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The Wolfe Walkers
! ! Since 1969 | Spring 2015
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sunday, April 12
Saturday, April 18
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, May 9
Spiritual Sites of CPW
Titanic Memorial Tour
Brooklyn Bridge & Heights
Summer Mansions of Astoria
Saturday, May 16
Sunday, May 31
Sunday, June 7
Saturday, July 11
SPRING PROGRAM, 2015
Kleindeutschland in the East Village
Tottenville & Conference House
BUS: Roosevelt & Vanderbilt
BUS: Hudson Valley Stone Houses
MARCH 1, 2015
Dear Friends,
Another Spring Season awaits! Responding to several requests, we are offering a walk of Spiritual
Sites along Central Park West that will include (among other locations) a private tour of Congregation
Shearith Israel Synagogue. Three tours celebrate the New York waterfront: Brooklyn Bridge and
Brooklyn Heights with a tour of Plymouth Church; Summer Mansions of Astoria, Queens; and
the charming waterfront village of Tottenville, Staten Island – including a tour of Conference House, where attempts were made
to resolve the issues of the American Revolution. (Needless to say, the Conference was unsuccessful.)
We’ll explore the history and remnants of “Kleindeutschland” or “Little Germany” on the Lower East Side. On our bus trip to
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Hyde Park, we’ll travel to Springwood, the Roosevelt Mansion. A special treat will be a visit to
Eleanor Roosevelt’s unusual snuggery, Val-Kill Cottage as well as the FDR Presidential Library. The Hyde Park trip will also include
a tour of the Frederick Vanderbilt Mansion, designed by McKim, Mead & White.
A very exciting offering this year will be a day of 17th and 18th Century Stone Houses in the towns of New Paltz and Hurley. The
New Paltz houses form a National Landmark district and the houses are maintained in a protected museum environment. The
houses of Hurley date back as far back as 300 years and are currently residences today. This is the only day of the year that these
private homes are opened for public visitation. A rare treat!
The Wolfe Walker Committee
Come join us for another exciting season!
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A Special Note From Gerard Wolfe:
Dear Friends,
What wonderful array of tours! I have fond memories of our visit to the Stone Houses of Hurley.
On the publishing front, Synagogues of New York’s Lower East Side is now available in paperback!
Caecilia and I send you our very best.
Gerard
Gerard & Caecilia Wolfe
652 North Amberwood Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
(928) 526-4433 E-mail: [email protected]
The Wolfe Walkers are pleased to promote and celebrate Landmarks50. Fifty years ago, on April 19, 1965, Mayor
Robert F. Wagner signed the Landmarks Law of New York City, and the era of historic preservation began. Since
then, almost 1,400 individual landmarks, 115 interior landmarks, 10 scenic landmarks, 109 historic districts, and 10
historic district extensions located throughout all five boroughs have been designated.
The NYC Landmarks50 Alliance has been formed to create an appropriate commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the New
York City's Landmarks Law in 2015, and to ensure that the preservation community, as well as the wider New York City public,
reflect upon and embrace the significance of the role of historic preservation in shaping the City. The goal of this project is to
broaden the appreciation of, and commitment to New York City's admired architecture, and to develop a new audience and a new
generation of future preservationists, who will take responsibility for protecting the continuity of the New York Cityscape.
WOLFE WALKERS: SPRING 2015 TOUR REGISTRATION
Please make your check payable to JOHANNA STERBIN
Please mail your coupon and check to:
THE WOLFE WALKERS
Park West Station
P. O. Box 20406
New York, NY 10025
PLEASE NOTE:
To encourage advance registration, there is a discounted fee for those whose payment has been received one week prior to the
date of the tour. The fees below are at the discounted rate. On-site fees will generally cost an additional $5.00 per tour. When
paying on-site, please pay by check. As always, no on-site registrations will be accepted for Bus or Boat Tours, where there are
limits on the group size, or when meals are included in the tour price. There are no discounted rates for Bus or Boat Tours.
