Home History

History Close at Hand: East Setauket schooner ‘Wanderer’ — from yacht to slave ship

by Beverly C. Tyler - January 25, 2025

0 706

1 of 4

By Beverly C. Tyler

A few years ago, on the eve of the celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday, my wife and I watched the DVD movie “Amazing Grace,” based on the story of how a few dedicated men and women in England, at the beginning of the 19th century, ended the British slave trade. As dramatic as the story was, I was equally impressed by one of the special features, a tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. One of their on-line exhibits notes, “The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration of people…which brought millions of Africans to America.”

One of the main concerns of the Freedom Center is that around the world, “there are estimated 21 million to 45 million people trapped in some form of slavery today… more than at any other time in human history.” A film, special feature or website is no substitute for an actual visit to the Freedom Center and other museums and historical societies that tell stories of our history, culture, diversity and the challenges we face.

There is a darker side to the diversity of our community. It has many facets, including stories of our enslaved people and our community’s part in the slave trade. One story begins here in East Setauket, along Shore Road, overlooking Setauket Harbor.

Joseph Rowland built the schooner-yacht “Wanderer” in 1857 for Colonel John D. Johnson, a member of the New York Yacht Club and a wealthy sugar planter from New Orleans. Johnson raced the schooner and won every race until the yacht club disallowed “Wanderer’s” participation due to her size and speed. Angered, Johnson and “Wanderer” left New York in late spring 1858 for a tour of the south, including Charleston and Savannah. At every port “Wanderer” was widely acclaimed.

During that tour Johnson sold “Wanderer” to William C. Corey and soon after she appeared in Port Jefferson. She was fitted out for the slave trade, probably at the yard of J.J. Harris. With installation of large water tanks and the appearance of the schooner “Charter Oak” outside the harbor with more supplies for “Wanderer”, S.S. Norton, surveyor of the port, became suspicious and notified federal officials in New York. The revenue cutter “Harriet Lane” intercepted “Wanderer” off Old Field Point and took her in tow to New York over Corey’s loud protests.

Corey glibly talked himself free and “Wanderer” was allowed to leave for Charleston, SC where the real owner Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar surfaced. Lamar, staying in the background because of his previous connection with slavers, obtained customs clearance for her. They completed fitting out for the slave trade and sailed for Africa.

Slavers were rigged to outrun the slave squadrons of Great Britain and America, both of which were trying to stop the now illegal slave trade. On the west coast of Africa, “Wanderer” took aboard some 600 enslaved Africans and sailed for America. They were laid down side by side alternating head and feet, chained wrist to ankle, and kept there for days without sanitation.

On the evening of November 28, 1858, “Wanderer” landed 465 Africans on Jekyll Island, Georgia. The rest had died during the voyage and were unceremoniously tossed over the side. Most of the Africans suffered from diarrhea, dietary deficiencies and skin diseases. They were sick, tired, needed rest, care and good food to recover, but had to be dispersed as soon as possible to avoid Federal questions about their status. A camp was set up and Dr. Robert Hazelhurst, married to the sister of John and Henry DuBignon, owners of Jekyll Island, checked every African and none died in his care.

“Wanderer” was seized by Federal authorities, but the Africans, now on Georgia soil, a slave state, had been quickly sold at auction. There was outrage in the U.S. Congress but little, if anything, was done, less than two years before the start of the Civil War.

The real story of “Wanderer” is about the enslaved African people who survived and thrived. Cilucangy, (SIL-U-CANNY) who learned basket weaving from his mother was taken from field work when his talent was recognized. Ward Lee, his American slave name, and his wife and many of their descendants lived their lives in Aiken County, SC not too far from where he was first enslaved. They raised four children and many of their descendants moved north settling in New York and on Long Island. These included 87-year-old Ocea Lee-Barnes, a resident of Hempstead, Long Island when she was interviewed in 2008 at a “Wanderer” survivor reunion on Jekyll Island. Cilucangy told his story in 1908 to an anthropologist from the University of Chicago. He dreamed of returning to Africa and died ten years later without fulfilling his dream.

As of March 2024, the state of Georgia has identified at least 67 of the 409 captive men, women and children who were illegally smuggled aboard “Wanderer.” Cilucangy’s sons moved north, grandson William moved to Brooklyn. In the 1980s, his great-great granddaughters were named the Doublemint Gum Twins. Today the family includes teachers, lawyers, and guidance professionals. Margaret Higgins, another great-granddaughter of Cilucangy, lived in Nassau County and her grandson is named Alexander Cilucangy Valenti.

