Recap: Eve M. Kahn Shared the Remarkable Life of Zoe Anderson Norris for Harmony Hall's Women's History Month!

By Peter Bush, descendant of Jacob Sloat

Masterful historian and author Eve M. Kahn returned to Harmony Hall-Jacob Sloat

House on Sunday, March 8, 2026, to celebrate Women’s History Month and the

publication of her new and well-reviewed book: Queen of Bohemia Predicts Own

Death, the Life of Gilded-Age Journalist Zoe Anderson Norris. Eve is known for her

meticulous research about the lives of forgotten women artists, writers, and social

advocates. Eve has humorously noted on several occasions that her subjects have

three names.

Norris was a woman ahead of her time. Eve described Norris as an intelligent woman with a keen sense of humor who started life as a Kentucky-born belle, then became a fearless Manhattan journalist. Eve seamlessly connected the personal victories and travails of Norris. Norris chronicled the struggles of Lower East Side immigrants in her magazine, The East Side, going undercover many times to report on the realities of tenement life. A striking drawing of Norris captures her undercover impersonating an accordion player on a Lower East Side street. Eve transported Harmony Hall guests to a time when it was rare for a woman to realize success as a journalist, author, and respected social activist.

Norris’s courage was tempered by a life marked by tumultuous relationships, family

estrangements, financial struggles, unfaithful or deadbeat husbands, social

ostracization for speaking out about the lives of tenement children and families, and a vanity about aging. Throughout her life, Norris constantly shaved years off her age and on many occasions presented her birth daughter as her younger sister. In the final issue of her publication, The East Side, Zoe Anderson Norris predicted her own death. It was just days before her sudden death on February 13, 1914. A premonition that made national headlines.

The well-attended event included several first-time guests, enjoyed a book signing by the author, and an elegant reception in the dining room, catered by Characters

Restaurant and generously donated by board member Peter Bush.

The Friends of Harmony Hall-Jacob Sloat House remain grateful for our ongoing

relationship with Eve and her steadfast support of local history, restoration efforts at 1848 Harmony Hall, and for sharing her outstanding talent of superb storytelling.

The Friends hope you’ll join us for our upcoming events:

• The RZM Antique Appraisal Show by RZM Antiques, Inc. on April 11th

• A Yard Sale on Saturday and Sunday, April 11th and 12th

• A Continued Presence: Unearthing Ramapo Lenape History in Sloatsburg by Dr. Chuck Stead, on Sunday, April 19th

• A Victorian Tea on Saturday, April 25th

• Colonial Days Inactive Activities and Encampment on Saturday, May 16th

Details and tickets will be available on the website soon. All event proceeds go towards the ongoing critical restoration needs of Harmony Hall.

Eve M. Kahn Shared the Remarkable Life of Zoe Anderson Norris for Harmony Hall's Women's History Month