The Wolfe Walkers will not extend credits for tours in the future; all sales will be considered final. Since the Wolfe Walkers is
coordinated by volunteers and due to the potential volume of mail, we do not provide tour confirmations. Your check will be your
receipt. Tours operate rain or shine.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WOLFE WALKERS WILL NOT EXTEND CREDITS FOR TOURS IN THE FUTURE.
ALL SALES WILL BE CONSIDERED FINAL. CREDITS FROM PAST TOURS WILL BE HONORED UNTIL 2016.
I (We) plan to join the Wolfe Walkers for the following events at the early registration prices. If applying a credit from a
past tour, please note amount in the credit box.
Fee
Number
Amount
Credit
Sunday
Saturday
Sunday
Saturday
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Saturday
April 12
April 18
April 26
May 9
May 16
May 31
June 7
July 11
Spiritual Sites of Central Park West
Titanic Memorial Tour
Brooklyn Bridge & Brooklyn Heights
Summer Mansions of Astoria, Queens
Kleindeutschland in the East Village
Tottenville & Conference House
BUS: Roosevelt & Vanderbilt Mansions
BUS: Stone Houses: Hurley | New Paltz
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
30
25
30
25
25
30
115
115
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_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
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Name(s): _____________________________________________________Amount Enclosed: $_________________________
Street__________________________________________________________Telephone (______)__________________________
City___________________________State______________Zip Code________________E-Mail____________________________
General Information: Tours go rain or shine unless you hear from us. If in doubt, please
telephone. (For the record, we have never canceled a tour.) Unless specified, lunch is not
included in the price of the tours. There are no discounted rates for Bus or Boat Tours. Likewise,
no refunds or credits will be extended for any tours. If you have any questions or comments,
please E-MAIL Justin Ferate at [email protected] or TELEPHONE at (212) 223-2777.
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SPIRITUAL SITES ON AND OFF CENTRAL PARK WEST
Walking Tour || Sunday, April 12, 2015
Take a Sunday morning stroll along Central Park West and adjacent streets to
discover a select and impressive array of churches, synagogues, and other
spiritual sites. Discover such treasures as the remarkable Holy Trinity Roman
Catholic Church with its spectacular Guastavino tile interiors, the elegant Art
Nouveau New York Society for Ethical Culture, and the Gothic-styled Fourth
Universalist Society Church, modeled after Magdalen Tower, in Oxford, England –
just to name just a few. Included will also be an in-depth privately guided tour of
Congregation Shearith Israel, this nation’s oldest Jewish congregation, founded
in1654. We’ll experience the majestic (and newly restored) Tiffany-designed marbleized sanctuary and also visit the congregation’s
intimate “Little Synagogue” harkening back to its early Colonial New York history – providing a unique opportunity to view Jewish
ritual objects from New York’s Colonial era.
Date:
Time:
Meet:
Trains:
Buses:
Leader:
Fee:
Sunday, April 12, 2015
9:00 AM to about 12:30 PM
Outside Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church: 213 West 82nd Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam
IRT #1 Train to 79th Street. Walk up Broadway to 82nd Street and turn east for half a block.
IND A or C to 81st Street (Museum of Natural History). Walk north on Central Park West to 82nd Street. Turn west
past Amsterdam Avenue.
M7, M11, M104
Justin Ferate, Urban Historian
$ 30 in advance (Includes Admissions & Tour Fees)
$ 35 on-site (by check to Johanna Sterbin) (Includes Admissions & Tour Fees)
A MEMORIAL TOUR TO THE TITANIC
Walking Tour || Saturday Evening, April 18, 2015
The RMS Titanic disaster took place on April 14, 1912. Four days
later, at 9:25 PM, on the evening of April 18, 1912, RMS Carpathia
arrived in New York City – having fought through dangerous ice
fields to rescue 712 survivors from the Titanic. Join with Dave
Gardner, of the Titanic Historical Society, and memorialize the
history of that great ocean liner. Discover more about the RMS
Titanic – one of the most famous ships in the world. While she
never actually reached dry land here, the Titanic and New York City
are inextricably linked. The legacy of the Titanic in New York is connected to many New York City sites. During the tour, we will
walk through relevant locales and discover their connections with the Titanic – their implications and their meanings.
