~ January 2019 Newsletter ~

Happy New Year!

All of us at the Bayport Blue Point Heritage Association hope you had a wonderful holiday season and enjoyed special memories with family and friends. 
We had a busy productive year and accomplished a great deal to support our mission of preserving the rich history of our wonderful hamlets. Of course we could not do any of this without the support of our community; both families, friends and local businesses. 
We thank you for a wonderful year and look forward to 2019!
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Christmas at Meadow Croft

The 12 Days of Christmas!
By Vice President; Leanne Berg

This year was a huge hit! The new additions of the Saturday night event and having the Carriage house open as St Nick's work shop added to the enormous success of the weekend!
I would like to thank The Sayville Garden Club, The Bayport Homemakers, Neighbors and Gardeners of Bayport Blue Point, Clia Finn Designs and the Bayport Flower Houses for their hard work in decorating some of the rooms. They looked beautiful and everyone enjoyed them!
This event takes so much work to put together and I cannot thank everyone enough for all their help and dedication.
A special thanks to Joe and Ginny Novak, Anna Dugan, Thomas Maher Jr, Steve Birkland, Emilie Berg and Ava Shuren, Harrison Berg, Allie Lynn, all the wonderful musicians and pianists and all our wonderful docents!
Most of all, thank you to the Heritage Board. Your help and support made this weekend not only the huge success it was but fun to work on. We make an amazing team!
Here’s to a wonderful 2018, onto Christmas at Meadow Croft 2019: All Creatures Great and Small.

Odds and Ends...


Docents: If you have an interest in Bayport or Blue Point History and would like to volunteer some time to provide a guided tour of Meadow Croft: WE NEED YOU! The association is in need of docents. It requires very little time, less than two hours a day, two days a month from June through October. You will shadow one of our current knowledgeable docents to learn the rich history of Meadow Croft before you will lead a tour on your own. If this sounds like something you may be interested in, please call Harriet Mihlstin at 631-472-2118.


General Membership Meeting: Our next general membership meeting will be on February 10th 2019 at the BBP library from 2:00-4:00. It will feature speaker and author Bill Bleyer speaking on how Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties were involved in the Civil War. Although no battles were fought on Long Island, the Civil War deeply affected all of it's residents. More than 3000 men answered the call to preserve the Union and local women raised thousand of dollars for Union hospitals, and Long Island manufactured uniforms, drums, and medicines. Bill will also have his book available for purchase and signing. Save the date!

Nominations for the BHA Board of Directors:
The nominating committee is developing a slate of members for the 2019 board. There are several seats open; including directors. Any current BBPHA member may serve on the board. It requires only one meeting per month. If you would be willing to serve for the 2019 year, please contact John Amato at johnfamato@optonline.net.

We are also looking for members to serve on various committees throughout the year. You can work from home! If you have a particular skill or interest (house tour, special events, light clerical and organization) please contact us at BBPhistorical@gmail.com.

Updates at Meadow Croft

Recently the BBPHA have started some much needed renovations at the historic Meadow Croft estate. We have decided to update some of the old, faded and peeling wallpaper and repair some of the cracks and crumbling plaster work in the house. Careful consideration was given to the design and color of the updated wallpaper to match the original style and theme of the home. The BBPHA thanks the many people who support our events and become members so it allows us to continue the important work of maintaining and preserving the rich history of Bayport and Blue Point.

Long Island Bottle Association

On Sunday January 27th, the Long Island Antique Bottle Association will hold a show and sale at the GSSC Juliette Low Friendship Center on Lakeview Avenue in Bayport. Manufacture and bottling of beverages was one of the earliest industries on Long Island. There will be displays, door prizes and all kinds of bottles and stoneware for viewing and sale. Free bottle appraisals too. If you are looking for a fun activity, come on out to the show. It runs from 9:00-2:00 and there is a suggested donation of $3.00 to enter. More info: libottle@optonline.net
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New Library on the Way

The residents of Bayport and Blue Point made a strong showing for the library vote in November. A true testament to the commitment to the community. The majority of the voters logged "approve" votes and the plan has begun to purchase the Ursaline Center and convert it to the new Bayport-Blue Point Library. The firm of BBS in Patchogue presented the proposed drawing of the inside areas which looks to provide more than ample space for a full service library much like the new Sayville Library, which was moved to Greene Avenue and rebuilt years ago. The BBP Heritage Association has had a great relationship with the library. The library staff has provided meeting space each month at which we provide the community with educational presentations related to local history. We consider ourselves not just friends of the library but close partners in providing services to our communities. The BBP Heritage Association has been under a charter from the NYS Education Department as a historical entity charged with providing it's members and community with education about local history. This has been the mission since our inception in 1986. The dedicated "Gene Horton" local history room is proof of the library's commitment to local history and Gene's love for both history and the Bayport and Blue Point.
The new larger facility will provide opportunities to better provide the community with education about our great towns and their significance in the larger County of Suffolk. The Association will certainly continue it's fine relationship with the library and look to expand our presence in the new, larger space. Stay tuned.

Bayport Civic Association

Recently, our President Mary Bailey, had the great honor of speaking to the Bayport Civic Association about the history of the Bayport Blue Point Heritage Association and the story of Meadow Croft. These are two wonderful organizations who want to preserve and enhance our communities. She thanks Bob Draffin for the opportunity.
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