“The City of Glass: The History of Rose Hill Nurseries”

This spring the New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) will present a special exhibit that explores a time when exotic plants put New Rochelle on the map.

"The City of Glass” is a richly illustrated exhibit, curated by NRCA Board members Andi Stix and Barbara Davis, that traces the history of the nationally-renowned nursery that blossomed in New Rochelle in the latter part of the 19th century. Henry Siebrecht's Rose Hill Nurseries stretched for acres, from North Avenue to the Hutchinson River, with rows and rows of greenhouses, arboretums, lush beds of flowers, plants, and trees. The "City of Glass," as it has been called, lured Manhattan socialites and celebrities, and it furnished home landscapes in the premier suburb that was New Rochelle.

The story is told by Andi Stix, who created this exhibit based on a personal quest to learn more about her family’s home on Rose Hill Avenue in New Rochelle. Her interest was piqued: "After first digging up an incredible amount of glass shards on my property, I was compelled to delve even deeper into Rose Hill Nurseries," said Ms. Stix, who is an educator, artist and author. The “City of Glass” exhibit portrays her journey of gathering archival images of maps, catalogs, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other visual treasures that uncover our community’s history.

The exhibit opens at the New Rochelle Public Library on Sunday, March 2nd and that afternoon at 3 p.m. Ms. Stix will narrate a digital slide presentation on Henry Siebrecht. Visitors are invited to join her on a visual expedition to learn more about how Rose Hill Nurseries introduced the orchid, Lily-of-the-Valley, and many varieties of roses, which enhanced weddings and landscapes across the country. The program is free and open to the public.

"The City of Glass" is sponsored by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025. The mission of NRCA (founded in 1975) is to encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts, and over the years NRCA has sponsored art exhibitions, theatrical productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, spoken word events, concert series and public art. Find out more about NRCA at www.newrochellearts.org.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive George Latimer.