Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter. Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year. Join Us for a Victorian Holiday Dinner

Transcription

1 Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter Historic Yaphank - Where the Past Greets the Present November - December, 2013 Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year Robert Hawkins House P.O. Box 111 Yaphank, NY Meetings: Third Thursday of the Month; 7:30PM, Hawkins House. Newsletter Editor: Peggy Judd Board of Directors President - Robert Kessler Vice President - Peggy Judd Treasurer - Audrey Kessler Recording Secretary - Kay Donaldson Corresponding Secretary - Marie Desch Librarian - Olive Archer Historian - Karen Mouzakes Curator - Helen Kalbach 3-Yr. Trustee - Tricia Foley 2-Yr. Trustee -Kathy Schmidt & Liz Horan Inside this issue: 1-Yr Trustee - Jim Vavrina & Mindy Hausman Honorary Lifetime Board Member- Lucille Stroud President s Message... 2 From the Historian Cranberry Fun Facts... 5 From The Curator...6 Holiday Food Drive 7 Join Us for a Victorian Holiday Dinner The Yaphank Historical Society will hold its Nineteenth Annual Victorian Holiday Dinner at the Hawkins House on Yaphank Avenue on Saturday, December 7, The House will be decorated in its Victorian holiday finery. Dinner will be served beginning at 6:30pm. The entrées offered are Roasted French-Cut Chicken, Short Ribs of Beef, or Salmon Filet. The dinner includes an appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, dessert and beverages. The donation is $45 per person (not including gratuities). For reservations, please call Helen Kalbach at Checks may be made payable to the Yaphank Historical Society and sent to P.O. Box 111, Yaphank, NY When making reservations, please specify the entrée selection for each reservation and the name of each attendee. Thank you. Yaphank s Wild Turkeys Decide To Skip Thanksgiving This Year... Yaphank has at least two very active wild turkey flocks (most likely more). We ve all seen them along the road, slowing down the heavy morning commute and again at night when returning from work. Two places likely to have turkey crossings are in front of the Mill House Inn and further along the road toward the Expressway, by Gerard Road. Our turkeys seem to be quite fond of these areas. I know many residents have seen them in their yards, but it is the road crossings that stop traffic. Most motorists are courteous and wait out the birds. The turkeys seem to count on that courtesy and often take their time getting to the other side of the road. Wild turkeys are active during the day and roost in trees overnight. Because turkeys are large and active during daylight hours, they are often observed foraging for insects, grubs and seeds, their primary food source. They find many of their food favorites along the roadsides. Our Yaphank Turkeys are hoping that the roadside courtesy that they currently experience while crossing the road will carry over to the Thanksgiving holiday. They hope to avoid any holiday tables and celebrate the holiday by continuing to stop traffic.

2 Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter Page 2 Letter from the President The other day I was standing on the rear porch of the Swezey/Avey House looking at the grounds that are part of the property. Looking out across the lawn I see beautiful Willow Lake, restored as it was when I was a child. The Lake is free of invasive weeds and people are starting to use it once again. We are optimistic that Lily Lake will be addressed next spring. Looking over the grounds of the Swezey/Avey property, I realize what a great addition this house and property are for the people of the Town of Brookhaven. The Yaphank Historical Society is continuing work on the interior renovation/restoration of the house. We are very near completion of the office, archive room; storage room (file cabinet storage) and one exhibit room. All these rooms are on the second floor. We hope to be moving furniture in by early November. We will then start renovation work on the Kovarik Room and Reading Library, Weeks Room, and the upstairs Kitchen and Bathroom. When the upstairs is completed, renovation/restoration efforts will move to the downstairs meeting room, front parlor, and the downstairs kitchen and bathrooms. And lastly, we will finish the staircases and entry. We are actively seeking grant money for this project. We are once again working with a Boy Scout wishing to earn his Eagle Scout badge. His project for us is at the Swezey-Avey property and he will remove the existing chain link fencing between the parking lot and the park grounds and install a wooden paddock fence. The new paddock fence will match existing paddock fencing in other areas of the Historic District. As always, we continue to maintain and/or improve the Hawkins House. We are working on building a new fence for the front of the Hawkins House. This is going to be a picket fence with a narrow picket, different from the other picket fences in the District. We are using an old picture of the Hawkins House as a guide for the fence. We are also going to remove the old metal fence that currently runs across the front of the house. This fence will be installed at the rear of the property so that we can preserve it. The metal fence that is there now comes from the LIRR overpass that was part of Bellport Road that ran from Long Island Avenue to Bellport before Sills Road was built. This was a wooden bridge with the metal fence on either side. Members of the Yaphank Historical Society, led by their fearless leader Karen Mouzakes, saved the fence when the bridge was torn down. Robert Kessler Welcome New Members Richard and Marilyn Schrage, Ridge, NY Funds for this newsletter were provided by the Suffolk County Legislature, Kate Browning, 3rd Legislative District. Thank You! A Perfect Holiday Gift If you haven t obtained your copy of our book, Images of America Yaphank, it is still available and it s a good read. The book is available directly from the Historical Society for $21.99 plus tax ($23.89 total). To reserve your copy please call (leave a message). Books are also available online through Amazon for the same price, plus postage. The book covers the early history of Yaphank from 1726 to This collection of over 100 photographs lets the reader return to those early days. The authors have chosen their pictures well and the informative captions go beyond a mere identification and tell a brief story. Read in order from beginning to end, the captions tell the entire