Date:
Time:
Meet:
Trains:
Buses:
Leader:
Fee:
Saturday Evening, April 18, 2015
6:00 PM to about 8:00 PM
Southwest corner of Astor Place and Lafayette Street in the East Village by the Walgreen’s (20 Astor Place).
6 Train to Astor Place – next to meeting place. || N/R to 8th Street (at Broadway). Walk one block east.
M1, M2, M3, M5, M8, M103 to Astor Place, St. Mark's Place
Dave Gardner, Gold (top-tier) member of the Titanic Historical Society
$ 25 in advance
$ 30 on-site (By check to Johanna Sterbin)
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A WALK OVER THE BRIDGE: BROOKLYN BRIDGE TO BROOKLYN HEIGHTS
Walking Tour || Sunday, April 26, 2015
Discover some of the great landmarks of New York’s Civic Center such as
the Woolworth Tower, New York’s City Hall, the Municipal Building, and
other delights. Then, stroll across the inspirational Brooklyn Bridge for
magnificent waterfront vistas and tales of the bridge’s creation. A monument
to man’s (and woman’s) ingenuity and creativity, this 19th century steel
suspension bridge is deservedly world famous.
Join us on a private tour of Plymouth Church, long associated with Reverend Henry Ward Beecher, the Underground Railroad and
the Abolition Movement, and – critical to the church’s history – with President Abraham Lincoln. We’ll visit the handsome sanctuary
with its notable collection of nineteen historic stained glass windows by the talented designer Frederick Lamb and Lamb Studios in
Greenwich Village. We’ll also visit the church’s Hillis Hall with three renowned windows signed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and one
from Tiffany Studios. In addition, we will view the impressive "Ascension" window by Otto Heinigke, who also created the mosaics in
the Woolworth Building lobby as well as stained glass windows for New York Stock Exchange, Carnegie Hall, and the Library of
Congress. Don’t miss this opportunity to view a spectacular and varied array of stained glass windows.
Then, we’ll take a brief stroll to view some of the delightful streets of Brooklyn Heights, New York City's first Landmark District.
Over 600 houses in this neighborhood were built before 1860! Tour will end at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, with its
spectacular vistas of the New York skyline and the New York Harbor.
Date:
Time:
Meet:
Trains:
Note:
Leader:
Fee:
Sunday, April 26, 2015
11:45 AM to about 3:15 PM
By the fountain inside City Hall Park: located where Broadway and Park Row converge
BMT N, R Train to City Hall || IRT 2, 3 to Park Place || IRT 4, 5, 6 to City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge
Some may want to end with a late lunch on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights.
Justin Ferate, Urban Historian
$ 30 in advance (Includes contribution to Plymouth Church)
$ 35 on-site (By check to Johanna Sterbin) (Includes contribution to Plymouth Church)
SUMMER MANSIONS OF ASTORIA, QUEENS
Walking Tour || Saturday, May 9, 2015
Few people realize that “The Mount” – Edith Wharton’s summer mansion in Lenox,
Massachusetts – was named for her grandfather’s grand summer estate in Astoria, Queens.
The community of Astoria Village, overlooking the East River, was once the home to
numerous summer mansions of many wealthy 19th century New Yorkers. Miraculously, a
few of these impressive structures survive. Join Justin Ferate as we discover some of the
“lost” and endangered historic treasures – both domestic and spiritual – that remain from
New York’s romantic era of the “Age of Innocence.”
Date:
Time:
Meet:
Trains:
Lunch:
Leader:
Fee:
Saturday, May 9, 2015
10:00 AM to approximately 12:30 PM
On the SW corner of 31st Street and 30th Avenue – on the Manhattan side of the elevated train
BMT N Train to 30th Avenue Station in Astoria
There are a number of quality options. Adjacent to the subway station is the popular Greek restaurant, Opa!
