March 2022 Newsletter

General Membership Meetings are Back!

General Membership Meeting: We’re Back!

Sunday, March 20, 1-3pm

Join us at our next general membership meeting at the new Bayport-Blue Point Library on Sunday, March 20 at 1 o’clock. We will learn about prominent Long Island shipwrecks in a lecture by historian, author, and retired Newsday reporter Bill Bleyer. The PowerPoint presentation will include maritime disasters from the Prins Maurits carrying colonists to what would become Delaware, HMS Culloden wrecked at Montauk during the American Revolution, the Mexico and Bristol carrying immigrants during the early 1800s, the fire that destroyed the steamship Lexington in 1840 – Long Island Sound’s worst calamity – to the sinking of the USS San Diego in World War I, and the loss of the tugboat Gwendoline Steers in a 1962 winter storm.

Please note that this meeting begins at 1 pm. We look forward to seeing everyone!

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Mark your calendars! Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce’s 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Sunday, March 13, 2022. The BBPHA will be marching along again!

Our Grand Marshal for the 2022 Parade is Matthew “Matty” McGuire. Two years ago, Matt was supposed to be the Grand Marshal for the 2020 parade but Covid cancelled those plans for two long years. We are glad the parade is a go and Matt will be leading the way!

Matt is from the Bayport Blue Point Little League where he has served as President for almost 10 years. Starting at 11 a.m. at the corner of Snedecor Avenue and Montauk Highway in Bayport, the parade ends down Blue Point Avenue in Blue Point. Join us on March 13, 2022 for the Bayport Blue Point St. Patrick's Day parade.

Help Wanted

House Tour: It is never too early to start planning our Annual House Tour. If you have a historic house in the Bayport or Blue Point community or a home that has architectural significance or charm, please contact us! We would love to showcase your home in our tour this October, to share the history of our communities. We also need help with planning and promotion. If you have some time to give back to your community, in any way, shape or form, WE NEED YOU!

Docents: From June through October tours of the historic Meadow Croft estate are given every weekend by our small group of dedicated docents. We are always looking for new names and faces to lead 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!

Spring clean-up: We are in need of some dedicated, outdoor loving friends to help with a spring clean-up at the Meadow Croft estate. If this is something you might be willing to volunteer a few hours for, please email us. Thanks in advance!

Ye Ole Anchorage Inn

These stories first appeared in the Bayport Blue Point Gazette. They were written by Gene Horton and shared here with permission.

March 2009

Location: NW corner of Montauk Hwy. & Kennedy Ave; site of an abandoned gas station today.

This old photo shows Ye Anchorge Inn as it looked around 1900. The Inn was established by Captain Will Graham in 1897 who called it "An Inn as is an Inn."

Ye Anchorage could accommodate 35 guests. The site was most famous for its Great Sphinx. Over the years, Ye Anchorage was visited by Teddy Roosevelt, Mary Pickford, Elbert Hubbard, Douglas Fairbanks... Captain Will Graham was somewhat eccentric...his place attracting Bohemian, show-biz and sports-type figures.

Will Graham died in 1920; the Inn burned down on March 31, 1928. The property became the site of Toni Ferri's gas station. The head of the Great Sphinx was moved to Bayport by the Fontana Brothers in 1974 and completely restored.

 

 

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Share this newsletter with family and friends!

Meadow Croft Estate, Middle Road, Sayville, NY, USA  

bbphistorical@gmail.com  

631-472-4625  

BayportBluePointHeritage.org

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February 2022 Newsletter

Keep on keeping on.....

It was almost two years ago Covid entered our lives. All of us have suffered in some way shape or form whether it was our health, or our loved ones, business, financial, social and so many more. We've all had to make those hard decisions that come with a quarantine and a global pandemic; missing family gatherings, postponing weddings and just missing out on the typical, ordinary day to day activities and social interactions.

The good news is we are still moving forward as best we can. Keeping the faith, keeping safe and healthy and keep on keeping on...