Many enslaved Africans from “Wanderer” remained in the coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia with a number being sold to plantations and individuals around Brunswick, Georgia and Jekyll Island. From December 1858 until the start of the Civil War, newspapers followed the destinies of some “Wanderer” enslaved Africans who were discovered in all the states of the lower south. Partly as a result of enslaved Africans landing on Jekyll Island, the Buchanan administration (1857-1861) strengthened the African squadron by adding steamers of war and permitting closer co-operation with the British.

In 1861, “Wanderer” was seized by the federal government and used as a Civil War gunboat. She was credited with capturing four prizes. After the war the U.S. Navy sold her to private owners who ran her aground on Cape Maisi, east of Cuba, on January 21, 1871 and she was a total loss. “The Last Slave Ships – New York and the end of the middle Passage,” a 2020 book by John Harris, tells the story of New York City’s extensive involvement in the slave trade.

Extensive research on shipbuilding in the Three Village area and Suffolk County was conducted over many decades by local writer and historian William B. Minuse (1908-2002). His research on “Wanderer” included a trip to Jekyll Island, Georgia where he was able to photograph items such as the mess kettle used to feed the enslaved Africans after they arrived on Jekyll Island.

Author Beverly C. Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket. Tel: 631-751-3730. http://WWW.TVHS.org

TVHS launches new afterschool program — Time Travelers Passport to the Past

by Press Release - January 23, 2025

0 266

Looking for a unique, non-competitive, and highly interactive afterschool experience for your child? The Three Village Historical Society + Museum, 93 North Country Road, Setauket presents its first-ever STEAM-based afterschool program for children ages 7 to 10, Time Travelers Passport to the Past.

Students will be able to wear historical costumes, play original historical games, tour the exhibits, handle various historical artifacts that typically are viewed only behind glass displays in museums, and enjoy hands-on historical activities such as hand crafting your own herbal tea blend, carding wool, candle dipping, and more!

Classes will be held on the following Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.:

Feb. 4: Pomander Balls — Create your own pomander ball as you learn the history of making fragrances.

Feb. 11: The History of Tea — Use the herbs that American colonists had in their gardens to craft your own herbal tea.

Feb. 25: How to Be an Archeologist, A Mock Archeology Activity — See if you can find artifacts such as musket balls and arrowheads in our mock dig site while understanding how real artifacts are discovered.

March 11: Growing Up on Long Island — Children will be making candles and carding wool to understand what it is like to be a child in the American colonies.

Give your child the opportunity to explore history in a fun, creative, and interactive way!

Fee for the four sessions is $175 per child, $125 TVHS members. Space is limited. Register by Jan. 30 by visiting www.tvhs.org.

For more information, call 631-751-3730, or email [email protected].

A small taste of history from the Middle Country Public Library

by Press Release - January 18, 2025

0 814

Middle Country Road. Photo courtesy of MCPL

Written by Middle Country Public Library staff

Middle Country and Horseblock Roads

Driving along Middle Country Road today, it is hard to imagine that only 100 years ago, this busy four- lane highway with its many intersections, signs and streetlights started out as little more than a hard packed dirt road. Go back 100 years more, and you’d only see a narrower, rutted path. We take our nicely maintained, hard-paved roads for granted today, but it wasn’t always such a smooth ride. Today’s network of streets and highways have their origins in simple trails which were used by people and wildlife leading to sources of water and shelter. These paths measured only two to three feet wide in places, but they were sufficient for the needs of the times. Early English settlers began to use these footpaths as they established homesteads on Long Island, widening and improving these paths, using them as cart-ways to allow for easier travel between their farms. The cart-way needed to be wide enough for a livestock-drawn cart to traverse with ease. In those days a cart would be hauled by cattle, ox or horse power.

Those paths were the only way to travel around Long Island until 1703, when the NY General Assembly appointed highway commissioners in King’s County (Brooklyn), Queens County and Suffolk County to direct the building and maintenance of roads “four rods wide.” The early measurement of “a rod,” equals approximately 16.5 feet or 5 meters in today’s terms. These highways were simply packed earth, hardened over time by travelers. It took some time for conditions to improve, and eventually drainage systems were constructed, and logs or planks were laid across some roads to pave them. These log-covered roads were known as “corduroy roads” because of their bumpy surface. Thirty years after the highway commissions laid out the routes, arranged rights-of-way between existing properties and physical construction took place, Long Island boasted three major thoroughfares: North Country Road, parts of which follow today’s Route 25A; Middle Country Road, now known as Route 25 or Jericho Turnpike; and South Country Road, portions of which serve as Montauk Highway.

