Giving Rye: Meet the Jay Heritage Center
Giving Rye is a feature series highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Suzanne Clary of the Jay Heritage Center.
Your Name: Suzanne Clary
Organization: Jay Heritage Center (JHC)
Your role: President, Board of Trustees, and Interim Executive Director
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission.
Clary: Our mission is to transform the 23-acre Jay Estate into a vibrant educational campus, hosting innovative programs about American history, historic preservation, architecture, social justice, and environmental stewardship. Think of us as a smaller version of the New York Historical Society and the New York Botanical Gardens rolled into one in your backyard.
How long have you operated in Rye?
Clary: We were chartered by the NY State Board of Education in 1990. Thirty + years later, we will be a major venue for the 250th celebration of American Independence in 2026 and the 200th anniversary of Emancipation in New York in 2027.
What programming or work in Rye is the organization best known for?
Clary:
- Historic Preservation and Environmental Stewardship.
We are best known for safeguarding history and habitat and sharing the nuts and bolts of that process. People love our before and after photos and understanding what happened in between.
In the 80s, when development threatened to pollute Long Island Sound and forever change the historic character of Rye’s most significant stretch of land, our organization spearheaded the nomination of the Boston Post Road Historic District to the National Register which includes three pre-Civil War mansions and their grounds; a 10,000-year-old Indigenous site and nature preserve; and a private cemetery. In 1993, we made sure this unique section of the country’s oldest highway was designated a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD), the only one in all of Westchester County and one of just over 100 in the country (other NHLDs include Nantucket and Charleston).
Now other organizations and students come to our site to learn how we did that. With academic partners at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), we are training the next generation of preservationists and environmental advocates.
- Free Author Talks, Exhibits and Concerts
We are known as the place to hear renowned scholars, scientists, naturalists and changemakers talk about modern issues that have their roots in the founding of our country. We got our very first Best of Westchester Award for Events this year with the encouraging comment “What a lovely setting to reflect upon our society’s past and future.”
Our “Jams at Jay” music series on the front lawn and indoors at the Wachenheim Center have featured bluegrass, jazz, opera, a cappella and classical artists. Think of Tanglewood or Caramoor just steps from your door.
- School Trips and Group Tours
For over 17 years, we have offered free school trips to groups of up to 150 4th – 8th grade students and chaperones from schools throughout Westchester County. Free bus transportation is provided by the New York State Parks Connect Program and all other expenses paid through a grant from Con Edison. Kids learn about our nation’s flawed but precious democracy, followed by tours of our buildings and gardens.
They learn about being good stewards of our natural resources and how to distinguish between native and invasive species using iMapInvasives and iNaturalist. We’ve been training young citizen scientists since 2007.
Looking forward to 2025, what will be your top initiatives?
Clary:
- The Wachenheim Exhibit and Performance Center
Working with Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB) and Evergreene Architectural Arts, we have started removing the darkened and aged lacquer from the mahogany ceilings and doors to reveal the true warm color of the wood and reveal the grain. Original terra cotta brick surfaces, porcelain enameled walls and moss green mosaic tile floors will be cleaned and refurbished during the winter. Three sets of massive pocket doors will be removed from their tracks and refinished as we restore visibility of the 1907 entrance configurations. Old track lighting will be replaced with new museum quality fixtures. New cabinetry and wall coverings will enhance a “green room” for the comfort of visiting artists and performers. A refreshed pantry and bathrooms will enhance the venue for public events.
- Completing the 1838 Jay Mansion
Thanks to donors to the Wachenheim Challenge Grant, the Wachenheim Foundation and family members, a $500,000 CREST grant facilitated by Sen. Shelley Mayer, and grants from the Margaret “Marge” Sullivan Fund and the Jay Cemetery Association, we are now in a position to resume construction and complete restoration of the Jay Mansion.
The major structural tasks that remain are moving the geothermal system components to the third floor, additional ADA bathrooms and service areas on the first floor, historic painting and plaster finishes for remaining interiors and exteriors, and restoration of the veranda including new roofing and reinstallation of the original 1838 rear piazza columns. The renewed mansion will house a brand-new American History Center, and a Horticulture Study Center both complete with AV improvements, archival cabinets, and furnishings.
- Building Capacity
Thanks to our Board of Trustees, Advisory Board and staff, JHC has earned a reputation as an authoritative body in the fields of preservation, American history, social justice and environmental stewardship. To continue this positive trajectory, we are actively working to attract more board members, staff and funding.
