Bayport Blue Point Heritage Association: July 2022

Happy Independence Day!

Welcome to July! House tours are happening each weekend from 2:00-4:00, stop by and check out what life was like in the early 1900's. Lots of updates and improvements to view including a historic light exhibit.

The BBPHA has many exciting things happening this summer. We have our second FREE concert happening in July featuring Dan Donnely and his band; Albums We Love. See more info below.

Our historic boat cruise is back! Last year was so much fun and a gorgeous night plus we learned so much about the history of homes and happenings on the Great South Bay. The stop at The Casino on Davis Park was also a highlight. We hope you can join us this year, check out details below.

Summer Solstice Walking Tour

Residents once again celebrated the first day of summer with a stroll through historic Blue Point, sponsored by the Bayport Blue Point Public Library. The tour was led by Frank Giebfried of BBPHA, who continues the tradition that our great historian Gene Horton began many years ago. So many Blue Pointers and Bayporters signed up that a second tour was added. It’s great to see so many interested in our heritage!

The tour began at our spectacular new library, formerly the site of the South Bay House. Along the way many beautiful homes were visited, as well as the sites of the great summer hotels from last century. Some of the historic spots included Avery’s Five Mile Look Hotel, Grandview Gardens Private Beach, the Monterey Hotel, the Megill estate, and the home of Anna Davis, our former library director for 23 years who also happened to be married to Nobel Prize winner Raymond Davis, Jr. We visited the homes of Ballington Booth, jazz clarinetist Johnny Mince, and steamboat pilot Noah Mason. This newly developed tour featured a guide that included recently discovered photos and information.

Thanks to the homeowners whose lovely properties were highlighted on our stroll. We were welcomed with open arms and are grateful for their enthusiasm for the history of their houses. We also appreciate Wendy Bennett from the library for her help in organizing the tour.

Finally, special thanks to Gene Horton for developing these tours and starting this wonderful tradition. We hope to see you all next year!

Historic Boat Tour!

The Great South Bay is not only a beautiful part of our communities summer fun but it has significant and historic homes located on the bay as well as a tremendous history to share! The BBPHA is happy and proud to once again offer this tour for our communities.

This year's cruise will be on August 10th (Rain date August 11th) and will leave from the Sayville Fire Island ferry terminal at 6:00 PM and head out to the bay. You must be on the ferry by 5:45 to check in. Parking this year will be across the street from the ferry freight terminal and will be a charge of $5.00. You can pay upon arrival.

The cruise will begin from the Sayville Ferry dock on Brown's River. We will cruise out to the bay as John Amato and Frank Geibfried team up to highlight the historic sites along the shore on Fire Island; from Sailor's Haven to Davis Park. At approximately 7:15, the boat will dock at Davis Park and our guests are invited to come to The Casino for drinks and a limited menu will be available for us. (This is optional if you choose as it is not covered in the cost of the trip) This menu will include salads, sandwiches, grill items and appetizers as well. An area will be reserved for our group and it is a short walk across the boardwalk to this restaurant. The ferry will leave Davis Park at approximately 8:30 and we will head back to Brown's River under a beautiful full moon and dock at 9:30. Cocktails and food at The Casino are on your own. You are allowed to bring some snacks/food in a cooler on the ferry (no alcohol).

The cost of this event is $40.00 per person (not including the $5.00 parking fee) and payments for the cruise can be made on our webpage via PayPal or Credit Card. Reservations will be made on a first come first serve basis until we reach maximum capacity.

In the event of rain, this trip will have a rain date of August 11th. Looking forward to a wonderful historic night on the Great South Bay!

Thank you!

As the old saying goes, "It takes a village!" and volunteering at Meadow Croft is no exception. We have many people who volunteer their time and help in many ways to keep the museum open and events happening. Thank you to these generous people for their time and talents:

Erich Haesche: for his hard work on the Heirloom Garden outside of the main house. It is planted with gorgeous flowers, herbs and vegetables. Much like it would have been in 1900. Thanks to MaryLou Cohalan for helping too!

Jennifer Economos: Jennifer planted roses in the flower box by the main sign on Middle Road. Thanks Jen for sprucing-up the sign, it looks beautiful!

Dave Harenberg: Dave has been our FREE Summer Concert organizer for a few years now. We appreciate all the time (and paperwork) Dave does to make these concerts happen! See below for the next FREE concert to be held on July 21 at Bayport Memorial Park.

Jerry McCloskey: Thanks to Jerry who organizes, trains and schedules all of the docents to perform house tours each weekend. Thanks to all of our docents who volunteer their time as well!

Frank Giebfried: Thanks to Frank who recently conducted not 1 but 2 Summer Solstice Walking Tours. It is a wonderful historical tradition that he works hard to keep alive!

BBPHA Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to Angela Cuocci who is this year's Gene Horton Scholarship Winner! Angela is a senior at BBP High School and will be attending Texas Christian University. Angela is a bright young woman who graduated with an overall average of 95.75. Her teachers describe her as compassionate, sincere and polite. Angela is also an accomplished dancer!

Angela is the recipient of a $1000.00 Scholarship donated by the BBPHA. We wish Angela all of the best as she heads off to college this fall. Congratulations!

Summer Concert!

Our second FREE concert of the summer will be held on July 21st from 6:00-8:00 at Bayport Memorial Park. This concert will feature Dan Donnely and his band, Albums We Love. Please bring lawn chairs or a blanket, food & beverage, bug spray and your dancing shoes! It should be a great concert and we are looking forward to it.

Thank you to all who came out on June 16 to our first summer concert, featuring Soundswell. It was a great turnout and a beautiful evening. Thank you Soundswell!

Update: Grape Arbor at MC

As previously mentioned, the grape arbor that stood behind MC for decades was lost to a storm and some structural rot. Future Eagle Scout Jack Stafford has completed his fundraising and is working with Eric Crater from the Suffolk County Parks Department to get diagrams and a materials list. Once that is completed, he can begin work, hopefully in mid-July. We are all excited to see the completed project!

136 South Snedecor Ave. Bayport

These articles , written by Gene Horton, first appeared in the Bayport Blue Point Gazette and are reprinted with permission.

July 2012

This old Bayport photograph shows a photograph of the Tudor-style residence of Mrs. James G. Carrol. The photo was taken about 100 years ago (c.1910).

In the Arcadia Press book, Bayport Heritage, published in 1997, this same photo appears on page 60 with the following write-up:

"This circa 1902 home on the west side of South Snedecor Avenue at number 136, exemplifies the essence of comfortable elegance executed in the architectural work of I. H. Green. It was built on speculation by Regis H. Post, and in 1904, was advertised as a "cottage" on two acres of land, with a total of eight bedrooms, a bathroom, and two water closets, all for the summer rental price of $750. In 1922, the phone number for this address was telephone #352."

Isaac Henry Green, of course, was the same architect who also designed the John E. Roosevelt summer estate, Meadow Croft and St. Ann's Episcopal Church, both in Sayville.

This magnificent and very much loved eleven room home still stands at 136 South Snedecor Avenue in Bayport. Believe it or not, this home is currently on the real estate market today (agent Norm Marcioch and Sean Breaton; Prudential Douglas Elliman). This home is located on 1.8 acres of property and is priced at $799,990.

(Special thanks to Vincent & Mary Cirrito and Norm Marcioch for their input in this article.)