An organized system of roads was needed for many reasons as the population grew. Though most homesteads were self-sufficient at that time, people would barter for goods and gather together to socialize. Mail needed to be delivered across the Island, and prior to the establishment of the U.S. Postal Service in 1775, England’s Royal Mail System was utilized. Before reliably passable roads were built, that mail was delivered from Connecticut by boat. It was faster and easier to travel 19 miles by water than 120 miles over land from New York City.

As the farmland was cultivated and enriched over time, it produced more than one family or village could use and farming became a burgeoning industry. Means to transport the surplus produce was required. Farm to Market Road (also called Horseblock Road) filled this need. Farm owners would load their wagons full of fruits and vegetables to ship by rail to New York City.

The term “horseblock” refers to a block of stone or wood used to help a person climb high enough to mount a horse or to enter a stagecoach with ease. With many homes, farms and taverns located along these miles of roadway, horseblocks were a familiar sight. We call this same Farm to Market Road by its old nickname, Horseblock Road to this day.

Through the years, several popular taverns and rest stops were located on Horseblock Road. As far back as Revolutionary times, Sam “Horseblock” Smith owned and ran a tavern at the intersection of Horseblock and Middle Country Roads in Centereach. A Smith genealogy relates that on March, 2, 1806 Sam sold the inn and land to Lake Grove resident, Titus Gould. It appears that part of the tavern was dismantled and moved to another location. Generations later, Alfred Elsmann ran Al’s Tavern, at the corner of Horseblock and Granny Roads. It was advertised in the Patchogue Advance of March 7, 1946 as specializing in home cooking and “the best in beer, wines and liquors,” and was a popular destination for local festivities for several decades.

History Close at Hand: Long Island history – back to basics

by Beverly C. Tyler - January 13, 2025

0 922

1 of 5

By Beverly C. Tyler

We are all familiar with the lives of the famous men and women in US history. From the time we were students in school, with the images of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln staring down at us from their place of honor in the classroom, we learned of the people who made our great nation. Our coinage includes U.S. presidents as well as men and women who contributed to America and American freedoms.

We can now see movies, videos and streaming programs about these same heroes of American democracy. Students are familiar with the poem about the “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” but the lives of many of our local men and women, who have contributed to history, are largely unknown.

Long Island has played host to a number of these famous and well-known people from the past. In this century one of the best known was Charles Lindbergh, the Lone Eagle, who took off from Roosevelt Field on his solo flight across the Atlantic on May 20, 1927. Long Island was the scene of many other historic flights and record-setting attempts by early pioneers of flight throughout the 20th century.

Long before Lindbergh, in June, 1791, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison came to Long Island at the conclusion of a pleasure trip which included the recording of many natural science observations through New England as detailed in “Jefferson and the Rights of Man” by Dumas Malone.“ They proceeded down the Connecticut ( River), crossed Long Island Sound, followed the northern coast of Long Island to Brooklyn, and then crossed to New York. On their way they visited a nurseryman in Flushing and Jefferson left with him a large order for trees and shrubs, including all the sugar maples that were available.” Not mentioned by Malone was the Ketcham Inn in Center Moriches where Jefferson and Madison spent at least one night. During the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Havens ran the inn and provided intelligence to the Culper Spy Ring, usually through Caleb Brewster who was a frequent visitor.

George Washington also visited Long Island after the Revolutionary War. In April 1790, while he was president of the United States, Washington toured part of Long Island traveling to Setauket from Patchogue. In his personal diary for April 22, 1790, Washington wrote, “We struck across the Island for the north side, passing the east end of the brushy marsh – and Coram, 8 miles – thence to Setauket 7 miles more, to the house of Captain Roe, which is tolerably decent, with obliging people in it.” According to Selah B. Strong, in an article written in the 1920’s, “The procession was led by my great grand-father, Capt. Selah Strong. He was evidently an important man in the county, holding the offices of County Judge, supervisor and President of the Board of Trustees of Brookhaven; and County Treasurer, and afterwards State Senator. It was very appropriate that he should entertain the General at Roe’s as the house was the former residence of his grandfather, the first Strong to bear the name of Selah, who came to Setauket about 1700 and on March 23, 1703 bought the land from Thomas Clark and built the house.”

