BBP Heritage Association

Summer is rolling by quickly and we are enjoying every moment. The BBPHA has been busy with lots of summertime events and planning for even more!

Summer House Tours: They are given every weekend starting in June and running through October. Trained docents will be showing the estate on Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00-4:00. There have been many updates and changes in recent months as the BBPHA volunteers work tirelessly to make your experience at Meadow Croft even better. How was life lived in the early 1900's? We welcome you to join us and find out.

If you would like to plan a tour for a group of 10 or more, email us to set a date: bbphistorical@gmail.com If you would like to learn more or become a docent please contact Jen at 631-235-9342. We have had some wonderful groups join us so far this season and would like to thank the following; The Women's Coalition, Ladies on the Loose (aka LOL), the Long Island History Group, and St. Anne's Episcopal Church for taking a tour of the Meadow Croft Estate. Upcoming tours include; The Long Island Chapter of the National Organization of Women, Babylon Library and a hiking club.

Summer Concert Series: Thank you to all who came out to enjoy two FREE Summer concerts held at Bayport Memorial Park. The first concert featured The Flat Leavers and happily, the rain held off to the very end and a great time was had by all. The second concert in July featured Gene Casey and the Lonestars. It was a beautiful and well attended event. Thank you to all who came out to listen, dance or just relax to some music. Special thanks go to Dave Harenberg who books our performers and Jenny Harenberg who created the lawn signs for the events.

Christmas in July? Believe it or not, we begin planning now for our signature event, Christmas at Meadow Croft! This will take place the first weekend in December, the 6th & 7th. This year's theme will be A Traditional Christmas and we are looking for volunteers. We also need musicians that will perform for an hour over the weekend. If you would like to volunteer or have a musical talent to share, please call Leanne at 631-235-1702.

Meadow Croft invites you to two unforgettable summer evenings of after-hours exclusives. Indulge in an experience that blends the beauty of its storied past with the vibrancy of the present. Wander through the Roosevelt summer home and embrace its historical ambiance. Mingle with friends and enjoy a signature wine, cocktail or mocktail. The evenings will be further enhanced by guest presenters who will offer memorable experiences, stories, or music that echo in the footsteps of yesteryear.

Space is limited. Registration is required. $35 per person. Includes a complimentary cocktail or mocktail. Register at www.bayportbluepointheritage.org

Postcards from Papa: Letters, Legacy, and the Land We Tend

Brittany Cutrone

Laughlin Vineyard, Proprietor

Saturday, August 23, 2025

TICKET SALES BEGIN AUGUST 1

Join us for a heartfelt evening with Brittany Cutrone, proprietor of Laughlin Vineyard and granddaughter of Barney Laughlin, as she shares the rich history of her family’s vineyard, their long-time connection with the Roosevelt family, and the legacy left behind by her grandfather who was fondly known as Papa. Through old letters, postcards, and personal memories that have been passed down through generations, Brittany will bring Meadow Croft Estate and Loughlin Vineyard to life. She will share the stories that helped shape the land and the people who cared for it.

This special gathering marks the upcoming release of Postcards from Papa, a new limited-edition wine, inspired by a box of postcards Brittany inherited after Barney’s passing in 2017. These are not just postcards but glimpses into a life well-lived. They range from handwritten notes sent from the frontlines of WWII to heartfelt messages to his family and even exchanges with the Roosevelts. Each one carries a piece of Barney’s story. Postcards from Papa is Britanny’s way of honoring her grandfather’s memory, one bottle, one story, one sip at a time. Guests will enjoy a tasting of a variety of Loughlin Vineyard wines and receive exclusive access to Series #001 and #002 of the Postcards from Papa wine series.

Event Schedule:

6:00-7:00pm- Wine Tasting. Explore the house.

7:00-8:00pm- Postcards from Papa presentation

Signature Drink of the Evening: A Tasting of a Variety of Laughlin Vineyard Wines.

