Bayport Blue Point Heritage Association: July 2021 Newsletter

Happy Independence Day!

As the world is starting to open back up, and more people become vaccinated, restrictions on events are also being reduced or eliminated and all of us at the BBPHA are thrilled! Our Meadow Croft house tours are happening every weekend from 2-4:00. The many people who have walked through those front doors are amazed at all of the new improvements that have been accomplished during the shut down. I hope you have the chance to come visit and learn what life was like in 1910.

We are excited to announce another summer concert in the month of July. (More info below) We also want to thank Nina Et Cetera for a wonderful show in June. Thanks to the many families who came out to watch! Hope to see you at our next FREE concert.

Gene Horton Memorial Scholarship

Congratulations to Michael Pietrantoni, this year's winner of the Gene Horton Memorial Scholarship. Each year the BBPHA gives a $1000.00 scholarship to a graduating senior from BBP HIgh School who plans to major in History in College. We wish Michael all the best as he continues his education.

Thank you!

So many people contribute either their time or money to help the BBPHA in numerous ways to help fulfill our mission of preserving the heritage of our shared communities. We'd like to acknowledge some of them here:

Peter and Ginny Labusohr: Peter and Ginny visit Meadow Croft daily for a walk with their dog. They have donated and planted flowers in the flower box under the sign at the entrance to Meadow Croft out on Middle Road. They also take the time to water them daily. Thank you for your generous act of kindness!

Jim and Barbara Connell: Jim and Barbara use a budget of $200.00 each year to purchase supplies, materials and vegetables for the community garden. Many times, the total for all of the items needed exceeds the budgeted amount. Jim and Barbara generously donate the additional materials needed to make a successful and well stocked garden. All for a good cause, The Sayville Food Pantry. Come check it out!

Dave Harenberg: Dave, a former board member, books all of the summer concerts for us. He also deals with the town in obtaining the permits and expenses that the BBPHA incurs to provide free concerts to the community. Thank you Dave for all of your hard work!

Corporate & Generous Donors:

Joshua Carcione - $100, 2021 (Owner of LendSaas and Managing Member of SmartyApp LLC.)

Bryn Elliott - $100, 2020 - (Douglass Elliman Real Estate Agent)

Martin Lavelle - $100, 2020 (M.W Lavelle Painting Inc )

John O'Hare - $100, 2021

Richard and Angela Stelling - $100, 2020

Christopher Moore - $100, 2020

Jennifer Zaun - $100, 2020

Thank you all for your generosity and efforts! Much appreciated!

Summer Solstice Walking Tour

For over a decade, local historian and friend Gene Horton guided us on the evening stroll that marks the beginning of summer. Before we lost him, Gene expressed his wish for this tradition to continue, and it’s an honor to carry on in his memory.

This year's summer solstice walking tour found us in Bayport for the first time! The tour was on Sunday, June 20, and was led by BBPHA’s Frank Giebfried. We strolled down South Ocean Avenue to the Great South Bay and returned by way of South Fairview Avenue. Along the way, we discussed the summer homes of the businessmen, investors, artists, and scoundrels who once occupied this beautiful part of our hamlet. The tour included the grand estates of J.W. Meeks, Charles Post, Judge Martin Manton, Charles Stoppani, “The” Allen and many others. Frank would like to thank the many homeowners who allowed the group to explore their historic properties and the Bayport-Blue Point Library for sponsoring the program.

If you missed the tour, just check it out below to take a virtual stroll through this part of historic Bayport. Thanks to Assistant Library Director Wendy Bennett for putting the video together!

The Hallett House; Blue Point Ave.

The following was written by Gene Horton and appeared in the Bayport Blue Point Gazette. It is reprinted with permission.

July 2002

Going down Blue Point Avenue, you will notice a small street between Danes St. and Middle Rd. called HALLETT COURT. That was once the sight of the former HALLETT HOUSE, one of Blue Point's biggest summer boarding houses, popular between 1900 and the 1930's. The Hallett House was developed by John Hallett around 1890. He died in 1912 and is buried in Blue Point Cemetery. HIs son-in-law, John Roe Snedecor, continued to run and expand the Hallett House. By 1913, with over 150 bedrooms, the Hallett House was able to accommodate over 300 guests. Evenings, an orchestra provided dinner music and dancing in the spacious dinning room. The dining room itself had over 50 large windows so the guests could look over an expanse of lawn and trees. Inside the Hallett House were two other smaller dining rooms; one for the staff & one for the little children. Three guest cottages were also located on the property.

Between 1900 and the 1930's, summer people flocked here by the LIRR. Blue Point had 10 such summer hotels and boarding houses. Sayville and Patchogue were also popular summer destinations. Once here, the guests enjoyed the clean and healthy air, the calm waters of the Great South Bay and the summer breezes. However, this all started to change around the time of the Stock Market Crash of 1929. The Great Depression doomed our summer tourist trade in Blue Point. The Hallett House and other large summer hotels along LI's south shore were in serious trouble.

In 1930, the Hallett House was sold to Albert A. DiNapoli of NYC and Sayville. He renamed the place the "Bluponia." It was even fitted out with steam heat so it could remain open in the winter....but to no avail. In 1934, after being swept by fire, the former Hallett House was torn down, a sad ending to a glorious history...the end of an era in Blue Point's history. Today, private homes are located on Hallett Court in Blue Point.

Bayport Blue Point Heritage Association

Thursday, July 1, 2021

July 2021 Newsletter

Happy Independence Day!

Gene Horton Memorial Scholarship

Thank you!

Summer Solstice Walking Tour

Free Summer Concert!

The Hallett House; Blue Point Ave.