Lewisohn Memorial Garden

In celebration of America's upcoming two hundred fiftieth anniversary, the Ardsley Historical Society is creating the Lewisohn Memorial Garden to honor two extraordinary legacies of national service:

• Adolph Lewisohn – philanthropist, social reformer, and education advocate

• The fourteen Ardsley students who died defending our country in World War II

At the heart of the Memorial Garden will stand a long-lost World War II plaque, originally dedicated at the first Ardsley High School, bearing the engraved names of fourteen Ardsley students who gave their lives in service to our country. Eight of the fourteen are buried in American military cemeteries across Europe, while two lost at sea are forever commemorated on the Tablets of the Missing in Lower Manhattan and the Philippines. We are committed to honoring them once again, ensuring their legacy endures for generations to come.

The Memorial Garden will be established on land that was once part of Heatherdell Farm, Adolph Lewisohn’s magnificent 356-acre estate in Ardsley. A world-renowned horticultural showplace in its time, the estate also served as the hub of Lewisohn’s wide-ranging philanthropic work. Now home to Ardsley High School, this ground also bore witness to a turning point in America’s fight for independence.

In the summer of 1781, it was the site of the Philipsburg Encampment, where four thousand Continental Army troops were stationed under the command of General George Washington. Washington and French General Rochambeau often met at the nearby Odell House and devised the strategy that led, just two months later, to the decisive American victory at Yorktown, Virginia. The freedom initially won through their collaboration was preserved through the sacrifices of young men like Ardsley’s fourteen fallen servicemen. As we approach the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of American independence, the Memorial Garden will serve as a living bridge connecting the founders who forged American liberty with the generations who have defended it.

Designed with native, climate-resilient plants, the Memorial Garden will function as an ecologically responsible sanctuary for reflection and education. Dedication of the Memorial Garden is planned for Memorial Day 2026 as part of America's Semiquicentennial celebration.

To help bring this dual tribute to life, we invite you to make a generous, tax-deductible contribution.