Then and Now
All original posts can be found on the Ardsley Historical Society’s Facebook page.
February 11, 2025
Then and Now! The former Ardsley Public School at 520 Ashford Ave. as it sat on a snowy day in February of 1971. 54 years later, the snow lays on the Ashford Court Condominium property. Ardsley History Fact: The current elementray school on Concord Road opened in 1953, the current high school on Farm Road opened in 1958 and the current middle school opened less than a mile down the road on Ashford Ave. in 1971.
February 21, 2025
Then and Now! Addyman Square as it apperaed in the 1940s. Approximately 80 years later as we know it now. Note the buildings (far left and distant center) in the old picture that were soon demolished or moved to make way for the New York State Thruway which offically opened in 1955. Many of the businesses were able to relocate. Others simply closed down. Although many homes and businesses were demolished, the increased traffic from the thruway caused a boom in population and therefore increased housing.
March 4, 2025
Then and Now! Ardsley Pizzeria as it appeared in 1974 when it sat in the Hillcroft Shopping Center. Over 50 years later, it is now known as Slyce. It was listed as 25 Center Street back then, but now Slyce is at 27. Ardsley History Fact: The original owners Dom and Vinny Ruggiero opened up in 1971. The Ardsley Public Library opened up in the shopping center a year later. At the time, Daitch Shopwell was located where DeCicco & Sons is and was one of two major grocery chains (along with A&P on 9A) in Ardsley. Current owners Tony and Phil Ciccone bought Ardsley Pizzeria in 1991 (not from the Ruggieros) and it opened as Slyce in 2014.
March 14, 2025
Then and Now! The Ardsley Chocolateria was located at 466 Ashford Ave. It opened up in 1923. Today, 466 Ashford Ave. still stands in the square and operates as a local nail salon. The building looks very similar after 85 years. "The Choc" as it was called, was a very important part of Ardsley's social history. It was a luncheonette and confectionery store operated by the Pascone Family. Carmine Pascone was the brother that took on most of the responsibility. According to an old menu, a banana split with locally made Carpenter's Ice Cream was 25 cents. In 1955-1956, it was cool to go to "Club Choc" where the teenagers could come hang out after a high school basketball game and dance to the juke box and have a burger or a soda. Picture the "Happy Days" TV show with Ardsley lettermen jackets. Carmine passed away in 1959 and brothers Frank and Nicholas helped keep up the Ardsley tradition until they sold the business in 1961. The building made a short-lived comeback attempt as a hang-out for teenagers in the mid-1980s when it opened up as "No Proof Required." In more recent memory, it operated as the pet groomers "Bow Meow."
March 24, 2025
Then and Now! 643 Saw Mill River Road when it operated as a dry cleaner. Now it is the Ardsley Market. Ardsley history facts: A grand opening of the "new" Ardsley Cleaners was announced in the fall of 1968 (although it had been a dry cleaners since the early 60's). The above picture was published in the 1969 high school yearbook. In the late 1970's, H&R Lawnmower moved in, but by the 1980's, the popular Bavarian Beverage Center became the place to get all your drinks for your holidays and parties; including kegs of beer for the weekend bashes. It remained a discount beveage store for approximately 30 years and the Ardsley Market was approved for opening in 2011.
April 4, 2025
The Village Green view from Center Street. We believe the older picture is from 1975 because the building in the background was The Riviera Bakery which opened in that location in 1954, but had to close temporarily due to flooding from the Saw Mill River in 1975. As you can see, the sign is off the facade and there is a note that says they are renovating. Currently, you can see Booskerdoo Coffee & Baking Co, and Ardsley Veterinary Associates. Ardsley History Facts: Construction on The Village Green began in 1953 and stores started opening up in 1954. Some of the early stores included The Trading Post, The Ship's Galley Restaurant, Dr. Friedman's office and The Ardsley Bootery which became Tracy's Shoe Shoppe in 1958. Tracy's remained until the early 1980's and was the place all the Ardsley kids bought thier back-to-school shoes. Starbucks and Cold Stone Creamery were housed in the complex recently.
April 24, 2025
Then and Now! View from behind Field 1 at McDowell Park from sometime in the early 1960s during an opening day ceremony and the view from the same spot today. The park is owned and operated by the village, however it is better known as the home of the Ardsley Little League. Ardsley History fact: Four baseball teams all played during opening day (May 20th) at the newly built McDowell Park in 1956 after the first parade and grand ceremonies. Appropriately, it was that day that the park was named and dedicated to Judge B. Wilbur McDowell, who was in attendance. There was only one field then. The first ever game in Ardsley Little League history was The Lions Club (managed by Watson Bell) vs. The Fire Department (managed by Robert Rayburn). Games were also played at Woodlands Park on Saw Mill River Road that inaugural season. Today, McDowell has 4 full fields plus a tee ball field and the lights on Field #1 were added with the last 12 years.
May 15, 2025
Then and Now! The Concord Road Elementary School from when it was first open and a photo of it today. The school was first opened to Kindergarten through 4th graders on Wednesday, September 23rd, 1953. It was supposed to open a few weeks earlier, but was delayed due to some issues with proper sewer connections. The older picture was pulled from the 1955 Ardsley High School yearbook. The population of school aged kids increased drastically in the early 1950's. It got so bad that Kindergarten classes were set up at the fire house because there was no more room at the school on Ashford Ave. A proposal to consolidate with Dobbs Ferry was defeated in 1952 so Ardsley was obligated to find additional school space. The Huntley Estates that came along in the mid-1950's added 500 new homes that pushed the school district over the limits and it hasn't stopped growing ever since.
May 27, 2025
Then and Now! The site of The Water Wheel Inn at 867 Saw Mill River Road. There is some discrepency when the structure was first built. Some say 1923, however a 1929 newspaper article says "the mill that is being erected to serve as headquarters for The Homeland Company." The building was a replica of a mill from Shades Mountain in Alabama. Two old village houses had to be removed to build the structure. One of those buildings was "the old village store" which was one of the first six homes ever constructed in the village. In January of 1930, it was announced it was becoming a "high-grade tea house" which would be named The Olde Saw Mill Tea House as seen in the posted picture. After 25 years, William Lodes purchased the place from Ernest Larsen, who was operating the tea house and using it as his living quarters. From 1955 to the early 1980's, The Water Wheel Inn was a renowned establishment with a beautiful bar, restaurant and catering hall. It certainly was one of the most well-known places in Ardsley's history. The retractable roof allowed patrons to view the stars at night, and live sheep roamed the expansive Beacon Hill property. Business started going downhill in the mid-1980's. James Shallo was the owner at the time and it went on the market in 1990. On December 21, 1992, a horrible fire destroyed the beautiful old building. There was quite a bit of mystery and suspicion surrounding the fire at the time. There were no fatalities, however a fireman was injured while putting out the blaze. The property sadly sat for about a decade before it was cleared to make way for 22 housing units; 17 of those were designated as affordable housing. Currently, they are known as the Waterwheel Condominiums on Louis Pascone Lane.
June 13, 2025
Then and Now! This building located at 633 Saw Mill River Road was built in 1949 as a home, but we don't have a lot of history on it. In 1959, it housed Ardsley Raido & Television Service. It has has multiple renters since. Records show it was once used as an orthodontic lab as well as a campaign office for Richard Brodsky in 1978. Brodsky was a 1964 Ardsley High School graduate who ened up serving in the New York Assembly from 1983 to 2010. The 2,000 square foot building currently is home to Savino Brothers Flooring and is the winter offices to Camp Kennybrook. Help us fill in the blanks! Do you have any knowledge of past businesses at this site?