Captain Austin Roe maintained his home as a tavern and, in addition to hosting General Washington on that April evening in 1790, he is known as one of Washington’s spies during the Revolutionary War. This group of men and women, mostly from Setauket, were Patriots who, after their deeds were discovered, became famous. The Setauket Spies operated with such secrecy and modesty that their heroism and, in most instances, even their identities were not fully known until Morton Pennypacker discovered the facts, as we now know them, and published them in his book “General Washington’s Spies,” in 1939.

As detailed in the Three Village Historical Society exhibit “SPIES!”, for two years, since August 1776, when General Washington’s army was defeated by British and Hessian soldiers at the Battle of Long Island, New York City and Long Island were occupied by the enemy. Washington and the Continental Army were fighting elsewhere, in upstate New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and in the South. British headquarters was in New York City.

The only way for Washington to get information about enemy troop movements and strength was to plant reliable spies among them. But this had been tried and failed. In September 1776, Captain Nathan Hale had volunteered, crossed Long Island Sound, and gathered information on his way to and from the city, by then in British hands. Without training and support he was captured and brought to British General Howe who had him hanged the next day as a spy.

On Washington’s staff was 24-year-old Dragoon Major, Benjamin Tallmadge. Washington asked Tallmadge to create a spy ring of Patriots who could be trusted and who would support each other. Hale had been Tallmadge’s best friend at Yale. He would make sure that his spy ring would operate safely. Tallmadge was born in Setauket, a village across Long Island Sound from Fairfield, Connecticut, where Tallmadge and his Dragoons were stationed. There, Tallmadge had friends, Patriots like himself, who were determined to defeat the British. Tallmadge assured Washington that they could be trusted spies. To keep them safe, Washington did not want to know their names, so Tallmadge gave them code numbers and aliases, or spy names. General Washington called them Culper Spies, after Culpeper County in Virginia where he had his first job as a surveyor. Tallmadge gave himself an alias, too, and gave Washington and himself code numbers. Washington’s number was 711.

“SPIES!” tells the story of Washington, Tallmadge, and the Culpers. All but one was born in Setauket. Each had known Tallmadge since childhood: Abraham Woodhull, a farmer who had reason to hate the British; Anna Smith Strong, who let Woodhull know where Brewster was hiding with his whaleboats and crews: Austin Roe, a tavern keeper who rode into Manhattan as a courier for the Culper Spies; Caleb Brewster, a fearless whaleboat captain and artilleryman who crossed the Sound repeatedly to pick up and deliver spy messages, daring the British to capture him.

The one Culper spy not from Setauket was Robert Townsend. He was born in Oyster Bay. His family home was occupied by the British. Townsend owned a shop in Manhattan where Loyalists and British soldiers visited. He was in a position to gather information. He wrote messages in a code Tallmadge devised. Sometimes he wrote with invisible ink, between the lines of ordinary letters, a suggestion from George Washington himself. Roe picked up the letters and brought them back to Setauket where Woodhull gave them to Brewster, who took them back across Long Island Sound to Tallmadge in Connecticut. From there the letters were sent to General Washington. Information gathered by Long Island’s spy ring helped save the Revolution.

The homes, markers and graves of these Patriots can still be seen, many of them in the Three Village area. The location of the Roe Tavern is marked by a state plaque that locates where the house was, at the corner of Route 25A and Bayview Avenue, before it was moved. The grave and memorial for Abraham Woodhull is located directly behind the Setauket Presbyterian Church. A state plaque also marks the location of the home of Woodhull and is located on Dyke Road between Heritage and Bob’s Lane, overlooking Little Bay and Strong’s Neck. These Patriots are part of our local history and their lives can be an inspiration to us aIl.

Beverly C. Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket, NY 11733. Tel: 631-751-3730. WWW.TVHS.org

Doorways to the Past: Three Village Historical Society distributes 50 house markers

by TBR Staff - January 11, 2025

0 2181

1 of 11

Historic House Marker Reception brings the past to life

The Setauket Neighborhood House was abuzz with excitement on Thursday, December 12th, as over 80 guests gathered for the Historic House Marker Reception, an evening dedicated to celebrating the rich heritage of the Three Village community’s historical homes. Hosted by the Three Village Historical Society + Museum (TVHS), the event highlighted the culmination of months of meticulous research and community collaboration.