Justin Ferate, Urban Historian
$ 25 in advance
$ 30 on-site (By check to Johanna Sterbin)
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LITTLE GERMANY OR “KLEINDEUTSCHLAND” IN THE EAST VILLAGE
Walking Tour || Saturday, May 16, 2015
Prior to the massive influx of Eastern European Jews after 1880, the Lower East Side was the largest German-speaking community
outside of Germany. So prolific were the German stores, theatres, concert halls, clinics, Biergärten, and Turn Verein (gymnastic
clubs) that the area was often referred to as “Kleindeutschland” or “Little Germany.” It would all tragically end with the General
Slocum Steamship Disaster in the East River. On Wednesday, June 15, 1904, over a thousand German immigrants died on a
pleasure steamer hired for a Sunday School picnic for St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Join with tour leader Justin Ferate
to discover the remnants of the community that was once home to more German residents than Munich. A few of the sites will
include the Astor Library, the German-American Shooting Club, the Ottendorfer Library, an original Turnverein, Tompkins Square,
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the haunting memorial to the children who died in the General Slocum Disaster.
Date:
Time:
Meet:
Trains:
Fee:
Leader:
Saturday, May 16, 2015
1:00 PM – about 4:30 PM
In front of Joseph Papp’s Public Theatre / former Astor Library
IRT 6 Train to Astor Place. Walk south on Lafayette Street to the Public Theatre – on the east side of the street.
BMT trains N, Q, R to 8th Street (and Broadway). Walk one block east to Lafayette Street. Walk south on
Lafayette Street to the Public Theatre – on the east side of the street.
$ 25 in advance
$ 30 on-site (By check to Johanna Sterbin)
Justin Ferate, Urban Historian
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AN OFFBEAT DAY IN STATEN ISLAND: TOTTENVILLE & CONFERENCE HOUSE
Tour by Ferry, Foot, and Overland Railway (SIR) || Sunday, May 31, 2015
Join Justin Ferate as we travel the length of Staten Island to discover vestiges of its noble past. Meet at the Manhattan Terminal of
the Staten Island Ferry and travel across New York's Harbor, on an historic ferry journey initiated by a young Staten Islander, one
Cornelius Van Der Bilt.
Once on Staten Island, we'll travel overland on SIR (Staten Island Railway) to the end of
the line: Tottenville. The SIR train line was once the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and is now
operated by the MTA. Tottenville was once the major New York ferry connection for Perth
Amboy, New Jersey. The village still has unusual remnants of its maritime past. We'll see
19th Century houses of ship's captains and Victorian country villas. There's even a library
by Carrère & Hastings, architects of the New York Public Library! We’ll make a special visit
to Tina Kaasman-Dunn ‘s delightful home – an enchantingly restored 19th century
gentleman’s country estate in the style of A. J. Downing. We’ll also view the Henry Biddle
Mansion, a NYC Landmark Greek Revival mansion built circa 1850. The front and rear
facades are identical, each boasting of a magnificent two-story portico – one of which overlooks the waterfront.
As special treat, we will tour Conference House, the 1680s stone house built by British
naval officer, Captain Christopher Billop. At an unsuccessful peace conference here,
during the American Revolution, the British government proposed to provide "clemency
and full pardon to all repentant rebels." The unrepentant rebels (represented at the
conference by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge) did not agree to
the conditions offered and the War for Independence continued. Had this conference
gone otherwise, the United States might still be part of Great Britain today.
We'll eat our picnic lunches on the lawn of Conference House or the new “Victorian” pergola – just along the water's edge. The
country-like environment, with its trees, grass, and sedges, provides an unusual contrast to the skyline and harbor view of Perth
Amboy, just across the water. Beachcombers are welcome to walk along the sandy beaches!
Our stroll will lead us back to the SIR and to the Staten Island Ferry for our homeward return to the "isle of joy."
Date:
Time:
Ferry:
Meet:
Restrooms:
Sunday, May 31, 2015
9:15 AM to about 3:30 PM (possibly later)
The Ferry departs promptly at 9:30 AM, so please arrive early for check-in!
Inside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in the UPSTAIRS departure lounge on the Manhattan side
Restrooms are available at the Ferry Terminal. Please be certain to use them. There will be few opportunities
in Tottenville.