3 Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter Page 3 Eight Acres By Karen Mouzakes The Dr. Baker-DeLappe House has an interesting line of distinguished owners. When traveling east on Main Street one sees a white, shingled house with a sign that reads, Is the house actually that old? Only a full search of the title will tell. I picked up the chain of landowners in 1860, when Dr. James I. Baker purchased the property. He graduated from Albany Medical College and practiced medicine in Orange County, New York. Dr. Baker moved to Yaphank for a change of climate due to his poor health. The Dr. Baker-DeLappe House c on Main St. The doctor ran his medical practice out of the house for twenty-six years when he died suddenly while visiting his optometrist in New York City. He left behind a wife and two sons who both followed in their father s profession. Dr. Clarence Baker took over his father s practice and built his own home across from the octagon school, while the other son, Dr. William Baker, practiced in Islip. Doctors Baker were much loved and appreciated in Yaphank. A number of years passed when another notable moved to that house on Main Street. Claire Knapp was an heiress. Her parents, Joseph P. and Sylvia Knapp of Manhattan and Mastic did not approve when Claire eloped to marry her chauffeur Willis O. Penney. Claire and Willis settled at the Yaphank house. The eight-acre property was a perfect spot for her Clairedale Kennels that she had Westminster Champion Chow, The dog kennels at Clairedale already established. Claire Knapp Clairedale Kennels at Yaphank, 1938 Penney, a well-respected breeder, established one of the leading bloodlines in chows. She and Willis had two daughters, Margaret and Ann, while living at Yaphank. In 1929, Clairedale Kennels moved to Stony Brook. It is interesting to note that later in 1938, Claire s chow won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show. In 1964, her daughter Margaret did the same, making them the only mother and daughter to do so in 128 years. I don t think that it was a coincidence that Albert A. Pope, an associate of Thomas Edison, moved to Yaphank in Christian Krabbe, a real estate agent, had been living in Yaphank for quite some time. I think it is most probable that Krabbe brokered a deal between the Penneys and the next owner Albert A. Pope. Pope was the eldest son of Albert Augustus Pope who owned the Colombia Bicycle Company and was known as Father of the Bicycle in America. The elder Pope partnered with Thomas Edison in many business ventures and they were friends. Christian Krabbe knew Edison well after inventing the Morning Glory Horn for Edison s phonograph. The younger Pope purchased Eight Acres, as it was now known, and summered there for the next nine years with Christian Krabbe as his next-door neighbor. Albert Augustus Pope

