, visual testimony of Scarsdale life in the 1940’s. The footage captures Scarsdale’s landmarks as they appeared almost 80 years ago, including the only-known footage of some sites that no longer exist.

Proceeds from the screening of this film went to a national interfaith organization named “Children to Palestine.” The meaning behind this name requires some explanation, as it could cause some confusion in today’s context. When Jewish children were orphaned and displaced during the Holocaust, one of the few options for resettling them was the area then known as Palestine - before Israel became a nation in 1948. Moved by the plight of Jewish children, Scarsdale residents of all backgrounds united to rescue them from the “land of persecution” and bring them to a “Land of Promise.” 

The Scarsdale branch of “Children to Palestine” was founded by two Scarsdale residents: Dorothy Silverstone (of 6 Richbell Close) and Susan Bennett (or 10 Elmdorf Drive). A Junior Committee was formed, and they sponsored the making of this film with the support of Dorothy Silverstone’s husband, Murray Silverstone, who was the President of 20th Century Fox. They were a very philanthropic couple, and it’s worth noting that with all of Murray’s accomplishments in the movie industry, this film was named in his obituary as one of his proud accomplishments. 

We conducted some historical research and detective work to identify some of the film locations and prominent residents, and provided this information in captions to help the audience connect and better understand the film. We have a terrific community on Facebook and Instagram that helped us with the detective work.

The film was produced by stage producer Julian Olney and narrated by renowned broadcaster Lowell Thomas. 

Other than the captions, the film is presented as originally created. It contains language which may cause offense.

The original film reel has a strong aroma of vinegar, a sign of film degradation. We are fortunate that is was digitized when it was.

Watch the Road to Heathcote and the Forgotten Railway

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Discover the origins of the Heathcote neighborhood and the abandoned remains of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway (NYW&B) that had stations throughout Westchester including one at Five Corners in Scarsdale. Topping takes viewers inside iconic buildings at Five Corners, Scarsdale Congregational Church, Heathcote School and more. Featuring local historians and residents including Randy Guggenheimer, Jordan Copeland, Leslie Chang, Michael Zeller, Eliot Goldfinger and others. Produced by the Scarsdale Historical Society, directed and edited by Lesley Topping. A video of the Q&A that took place after the film premiered is here.

Film Premiere of The Road to Heathcote and the Forgotten Railway

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Join us for the premiere of our newest film, The Road to Heathcote and the Forgotten Railway. It explores the unusual origins of the Heathcote neighborhood and tours the last vestiges of Westchester’s ‘Million Dollar A Mile Railroad’ that made stops at the Heathcote Train Station at Five Corners from 1912 to 1937.

Film Premiere of The Road to Heathcote and the Forgotten Railway
Wednesday, November 1st
Two screenings at 6:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Scarsdale Public Library

Q&A Session to Follow
RSVP is requested. Admission is free. There will be a Q&A panel with local historians, filmmakers, residents and railroad enthusiasts.

This half hour documentary is directed and edited by local filmmaker, Lesley Topping. The event is co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Historical Society and the Scarsdale Public Library.

  • RSVP for 6:15 p.m. screening here

  • RSVP for 7:30 p.m. screening here.

Other Films
This film is part of an ongoing series from the Scarsdale Historical Society on the history and neighborhoods of Scarsdale. All the previous films can be viewed here.

Watch Greenacres Tales: Building a Scarsdale Neighborhood

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Our new video explores the unique and surprising history of the Scarsdale neighborhood known as Greenacres. Featuring local historians and residents including Barbara Shay MacDonald Randy Guggenheimer, Jordan Copeland, Leslie Chang, Jay and Marc Shulman, Andrew Sereysky and Rev. Katherine Pater. A Scarsdale Historical Society Production. Music by Marc Shulman, Directed and edited by Lesley Topping.

Videos of the Q&A sessions that took place after the two showings on the night the film premiered are here and here.