‘The Road to Heathcote and the Forgotten Railway’ Documentary Premieres November 1st

The Scarsdale Historical Society will be premiering its newest documentary, The Road to Heathcote and the Forgotten Railway, at the Scarsdale Public Library on November 1st at 6:15 PM and 7:30 PM. This half-hour film explores the origins of the Heathcote neighborhood and traces the last vestiges of the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway (NYW&B) that stopped at Five Corners from 1912 to 1937. A related exhibit titled “Heathcote’s Forgotten Railway” will also open for the month of November at Scarsdale Public Library.

This film tells the story of a small group of friends who founded the Heathcote community and built the first elegant houses on Heathcote Road after draining the swamplands of an old abandoned farm. Traveling to the other end of Heathcote Road, our local historians reveal the unusual history of the Donnybrook Inn, and the story behind the small real estate office that was the Heathcote Train Station. Viewers will also glimpse the surprising remains of the so-called ‘million-dollar-a-mile railway’ in our bordering towns.

The “Heathcote’s Forgotten Railway” exhibit will feature archival photographs and artifacts from the New York, Westchester, & Boston Railway that stopped in Heathcote from 1912 to 1937. The exhibit traces the spectacular rise and slow demise of the railway with particular attention to its roots in Scarsdale. Scarsdale Historical Society member Michael Zeller has loaned pieces from his collection for the exhibit.

Heathcote Five Corners’ Wilgrin Building in 1940. Photo from the family of David Goldman, owner of the Heathcote Pharmacy as shown.

"The Road to Heathcote and the Forgotten Railway" is part of a series of films about the history of Scarsdale produced by the Scarsdale Historical Society in collaboration with award-winning local filmmaker, Lesley Topping. Following both screenings there will be a Q&A with the film’s participants including Randy Guggenheimer, Leslie Chang, Jordan Copeland, Lesley Topping, Eliot Goldfinger, Michael Zeller, and others.

“We are thrilled to unveil the story of Heathcote on film, particularly with the remarkable story of its abandoned railway,” stated Randy Guggenheimer, President of the Scarsdale Historical Society. “This documentary film is the fifth in our series on the Scarsdale neighborhoods, relating the story of our
Village’s transformation from a rural farming community to a highly regarded modern suburb. Our coinciding NYW&B exhibit at the library is the perfect complement to the film, as it brings the magnificent railway to life through real artifacts and photographs.”

Admission to the film and exhibit is free. The event is co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Historical Society and the Scarsdale Public Library. The public can register for the premiere at: bit.ly/heathcotefilm

About the Scarsdale Historical Society

The Scarsdale Historical Society exists to discover, preserve and disseminate historical information, as well as inspire others to learn about and contribute to the history of Scarsdale and the Central Mid-Westchester Region. The Scarsdale Historical Society accepts grant applications for projects that meet its mission, particularly those that will inspire others to learn about the history of Scarsdale and the surrounding communities. Learn more at www.scarsdalehistoricalsociety.org.

(Photo at top: Overgrown station: The abandoned Heathcote Station, c. 1946. The rise and fall of the station will be discussed in the film and the exhibit. Credit: Roger Arcara Collection)