~ February 2018 Newsletter ~
General Membership meeting
Please
note: Due to a conflict with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, we have
decided to change our March general membership meeting to Sunday,
February 25. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience.
Join
us at our next general membership meeting at the Bayport-Blue Point
Library on Sunday, February 25 at 2 o’clock. We will welome historian
Bill Bleyer who will present “Sagamore Hill: Theodore Roosevelt’s Summer
White House.” Discover the story behind Theodore Roosevelt’s favorite
place on earth. No house better reflects the personality and interests
of its owner than Theodore Roosevelt’s cherished Sagamore Hill. After
Roosevelt returned to Oyster Bay following the death of both his beloved
wife and his mother, he and second wife Edith made the house a home for
their growing and rambunctious family. What began as the perfect
getaway from unhealthy New York City summers in his grandfather’s day
became the summer White House during Roosevelt’s presidency. He hosted
political guests like Henry Cabot Lodge and cultural luminaries like
novelist Edith Wharton. Roosevelt spent his final years happily at
Sagamore Hill, and after his death in 1919 the house was preserved by
his widow, the Theodore Roosevelt Association and eventually the
National Park Service. With previously unpublished photographs and a
room-by-room guide to the house and grounds, historian Bill Bleyer
recounts bygone days at Roosevelt’s haven.
Bill Bleyer was a
prize-winning staff writer for Newsday, the Long Island daily newspaper,
for 33 years before retiring in 2014 to write books and freelance for
magazines and Newsday.
He is co-author of “Long Island and the
Civil War,” published in 2015 by The History Press. He is the author of
"Fire Island Lighthouse: Long Island's Welcoming Beacon" published by
The History Press in 2017.
United Methodist Church of Bayport
UMC of Bayport has been serving this community since
1873. Learn about its history in this brief video.
Click here.
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Come
out and celebrate! On March 11th Bayport Blue Point will be celebrating
St. Patrick's Day. This is the 28th year our communities will be
marching in the parade starting at 11:00. This wonderful festive event
sponsored by the BBP Chamber of Commerce has selected Walter Ramsey as
the Grand Marshal for this years event. Walter has been involved with
the parade from the beginning and it is an honor having him as the Grand
Marshal.
All BHA members are encouraged to march in the parade
and show support of our association and our community. Congratulations
or 'comhghairdeas' to Walter and we hope to see you there!
Boy Scouts visit Meadow Croft
On
Saturday, November 4, the Bayport Heritage Association welcomed over
200 Boy Scouts to Meadow Croft. The day was part of the Scouts’ History
Alive program, which makes local history an element of the Scouting
experience. The program aims to be more than a visit to the local
museum; it intends to teach youth interactively about the history of
their community.
Camp was set up at the Grange in Sayville, where
the Scouts toured the historic buildings and talked with period
reenactors. The kids then hiked south to the Roosevelt property and
followed the old Roosevelt trail. Once at Meadow Croft, they were
treated to a tour of the house, garage, and carriage house by BHA
members dressed in period attire. Following the tour, the Scout patrols
worked cooperatively, answering questions about the Roosevelt family and
property to earn awards back at the Camporee. The importance of
programs such as this was demonstrated by the enthusiastic responses and
interest of the kids. Thanks to Blue Point resident and Boy Scout
representative Brian McAuliff and Frank Grasso for including us in such a
rewarding day!
On January 28th 2018, both Brain and Frank came
back to Meadow Croft to say Thank you! They gave our board members a
beautiful letter of thanks, some nice t-shirts and a donation to our
organization. It's experiences like these that make the countless hours
the volunteers spend working hard to preserve our communities rich
history that make it all worthwhile.
Researching Your House
The BHA has a large archive of historical
information on most of the residences in Bayport. These archives, which
include, photos, deeds, news clippings and handwritten notes from
previous owners, was compiled by many of the early members of the BHA.
Their hard work and persistence is so appreciated by the current BHA
board and members. We would like to offer the chance for BHA members to
view these archives by special request. If you are a member with current
dues paid, you can email John Amato to make an appointment to see the
file on your old house. Just send John your address and he will retrieve
the file and meet you at the Bayport Blue Point Library on the weekend.
These files cannot be taken home for obvious reasons, but you may make
copies of documents. John is a current board member and the treasurer of
the BHA. His email address is
Bayport Heritage Association
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