Guests enjoyed a warm and inviting atmosphere, complemented by delicious snacks provided by Druthers Coffee and a celebratory champagne toast courtesy of Hamlet Wines & Liquors. This festive gathering marked a momentous occasion for homeowners who had eagerly anticipated this event for months.

Under the expert guidance of Scott Ferrara, the Society’s Collections and Exhibits Coordinator, and the tireless efforts of Research Fellow Kayleigh Smith, who was assisted by a dedicated team of volunteers that included Bev and Barbara Tyler and Melissa Murnane-Hendrickson, the evening was the result of five months of dedicated research. Smith created in-depth research packages for 50 homeowners across the Three Village area, uncovering the stories behind their homes and the people who once resided there.

“It was like Christmas morning,” said Mari Irizarry, Director of the Three Village Historical Society. “I loved looking around the room and seeing these homeowners with their noses buried in their binders, excitedly learning about the rich history of the house they call home.”

The sense of pride and wonder was palpable as homeowners delved into their binders, each meticulously crafted to reveal the unique narrative of their property. For many, it was an emotional journey into the past, offering a deeper connection to the community they cherish.

Several of the 50 newly-minted historical house markers have already been installed on houses and businesses throughout the Three Village area. Approved applications for local historical significance spanned the entire district: Dyers Neck (5), East Setauket (11), Old Field (5), Poquott (2), Setauket (15), South Setauket (1), Stony Brook (9), and Strong’s Neck (2).

“At the Three Village Historical Society, we hold a steadfast belief: our community is our museum. The homeowners who preserve and care for these magnificent historical structures are the stewards of our shared history. Events like the Historic House Marker Reception shines a light on the importance of these homes and the stories they tell, fostering a collective appreciation for the legacy of the Three Village area,” said Irizarry.

“The evening served as a reminder of the power of history to bring people together, forging connections between past and present. Thanks to the dedication of our staff, board, volunteers, and supporters, the Historic House Marker Reception was not only a success but a testament to the enduring spirit of our community. Here’s to celebrating our history—one home at a time!” she said.

If you’re interested in placing a historic house marker on your home, please stay tuned. The application will open for 2025 in February at www.tvhs.org.

100 Years Ago This Month: Historical events from January 1925

by TBR Staff - January 5, 2025

0 549

The month of January has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in January 1925.

• Christiania, the capital city of Norway, is renamed “Oslo” on January 1.

• Violence plagues Italy on January 2 as part of the fallout of Benito Mussolini’s crackdown on opposition newspapers. Though King Victor Emmanuel III refuses to grant Mussolini the dictatorial powers the latter requested, he grants the Prime Minister tacit permission to respond to the violence how he sees fit.

• Nellie Tayloe Ross is inaugurated as the Governor of Wyoming on January 5, becoming the first woman elected to a gubernatorial office in United States history.

• Bhanupratap Deo is proclaimed as the new Raja of the princely state of Kanker within British India on January 8. The 3-year-old would rule until 1947, when the princely states are abolished as India gains its independence.

• The British submarine HMS L24 sinks in the English channel on January 10. The submarine had collided with the Royal Navy battleship HMS Resolution, killing all 43 men aboard the L24.

• Al Capone survives an assassination attempt made by the North Side Gang on January 12 in Chicago. Capone was conducting business inside a State Street restaurant when the rival gang riddled his car with bullets, prompting the mobster to order a bulletproof Cadillac.

• Joseph Stalin fires Leon Trotsky as Commissar for Military and Navy Affairs on January 15. A prominent critic of Stalin, Trotsky is eventually murdered at his home in Mexico City by a Stalinist agent in 1940.

• Huddie Ledbetter, better known as “Lead Belly,” is granted a full pardon by Texas governor Pat Morris Neff on January 16. The blues musician had served seven years of his prison sentence after being found guilty of killing a relative over a fight for a woman.

• “The Gentleman Bandit” Gerald Chapman is arrested in Muncie, Indiana on January 18. Chapman is apprehended thanks in part to informant Ben Hance, who is murdered in August in a killing that is believed to have been performed as retaliation for Chapman’s incarceration.

• Roy Olmstead, a lieutenant in the Seattle Police Department, is indicted by a federal grand jury on January 19. Olmstead is accused of smuggling alcohol into the country from Canada in violation of the Volstead Act.

• Curtis Welch, the only doctor in Nome, Alaska, sends an urgent message via radio telegram on January 22. The message alerts all major Alaskan towns of an impending outbreak of diphtheria, while a second message sent to the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C. highlights the desperate need for antitoxin. Roughly 300,000 units of antitoxin are discovered in Anchorage on January 26, temporarily containing the epidemic.

