New Downtown Scarsdale Film Premieres at Library, Now Available to Stream Online

Taxi sign: Peter Blier of Central Taxi with the company’s vintage business sign c. 1960’s.The Scarsdale Historical Society premiered its newest documentary, The Village: A History of Downtown Scarsdale, with two screenings at the Scarsdale Public Library on Tuesday, May 14th. This half-hour film explores how Scarsdale’s business district grew from a train depot and a few wooden buildings into today’s iconic Tudor Revival-style commercial center. The film is now available to stream online here.

People of all ages and backgrounds were united by their passion for village history, and were interested to learn more about the development of Scarsdale’s iconic downtown center. Each screening was followed by a Q&A session, allowing the audience to share thoughts and ask the film participants questions.

Panelist Peter Blier, the General Manager of Central Taxi who has worked there for 45 years, delighted the audience with some of his best taxi ride stories. His appearance in the film is also a highlight, with his knack for storytelling and passion for Central Taxi’s history. The company, among downtown Scarsdale’s oldest businesses, dates back to the horse and buggy days of 1912. It began in White Plains and has been in its current location since 1925.

This is the tenth film created by the Scarsdale Historical Society with filmmaker Lesley Topping. The premiere events have drawn such crowds that they hosted two back-to-back screenings to accommodate the attendees. The full series of films on the history and neighborhoods of Scarsdale can be viewed here.

The event was co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Historical Society, the Scarsdale Public Library and the Scarsdale Business Alliance.

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.

Q&A session: The film screening’s Q&A panel with (Left to right) Randy Guggenheimer (President, Scarsdale Historical Society), Peter Blier from Central Taxi, Lesley Topping (filmmaker), Leslie Chang (Associate Village Historian) and Jordan Copeland (Village Historian).