NEW ROCHELLE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

New Rochelle: Arts City

Barbara Davis, City Historian

In 1906, half a century after the first steam engine barreled through town, New Rochelle served as the centerpiece for the hit musical Forty five Minutes from Broadway. Although the lyrics poked fun at the rural folk supposedly living in the town, the newly-incorporated city was rapidly developing into one of the most sought-after suburban communities. New Rochelle's proximity to the Sound had resulted in a booming resort trade by the late 1800s. Wealthy Manhattanites flocked to its shores for recreation. Many liked the place so much they stayed for good. Each tide of immigration transformed New Rochelle's population. Just after the turn of the 19th century the community experienced its greatest growth, including the development of the Wykagyl residential and business section-the result of the short-lived New York Westchester-Boston Railroad.

So, it is not surprising that New Rochelle became the home to a lion's share of prominent individuals from nearly every field. What is notable, however, is how the community attracted and nurtured a great many individuals responsible for shaping the cultural and artistic fabric of America. Beginning soon after the Civil War, artists, musicians, playwrights, cartoonists, and dramatists began staking roots here. By the 1920s headlines called the place "Greenwich Village without the Greenwich." Through the 20th century, friends and colleagues who were comic strip artists, radio broadcasters, television personalities, chose New Rochelle for their homes.

About the NRCA
The New Rochelle Council on the Arts was created in 1975 by the New Rochelle City Council. NRCA is a 501(c)(3) organization and receives funding from the City of New Rochelle as well as support from corporations, foundations and government grants.

The members of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts are comprised of individuals who are interested in the arts and culture of New Rochelle. NRCA is governed by a Board of Directors and has elected officers which include: the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Main Street

NR Train Station

Sound view from Hudson Park