New Rochelle (Postcard History)

Beginning with its settlement by refugees seeking religious freedom to its present standing as a diverse and vibrant city, New Rochelles 325-year-old story reflects many great American trends and social movements. From a small town of farms to one of New Yorks leading suburbs, by the turn of the 20th century, New Rochelle was a fashionable spot from which to drop a note. The Golden Age of Postcards arrived at an ideal time for the rapidly growing community, which boasted an array of winning characteristics, including 12 meandering miles of Long Island Sound shoreline, attractive neighborhoods styled as residential parks, an up-and-coming downtown, and many impressive structures. In New Rochelle, vintage postcards from the New Rochelle Public Librarys local history collection provide a wonderful glimpse into the years New Rochelles core identity took shape.