Trains:
IRT 1 to South Ferry || IRT 4/5 to Bowling Green
BMT R to Whitehall || BMT J to Broad Street
Bus:
M1, M15 – South Ferry
MetroCard:
Bring your MetroCard for the SIR trip to Tottenville. (Free transfer, if you’ve already taken the subway.) We will
take the 10:06 AM SIR Train, which arrives in Tottenville at 10:48 AM.
Return Trains: Return trains leave at :01 and :31 past the hour. (For example: 2:01 PM and 2:31 PM) The ride takes about 45
minutes.
Lunch:
Please bring a sack lunch and a beverage. There are few opportunities to purchase items en route.
Consider:
Consider bringing a towel or a small blanket for your picnic lunch.
Admissions:
Admissions to the Conference House are included in the fee.
Leader:
Justin Ferate, Urban Historian
Fee:
$ 30 in advance (Includes Admission to Conference House)
$ 35 on-site (By check to Johanna Sterbin) (Includes Admission to Conference House)
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HYDE PARK: VAL-KILL, SPRINGWOOD, FDR LIBRARY & VANDERBILT MANSION
Tour by Bus and on Foot || Sunday, June 7, 2015
Take a summertime journey up the Hudson River. We have made special arrangements to visit ValKill, the very private “snuggery” of Eleanor Roosevelt. Commemorate the life and work of this
outstanding woman in American history. Discover more about the humanitarian concerns to which
she devoted her considerable intellect.
At Noon, we will tour Springwood, the lifelong home of Franklin D. Roosevelt – America’s only 4-term
President. After the tour, time will be allotted for picnic lunches and to visit the FDR Presidential
Library and Museum, operated by the National Archives. Stroll the grounds, walk the trails of this
300-acre site, or view the gravesites of Franklin, Eleanor, and their beloved Scottie dog “Fala,”
At 3:30 PM, we will tour the Frederick Vanderbilt Mansion, a grand architectural representation of the
era Mark Twain called "The Gilded Age." McKim, Mead and White designed the handsome
neoclassical mansion in 1898. In 1906, Whitney Warren, the Vanderbilt relative who co-designed
Grand Central Terminal, made final alterations to the mansion.
The mansion remains much as it was – sited on
600 acres – purchased because of Mr. Vanderbilt’s
love of horticulture. The beautiful grounds include
walking trails, formal gardens, and a spectacular
view of the Hudson River. Until the 1930s, lavish
parties and balls were held here in the summer and
fall. Guests were drawn from America's wealthiest families and European nobility. The mansion
required a staff of seventeen workers, including Hyde Park townspeople. The mansion’s own farm
provided the meats, fruits, and vegetables for the larder.
If time permits, we’ll also visit St. James Church, an important spiritual anchor for the Roosevelt and
Vanderbilt families and the site selected by President Roosevelt for his funeral service.
Date:
Time:
Meet:
Bus:
Restrooms:
Lunch:
Snack:
Train/Bus:
Limit:
Fee:
Includes:
Leader:
Sunday, June 7, 2015
7:00 AM – about 7:30 PM (possibly earlier)
The bus will depart promptly at 7:00 AM
6:45 AM at the Hotel Waldorf=Astoria.
Bus generally parks on East 49th Street, between Lexington and Park Avenues
Look for the Yellow, White & Black Passaic Valley Coach
Restrooms are available at the hotel. There is a Starbuck’s at 48th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Please bring your own Picnic Lunch with beverage. There are no food services on site.
You may want to bring a snack or beverage for the bus ride.
IRT 6 Train to 51st Street (at Lexington Avenue) | Take any Lexington Avenue bus to 49th Street.
