At Rye’s Jay House, A Zebra Soiree

Over 170 young people filled the 1838 Jay Mansion this past Saturday, October 15, 2011 for a "Zebra Soiree" to raise money for the sustainable restoration of John Jay's landmark home. The event was hosted by the Jay Heritage Center's "Young Preservationists," a group of members ages 25 – 45+.

Inspired by the zoological interests of one of the Jay Estate's later Gilded Age residents, the Van Norden family, guests donned festive black and white attire and proudly showed off their "zeal" for preservation. Co-chaired by Rye residents Emma Hanratty and Caroline Wallach, the evening featured tapas and dancing along with tours of the Jay Heritage Center's (JHC) current exhibit on Abolition and the Civil War. JHC's green restoration practices have earned it local and national recognition through educational programs like "Our Footprints Matter" funded through grants from Con Edison.