Restoration plans for Cedarmere, the historic home of William Cullen Bryant, continues with a fundraiser that includes a talk by Bryant’s most recent biographer.
On Sunday, May 4 at noon, The Friends of Cedarmere will host a spring benefit luncheon at the Sea Cliff Yacht Club.
This occasion is the first in a series of events, entitled, “Seasons at Cedarmere.” On May 4, guests will enjoy a sumptuous lunch buffet, prepared by the Yacht Club’s culinary staff and also a complimentary bar drink.
The highlight of the evening will be talk by Gilbert H. Muller, author of the 2008 biography William Cullen Bryant: Author of America. Upon publication, The Wall Street Journal hailed the book as “…captivating … richly researched and readable.”
The biography captures the numerous roles Bryant played in his decades-long career as a major figure in American culture and politics. In addition to championing both abolition and the candidacy of Abraham Lincoln, Bryant also was an influential poet and journalist. Or as the jacket of Muller’s book explains: “The bedrock of Bryant’s cultural authority was his reputation as ‘America’s first poet’…[who] enthralled a nation and his peers—including Whitman, Poe, Longfellow, and Emerson—who praised the excellence of his verse. A literary celebrity for almost 70 years, Bryant served as the editor of the New York Evening Post for five decades, and was a major force behind the establishment of Central Park, the National Academy of Design, and the Metropolitan Museum.”
Muller is the author or editor of numerous books, including biographies of Chester Himes and John A. Williams.
Bryant’s Cedarmere estate in Roslyn Harbor is a unique seven-acre historic property, comprising a Main House, a Mill and Pond, a Parterre and a Sunken Garden. His descendants deeded it to Nassau County in 1975 as a memorial to Bryant, to be used by the public for historical, cultural and educational purposes.
The museum was closed in 2009 for much-needed restoration, which the County is undertaking with help from The Friends, The Gerry Trust and, most recently, The Hagedorn Foundation.
The Friends are a support group for the restoration of Cedarmere, including its museum and public property.
Tickets may be purchased only until May 1 through www.friendsofcedarmere.org or via Facebook. Food allergy/dietary restriction alerts should be sent to events@friendsofcedarmere.org. Seating is limited to 100. Tickets prices are $45 to $65. Amex, MC, Visa or PayPal accepted. Proceeds to restore Bryant’s study at Cedarmere. The Yacht Club is located at 42 The Boulevard, Sea Cliff. Free parking is available in the adjacent lot. For further information, call 800-763-7190.
