By Carol P. Bartold, Senior Reporter

Jun. 14, 2017:  The Bronxville Board of Trustees, at its June 12 meeting, honored retiring village historian Eloise Morgan. Morgan, who has held her appointed position since 1999, and her husband will move to Washington State. 

After presenting Morgan with a gift, Jack Bierwirth, co-chair of The Bronxville Historical Conservancy Board of Directors, presented a check for $15,795 to the village to establish the Eloise Morgan Archival Trust Fund. Bierwirth noted that the funds are a gift from the community. A unanimous vote from the board of trustees officially established the fund.

Mayor Mary Marvin stated that the funds will be used for storage of historical documents, photographs, and records; for the digitizing of photos and records; and to acquire historical documents and items as they become available.

"Eloise had the typical Bronxville experience," Marvin said. "She retired from a Wall Street law firm and, five days later, was asked to join a committee at The Bronxville School. That's the way this village works."

Marvin went on to describe Morgan as someone who has had a positive effect on every corner of the village. She served on the school's long-range planning committee, was president of the Lawrence Park Hilltop Association, worked on the school's magazine, was a member of the Bronxville Elementary School Council, and served on the village's cable television committee. Morgan also worked at Concordia College for ten years.

While president of the Lawrence Park Hilltop Association, Morgan chaired the annual Bronxville Historical Conservancy House Tour for three years and developed a walking tour of the village.

In addition, she edited the book Building a Suburban Village: Bronxville, New York, 1898-1998. Recently, she worked for two years as an editor of and contributor to the book Out of the Wilderness: The Emergence of Eastchester, Tuckahoe & Bronxville, NY, 1664-2014.

While serving as village historian, Morgan doubled the size of what had been the History Room at the Bronxville Public Library to today's History Center.

"You have done your job with such talent and accuracy," Mayor Marvin said. "You held our feet to the fire to do things correctly. I call that the 'Morgan Measure' because it's a high level of doing things right."

"I had a tremendously fun time," Morgan said. She described the job as calling for a "jack of many trades." As well as researching, writing and editing, speaking, leading tours, and managing the History Center, Morgan shared that one of her great joys has been meeting people who are interested in learning about Bronxville and meeting people who have information about the village.

"I thank all of you for appointing me year after year to give me the chance to enjoy myself," Morgan told the trustees. "It has all been something that I could do at my own pace and on my own selected agenda. It has been a wonderful opportunity for me."

Pictured here:  Top:  Mayor Mary Marvin (L) and retiring village historian Eloise Morgan; in text:  Village Administrator Jim Palmer (L) accepting check for Eloise Morgan Archival Trust Fund from Jack Bierwirth (representing The Bronxville Historical Conservancy).

Photos by Carol P. Bartold, Senior Reporter