• Paul Newman is born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on January 26. The son of Theresa Garth and sporting goods store owner Arthur Sigmund Newman, Sr., the younger Newman would grow up to become one of the world’s most recognizable movie stars and a devoted philanthropist.

• A riot breaks out in Berlin on January 27. Numerous injuries are reported as monarchists, communists and republicans clash during demonstrations held on the birthday of ex-kaiser Wilhelm II.

• On January 28, nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court Harlan Fiske Stone testifies before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Stone is eventually confirmed by a vote of 71 to 6.

• After nearly a year of fighting and 14,000 deaths, the Khost rebellion against King Amanullah Khan is ended in Afghanistan on January 30. The rebellion is ultimately unsuccessful, but many of the king’s reforms are delayed until 1928.

Source: MetroCreative Connection

Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation donates over $8 million to historic organizations

by Press Release - January 1, 2025

0 752

0-3 — Photo courtesy of Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is pleased to announce it has donated a total of $8,098,574 in grants to historic organizations across Long Island and beyond during calendar year 2024. Grant recipients were recognized during two rounds of awards luncheons hosted by the Smithtown Historical Society in June 2024 and Old Westbury Gardens in December 2024. Grants will be used by a variety of Long Island historic sites to fund initiatives ranging from educational programs and exhibitions to publications, scholarships, and construction and renovation projects.

Recipients of the First Round 2024 Grant Awards are:

Association of Public Historians of NYS

Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation

Caumsett Foundation, Inc.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

Fraunces Tavern Museum

Greater Westhampton Historical Museum

Long Island Children’s Museum

Long Island Library Resource Council, Inc. – Long Island and NY State History Day

Long Island Museum of American Art History and Carriages

Long Island Seaport and Eco Center

Montauk Historical Society

New York University

Queens Museum

Waterfront Museum

Whaling Museum & Education Center

Recipients of the Second Round 2024 Grant Awards are:

Friends of Raynham Hall, Inc.

Jewish Historical Society of Long Island

Long Island Library Resource Council, Inc. – Long Island History Day

Long Island Maritime Museum

Nassau County Museum of Fine Art

New York Historical Society

Sag Harbor History Museum

The Church

The Cooper Union

The following organizations received grants as part of the Gardiner Foundation’s new Challenge Match Grant program. The program recognized each organization’s fundraising efforts by matching up to $10,000 raised for new offerings during 2024.

Conscience Point Shellfish Hatchery, Corp.

Fireboat Firefighters Museum

Friends of Lakeview Cemeteries

Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson

Historical Society of Islip Hamlet

Long Beach Historical and Preservation Society

Mattituck Laurel Historical Society

Miller Place Mount Sinai Historical Society

North Sea Community House

Oyster Bay Railroad Museum

Quogue Historical Society

Rocky Point Historical Society and Museum

Victor D’Amico Institute of Art

Wading River Historical Society

The Gardiner Foundation also awarded $1,600 to each of 35 historic organizations for employing young people as part of the 2024 Gardiner Young Scholars Program. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.rdlgfoundation.org/news/77.

“Fulfilling the historic educational vision of Bob Gardiner is a great privilege for our Board and all at the Foundation,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

ABOUT THE ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION

The mission of the Foundation is to educate, cultivate and encourage the study and understanding of Long Island and New York’s historic role in the American experience. The Foundation also supports scholarships and historic preservation, including study, stewardship and promotion of Long Island’s historic educational aspects. The Foundation was established by Robert David Lion Gardiner in 1987. Robert David Lion Gardiner was, until his death in August 2004, the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island, NY. The Island was obtained as part of a royal grant from King Charles I of England in 1639. The Gardiner family and their descendants have owned Gardiner’s Island for 385 years. The Island remains private and is owned and maintained by direct Gardiner descendants to this day. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation remains inspired by Robert David Lion Gardiner’s personal passion for Long Island and New York history. Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded over $45 million to support historical societies, museums, archives, research, scholarships and renovation, restoration and adaptive reuse of historic sites.

100 Years Ago This Month: Historical events from December 1924

by TBR Staff - December 28, 2024

0 344

Judy Garland made her stage debut at 2 years old in 1925.

The month of December has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in December 1924.

• Boston Arena hosts the first National Hockey League game ever played in the United States on December 1. The league’s two newest franchises, the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Maroons, lock horns in a 2-1 game eventually won by the home team.