St. Patrick's Day Parade is BACK!

Mark your calendars! Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce’s 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Sunday, March 13, 2022. The BBPHA will be marching along again!

Our Grand Marshal for the 2022 Parade is Matthew “Matty” McGuire. Two years ago, Matt was supposed to be the Grand Marshal for the 2020 parade but Covid cancelled those plans for two long years. We are glad the parade is a go and Matt will be leading the way!

Matt is from the Bayport Blue Point Little League where he has served as President for almost 10 years. Starting at 11 a.m. at the corner of Snedecor Avenue and Montauk Highway in Bayport, the parade ends down Blue Point Avenue in Blue Point. Join us on March 13, 2022 for the Bayport Blue Point St. Patrick's Day parade.

Back by popular demand!

What Came Before: A Brief History of the South Bay House and the St. Ursula Center

BBPHA board member Frank Giebfried returns to present his popular lecture, first held on the Bayport Blue Point Library's opening day. Travel back in time with Frank and learn about what came before the new library on 186 Middle Road. The South Bay house was perhaps the grandest of Blue Point's many summer vacation destinations. This massive boarding house could accommodate 300 visitors in over 100 rooms. Guests enjoyed fine dining, live music and dancing in the evenings, and many activities on the bay. The Ursuline sisters purchased the property in 1935 and used their convent as a novitiate, religious training center, and retirement home. The sisters were a positive force in our community for over 80 years. Come travel back in time and explore the fascinating histories that took place on the grounds of the new library.

Registration is required through the BBP Library. You may register online, by phone or in person starting February 5th. Non-residents may register starting February 7th.

Fishing Nets on Brown's River, Bayport

This article was written by Gene Horton and first printed in the BBP Gazette. It is reprinted here with permission.

February 2005

This old postcard probably dates from the 1920's. It shows two large reels used to dry fishing nets in the old days. The reels are set up along the east shore of an unbulkheaded Brown's River in Bayport.

Years ago, commercial fisherman used these reels to dry out their nets and prevent them from rotting. If nets were just piled on the beach they would tend to rot when they laid in the rainwater, puddles or snow. While on these large reels, the nets could also be mended as needed.

Bay and ocean fishermen used to bring in shad, herring, stripers, fluke, flounder and striped bass. Fishermen would certainly use these large drying reels especially at the end of the season or after a good catch.

In the 1920's, this old postcard was addressed to: Mr. Charles H. Delano, 512 Lexington Ave., Brooklyn, NY: and the written message on the face of the postcard read: "We all (except Bert) spent Wednesday in Bayport. Happy day for this April 23 & all, Grace"

Long Island Historical Societies

Long Island Historical Societies (formerly Association of Suffolk County Historical Societies-ASCHS) was founded by Robert David Lion Gardiner in 1969. Two key elements of its Mission were described in the 1969 Charter:

"To coordinate and unite the various historical societies located in Suffolk County, New York, as well as to preserve and work for the preservation of historical societies, buildings and landmarks in the County. To promote and encourage historical research, and to foster and promote public knowledge of and interest in local and national history."

The organization decided to expand and promote all historical societies from Long Island. LIHS website can be found here. They have an informative newsletter that comes out twice a month. Consider signing up, becoming a member or just checking out the programs and events of local historical societies from Montauk to Manhattan.

Facebook @BayportHistory

Look for our General Membership meetings to begin again in March. More info to come.... 

 

Meadow Croft Estate, Middle Road, Sayville, NY, USA  

bbphistorical@gmail.com  

631-472-4625  

BayportBluePointHeritage.org

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Volunteers Needed

Help Wanted... 

Hospitality Volunteer: for General Membership meetings held at the BBP Library. For about an hour, once a month for April, May and June. We need an extra pair of hands for our meetings to help with refreshments. Please email Sandra if you are interested. Her email is siden000@yahoo.com Thank you!!

