ScarsTales

The Scarsdale Historical Society
  • 5.0 (11)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

ScarsTales brings Scarsdale, New York's history to life in an entirely new way. Through smart storytelling, lively conversation, and even a few behind-the-scenes laughs, we’ll be uncovering the untold, unexpected, and sometimes surprising stories that shaped Scarsdale.

Episodes

  1. ScarsTales Begins: Whistler, Census & Serendipity

    JAN 21

    ScarsTales Begins: Whistler, Census & Serendipity

    In the premiere episode of ScarsTales, host Lori Rothman is joined by fellow Scarsdale Historical Society trustees and village historians Leslie Chang and Jordan Copeland to introduce the podcast and share two of their favorite local history discoveries. Leslie uncovers the surprising Scarsdale connection to one of the most famous paintings in the world—Whistler’s Mother. Drawing from digitized personal letters, she brings listeners inside the life of Anna Whistler during her time living in Scarsdale, revealing her role as a widowed empty nester, her sharp maternal voice, and her influence on her son James McNeill Whistler long before he became an iconic American artist. Jordan then tackles a long-standing historical mystery: why Scarsdale’s population appeared to drop by nearly 20% between the 1830 and 1840 federal censuses. Through meticulous map analysis and census records, he uncovers a surprisingly human explanation—an overworked census taker on horseback who simply got lost and misattributed residents to neighboring towns. Together, the episode sets the tone for ScarsTales: deeply researched, locally grounded, and full of unexpected stories that connect Scarsdale’s past to broader American history. CHAPTERS (00:42) Meet the Hosts & HistoriansLeslie Chang and Jordan Copeland share their personal paths into local history and how they became involved with the Society. (02:55) Whistler’s Mother Lived in ScarsdaleLeslie reveals the village connection to one of the most recognizable paintings in the world and why the story still resonates today. (05:01) Letters, Empty Nesting & a Young ArtistDigitized correspondence offers intimate insight into Anna Whistler’s life, her parenting style, and James Whistler’s early misadventures. (07:59) The Case of Scarsdale’s Disappearing ResidentsJordan introduces the puzzling population drop found in 19th-century census records. (09:48) A Census Taker Lost on HorsebackThrough maps and data, Jordan uncovers how a simple navigation error reshaped Scarsdale’s historical record. (13:34) Questioning Sources & Learning from MistakesThe hosts reflect on what this mystery teaches historians about data, assumptions, and human error. (15:51) What’s Next for ScarsTalesA preview of upcoming episodes, including a deep dive into the Scarsdale Schools documentary.

    17 min
  • 1 Episode

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

ScarsTales brings Scarsdale, New York's history to life in an entirely new way. Through smart storytelling, lively conversation, and even a few behind-the-scenes laughs, we’ll be uncovering the untold, unexpected, and sometimes surprising stories that shaped Scarsdale.

Information

  • Creator
    The Scarsdale Historical Society
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Scarsdale Historical Society
  • Show Website
    ScarsTales

You Might Also Like