On Sunday, July 15, the Newburgh Historical Society will be presenting a lecture by the nationally renowned scholar and Newburgh native, David Schuyler, who will be talking about his latest book Sanctified Landscapes: Writers, Artists and the Hudson River Valley, 1820-1909. Schuyler, who has been the Arthur and Katherine Shadek Professor of the Humanities as well as Professor of American Studies at Franklin & Marshall College since 1979, stresses the idea of a sense of place and the importance of historic memory which becomes the binding twine of any community. It is through such actions in Newburgh which brought about the preservation of the Hasbrouck House—now designated as Washington’s Headquarters—which became the first building to be recognized by a state government as a landmark building because of its historic significance.

Schuyler has also written about another Newburgh native, the architect and landscape gardener Andrew Jackson Downing—Apostle of Taste, Andrew Jackson Downing, 1815-1852—which has altered our recognition of the importance of America’s homes and surrounding lawns and gardens. Another important book by Schuyler is A City Transformed: Redevelopment, Race and Suburbanization in Lancaster, PA, 1940-1980, a book that seems to parallel the transformation of Newburgh itself.

The talk will be held at the Newburgh Heritage Center, 123 Grand St., across from the Newburgh Library at 3PM. Members of the Historical Society will be admitted for free, a suggested donation of $5.00 is asked of non-members. Refreshments will be served and copies of Schuyler’s books will be available for purchase and signing.

For more information contact the Historical Society at (845) 561-2585 www.newburghhistoricalsociety.com or follow the Facebook page to stay up-to-date