Every JHC Trustee and staff member is an ambassador. We are looking to raise significant funds for salaries, operating expenses and programs funds to complement our capital projects. JHC would like to raise at least $1,000,000 towards this in the next 1-2 years. Leadership gifts are welcome.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Clary: We serve everyone especially through partnerships with other nonprofits and academic institutions. Our longest non-profit partners have been the African American Men of Westchester (AAMW) and the American Women of African Heritage (AWAH). We have been on the African American Heritage Trail since 2004 and Black History is a pillar of our programming.
Our partners include the Blue Skies Campers Program, The Port Chester Youth Bureau, Rye Sustainability Committee, Carver Center, Japan Society of Greater Fairfield County, NY Courts Historical Society, Westchester County Historical Society, Princeton University, The Clark Center at Manhattanville.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Clary: Yes, we are a 501 (c) (3) non-profit with tax exempt status (EIN 13-3585332) and registered with the Charities Bureau of New York State. We are proud to have regularly received top scores from Charity Navigator and GuideStar. We are most proud to have been recognized by NY State Parks with an Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Achievement.
Looking back across 2024, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Clary:
- Expanded Public Access
We made our park more accessible. We completed a $165,000 Parks & Trails NY grant to create new, wider paths and facilitate access to our gardens. Visitors in a wheelchair or walker or Pride scooter can easily navigate the space and enjoy this serene refuge.
Technology opens more doors too. We’ve partnered with Bloomberg Philanthropies to create a free digital guide powered by an app called Bloomberg Connects. Currently there are about 650 guides of important cultural sites around the world including the Met, the Louvre, and the Smithsonian. The Jay Estate guide launched this month – try it out! Because it is a global platform, “visitors” an ocean away can learn about what we do.
- First Fine Art Exhibit in the Gardens.
We’ve always dreamed about bringing art to the Jay Estate landscape (a la Storm King) and this past September, our dream came true. Kristine Mays, whose work is in the collections of Mellody Hobson, George Lucas and Reggie Browne, selected our site for the New York debut of her sculpture exhibit Rich Soil.
Twenty-nine life-sized wire sculptures inspired by Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations drew hundreds of visitors. Numerous programs including a modern dance presentation by Alvin Ailey dancers and a poetry workshop with Iain Haley Pollock were layered with the display. The artist was kind enough to offer the pieces for sale with proceeds benefiting future exhibitions. We are already in discussions with a new artist for 2025.
- Increased Academic Fellowships
We’re training young scholars in preservation and environmental stewardship and hands-on experience is invaluable to putting them on a career path. We make introductions for them to the best scholars in their fields.
This year, we doubled the number of Margaret Nolan O’Neill Fellowships that we offer in memory of Maggie O’Neill, who studied Political Science and Government at Columbia University. We tripled our number of Haub Law fellowships and three law students studied legal issues related to sustainability, accessibility, environmental hazard remediation and the SEQR process. An additional student from Colgate studied GIS mapping of the Boston Post Road Historic District including its watercourses.
How can local residents support your organization?
Clary:
Since we have never received, and still receive no annual tax dollars from the City of Rye, Westchester County or NY State, financial support of our general operating budget is always at the top of our wish list. Our annual appeal should be hitting mailboxes this week and includes an envelope – please put something in it and mail it back to us! You can also donate online.
Both novice and experienced gardeners can volunteer in our gardens and help us with pruning roses or harvesting fresh vegetables for our weekly donations to the food pantry at Meals on Main Street. We love working with high school students interested in community service.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Clary:
We’re enormously grateful to the Wachenheim Foundation and family for their generosity. Their challenge grant to the community has been a remarkable catalyst.
Con Edison, which has offices in Rye has been our longest corporate supporter dating back to the early 90s.
Rye resident and NY State Assemblyman Steve Otis helped JHC secure grants to rehabilitate the gardens and the 1916 Palmer Tennis House.
Our newest Rye partner is the Rye Professional Firefighters (Local 2029) – cool fact – did you know John Jay was a volunteer fireman?
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Clary: I’ve been a volunteer since 1999. “For of those to whom much is given, much is required.”
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Clary: My role is pretty much full time. I also serve on several other non-profit boards and advisory boards including the Friends of American Art at Yale, Preservation Action, the Preservation League of New York State, The Cultural Landscape Foundation, the Slave Dwelling Project, and the Rye Sustainability Committee.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Clary: Persistent
What is your favorite unimportant thing about you?
Clary: I’m a pretty decent welder and very comfortable with an acetylene torch.
If the next five years is a chapter in your life, what is this chapter about?
Clary: I’ve always loved writing and plan to do more of that.
What would you do if you were not afraid?
Clary: This question makes me chuckle – what’s that line in True Lies? Fear is not an option. I’m most afraid of not doing things.
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
Clary: We moved to Rye in 1992.
Thanks Suzanne!
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