4 Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter Page 4 Eight Acres (continued) Lucille DeLappe Stroud likes to tell us that she, blew in with the hurricane of 1938, for that is when she arrived in Yaphank with her parents and two sisters. Walter DeLappe was a shipping broker who wanted to use Eight Acres as a summer home where he could stable and enjoy his horses. He also is well remembered for his generous gift in 1939, of Yaphank s first fire truck. The Buffalo, as it was known, was kept in the octagon firehouse. A large dedication for the truck was held at the firehouse that year. The old Buffalo is still used in parades today. Lucille DeLappe Stroud fondly remembers Eight Acres because it is where she married her husband Wally on July 4, A 16-mm film records the ceremony and shows Eight Acres in its prime. A digital copy of the film can be viewed in the archival room of the Yaphank Historical Society. Walter & Dorothy DeLappe, with daughters Lucille DeLappe Stroud & Doris DeLappe Octagon Fire Department Yaphank s first fire truck, The Buffalo YAPHANK HISTORICAL SOCIETY UPCOMING EVENTS NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2013 Dinner and Dusting Saturday, November 16 th, 10:00am 4:00pm, Hawkins House Spend a few hours cleaning, dusting, polishing furniture, etc. any time during the day and earn a wonderful spaghetti dinner. Dinner served at 5:00pm Call and leave a message if you plan to attend, ensuring adequate food for all. November General Meeting Thursday, November 21 st, 7:30pm, Hawkins House Guest speaker will be Barbara Russell, Brookhaven Town Historian Program: Brookhaven Town Landmarks Refreshments follow the meeting. Victorian Holiday Dinner Saturday, December 7 th, 6:30pm, Hawkins House Donation $45 per person. Dinner includes appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, dessert & beverages Entrée choices: Roasted French-cut Chicken, Short Ribs of Beef, or Salmon Filet Please indicate choice of entrée and name of guest when making reservations. Reservations: Call Helen Kalbach at >>No December General Meeting<<

5 Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter Page 5 Cranberry Fun Facts By Peggy Judd A traditional Thanksgiving dinner table usually features a roasted turkey with all the trimmings and one of those trimmings that you will find on most tables is some version of cranberry sauce. Historians say that cranberries were served at the first Thanksgiving dinner celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Written recipes using cranberries date back to the 1700 s. Learning some interesting facts about cranberries seems appropriate as we get ready to serve them up as part of our own Thanksgiving dinners. Cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America (Concord grapes & blueberries are the other two). Native Americans used cranberries for food (pemmican, a mixture of deer meat and crushed berries), dyes, and medicines. Dutch and German settlers called them crane berries because in spring the flowers crane their necks at the end of the stalk, resembling the bird. New England sailors ate cranberries to help prevent scurvy. There are 100 varieties of cranberries, but only four are grown commercially. The major cranberry producing states are: Wisconsin (number one in the nation), Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. In 2004 the cranberry was chosen as Wisconsin s state fruit. In Wisconsin, the 2012 fall harvest produced 4.5 million barrels of cranberries. There are 440 cranberries in one pound and 4,400 berries in one gallon of juice. Cranberries bounce! Small pockets of air inside enable fresh fruit to bounce. Soft or bruised berries do not bounce. In the 1880s, a New Jersey grower named John Peg Leg Webb discovered that cranberries bounce. Instead of carrying his crop down from the storage loft of his barn, Webb poured them down the steps. He noticed that only the freshest, firmest fruit reached the bottom; rotten or bruised berries didn't bounce and remained on the steps. This discovery led to the invention of "bounceboards", tools used to separate rotten berries from fresh ones. Only about 5 percent of the cranberries grown in North America are sold as fresh fruit. To qualify, berries are graded and screened based on color and the ability to bounce. 95 percent of the cranberry crop is used for juice or frozen. During World War II, American troops ate about one million pounds of dehydrated cranberries a year. The first commercial canned cranberry sauce was marketed by the Cape Cod Cranberry Company in The Ocean Spray cooperative is the world s largest producer of cranberry products. Cranberries are 90% water; 10% is carbohydrates and fiber. Cranberries are exceptionally rich in vitamin C. Americans consume approximately 400 million pounds of cranberries each year 20% is eaten during Thanksgiving week. One cup of fresh cranberries contains about 50 calories. One cup of cranberry sauce contains about 400 calories.