49 People
$ 115
$ 135 on-site, if space available (By check to Johanna Sterbin)
Bus, Admissions, Guided Tours, and Gratuities
Justin Ferate, Urban Historian
Tentative Schedule while at Hyde Park. All times approximate:
Val-Kill Tour:
Meet 9:30 AM / Tour 10:00 AM
Springwood Tour:
Meet 11:30 AM / Tour Noon
Picnic Lunch and FDR Library:
Personal Time: 1:00-3:00
Vanderbilt Mansion Tour:
Meet 3:00 PM / Tour 3:30 PM
Brief visit to St. James Church:
4:30 PM
Depart for Home
4:45 PM
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NEW PALTZ & HURLEY: 17th & 18TH CENTURY STONE HOUSES OF THE HUDSON VALLEY
Bus and Walking Tour || Saturday, July 11, 2015
Celebrate the histories of some of New York State’s magnificent historic 17th
and 18th century stone houses. First, we’ll travel by bus up the Hudson River
to New Paltz to visit the Historic Huguenot Street National Landmark
District. This community boasts of seven intact early 18th century stone
houses built by Huguenot settlers fleeing discrimination and religious
persecution in France and what Is now southern Belgium. After negotiating
with the Esopus Indians, this small group of Huguenots settled on a flat rise on the banks of the Wallkill River in 1678. The settlers
named the site in honor of Die Pfalz, the region of present-day Germany that had provided them temporary refuge before they
came to America.
We’ll take a privately guided tour of Huguenot Street to view and examine the seven historic stone houses, a reconstructed 1717
Huguenot church, archaeological sites, and a burial ground that dates to the very first European settlers. (For those who seek “little
bits,” the adjacent Wallkill River is named for the “Rivier Waal” in the Netherlands. In Middle Dutch, “Kille,” refers to a waterway;
hence, the names Peekskill, Fishkill, Plattekill, and Wallkill. The name of Eleanor Roosevelt’s private getaway, Val-Kill, is derived
from the Dutch pronunciation of “Wall Kille.”)
After touring these delightful stone houses, maintained as a living museum, we’ll travel north to the town of Hurley, New York to visit
another collection of stone houses built from 1685–1786. For lunch, we’ll stop for homemade food at Schadewald Hall at the Hurley
Reformed Church – the organizers of the Hurley Stone House Tour. There will be an array of homemade luncheon options from
which to choose and items to purchase and take home with you.
After luncheon, stroll the streets of this quaint
village at your own pace as you tour a selection
of 300-year-old privately owned stone houses –
opened only one day a year to the public.
Discover the historical background of these
remarkable houses and even hear a tale or two
told by Colonial-clad guides. Tour the houses on Main Street (limited to pedestrian traffic) and the houses accessible via a free
shuttle bus at your own pace.
Spend some time at a militia re-enactor’s campsite; sit and listen to an organ recital or be entertained by the Colonial period
instrumental ensemble; enjoy a performance about Sojourner Truth, the African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist;
visit a cross-stitch crafter or a working blacksmith; browse the two antique shops, the Hurley Historical Society Museum, the Hurley
library book sale, and the Ulster County Genealogical Society. The tradition of opening the homes has been observed for over 60
years! Come discover the history, beauties, and charms of early Colonial history in the Hudson River Valley!
Date:
Time:
Meet:
Bus:
Restrooms:
Snack:
Trains:
Morning:
Luncheon:
Afternoon:
Note:
Fee:
Includes:
Leader:
Saturday, July 11, 2015
8:00 AM – about 6:30 PM (possibly earlier)
The bus will depart promptly at 8:00 AM
7:45 AM at Hotel Waldorf=Astoria. Bus generally parks on East 49th Street, between Lexington and Park Avenues
Look for the Yellow, White & Black Passaic Valley Coach
Restrooms are available at the hotel. There is a Starbuck’s at 48th Street and Lexington Avenue.
You may want to bring a snack or beverage for the bus ride.
6 Train to 51st Street (at Lexington Avenue)
Guided tour of Huguenot Street Houses will be at about 10:00 AM
Lunch “on your own” at Schadewald Hall with specially prepared food items at the Hurley Reformed Church.
Free access to visit some or all of the houses – your choice. For some houses, there may be free shuttle buses.
There will probably be a few steps at these houses. Otherwise, the tour will be essentially flat walking.
$ 115
$ 135 on-site, if space available (By check to Johanna Sterbin)
Bus, Guided Tours, Admissions, and Gratuities
Justin Ferate, Urban Historian
8