Introduction to the Ivanhoe
In August 1893, a formal naming ceremony took place at a Victorian boarding house on Fourth Avenue in Nyack, attended by seventy-five people. The house was run by Isaac and Elizabeth Lydecker.
The chosen name, Ivanhoe, was inspired by the Sir Walter Scott novel, which evokes chivalry and honor.
According to local lore, three U.S. presidents - Garfield, Cleveland, and McKinley - stayed at the Ivanhoe while attending services at the Baptist Church across the street. However, only Cleveland's visit to Nyack is well-documented.
Despite the changing times and buildings, the Ivanhoe name has endured.
Local lore claims that three U.S. presidents—Garfield, Cleveland, and McKinley—once stayed at the Ivanhoe.
Author's summary: Uncovering Nyack's forgotten boarding house, the Ivanhoe.