6 Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter Page 6 Cleaning Antique Furniture By Helen Kalbach Since this is the time of year when many of us think about cleaning cleaning out, cleaning up, and cleaning in general some tips of caring for antiques and collectibles, whether just valuable to you or truly an antique of real value, might be appropriate. Furniture: Clocks: Dust furniture frequently. Use a soft cloth to dust and polish antique furniture. Polish antique furniture only once or twice a year. Use a good beeswax based polish (apply the polish, leave overnight, and then buff). Do not use a spray polish. These contain silicone which builds a sticky surface over time. Rather than nourish, it will deplete the natural oils in the wood. Keep the temperature and humidity regulated. Too much or too little humidity can damage wood and veneer. Temperature changes from one extreme to another will damage wood. Monitor the amount of sunlight that reaches the furniture. Sunlight fades the finish and fabrics, dries out the wood and other materials, deteriorates the integrity of fabrics and other materials. Turn pieces occasionally to even the fading process. Keep curtains drawn on sunny days when the room is not in use. Inspect furniture periodically for lifting veneer or molding. Also look for loose joints, water damage or woodworm holes. If repairs are required for antique furniture, choose a reputable restoration shop. Good restoration takes time and money a careless repair won t last and can even hurt the value of the piece. Keep antique clocks running. Wind carefully, using the correct size key. When winding clocks, spring-driven bracket and mantle clocks need to be held steady. When winding a weight-driven regulator, long case or grandfather clock, open the door to allow you to see that the weights do not hit the case or pendulum. Do not use Windex or any ammonia based glass cleaner on the clock face, dial, gilding, painted or gilded glass. Please remember to test any methods of cleaning on an unseen area first. Every antique is different, so if you have any concerns consult a specialist before cleaning or repairing your antiques. Enjoy your clean treasures!!!! Happy Holidays We are nearing the end of a very busy year and moving quickly into the holiday season. We are all looking forward to spending time with family and friends at Thanksgiving time. We are also looking forward to hosting our special Victorian Holiday Dinner early in December. But because the Society is very much involved in renovation work at the Swezey-Avey House in Yaphank, we have decided not to host a second special Christmas event this year. For the past three years, the Society has twice hosted An 1855 Christmas at the Hawkins House and then last year, the Yaphank Historic District Christmas Tour. All of these events were very popular and we look forward to future years when the Society can again offer special holiday events. It is our plan to include the Swezey-Avey House in our next special holiday event. The Yaphank Historical Society wishes all of our members and readers a very Happy Holiday Season.

7 Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter Page 7 YAPHANK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2013 Holiday Food Drive Dear Member, Last year we collected food and were able to donate a good amount of supplies to the St. Andrews Episcopal Church, helping many in our community who depend on the food pantry to help feed their families. We would like to help our needy families once again this year. We will be sponsoring the YHS Food Drive during the months of November & December. A container will be available on the Hawkins House porch. All food collected will be given to St. Andrews Episcopal Church for their food pantry. They will donate food to families in need for Thanksgiving dinners. Any food collected after November 15 th will be distributed during the Christmas season. Non-perishable food will also be collected at our November General Meeting held at the Hawkins House. If you cannot attend the meeting or deliver food to the porch container, but would still like to donate food, please call and we will arrange a drop off and/or pickup of your donation. Food Suggestions: stuffing cranberries turkey gravy sweet potatoes cereal noodles tuna fish pasta pasta sauce jello macaroni & cheese flour drink mix fruit juice jelly peanut butter coffee tea bags hot chocolate soup powdered milk bread mixes sugar bisquick rice noodles canned fruit canned vegetables crackers pudding pancake mix syrup shampoo detergent soap Your generosity is most appreciated. Thank you.,

8 Yaphank Historical Society Newsletter Page 8 Thank You To Our Supporters If you are interested in having your business card printed in the Yaphank Historical Society newsletter, you may do so for a $50 donation per year. Please leave a phone number message at the Hawkins House, (631) OR (631) Our members support our local businesses. St. Andrew s Episcopal Church 244 E. Main Street Yaphank, NY Sunday Services: 8:30 & 10 A.M. Sunday School at 10 A.M. Service