Council Approves September 11 Memorial Site

– By Robin Jovanovich –

At a special meeting June 1, the City Council decided on the location of the September 11th Memorial. After hearing comments from the project architect, representatives of the Landmarks Advisory Committee, the Board of Architectural Review, the Rye Historical Society, the September 11th Committee and the Rye Garden Club, and residents, they voted unanimously in favor of a memorial between Haviland Lane and Blind Brook. They asked the architect to resize the gazebo to fit that space and assured the September 11th families that the plan would not require further approval from the BAR.

Last year, after deciding that a memorial bridge from the Green to the Y, which was their preference, was problematic, the September 11th Committee engaged historic preservation architect Lisa Easton to design an alternative. The memorial was now to be a gazebo, a replica of the 1909 gazebo/bandshell built behind the Square House when the 1730s building served as Rye’s City Hall. Plaques for the 14 Rye residents who lost their lives that tragic day would be placed in the bays of the structure.

The Landmarks Advisory Committee was in favor of locating the memorial on the same spot as the original gazebo, which was torn down in the late 1930s when it fell into disrepair. They made a recommendation to the Board of Architectural Review that they approve the September 11th Committee’s proposal for a memorial behind the Square House. The plan would meet historic guidelines, both local and federal.

The BAR suggested another location on the Green — across Haviland Lane on the vacant spot between the lane and Blind Brook. There, it would not impact the historically significant Square House or the memorial garden that was created on the former gazebo site in 1975. In a May 28 memorandum, BAR wrote, “The new site separates the memorial from the Square House, giving the memorial a more independent identity … It would be surrounded by lawn, allowing the gazebo to be used for the City’s Memorial Day and July 4th ceremonies.”

Rye Historical Society President Laura Brett made the case that the most important historic principle to be maintained is the 1730s Square House, the only surviving 18th-century building on the Green. “The City needs to look at preservation as a whole. The gazebo is not being reconstructed for a historic purpose but as a memorial.” She added that the gazebo would be so close to the 1730s building that it would interfere with its historic interpretation.

“The early 20th century is solidly represented in downtown Rye. The Square House is all that remains of 1730 and it needs more protection,” said Brett in conclusion.
The Memorial Committee was happy to see the gazebo at either location. “We’ve spent years working on this,” said Holly O’Neill-Melville. “We’re one of the few communities in Westchester that doesn’t have a 9/11 memorial. We hope that ours signifies life and moving on.”