Join us on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 3pm in The Foundation Room of the Museum.

On the evening of June 2, 1892, a frenzied mob dragged Robert Lewis nearly half a mile through the streets of Port Jervis, New York, before hanging him from the limb of a tree. Lewis, an African American man who had lived and worked in the village his entire life, was accused of brutally raping a young white woman, Lena McMahon. By night’s end, mob violence had replaced the rule of law. Local authorities and civic leaders proved powerless—or unwilling—to intervene, and despite the presence of numerous witnesses, no one was ever held accountable for Lewis’s murder.

Now, more than 130 years later, the full story of this tragic event is brought to light. Drawing on years of meticulous research, author Michael J. Worden reconstructs the circumstances surrounding the only documented lynching in New York State during the post-Reconstruction era. Through the examination of long-forgotten court records and an extraordinary 635 historical sources, Worden confronts enduring questions: Was Robert Lewis set up? Who incited the mob? And why did justice never come?

This program explores history, memory, and accountability through the lens of a two-time award–winning book that delivers the most complete and historically accurate account of the Port Jervis lynching ever published—challenging audiences to reckon with a past that continues to shape the present.

Michael J. Worden is an award-winning true crime author, retired decorated law enforcement officer, and researcher and author. He is the author of two historical true crime books: the two-time award winning Lynched by the Mob! The 1892 Lynching of Robert Lewis in Port Jervis, NY, published in May 2022, and the 2013 book, The Murder of Richard Jennings: the True Story of New York’s First Murder for Hire.

Lynched by a Mob! is the most comprehensive, detailed and historically accurate account of the lynching of Robert Lewis, exploring the events leading up to the incident, the aftermath, the judicial investigations, and an in-depth exploration of the lives of the people involved. Never before published photos and court documents are among the many details Michael used to tell the story of the only lynching in New York State after the end of Reconstruction in 1877.

Michael has a BA in history with a concentration in military history, and is a graduate student at Yeshiva University where he is pursuing a masters degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Michael serves as the Deerpark Town Historian and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Minisink Valley Historical Society. He is a former Town Justice and currently the Deputy Chief of Police for the Town of Deerpark Police Department. When he isn’t delving into true crimes, he enjoys a variety of other pursuits, including special effects make-up, studying World War 2 in Europe, and listening to music. He is an avid traveler and has visited 20 countries with a particular fondness for Finland and Scandinavia.

The lecture will commence at 3pm in The Foundation Room of the Columns Museum.  $5 donation suggested.