• On December 1, Richard L. Cowan of Toronto and C. Lewis Fowler of New York sign an agreement to start the first chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in Canada.

• More than 700 people perish when a devastating earthquake strikes present-day Indonesia on December 2.

• The SS Belgenland departs New York City on December 4. The ocean liner begins a cruise around the world that would last for more than months. Though at least 350 passengers are on board when the ship departs the Big Apple, just 235 remain for the duration of the trip.

• Decree No. 2980 creates the State of Syria on December 5, uniting the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus under a common native assembly and administration.

• The Chicago Bears defeat the Cleveland Bulldogs 22-0 on December 7. National Football League rules at the time made no provision for a postseason championship, so the Bulldogs, in spite of the loss, are deemed the league champion because their winning percentage (.875) was better than the Bears’ (.857).

• The Book-Cadillac Hotel, at the time the tallest hotel in the world, opens in Detroit on December 9. The luxury hotel includes 1,136 rooms and 31 stories.

• Gold is discovered near the Swedish village of Boliden on December 10, revealing what would become the largest and richest gold mine in Europe. The mine would not be exhausted of its gold supply until 1967.

• American Tobacco Company founder James B. Duke gives $40 million to The Duke Endowment on December 11. The trust fund, directed to support four colleges, awards the largest share of the gift to Trinity College in Durham, North Carolina, provided the school change its name to honor James Duke’s father, Washington Duke.

• Exiled former Albanian Prime Minister Ahmet Zogu leads an invasion of the country with guerillas backed by Yugoslavia on December 13. Zogu enters the capital city of Tirana on December 24 and declares the country a republic.

• On December 14, the temperature in Fairfield, Montana, drops from 63 F at noon to -21 F at midnight. The 84-degree change sets a record for the greatest drop in temperature in a 12-hour period.

• Masked and armed vigilantes seize 15-year-old African American Samuel Smith from his hospital room in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15. Smith, who had been arrested for shooting and wounding a white grocer, is hanged from a tree near the grocer’s home. No one is ever charged with the crime.

• Fritz Haarmann is sentenced to death in Germany on December 19. Known as the “Butcher of Hanover,” the “Vampire of Hanover” and the “Wolf Man,” Haarmann had been found guilty of murdering 24 men, and is ultimately executed by guillotine in April 1925.

• After serving just 13 months of a five-year prison sentence, Adolf Hitler is released from Landsberg Prison on December 20. Hitler’s release is part of a wider policy of general amnesty for political prisoners.

• A Christmas Eve party in a one-room schoolhouse in Babbs Switch, Oklahoma ends in tragedy on December 24. A student handing out presents accidentally brushes a wrapped gift against a candle flame near a dry Christmas tree, igniting a fire that ultimately kills 36 people.

• The Broadway Theatre in Manhattan opens on Christmas Day. The theatre remains open today, and is one of just a handful of theaters that is physically located on Broadway.

• Singing “Jingle Bells” at her parents’ theater in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, two-year-old Judy Garland makes her show business debut on December 26.

Source: Metro

Learning from Voices of War: Honoring the 80th anniversary of World War II’s final major battle

by Press Release - December 27, 2024

0 244

17316_A — The Veterans History Project hosts a collections display for World War II veterans visiting the Library with the Battle of the Bulge Association, December 17, 2018. Photo by Shawn Miller.

The Ardennes Offensive, commonly known as the “Battle of the Bulge,” stands as the single bloodiest battle fought by the United States during World War II. Waged in the bitter cold of mid-December 1944, it took the Allies a month to secure victory. The cost was staggering: nearly 20,000 Americans were killed in action, close to 50,000 wounded and another 20,000 captured.

In honor of the 80th anniversary of this pivotal battle, the Library of Congress Veterans History Project has launched an online exhibit to commemorate the milestone. While the battle itself is etched in the annals of history, the personal stories from those who endured it remain one of the most powerful testaments to its impact.

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress Veterans History Project
#17316

The online exhibit, “Serving Our Voices,” features accounts from 12 Battle of the Bulge survivors, part of the thousands of narratives preserved by the project. These stories ensure future generations can gain deeper understanding of veterans’ service and sacrifice.

One such story includes Eliot Annable, a 20-year-old radio operator serving with the Army’s 106th Infantry Division. Just days after arriving at the western front, Annable found himself under German artillery barrages on. Dec. 16, 1944. He recalled the assault in his oral history, describing the intensity as “almost enough to knock you on the floor.”

