Founded in 1966, the New Castle Historical Society (NCHS) is a non-profit educational organization that seeks to research, discover, collect, and preserve the history of the Town of New Castle. The NCHS is located in the Horace Greeley House Museum and is open to the public for tours and research.
The Town of New Castle’s diverse history is evident in our many parks, buildings, roadways, trails, businesses, and organizations. Residents and visitors alike will quickly find that New Castle is home to many captivating historical narratives. These narratives range from the days of the Wappinger Confederacy’s use of the land, to the early Quaker settlement of the area, to stories from the Colonial Times, the Revolutionary War, and the 19th and 20th centuries.
At the New Castle Historical Society, families and friends can walk in the footsteps of history by touring the Horace Greeley House Museum, by performing research in our collection and archive, or by taking a guided walking tour of Horace Greeley’s Farm and downtown Chappaqua.
We greatly look forward to sharing the history of the Town of New Castle with you and your guests!
Sincerely,
Cassie Ward, Executive Director,
New Castle Historical Society and Horace Greeley House
NCHS ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Gold in Your Attic
Booth featured at the annual Chappaqua Expo every Fall, boasting a community-donated item. Past items include a rare Russian samovar, an opaline glass light fixture from Paris, vintage embroidered Japanese kimonos, and Tiffany candlesticks. As is with the Chappaqua Expo in general, all proceeds benefit the New Castle Historical Society and Greeley House. Please see site info below to learn when and how to donate or consign an item for the booth.
Holiday Crafts & Tree Lighting
Held annually every December (exact date will vary year to year), this afternoon-long holiday event is not to be missed. The Greeley Museum hosts a unique Holiday Open House from 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.; attendees can see decorations the Greeley family would have used when it was their country home in the 1860s. Younger children may take part in our Crafts workshop, and create handmade holiday gifts, such as paper snowflakes, corn husk dolls, and paper chains. The afternoon ends with the Society’s Tree Lighting celebration and marks the beginning of the new holiday season, which, of course, would not be complete without a visit from Santa.
Victorian Valentine’s Tea
A New Castle favorite every year! Participants make Victorian crafts for Valentine’s Day, and practice penmanship and etiquette, before sitting down to a formal Victorian Tea in the dining room of Horace Greeley House. Light refreshments will also be served. Held annually every February (exact date will vary year to year) for students in grades 2-4.
Other Events
In addition to the special events listed above, NCHS also offers tours of the Horace Greeley House. These tours run on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 1-4 p.m., or by appointment. The Greeley Museum Gift Shop is also open year-round from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. (M-F) and 1-4 p.m. (Sat).
For more information or to register for any events, visit newcastlehs.org
