By Toni-Elena Gallo
The Three Village Historical Society held its 10th annual Culper Spy Day Sept. 7, creating an event of fun and history for all who attended.
The day was cloudy and a bit rainy, but families were not deterred as they ventured out to learn about the area’s rich, revolutionary story.
The Culper Spy Ring was what was to become America’s first web of espionage. The information relayed along this tri-state route, was instrumental in George Washington’s victory during the Revolutionary War.
In front of the Three Village Historical Society headquarters, visitors could stop by the tents of George Washington and his Huntington militia, as well as the red coats.
“Here we have a cartridge box, for ammunition. It would hold paper cartridges, filled with gunpowder for the musket balls. A powder horn, carved from a cow’s, also held gunpowder in battle,” said Vinny, a member of the “Continental Army” all decked-out in authentic-styled period clothing.
At another station, a daughter and mother listened intently as a woman dressed as Anna Smith Strong — a woman notable for using her laundry line as a secret signal system, to communicate with fellow Culper spies — explained the intricacies of key players Robert Townsend, Austin Roe, Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge’s system of providing Gen. Washington with vital intel in Westchester.
According to “Strong,” Townsend would create messages in invisible ink, to be distributed in his Manhattan shop, which would, then, be picked up by Setauket tavern owner, Austin Roe. Setauket farmer, Abraham Woodhull, would correspond with Roe, and from there, Brewster would take the information across the Sound, into Connecticut. Lastly, Tallmadge, the ringleader, would ride on horseback to wherever Washington was stationed — whether it was upstate New York or New Jersey.
Throughout the festival, historical meals, such as succotash, which is a type of stew, originated by Native Americans and added onto by colonial settlers, were available to be sampled. But, for those in the mood for some modern-day treats, those were on hand, as well.
For more information on how to tour the trails of the Culper Spy Ring, visit www.tvhs.org.