Tour Guide: We are looking for guides to give tours of Meadow Croft. Make your own schedule, weekends only, two hour shifts, June through October, full training available! Meet new friends, learn local history! We need you. If you are interested or want to learn more, email Jen at jtbudgie@gmail.com If you love history then we have a job for you! Docents or house guides are needed two days a month, June through October, to show the historic Meadow Croft to visitors. It is not much of a time commitment and training will be provided. Email us if you are interested, BBPhistorical@gmail.com.

 

The Bayport-Blue Point Historical Association is always looking for volunteers or new members to fulfill the vision and mission which is dedicated to the preservation, history and future of our BBP hamlet. If you are interested and have some time, we need you! All levels of help welcomed.

** Garden help ** ~ Meadow Croft's heirloom garden is in need of some hands to dig in the dirt. This garden is a replica of the original garden at the Meadow Croft estate dating back to the early 1900's. Email us if you are interested, BBPhistorical@gmail.com.

**Autumn House Tour** ~ WE NEED YOUR HELP! 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call us at 631-472-4625.

 

** Christmas at Meadow Croft**  ~ 

If you are interested you can reach out!

 

January 2022 Newsletter

Happy New Year 2022!

All of us at the BBPHA wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year! We had a busy, productive and extremely challenging year and managed to accomplish 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, especially in a pandemic!

We thank all of you who came out to celebrate Christmas at Meadow Croft, held the first weekend of December. It was a very successful event on a beautiful weekend! (see video below) There are so many people to thank for their help and support. See below for the many individuals and groups who helped make this weekend a great success. Thank you!! We thank you all for a wonderful 2021 and we look forward to new adventures in 2022!

THANK YOU!

Christmas at Meadow Croft is a labor of love and takes months of planning and organization. Special thanks go to our lovely chairperson Leanne Berg who once again created a wonderful festive experience for our friends and neighbors. Thank you!

Thank you to the Suffolk County Parks Department for leveling the driveway and clearing the leaves from the property for this event. Your support is much appreciated!

Many volunteers give selflessly of their time and talents to decorate Meadow Croft for this event. Many thanks go to Rose Colan & The Neighbors and Gardners, Bayport Homemakers, Sayville Garden Club, Clia Finn and Jen Concannon, Karl Auwaerter of Bayport Flower Houses, and Erich Haesche. Also to our favorite wood carver, Joe Novak.

With so many visitors and only one driveway for both entrance and exit, we needed a dedicated parking crew to help everyone get in and out safely. Thanks to the men who weathered the weekend outside including: Captain - John Amato, Dennis Fagan, Charlie Colan, Charlie Iden, David Ort and Dave Harenberg.

Volunteers are needed to act as docents or man each of the many rooms in the Roosevelt estate for this event. Special thanks go to: Jerry McCloskey, Mary Lou Cohalan, Beth LaMarca, Mary Bailey, Leanne Berg, Gail Laskowski, Bay Browning-Atkinson, Denise Corsica, Jen Economos, Anna Dugan, Frank Giebfried, John Amato, Laura Amato, Sandra Iden, Erich Haesche, Joe Novak, Lenore Ringer, Linda Roker, Betty Horstmann, Kathy Daley, Frances Mulderig, Johanna Stastola, Luanne Cheadle, Angela Johnson, Sean McCluskey, Aileen McCluskey, Marie Neilon, Diane Handy, Dawn Brady, Judy Piteteo and Rose Colan.

Thank you to Trish Brynes (daughter of Barney Loughlin) from Loughlin Vineyards for the generous donation. Much appreciated!

Special thanks go to Bea Morelli who generously lent us her nutcracker collection to help decorate Meadow Croft. A a BIG thanks to Steve Birkeland who takes all the photographs in the carriage house with St. Nicholas. Speaking of St. Nicholas, thank you to Tom Maher Jr. for dressing up and posing for all of those pictures. And a BIG shout out to Lenore Ringer Prezioso and David Wilson from People's United Bank for not only helping serve but donating the hot cocoa and cookies to our guests in the carriage house. Thank you to Jennifer Economos for the many culinary delights she prepared for our special Saturday Night event. Delish!

