~ 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!
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
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.
BBPHA
The BBPHA wishes you a healthy Happy New Year!
