by Elisa Zuckerberg, Founder of HearItThere.com
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
On Sunday, July 25th a group of fifteen friends and fellow musicians gathered for songwriter Tom Heany’s first full presentation of “The Wonders of Westchester.” This was a workshop of sorts, an opportunity for Tom to present eight songs he had written over the past few years.
Tom explained that the project was inspired by a March 2018 Westchester Magazine article he read written by Laurie Yarnell, “You Have to See These Wonders of Westchester”.
In late 2019 Tom and I met at a quaint coffee shop in Katonah to discuss the genesis of “The Wonders of Westchester” project. He shared his vision and we brainstormed what this project could be. He described it as a potential community-based interactive project that would evolve and grow. WOW, did he have a sparkle in his eye when describing it! At the time only a couple of all the songs had been written, but a grand idea was solidified. Tom finished all the songs in 2020, but didn’t have a forum to present them live until now.
Tom explained that he had several reasons for creating this gathering. He had never played all eight songs together for a live audience and thought it would be helpful to see how it would work, both from our perspectives and from his own. What he called, “Proof of Concept” and the need to finally “get it out of the house.” Most importantly, he wants more people to know about the project and help imagining what the Wonders could become.
I’ve always thought of the songs as the beginning of something larger.
Now the songs are done; it’s time to start on the something.
The setting for this informal production was idyllic. Tom’s kind friends invited a small group of us to their lake house in Putnam County. The backdrop enhanced the vibe for this most original and imaginative presentation. Julie Corbalis, a songwriter, musician, and educator narrated and introduced each song and also sang “Skinny Dreamers” solo, beautifully, I may add.
The following are the titles and a glimpse into the stories behind the eight songs. Hopefully each one of you will have the opportunity to hear them live and participate in a “Wonders of Westchester” community event.
- THE LUMBERJACK (“Down on Route 9A”) Illustration: JoEllen Bosson
Verse: “There’s a big old statue of a lumberjack Down on Route 9A
20 feet tall, and he’s got no arms
But he’s always smiling anyway.
49 years he’s standing there.”
- THE CELL PHONE TOWER (“Branches”)
About two miles south of route 287 on the Hutchinson River Parkway, there’s a cell phone tower. This tower is twice as tall as any of the trees around it, and it has artificial pine tree branches on it, which make it look like a giant mascara brush.
Verse: “I am steel. I am tall and straight and strong. I hear every conversation for miles around.
I am perfectly designed.
Except for one thing: Branches.
I was built from an elegant design. Amplifiers and antennas to capture sound. I have everything I need.
And I do not need branches.”
Elisa’s note: This was one of my favorite songs because the imagery and thought of a tower antenna wearing tap shoes and dancing “like Maurice Chevalier” made me smile.
Photos by John F. Kramer
- THE BICYCLE MEMORIAL (“Coming up on Your Right”)
At the other end of Route 119 from the Lumberjack, in White Plains, there’s a bicycle memorial. It’s across the street and west a few blocks from the County Center. You have to look for it to see it; if you don’t, you might just drive past it. That’s what I did the first time. And if you do see it, but you don’t focus on it and give it some attention, you won’t realize what it is.
It’s a child’s bicycle, painted white and decorated with flowers and chained to a lamp post. The bike is a memorial to a man – a father, grandfather, friend, colleague – who was killed riding his bike nearby. There’s a sign with his name on it attached to the bike.
Verse: “Always seventeen of them always riding Bicycles
Old and young, big and small.
Each of them a soul who died riding On a bicycle
Restless spirits one and all.
And they make no sound
Til I hear them call:
“Coming up on your right.”
- THE BEDFORD OAK (“Father’s Day”)
The Bedford Oak is 500 year old white oak tree on Route 22 in Bedford. It’s in a field, with stone walls around it, right where Hook Road comes into Route 22.
Five hundred years ago would be 1520. In 1520, Nostradamus was a teenager. Shakespeare wasn’t born yet. Henry Hudson wasn’t born yet. Modern English wasn’t born yet. And this tree was growing.
- THE STUFFED BEAR (“Lost on the Road to Glory”)
All of the Wonders of Westchester are outside, except one. She’s a stuffed bear, up behind the bar at the Muscoot Tavern in Katonah. She’s holding a beer can and looking as welcoming as someone with large claws and teeth can look. No one seems to know where she came from, or how long she’s been there.
- THE BALANCED ROCK (“That’s Just Stupid”)
Verse: “Me and Annie
Standing by a boulder
Ninety tons of granite
Floating in the air.
Balanced on top of a couple smaller boulders.
Annie wants to know
How it got there.”
- SEELY’S SKINNY HOUSE (“Skinny Dreamers”) Illustration: Zoe Claster
Nathan Seely was one of the first African-American homebuilders in New York. In 1932 he built a house on Grand Street in Mamaroneck for his wife Lilian and their 
two children. It was the Depression, and Nathan had lost his home and his business. But he had managed to salvage some building materials and a sliver of land. On that land he built a house that was three stories high and ten feet wide. Lilian lived there from 1932 to 1984 – that’s 52 years in 533 square feet. And the house is still there, and still lived-in. It’s in the New York Register of Historic Places.
My favorite verse:
“I worry that this skinny house
Will make you shrink and keep you small.
I worry that you won’t have room
To spread your wings and stand up tall. Will you be ashamed of us?
Will you be ashamed of who you are?
Will you wear this house like a bad tattoo, Will you show it like an angry scar?
All I do is worry…”
- BABE RUTH’S GRAVE (“The Bambino”)
There are a lot of famous people buried in Westchester, and a lot of impressive headstones. But there aren’t many that have been collecting souvenirs, every day, for seventy years. Those are some loyal fans.
Verse: “After sixty one years beside the Bambino
Their season came to an end.
Turned off the radio one last time
And put the basket away.
We found them a plot at Gate of Heaven
Down the hill from the Ruths.
They’re resting their eyes for a little while And waiting for opening day.”
The presentation can best be described as Musical Narration. Each story paints an imaginary picture based on some physical characteristic of each “wonder” adding a little history, Tom’s thoughtful interpretation, and his good humor.
From a musical standpoint, there were many stylistic and compositional choices that I thought were interesting and unique. For example, in the song “Bedford Oak” Tom’s words and melody are almost perfectly matched. While many singer-songwriters use rhythm and melody as a platform or melodic line for their vocals, Tom highlights his guitar-playing technical know-how synchronizing the lyrics craftily and carefully with his melodies. Knowing Tom, this was intentional and enhanced the emotion of those particular songs. I found this composition style both entertaining and original.
You can see a video from the presentation and song “Bambino” plus photos of all the wonders on Tom Heany’s Facebook Page.
I cannot wait to see where this project goes, and hope you get a chance to experience it too! For more information about Tom Heany and The Wonders of Westchester head over to his website, TomHeany.com
The next opportunity to see the “The Wonders of Westchester” workshop is Sunday, 8/22 at the Knapp House in Rye at 2 PM. It’s outdoors, so listeners can bring their lawn chairs, sit back and enjoy. It is hosted by the Rye Historical Society.
The Knapp House is at 265 Rye Beach Avenue and Milton Road in Rye. Fun fact: The earliest part of the house was built around 1670. It is considered the oldest residential property in Westchester.
Comments? Email: info@HearItThere.com
Elisa Zuckerberg is Founder of HearItThere.com
COVER PHOTO by John F. Kramer