The Roosevelt estate really had the Christmas spirit floating through the air and that is in part due to the many musicians who donate their time and talents to play holiday music on the Roosevelt piano during the weekend. Many thanks goes to: John Hodge, Bill Bailey, MaryJean Stead, Mary Latini, Maurice Kemp, Lisa Pratnicki and her sister Breanna, Paige Weber, Kerri Van Boxel and her two students Sophia Bertsch and Serena Buono. It was amazing!

Thank you Angela Stelling who donated so many items to our raffle baskets and the many "elves" who helped in wrapping and organizing all of the items. MUCH APPRECIATED!

A word of thanks from our chairperson Leanne Berg:

I'd like to take this opportunity to say Thank You! Thank you to all of you who gave your time, talent and hard work to help make Christmas at Meadow Croft 2021 a great success! After losing last year's event to the pandemic it was so wonderful to be able to decorate Meadow Croft again. So many people gave so much to help make it happen. It's a team effort, a team I am proud to be a part of! Once again, thank you to all the volunteers and most of all, thank you to my fellow board members! Together we can accomplish great things! Have a wonderful New Year!

Presentation at the new BBP Library

On Saturday, December 18th at 12:00, BBPHA board member Frank Giebfried gave a presentation at the new BBP Library on their opening day. Frank spoke about What Came Before: A Brief History of the South Bay House and the St. Ursula Center.

The South Bay House (pictured below) was perhaps the grandest of Blue Point's many summer vacation destinations. The massive boarding house could accommodate over 300 visitors in over 100 rooms. Guests enjoyed fine dining, live music and dancing in the evenings, and many activities on the bay. The Ursuline sisters purchased the property in 1935 and used their convent as a novitiate, religious training center, and retirement home. The sisters were a positive force in our community for over 80 years. This presentation was held in the new Gene Horton Local History Room.

Congratulations to the new BBP Library! Thank you Frank for keeping our local history alive!

nominations for BBPHA board

The nominating committee is developing a slate of members for the 2022 board. There are several seats open; including directors. Any current paid BBPHA member may serve on the board. It requires approximately only one meeting per month. If you would be willing to serve for the 2022 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.

New Antique Items Purchased with County Grant Funds

This past year, we purchased antique items which are period-appropriate for the house. Thank you to Frank Giebried and Eric Haesche for their work in procuring these items. They are all placed in the house and ready for viewing for the next tour season beginning in June of 2022.

The items to see are as follows: Seth Thomas mantle clock; copper water tank in the kitchen; water pump in the kitchen which was used to bring water into the kitchen from the cistern; Cheval full-length mirror in the master bedroom and an annunciator box in the kitchen which was used to call staff from each room in the house.

Each year the BBPHA applies for a Suffolk County grant to make purchases to enhance the quality of the museum. We are currently discussing purchases for 2022. Stay tuned.

Bayport's Camp Edey

This story were printed in the Bayport Blue-Point Gazette. It was written by Gene Horton and reprinted here with permission.

January 2003

Camp Edey is one of Long Island's best know Girl Scout Camps. The grounds of this all-year round camp, located on Lakeview Ave., north of Montauk Hwy, in Bayport, cover about 100 acres today. Each year, thousands of Girl Scouts come here to enjoy swimming & boating, arts & crafts, nature & science programs and related Scout activities.

Camp Edey was originally established in 1941 near Sag Harbor, and later, in 1944, the present site in Bayport was acquired. Camp Edey began as a summer camp for Girl Scouts in 1945 on what was then a 44-acre tract. It was the first Girl Scout camping area in Suffolk County.

