Yaphank Historical Societ~ "Historic Yaphank. - Where the rast Greets June, 2010 In this issue: From the Historian page 2 From the Curator. page 3 Newsletter the rresent" Robert Hawkins House P.O. Box 111 Yaphank, NY 11980-0111 /631\924-3401 Meetings Third Thursday of the month, 7:30pm at the Hawkins House UpcominQ Events French Culinary Institute Wed, June 9 General Meeting Paullnfranco Thurs, June 17 7:30 p.m. Bayard Cutting Arboretum Wed, July 14 General Meeting Gene Horton Thurs, July 15 7:30 p.m. Breakers Mansion Tour Newport, Rhode Island Sat-Sun, Oct 2-3 Board of Directors President - Helen Kalbach Vice President - Bob Kessler Treasurer - Audrey Kessler Recording Secretary - Kay Donaldson Corresponding Secretary Linda Petersen Librarian - Bob Judd Historian - Karen Mouzakes Curator - Susan Maresco 3-Yr. Trustee - Kathleen Schmidt 2-Yr. Trustee - Tricia Foley & Peggy Judd 1-Yr Trustee - Lucille Stroud & Ralf Petersen Newsletter Editor - Donna Trusnovec MessaJ!e from the President Donations continue to be received for the Booth House Restoration Fund. We've had a wonderful response, and if you haven't had a chance to send your donation in, please do... we are not on a timeline! On Wednesday, June 9, we plan to go to the French Culinary Institute for lunch. We usually take a train from Ronkonkoma about 9:30 a.m. or so, and get taxis at Penn Station to the Institute in time for 12 Noon lunch. The menu changes daily, the food is always fabulous and the service is perfect. Chef Candy usually visits our table! We can get a quick tour of the Institute and then head back to Penn Station. Please let us know if you plan to attend; leave a message at 924.3401. The June General Meeting is Thursday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. Paul Infranco, a Longwood School District teacher immersed in local history, will discuss World War I. Don't miss this meeting! Paul has so much information to share. The July General Meeting is Thursday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. Our old friend and historian, Gene Horton, will present "First Ladies." Gene has been with us several times over the years, and is always entertaining! We are planning a trip to Newport, Rhode Island for Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3. We would carpool to Orient Point to get the ferry, and drive to Newport for a tour of the Breakers Mansion. Hotel reservations would b,e made in Middletown. Sunday morning we would get a tour of the area and one or two mansions before heading back to the ferry and home. Obviously, this is something we have never done before. We are fortunate that Marie Desch, a member and former docent at the Breakers, is coordinating this trip. However, we must know by June 15 how many people are seriously interested so that we can begin to make reservations. Please leave your name and number on the machine at 924.3401 and we will contact you. Summer Hawkins House tours will begin on Sunday, JUly 11 and end on Sunday, August 25. The docent guided tours are from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. And don't forget to add the Carmans River Sanctuary and Nature Trail to your visit! Hope to see you at any or all of these upcoming events!
Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter page 2 War Savings Stamps "A Country Worth Fighting For is Worth Saving For" "Therefore, WAR-SAVERS are LIFE-SAVERS" The U.S. Treasury first introduced War Savings Stamps to Help Fund WWI. "Thrift Stamps," which could be purchased for 25 cents, were aimed at school children. A "Thrift Card," with 16 spaces and a place for your name and address, was provided to all ~urchasers of 25 cents stamps. When all of the spaces were filled, the "Thrift Card" along with one dollar could be exchanged for a $5 stamp at post offices, banks or other authorized agencies. War Savings Stamps paid 4%, compounded quarterly, if held until 1923. Children were told that, "These 'Baby Bonds' were secured by the $250,000,000,000.00 resources of the United States of America." "Every dollar loaned to the Government helps to save the lives of our men at the front and to win the war," said an advertising poster of the day. Thousands of children throughout America<saved~pennies.and~felttha~--they--were-playing an important role in helping our country to win the war.
Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter page? On display for you to see at the Hawkins House is an early 1900s hand stitched American Flag with the eagle prominent in an Empire style wooden frame.
Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter page + '\\,'",'".V3phankhistorical.oi:.g Who is using our web site? It seems our website is attracting users from lots of places outside of Yaphank. We receive questions and comments ranging from a basic interest in the history of Yaphank to requests about using a particular location for an upcoming movie. Our historian, Karen Mouzakes, responds to each of these emails, researching when necessary to provide a good answer to each. Sometimes this correspondence continues beyond the original question/response and the Historical Society values this type of interest in our community. We thought it would be interesting to share some excerpts from a few of these email communications with you, our members. A particularly interesting request was received from a Paranormal Research organization whose members are dedicated to the study of unexplained paranormal phenomena. 'The history and type of ' establishment (Hawkins House) hold the potential for paranormal activity. I was curious if anyone has ~ experienced any kind of ghostly phenomerw?" The writer ~ "V.,_. "... -, -' -,.-. ':',:' goeso'n-to ask if we\-;./ouici.' - ",. '_ " ':-".. be'tnte'rested in-~ having a paranormal investigation to ascertain whether there is any spiritual energy present in the house. You know, we do have a "resident ghost", who lives upstairs and takes delight in occasionally moving objects about. The name Rosilla has been mention~d once or twice but no one seems to know her name for sure and everyone is convinced the ghost is female. This makes the next email even that much more interesting. In mid April we received an email that started off "I am the great-great-great granddaughter of Rosilla G. (Hawkins) Brewster." There's that name again. This writer is not researching family ghosts, but rather researching the Brewster family, specifically the family of Charles Hudson Brewster (married to Rosilla) and was asking for information regarding the Yaphank Cemetery where many of the old family members are buried. It turns out her father probably "likely enjoyed his meals as a toddler in the Hawkins House kitchen." A number of years ago the writer visited Yaphank and met with some members of the Historical Society and visited the House. She looks forward to another visit. A February email from Europe read "I am a writer based in Ireland and I am currently working on a book due for publication later this year, about Irishmen in the First World War. One of the men I am researching, originally from County Kerry, Ireland, was living in New York and was stationed at Camp Upton in Yaphank, NY. I was hoping that your historical society might have some images of the soldiers in training. Ibeliev.eJl]eY._v.tol!Ld1vpkea,grept addition.to my book and help.mejeluhestory of a...h forgotten soldier." Although we did not have any pictures specifically related to his request, we referred him to the Longwood Public Library where they were able to help him using pictures from their archives relating to Camp Upton. The Society very much looks forward to hearing from anyone who has an interest in our community and in the history of Yaphank and surrounding area. We also hope that we are providing information of interest for our members. Right on the front page we keep members and users informed of upcoming events so calendars can be planned. We have recently added a section on the Booth House Restoration Project and in the coming months we will add to that section with pictures and updates on different aspects of the project once it is underway. Web surfers will also find picture galleries of recent past social events including Treats for Tots, Spring Tea, Community Yard Sale and the always popular Victorian Dinner. Take a look through these pictures and see if you find a picture of either you or one of your friends. Web updates will appear periodically in the Newsletter. out anything more about our "resident ghost". And we'll keep you informed, especially if we find Peggy Judd, Trustee
Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter page 5 Attention - Local Businesses If you are interested in having your business card printed in If the Yaphank Historical Society newsletter, you may do so for a $50 donation per year. Please leave a phone message at the Hawkins House at 631-924-3401. We support our local businesses! rhe MILL HOUSE ;."_t:r;p..~,', Don Cerce (631) 924-2157 D.C. PLUMBING & HEATING Yaphank Beautification Committee P.O. Box 671 Yaphank, New York 11980 Lie. & Insured Lie. #3453-P P.O. Box 2 Yaphank, NY Edythe Davis (631)924-8593 Co-Chairs: Linda Petersen (631 )924-4872 Wholesale Stand (631 )924-7444 Joe Jim Retail Home (631)924-5178 LlC 965E J. HaLaLaB ELECTRIC PUMPKIN PATCH FARM STAND Industrial-Residential-Commercial Wiring Farm Fresh Vegetables 142 Long Island Ave. Yaphank, NY Don & Pat Allen, Owners Eastport. NY (631)325-1131 Yaphank, (631)924-5139 NY YAPHANK GARDENS, LLC James & Reagan Hololob, Owners.. Commercial Office Rentals 128 Main Sl Yaphank, NY 11980 (631) 924-5139