Welcome March...
“In March winter is holding back and spring is pulling forward. Something holds and something pulls inside of us too.”
― Jean Hersey
Hoping everyone is staying safe and healthy! Spring, daffodils and longer warmer days are on the way! Our BBP St. Patrick's Day parade has been cancelled for March but the spirit of this festive event lives on. The BBPHA continues to upgrade and maintain the inside of Meadow Croft. We have recently completed a large plaster project with new painting as well as restored a ground floor bathroom. We are also planning a "Luck of the Irish" holiday Raffle Basket and information can be found below!
We are excited to have you back to Meadow Croft come June when weekend tours will begin again. Until then, stay healthy and safe!
Luck of the Irish Raffle....
Are you feeling lucky?? Take a chance on another incredible raffle to support the BBPHA. You don't even need to be Irish to enter ....or win!
Tickets will go on sale March 1st, 2021 and will be sold until the day of the drawing on March 28th, 2021. Tickets are $20.00 per chance. The winning ticket will be drawn LIVE on Facebook on March 28th. Check our website and the flyer below for more information.
Grand prize basket valued over $100.00! Stuffed with all kinds of goodies and treats.
Tickets can be purchased on our website: www.bayportbluepointheritage.org
OR by mailing your entry to:
BBPHA
PO Box 4
Bayport NY 11705
Include your phone number so we can call you when you win!
Don't miss your chance! Good luck to all!
(must be over 21 to purchase raffle tickets)
Help wanted...
Docents: From June
through October tours of the historic Meadow Croft home are given every
weekend by our small group of dedicated docents. We are always looking
for new names and faces to led our tours. If you are interested, contact
us below. Training provided.
Heirloom Garden: Who has a green thumb? Ok, not necessary but volunteering to help with Meadow Croft's Heirloom Garden will make your heart full and maybe turn your brown thumb green! All levels of experience needed. Join the fun!
Gerritsen Avenue: Bayport Street names
June 2010
It's always interesting to learn how a street got its name. Gerritsen Avenue in Bayport was named in honor of William Gerritsen. He died in 1924 and is buried in Lodi, NJ, but his name lives on locally today thanks to the street that bears his name.
William Gerritsen was born on the island of Texel, in the Netherlands in 1867. He migrated to America as a young man. He lived for a number of years in Garfield, NJ, where he formed the firm of the Gerritsen-Stewart Lumber Company. The firm prospered. For the past few years of his life he made his home in Bayport. Mr. Gerritsen purchased a large and valuable tract of property in Bayport know as "the Cove." That property actually extended from Middle Road to the Great South Bay. The Gerritsen home was located on Gerritsen Avenue.
Mr. Gerritsen's wife, Joanna Gerritsen, survived him. She died in 1939. The Gerritsen's had four children; James, William and Henry and one daughter, Henrietta Pauline. As a side-light, the name of Paulanna Avenue can be traced to the names of Mrs. Gerritsen (Joanna) and the Gerritsen's daughter (Pauline).
An addendum to last month's History Page about GERRITSEN AVE: Many thanks to Flo Olsen for pointing out to me that the three cross streets between Gerritsen Ave. and Paulanna Ave. are named for the Gerritsen's three sons: Henry, James and William!! Street names are sooo interesting!
