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Clean Water Forum
June 30th, 3-6 pm
The Jay Estate was saved to preserve the clean water and fragile natural habitats of Long Island Sound, as well as to protect its historic, cultural, and archaeological resources. Which is why we are so excited to host Save the Sound’s Water Quality and Ecological Restoration teams for an in-person forum on water quality, stormwater management, and river, marsh, and coastal restoration opportunities in Rye, New York.

Discuss local environmental challenges and learn about opportunities for sensitive restoration with fellow community members and practitioners.

Refreshments will be provided. A tour of the Jay Meadow designed by Larry Weaner and the Jay Gardens designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz will follow. Each of these green spaces have their own stories of best water management practices to tell.

This in-person event will follow all COVID-19 safety recommendations. We ask that you please wear a mask while indoors. 
Jay Meadow Highlighted on Pollinator Tour
On June 19th, JHC participated in Westchester County's first Pollinator Garden Tour sponsored by Bedford 2030 and Healthy Yards. The feedback was lovely and we look forward to adding more native shrubs and trees to this healthy habitat in the fall!

"A big thank you for making it possible for Jay Heritage Center to participate in the Healthy Yards Pollinator Garden Tour! The Larry Weaner Meadow was a wonderful addition to the tour this year, and we look forward to adding the main native planting area next year. I heard from several people how much they enjoyed -- and learned -- during the tour. You can be proud to have shared such important information at this crucial moment in earth's history." - Pam Haas, Rye Sustainability Committee
Zabulon skipper
Hairy Beardtongue
Spiderwort
Partnership with Friends of the African-American Cemetery, World Monuments Fund, and Woodlawn Cemetery Conservancy Preserves Stones and Stories
Photo by Kim Crichlow
On January 30, 2021, a handful of individuals in Covid masks and winter coats met at a small one-acre burial ground to plan a substantive and very visible celebration of our country’s first federally recognized Juneteenth holiday. How best to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and pay tribute to the people who suffered under oppression for so many years?

Dave Thomas, President of the Friends of the African-American Cemetery (FOAAC) in Rye and Suzanne Clary, President of the Jay Heritage Center (JHC) invited Frank Sanchis, Director of US Programs for the World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Susan Olsen, Director of Historical Services for the Woodlawn Cemetery Conservancy (WCC), to tour the grounds of a sacred place first established in 1860 for free Black families and members of the St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Port Chester. Their objective: to preserve real stories and stones simultaneously.

Read more about their efforts here and here which resulted in the conservation of more than 40 stones! See photos of the work and the Bridge to Careers in Conservation team that made the magic happen.
One of the markers that was reset denotes the grave of Susan Byard, one of the earliest individuals buried at the cemetery
Dave Thomas and Rob Cappelano study a Civil War stone that snapped in half. The stone was restored successfully and made whole again
Summer Garden Volunteers Welcome!

Got a green thumb or want to get one? Please contact Kevin Peraino at peraino.jhc@gmail.com to join our Garden Volunteer Committee. Great for high school students looking for community service hours or companies and organizations looking to make a difference!
Volunteers from the St. Regis Residences, Rye

Jay Heritage Center at the
Jay Estate
A National Historic Landmark
210 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580 


(914) 698-9275