Camp Edey is named in honor of Mrs. Birdsall Otis Edey (1872-1940). Mrs. Edey was President of the national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, from 1930-35. To this day, she is the only Long Islander to be elected to this highest office in the US Girl Scouting. In 1935, Mrs. Lou Hoover, wife of President Herbert C. Hoover, succeeded Mrs. Edey as national President of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Mrs. Edey (affectionately known as Bird) was born Birdsall Otis in Bellport, LI on June 25, 1872. She was a well-known poet, was active in the women's suffrage movement, a noted environmentalist, and an early organizer of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Her husband was Frederick Edey. He held a seat for many years on the NY Stock Exchange and the couple resided at 440 Park Ave. in NYC.

Mrs. Edey died in NYC on March 17, 1940 at the age of 67. Services were held in Bellport at her South Country Road home, "Nearthebay." Floral tributes were sent by President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt and former President and Mrs. Herbert C. Hoover. Mrs. Edey is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Bellport.

Mrs. Edey's name lives on today throughout Long Island thanks to the decision of the local councils of Girl Scouts in the 1940's to name Camp Edey in her honor. Camp Edey today is owned and operated by the Girl Scouts of the Suffolk County Council.

Eagle Scout Project at Meadow Croft

“Eagle Scout” is the highest rank a young person can reach in Scouting. In fact, only around 5% of all scouts who join ever reach the Eagle rank. As such, becoming an Eagle Scout is an exceptionally difficult challenge, even for scouts who can complete merit badges and rank requirements quickly!

It is that determination and perseverance that Eagle Scout Will Kretz put into his project; a sign at Meadow Croft. Will carefully researched and organized this information to create this beautiful welcome sign that shares the history of Meadow Croft for the many guests and visitors who visit each year. Special thanks to the Suffolk County Parks Department who worked with Will to make his dream of becoming an Eagle Scout a reality. Thank you Will for enhancing the experience for those who visit.

 

 

BBPHA

Facebook @BayportHistory

Have a Happy, Healthy New Year!!

Meadow Croft Estate, Middle Road, Sayville, NY, USA 

  bbphistorical@gmail.com  

631-472-4625 

  BayportBluePointHeritage.org

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December 2021 Newsletter

 

Christmas at Meadow Croft

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays!

The Meadow Croft elves have been very busy these last few weeks planning, decorating, volunteering, organizing and making Meadow Croft BEAUTIFUL to celebrate Christmas at Meadow Croft 2021. We are grateful to be able to open this home, once again, for the holiday season.

On Saturday December 4th and Sunday December 5th from 12:00-4:00 Meadow Croft will be open to the public. Come see each room of the John Ellis Roosevelt estate alive with festive holiday decorations! There will be music played on the Roosevelt piano and pictures with Old Saint Nick in the Carriage House. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served! Many raffle baskets will be on display and holiday decorations and the baskets will be raffled off at the end of the weekend. A special sale of historical gifts will be on sale as well. We have great items including; local history books by author Gene Horton, ornaments, note cards, tote bags, and Meadow Croft prints. All of these items would make great holiday gifts! The admission fee is $5.00 per person.

We thank our chairperson Leanne Berg for her efforts in coordinating this event. We thank our many volunteers who have put in countless hours preparing for this weekend. We look forward to seeing YOU at Meadow Croft this weekend to celebrate the season.

Masks are encouraged but not mandatory.

Nominations for BBPHA

The nominating committee is developing a slate of members for the 2022 board. There are several seats open; including directors. Any current paid BBPHA member may serve on the board. It requires only one meeting per month. If you would be willing to serve for the 2022 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.

BBP Library is moving!

The BBP library will be moving from their current location on Blue Point Avenue to their new location, the former St. Ursula Convent located on Middle Road. They will be closed with limited service from December 1st through December 17th, 2021. Virtual programs will still take place and phone, chat and email services will run as normal. Opening day will be December 18th, 2021.

BBPHA General Membership meeting dates will be forthcoming. We look forward to viewing the new library, holding our meetings there and especially exploring the Gene Horton Local History Room.

The Bayport Gazebo at Christmas

The following story was printed in the Bayport Blue Point Gazette by Gene Horton and is reprinted with permission.

