A free reenactment of the British army's 1776 march through Eastchester and Scarsdale comes to Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck on Sunday, Oct. 18.
The Scarsdale Historical Society, Eastchester Historical Society and Friends of the Ward House will co-present the Living History Family Day, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m. The Village of Mamaroneck Parks & Recreation is organizing the event as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration. Admission is free.
The afternoon centers on events that unfolded in Eastchester and Scarsdale in October 1776. British General William Howe marched his forces from Pell's Point through Pelham, New Rochelle, Larchmont and Eastchester before establishing his headquarters at Scarsdale's Griffin-Fish House on Mamaroneck Road, according to the Scarsdale Historical Society.
From that hilltop, Howe had a clear view of troop movements as British forces pursued George Washington's army toward White Plains.
Along the way, Howe commandeered the Eastchester home of Patriot Stephen Ward. Stephen's brother Edmund remained loyal to the British Crown, splitting the prominent Ward family. Edmund's wife Phebe and their six sons stayed on the farm through seven years of war, according to the Journal of the American Revolution.
That divided family is part of the Oct. 18 program. At 1:30 p.m., reenactors portraying General Howe and British Loyalists Phebe and Edmund Ward will recount their experiences. Jennie Steinhagen will portray Phebe Ward, according to the Mamaroneck Historical Society.
A separate narrated reenactment of the Skirmish at Heathcote Hill begins at 3 p.m., featuring the 1st Delaware Regiment. That skirmish took place on Oct. 22, 1776, when American forces led by Colonel John Haslet staged a surprise dawn attack on a camp of British Loyalists called the Queen's Rangers.
The full schedule includes storyteller Jonathan Kruk at 1:15 p.m., a presentation on Hudson Valley soldier life by Robert Buccheri at 2 p.m. and Revolutionary-era songs with Linda Russell at 3:45 p.m. Judith Kalaora will portray Continental soldier Deborah Sampson at 4 p.m.
Visitors can also see Continental Army camp life demonstrations, 18th-century spinning with Nancy Van Tassel and the historic whaleboat Albatross.
Scarsdale Historical Society President Randy Guggenheimer said in January, when the society received the Scarsdale Foundation's Spotlight Award, that the group was "proud to be recognized for bringing local history to life as a unifying force within the community with this year's Spotlight Award."
Westchester County purchased the Ward House in October 2025, making it the county's newest historical property under Westchester Parks stewardship, according to the Friends of the Ward House.
Period fife and drum music from Ministers of Apollo closes the day at 4:45 p.m. For more information, contact Village of Mamaroneck Parks & Recreation at (914) 777-7784 or [email protected].
