Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site and the Friends of Philipse Manor Hall are pleased to present “The Thirst for Development: Building the Original Croton Aqueduct in Manhattan”, the second of two talks on the building of the Old Croton Aqueduct and its impact on landowners, labor, and the landscape. The talk will take place on Wednesday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. It is accessible in-person at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site (29 Warburton Ave. Yonkers, NY) and online via YouTube Live.
By the 1820s, Manhattan had literally been dying for a dependable, plentiful supply of fresh water for nearly a century. The construction of the Old Croton Aqueduct and its successors solved this problem, but also displaced large numbers of people, destroyed preexisting structures, and dramatically impacted the original topography—as well as today’s cityscape—in a variety of ways. Historically, it represents the bridge between the largely rural Manhattan of the Colonial Era and the ever more urbanized Manhattan of the 1800s. Join us as we explore the impact of the aqueduct—good and bad—on Manhattan residents from wealthy estate owners on the Upper West Side to the humble farmers of Seneca Village in today’s Central Park.
- Keith Doherty is a Westchester County native who grew up along the Old Croton Aqueduct. Currently serving as a researcher at Philipse Manor Hall, he was a Professor of Art History for twelve years at Boston University and has in recent years been researching the infrastructure and early history of Westchester. He has lectured extensively on the original Croton Aqueduct and has an article in publication on the subject.
In-person tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students. Tickets available at the door — museum opens at 6:30 PM. To reserve your spot call 914-965-4027 or email philipsemanorhall@parks.ny.gov . Virtual access is free and open to everyone. Visit https://www.philipsemanorhall.com/programs-and-events
The Philipse Manor Hall History Lecture Series is sponsored by the Friends of Philipse Manor Hall and Tompkins Bank.