Holiday 2007

Is this a Norman Rockwell scene or not? The Bayport Gazebo in Memorial Park is all bedecked with holiday roping, red bows, strung lights and that lovely Christmas tree in the center of the gazebo. There's even a light smattering of snow seen in this recent photograph!

The Gazebo sits in Bayport's Memorial Park on Middle Road. It is a relatively "new" addition to the park. Memorial Park itself was begun after World War 2. The park is located immediately west of downtown Bayport on Middle Road and is bordered on the west by The Esplanade. The gazebo was built in the park around the year 2000 largely through a Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization grant and Bayport-Blue Point Neighbors and Gardeners. The gazebo is center stage every year for Bayport's Memorial Day parade and services. The gazebo, with its seats and lights, is also the scene for seasonal concerts and a focal point for the community. Every year, volunteers from the Bayport Heritage Association decorate the gazebo at Christmas. Bayport Fire Department generously donates the Christmas tree.

Memorial Park itself honors all the veterans who served fro Bayport from the American Revolution to recent times. Their names are engraved on a War Memorial Plaque. Memorial Park is managed by a Park Association in conjunction with the Town of Islip who maintains the park.

There is also an obelisk in the park commemorating the founding of Bayport in 1786. The flagpole in park is about ninety feet tall and was once the mast of a large ocean-going wooden ship. Stroll through Bayport Memorial Park and enjoy its seasonal beauty and meaningful monuments.

St. Ann's Christmas Open House

BBPHA Archives & Digitizes our old Newsletters

Greetings everyone and happy holidays. As reported in a previous newsletter, we have completed the project to digitize our newsletters from years 1894 to 2009. Now you all have viewing access to these newsletters from you computer. We are thankful to the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation who funded the program which was administered by the graduate history department of Long Island University, headed by Dr. Greg Hunter. The hard copies of the newsletters were sent to LIU and the students digitized them for web access. We are proud to offer them to all of our members for a look back in time. Follow these instructions for access. There is no log-in needed.

1. Use the link https://liu.access.preservica.com

2. Click on "Browse Collections."

3. Click on "Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association."

4. You will see the years in chronological order with the image of the front page.

5. Click on the year you would like to view

6. IMPORTANT: Click on "View Gallery" This tab allows you to scroll through the pages.

7. Scroll through the pages using the "Previous" and "Next " buttons at the top of the page.

Have fun looking into the past. The current board members want to thank the previous members for their hard work in creating the interesting stories and posting the photos which make these items the valuable artifacts that they are. Please provide feedback to us after you view these items. We are curious as to what you think. Thank you!

John Amato

Facebook @BayportHistory

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year! 

 

Meadow Croft Estate, Middle Road, Sayville, NY, USA  

bbphistorical@gmail.com  

631-472-4625  

BayportBluePointHeritage.org

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Christmas Event Dates 2021

 

~ Christmas at Meadow Croft ~

Dashing Through The Snow!

Open House on Saturday December 4th and Sunday December 5th from 12:00-4:00 at the historic summer home of J.E. Roosevelt; Meadow Croft. 

The estate will be decorated with Victorian and Edwardian Christmas decorations and holiday music will be played on the Roosevelt grand piano. Pictures with Old St. Nicholas will be taken in the Carriage House and refreshments will be served. Lots of wonderful raffles, including gift certificates, and gifts will be sold. 

Free parking! Get your shopping done early!

Only $5.00 per person! Come visit us and get in the holiday spirit!

Aglow for Christmas!

A special event on Saturday night December 4th from 7:00-9:00pm. Special house tours offered. Refreshments served. Limited tickets available. Join us! $25.00 per person.

Information on tickets can be found on the homepage of our website, here.

      

November 2021 Newsletter

 

Welcome November! 

