The East Bronx History Forum and the Huntington Free Library are pleased to announce they will hold its 175th meeting on Wednesday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. with a live event at Cinema on the Sound, located at 270 City Island Ave. We will be showcasing two documentary films entitled “Along the Hell Gate Line: Van Nest” and “Along the Hell Gate Line: Morris Park.” Both documentaries are narrated by the East Bronx History Forum’s vice president Tom Vasti and edited by the Forum’s president Rich Vitacco.
The first documentary includes a concise history of the New Haven’s old Van Nest station, which includes topics such as the Freedom Train and the Zoo Train. The Freedom Train was popular in post-World War II America as it carried some of the nation’s founding documents such as an original Declaration of Independence. The Zoo Train carried passengers from the suburbs of Connecticut to the Van Nest station and onto the Bronx Zoo via bus. The second film will take a tour inside of the old Morris Park station, located at Paulding and Sackett avenues. We will be taking a look at some of the pristine terra cotta plaques, the old baggage room and the location of the ticket booth.
Our venue host, Clipper Coffee/Cinema on the Sound was started in 2018 by Peter Gennari with a coffee truck called the Tuck Tuck on City Island Avenue. Once Clipper Coffee was established as a storefront, Cinema on the Sound opened up in May 2022 to not only films but talks, lectures and social events.
If you are unable to attend in person, please check the East Bronx History Forum’s Vimeo account within the next few days after our meeting for the upload of both films. Additionally, please join us for our Memorial Day service at Van Nest Memorial Plaza on May 29 at 12:15 p.m. New information and updates can always be accessed on our website at www.Bronxnyc.com, in addition to our Facebook and Instagram pages.
For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
