Community celebrates Culper spies
History came to life Saturday, Sept. 18, in the Three Village area.
Residents and visitors were able to take part in the 7th annual Culper Spy Day. The event hosted by the Three Village Historical Society, Tri-Spy Tours and The Long Island Museum featured spy-related tours and activities, centering around the Culper Spy Ring founded by Benjamin Tallmadge, George Washington’s chief intelligence officer during the Revolutionary War.
Activities took place at the historical society headquarters, The Studio at Gallery North, Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, Caroline Church and Cemetery, Patriots Rock Historic Site, The Long Island Museum, Sherwood-Jayne House and Port Jefferson’s Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum.
Some of the day’s events featured costumed volunteers such as Art Billadello dressed as Tallmadge, above, and Kyle Parker as a Tory, upper center. Historical society historian Beverly C. Tyler, above right, and director of education, Donna Smith, pictured below right and on the right, told spy stories on the porch at the society’s HQ. Over at the library on the front lawn, the Rose Tree trio, below, a traditional folk group, played for attendees.
According to the historical society, approximately 500 attendees stopped by its grounds during the event.