 It's the season of Thanks and we want to Thank you! Thank you to the hundreds of new friends and neighbors who came out from June through October to tour Meadow Croft, the summer home of John Ellis Roosevelt. The BBPHA has worked tirelessly to provide new exhibits, and opportunities to bring in more people and expose the wonderful history of life on the South Shore of Long Island in early 1900's. It's our wonderful friends and guests who help move our mission forward of preserving the history and future of Bayport and Blue Point. Thank you! 

 

 

Christmas at Meadow Croft

It's almost time for our Annual Christmas at Meadow Croft! This year's event will be held on December 4th & 5th, 2021. There will be special exhibits, electric trains, dolls, wood carvings, and of course St. Nicholas will be there. The Roosevelt piano will be filling the air with holiday music and the festive decorations and baskets will be raffled off. The theme this year will be;

Dashing Through The Snow!

Special preview night on Saturday December 4th from 7:00-9:00 PM. A special guided tour of the full estate in all it's Christmas glory as well as refreshments served. This preview is for adults only and is $25.00 per person. Tickets are limited to 50 people and can be purchased on our website here.

Save the dates! December 4th and 5th from 12:00-4:00.

Help wanted: If you can lend a hand with parking for this event (directing traffic), on either day, please contact John Amato by email. johnfamato@optonline.net

Christmas preparations are underway! But we need your help! We are looking for pianists who would be interested in volunteering an hour of their time to fill Meadow Croft with Christmas music played on the Roosevelt Grand Piano. Could this be you??

We are also looking for community groups, businesses or decorators who would like to participate in decorating a room for this event! Please call event chairperson Leanne Berg at 631-235-1702 if interested. Thank you!

The Bayport Blue Point Book Ends

Do you like to read?? The Bayport Blue Point Book Ends sure do! Their group started 20 years ago meeting once a month to discuss a book selection for that month. Usually meetings are held in one of the members homes and there are about 14 -16 members.

This group recently read The Bayman's Daughter by local author Theresa Dodaro. Parts of the book's setting is right at Meadow Croft, so the group took a tour of John Ellis Roosevelt's summer home. At times, food is centered around the book's theme (but not always). For The Bayman's Daughter, a member brought oysters as her table contribution. The group usually start with appetizers then during the main course begin the discussion questions and this usually becomes very animated and lively. Before ending the evening the book choice is decided for the next gathering.

Sometimes field trips, even one time an overnight trip, centered on a book's setting or a character are taken. The group recently visited the Jackson Pollock house and Long House as part of their 20th anniversary year. Members often research characters and historical events related to the read for that month. The Bayman's Daughter was the October selection so hence the evening tour of Meadow Croft.

Book Reading at Meadow Croft

On Saturday, October 30th at 2:00 in the carriage house at Meadow Croft, the Bayport Blue Point Heritage Association in conjunction with the Sayville Historical Society hosted a book reading. Excerpts from The Bayman's Daughter written by Sayville author Theresa Dodaro were shared.

The Bayman's Daughter is a time-slip novel that takes place in the quaint seaside hamlet of Sayville, Long Island which was once the playground of rich and famous families like the Roosevelts and Vanderbilts. Parts of the novel are set at Meadow Croft, home of John Ellis Roosevelt.

James Bertsch hosted the event and it was open to the public. A nice crowd turned out! The author was there as well. Although a rainy, gloomy day, everyone had a good time!

Thank you Docents!

A very special Thank You to all of the men and women who gave of their time to volunteer to become docents for Meadow Croft this season. We know you have busy lives and family obligations but you found time to share the incredible history of the John Ellis Roosevelt summer estate, Meadow Croft. On behalf of the hundreds of visitors who walked through the doors to enjoy local history, and the officers of the BBPHA, we say THANK YOU:

Jerry McCluskey

Jim Connell

Joe Novak

Frank Giebfried

John Amato

Bay Browning- Atkinson

Beth LaMarca

Jennifer Economos

Mary Lou Cohalan

Lenore Ringer-Prezioso

Denise Coscia

Erich Haesche

Artifacts of Life at Meadow Croft

Written by John Amato

Aside from the obvious physical beauty of the Meadow Croft estate, we who spend much time there volunteering are always fascinated by any evidence of the Roosevelt's life there. When Suffolk County agreed to save the estate house and do the renovations and upgrades in 1986, items found in the house in walls, under floorboards and behind deteriorating furniture was saved and preserved. Below is a look at several authentic pieces of life at Meadow Croft in the Roosevelt years- 1896-1940.

