BY RACHEL MOSKOWITZ

On Sept. 23, 1661, John Richbell exchanged clothing, wampum and many other items with the Siwanoy Indian Chief for three necks of land that made up Mamaroneck. The first was between the Mamaroneck River and Orienta, the second was between the Stony River and Larchmont Manor, and the third was Davenport Neck, which was later sold to New Rochelle.

Three-hundred and fifty years later, Mamaroneck celebrated its anniversary with a weekend long celebration. Beginning Sept. 16, events were held all over town to commemorate Mamaroneck’s birthday, which was last celebrated on the 325th anniversary in 1989.

The weekend’s festivities were kicked off with colonial stories and arts and crafts for children at the Larchmont Library.

Later in the evening, a softball game between the town and village fire departments was played at Harbor Island. On Sept. 17, many enjoyed the Farmers’ Market, apple pressing and the Sheldrake Environmental Center tours.

The weekend ended with a parade, starting at the Central School parking lot at 2:00 p.m. and ending at Memorial Park. Children marched alongside volunteer firefighters and approximately 400 enthusiastic people showed up.

The celebration was wrapped up with a picnic in Memorial Park, which included food, entertainment and a historical slideshow. At the end of the day, everyone sang an exuberant happy birthday to the town.

The weekend not only celebrated what happened 350 years ago, but also created an awareness of the town’s past, an awareness that may have not been there before.

“Even people who were not born in Mamaroneck enjoy learning about its history,” commented Morgan Stein ‘14.