All Hallow’s month opens at the ‘Hauntington’ Town Clerk’s archives

All Hallow’s month opens at the ‘Hauntington’ Town Clerk’s archives

Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci in front of Town Hall in October, 2018. Photo from Town of Huntington
Guided tour explores Huntington’s haunted history

Huntington Town Clerk Andrew Raia dares fearless residents and visitors to be his “ghost” for a Halloween fright when he opens All Hallow’s Month at the “Hauntington” Town Clerk’s Archives with a guided tour exploring Huntington’s haunted history throughout October.

From left, Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci presents an Archives Month proclamation to Town Archivist Antonia Mattheou and Town Clerk Andrew P. Raia in 2020. Photo from Town of Huntington

The educational event will kick off Archives Month on Friday, October 1 at 1:30 p.m. in the Town of Huntington Jo-Ann Raia Archives at Huntington Town Hall, 100 Main Street, Huntington and continue on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. except Monday, October 11, when Town Hall is closed in observance of Columbus Day. Visitors will enjoy live interpretations of stories taken out of the town’s manuscript collection such as: 

— The Legend of Peace and Plenty Inn, and the ghost of Asa Chichester. 

— Nathan Hale, who was executed by the British in 1776. 

— Charles Kelsey, tarred and feathered in 1872. 

— Richard Latting, who was expelled from the Town for turbulent behavior and went on to purchase land on what is now the hamlet of Lattingtown.

— Jacob Conklin, who sailed with pirate Captain Kidd in 1690’s. Conklin was later chosen Town Supervisor on May 7, 1728 and Suffolk County Sheriff in 1734. 

Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci with Angelica Dee Cunningham in 2018. Photo from Town of Huntington

The area outside the Archives vault will be transformed to resemble the interior of the Peace and Plenty Inn’s main gathering room. The Archives vault will be transformed into a mausoleum, ornate with gravestones and flameless candle lights. Town employees will take turns portraying the characters described and the manuscripts associated with the stories will be on display.  

Visitors will also have a chance to review the Town Clerk’s current exhibit, “Farming in Huntington,” and see the manuscript collection housed in the repository. 

The Town Board ceremoniously renamed the Town of Huntington the Town of Hauntington for Halloween in 2018, 2019, and 2020, after 7-year-old Angelica Dee Cunningham wrote a letter to Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci suggesting the new tradition. A similar resolution will be introduced at the October 13, 2021 Town Board meeting.

For more information, contact Town Clerk Andrew Raia at 631-351-3216 or the Archivist, Antonia Mattheou, 631-351-3035 or email: [email protected].