Bronxville News

Second graders who have been exploring how communities — especially their own Village of Bronxville — have changed over time are participating in guided trolley tours of their village to better understand how the past is closely connected to the present and future. 

As part of the experience, they are collaborating with local historian Richard Forliano from the Bronxville Historical Conservancy to guide them from their school to the train station, through the center of town, and along the various shops and post office, explaining what once stood in their place. 

Prior to the guided tour, the students viewed before-and-after photographs of familiar spots in their community, discussed how Bronxville has changed over the years, and learned about the founders and notable residents of their village during the presentation “A Time-Traveler’s Trip Through Bronxville,” held Nov. 4 in their school auditorium. 

“Both the presentation and the trolley tour were critical in helping the second graders envision what life was like for citizens in Bronxville when it was first founded,” said Justine Rutherford, a second grade teacher and curriculum leader who organized the event. “The students gained a greater understanding of how and why communities change, as well as aspects of their community — mostly the values and ideals of the people — that remained the same.” 

A group of second graders participated in the tours on Nov. 6 and 7, and another group of second graders will tour the village on Nov. 12, 13 and 14. Following the learning experience, the students will reflect on the lessons learned and discuss the differences and similarities between their life today and how people lived in the past.