Lowen McKay attended Briarcliff College in the early 1960s. Below she recalls life at the school and some of the notable visitors and classmates she encountered while there.

“I lived on the second floor of Dow Hall, almost opposite the Palladian window overlooking the grand staircase in the reception area. Men were permitted only on the ground floor and no men were allowed on the second floor where the dorms resided. There were no exceptions, This rule was carried to extremes as our fathers could not take our suitcases upstairs to our dorm rooms upon our arrival on the first day of school and we were forced to lug them up ourselves.” Read More


Bill Sharman was a long-time resident of Briarcliff Manor, having arrived in the village in 1930 when his mother and father moved here. Below are excerpts from his recollections of growing up and what the area was like in his youth.

“My earliest memories are of my school days. I spent all of  my school years from kindergarten through high school in one building located where Atria now stands. When an early school became too small for the 108 students, a new building was constructed. By 1923 the student body numbered 273 and an addition was built, The front building housed K through 6th grade and the rear building 7th through 12th – and also the auditorium, gym, cafeteria and offices. In 1952, Todd school was built and in 1971 the new high school opened.”  Read More

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