The following five days became the most harrowing days of Annable’s military service. While on a communications mission, he became stranded behind enemy lines and spent nearly a week evading the enemy in the Ardennes Forest without food, shelter or appropriate winter clothing. After traveling more than 30 miles, he eventually safely rejoined the remnants of his unit.

Back home, Annable’s parents were gripped by uncertainty. On Dec. 31, 1944, his father wrote a letter expressing the family’s anguish and love for their son, regardless of what happened. The moving letter, coupled with Annable’s oral history, provides an intimate view into one soldier’s Battle of the Bulge experience.

Another featured veteran in the exhibit, Guy Martin Stephens, also served with the 106th Infantry Division. Unlike Annable, Stephens was captured by the Germans during battle. In his oral history, he recounted the surreal feeling of combat, the relentless hunger he endured as a prisoner of war and the lingering effects of his time in captivity.

“It’s hard,” Stephens said. “It’s something you can’t ever … your mind is just like a video, or camcorder, I guess. You put it in there. You get busy and get married. You get home, and you get an education, and get a job, and raise your family and everything like that. You can kind of gloss it over or try to push it back, but it’s always there, you know?”

Veterans who served during the 20th or 21st centuries are invited to establish a collection, including interviews (video or audio), letters and original photographs, even if they did not see combat. Families can also submit collections posthumously to honor their loved ones. To explore more veterans’ stories and learn how you can contribute to the program, visit loc.gov/vets. (Family Features)

Source: Library of Congress Veterans History Project

Kids Make History Cove opens at Northport Historical Society

by Jennifer Donatelli - December 22, 2024

0 420

1 of 11

By Jennifer Donatelli

The Northport Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 15 at the Northport Historical Society to celebrate the grand opening of its new exhibit, Kids Make History Cove.

With a grant from the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, the historical society created the year-round exhibit which is both fun and educational for young history enthusiasts. Interior designer and business member Elizabeth Olivier volunteered her time to help design the exhibit.

Using the museum’s educational collection and vintage items such as Victorian-era clothing, a rotary phone, a typewriter and a scale, curator Liz Abrams incorporated historical artifacts to teach visitors about Northport’s history.

Executive Director Terry Reid said she came up with the idea for Kids Make History Cove as a way to teach children about Northport’s history while having fun playing with old-fashioned toys.

“This is enriching for parents as well,” Reid said, “because they can enjoy the museum while the kids play in the new exhibit.”

Paula Pangen, visiting from Austin, Texas, brought her granddaughter Cecilia “CiCi” Collaro, 2, from East Northport to play in the Kids Cove.

“She loved playing with the rotary phone and typewriter,” Pangen said.

Visitors got a special treat when Santa stopped by to read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and take photos with children. Older kids also joined in the fun by participating in the Elf Scavenger Hunt which had them roaming the gallery to find hidden elves.

Claire Weissman of Northport brought her son, Miles, to see the new exhibit.

“I told Santa I want a Godzilla for Christmas,” Miles exclaimed as he looked for mini elves throughout the museum.

Reid said the scavenger hunt changes with each season and is another way to engage children while teaching them about history.

“They’re getting comfortable in a museum setting and realizing that museums are fun,” Reid explained. “Kids today are very interactive and we wanted to have low-tech toys that are engaging but also allow them to explore on their own.”

Cary Bianculli, director of marketing at the historical society, said the museum is committed to celebrating Northport’s history with its new Northport Notable feature. Each month, the museum will highlight a local historical figure who helped shape the community paired with a special activity for children.

“This month, we’re thrilled to highlight Henry Scudder, a Revolutionary War spy from Northport who played a crucial role in gathering intelligence during the American Revolution,” Reid said.

In honor of Scudder’s adventurous life, the museum is offering a Crack the Code activity where kids can engage in a hands-on game of deciphering secret codes similar to how Washington’s Culper Spy Ring operated to aid the American cause.

Founded in 1962, the Northport Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history of Northport and its surrounding communities. The museum, located at 215 Main St., houses permanent and rotating exhibits, educational programs and more than 12,000 documents, photos and artifacts that bring Northport’s history to life for residents and visitors alike.

The next Northport Notable will debut in February, featuring Edna Olmsted, a trailblazer who made history as the first woman to drive a car around the globe.

For more information on the monthly Northport Notables and other events, visit www.northporthistorical.org.

Prev 1...234...83 Next

Page 3 of 83