Artifact #1: "No Shooting" sign

J. E. Roosevelt posted signs on his heavily wooded property to ensure the safety of his family, farm hands, and livestock in his buildings. Hunting was most prevalent in the wooded areas of Long Island during this time as undeveloped acres dominated the landscape. Roosevelt was a devout naturalist like his Uncle, President Teddy Roosevelt. The posted sign includes protection of migratory birds and insect-eating birds and nests. HIs signature can clearly be seen at the bottom.

Artifact #2: Laundry tickets

The Roosevelts had a dedicated laundry room off of the working kitchen in the part of the house known as the original Woodward farmhouse. This room had many laundry devices considered modern at the time. They also had several house staff tending to the laundry at the house during the summer months. There is evidence, however that some laundry services were provided by the State Laundry Company of Brooklyn and Hempstead. These laundry tickets with the Roosevelt name clearly visible is evidence that some laundry was sent out for cleaning and delivered back to the estate.

Fitness at Meadow Croft

On a beautiful October day, Fluid Power Barre Fitness of Sayville celebrated 13 years in business by holding an outdoor class at Meadow Croft! So many wonderful activities happen at Meadow Croft each day and we are excited to see this class enjoying some outdoor exercise in this beautiful setting! Thanks for stopping by and so glad you enjoyed your time here. :)

In memory of...

It’s with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our wonderful docent and Heritage member, Ginnie Novak. Ginnie with her husband Joe had been involved with the Heritage for more than 15 years. Ginnie was always willing to help out at Meadow Croft and the Heritage during Christmas and house tours. She always had a friendly smile for everyone. Ginnie will be missed. Remember her with much love and fondness. We will.

Services for Ginnie will be at Raynor and D’Andrea of Bayport, Wednesday November 3, 3pm-7pm.

Ezra Clemence, Blue Point Veteran

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

Every November, America honors its veterans. About a dozen veterans of the American Civil War (1861-1865) are buried in the Blue Point Cemetery.

One of the Civil War veterans is Ezra G. Clemence. A Blue Pointer, he was born in 1840 and died in 1921. He was twenty-one years old when the "Rebellion" broke out. Ezra Clemence was the last Civil War veteran to die.

Ezra Clemence was among the first to answer President Lincoln's call and he enlisted in the Union Army in April, 1861, the month the war broke out. He served in the NY Scott's Life Guards for two years. Then he re-enlisted in the 61st Pennsylvania and served until the end of the war in 1865. He then went to sea for about 15 years and visited nearly every port in Europe and along our Pacific coast. One voyage, he was wrecked off the Spanish coast but survived. On another voyage he experienced another close call off the coast of Ireland. Eventually Ezra Clemence returned home to his native land and to the home of his parents in Blue Point.

In 1883, he married Henrietta H. Smith, who was Postmaster of Blue Point from 1881 until 1886. In Blue Point, Ezra Clemence served as a Deputy Sheriff for many years and was also the attendance officer of Blue Point School. He was active in the Blue Point Mutual Benefit Association and in 1901 was named its Chaplain. Henrietta Clemence died in 1910 at the age of seventy-seven and is buried in Blue Point Cemetery.

When Ezra Clemence died in 1921, aged eighty-one, he was one of the last surviving members of the Richard J. Clark G.A.R. Post of Patchogue. He, too, is buried in Blue Point Cemetery, an honored veteran and an honored Blue Pointer.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope to see you at Christmas At Meadow Croft!

Meadow Croft Estate, Middle Road, Sayville, NY, USA 

bbphistorical@gmail.com  

631-472-4625  

BayportBluePointHeritage.org

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