Sunday, July 31, 2022
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The past and present of Van Nest is squarely tied into the railroad system of our nation. Whether it was the New Haven railroad in the mid to late 1800s or the New York Westchester and Boston at the turn of the 20th century, Van Nest has been and continues to be a transportation hub for this centrally located Bronx community. Van Nest is home to the temple of transportation in the East Bronx, East 180th Station, now a landmark NYC subway masterpiece, originally built for the NY Westchester and Boston. Van Nest will receive its next transportation gem within the next five years, a Metro-North station. Aside from its glory days of transportation, Van Nest marked its success with an overflow of Italian immigrants in the early 20th century in addition to German, Jewish and Irish influences.
All of these cultures have clearly left their imprimatur on Van Nest Nest in the form of Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, such as Saint Dominic’s, Our Lady of Solace, and St. Martha’s, all of which are still active today. Some structures, like the Lutheran church and Jewish synagogue, have been repurposed to reflect its present-day Islamic and Hispanic occupants, respectively. In addition to its architectural wonders designed by Frank J. Helmle, Napoleon LeBraun, Anthony J. DePace and James E. Ware and Sons, Van Nest had its share of residents and personalities including world renowned German artist C. Paul Jennewein, U.S. general James Collins, and African-American driver of social change Stokley Carmichael.
$15 Friend / Senior ; General Admission $25