***Non-alcoholic drinks will be available

The Tall Mutha Shucka

Keenan Boyle

Oyster Farmer, Shucker, Educator

Friday, September 5, 2025

TICKET SALES BEGIN AUGUST 24

Space is limited. Registration is required. $35 per person. Includes a complimentary cocktail or mocktail. Register at www.bayportbluepointheritage.org

Guests will spend the evening by the Meadow Croft porch and experience a sensory journey that celebrates the waters that define the region. Join Keenan Boyle, Blue Points own Tall Mutha Shucka, as he sets the stage for a tasting of Long Island’s maritime treasure, the oyster. Keenan is an expert in bringing the ocean’s bounty to life. He has spent many years studying Long Island’s legendary oyster history and will interpret the past, present and future of the Blue Point Oyster. He has worked with Blue Point Oyster farms on The Great South Bay to help provide these oysters across the country. This event will capture the soul of Long Island’s sea in every bite as Keenan offers our guests dock to table oysters harvested that day. What better way to spend an evening!

Event Schedule:

6:00-7:00pm- Enjoy a refreshing cocktail or mocktail and explore the house.

7:00-8:00pm- Oyster Tasting & Lecture: The Past, Present, and Future of the Blue Point Oyster.

Signature Drink of the Evening: The delicate flavor of oysters will be paired with the classic gimlet, a simple but elegant cocktail, made with dry gin. Lime juice and simple syrup complement the gin’s rose, peach, and raspberry botanicals.

***Non-alcoholic drinks will be available

Please save the dates for our General Membership meetings starting in September. All meetings are held at the BBP Library. There is also a raffle drawing at every meeting. We hope to see you there!

Maurice Goldhaber, Pioneer of Modern Physics

Speaker: Paul Abel,

Proprietor of n-dimensions Tutoring and Book Store

Sunday, September 28, 2025

2-4pm

Join us for an engaging afternoon as we delve into the remarkable life and achievements of former Bayport resident, Maurice Goldhaber, a trailblazer whose curiosity and intellect shaped the landscape of modern science. Discover how his groundbreaking work and innovative spirit continue to inspire generations of physicists and thinkers today. Paul Abel, a lifetime Bayport resident and owner of n-dimensions Tutoring and Book Store, will present his story. Paul possesses degrees in physics and nuclear engineering and previously worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Save the date for the October meeting as well.

The Devil in New York: The Witchcraft Trial of Goody Garlick

Speaker: Tara Rider, Ph.D., Stony Brook University

Sunday, October 19, 2025

2-4pm

Step back into the shadow of colonial New York, where witchcraft and suspicion were the topic of fireside conversations. Decades before Salem became synonymous with witch trials, the small town of East Hampton found itself in the clutches of fear as a woman named Goody Garlick stood trial, accused of consorting with the devil. This talk explores the tangled web of rumor, power, and superstition that ensnared an entire community. Dr. Tara Rider is a senior lecturer at Stony Brook University in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences with a multidisciplinary background in history, marine studies, and sustainability. Her research focuses on how nature, gender, and race are entwined with questions of power, culture, and identity.

Long Island museums and historical societies from Brooklyn to Montauk are teaming up to offer the Long Island History Hunt, a FREE epic adventure at a dozen sites where presidents, spies, and patriots helped shape history. Visit the website and scan the QR code below to register, and then visit a designated museum or historic site. At each location, visitors are invited to take a selfie challenge and upload their photo. Visitors who complete a challenge at any site are automatically eligible to win a prize. Those who complete a challenge at all 12 sites will be entered into the grand prize drawing that includes: $500, an 18th century-style luncheon at the Ketcham Inn in Center Moriches, NY, family museum memberships, and a basket of curated surprises. This challenge runs from July 1-September 30, 2025. If you have specific questions, you can email at longislandhistoryhunt@gmail.com .

Become a Revolutionary Trailblazer! We are proud that Meadow Croft is included in this adventure!

Participants are also welcome to visit nearby designated New York State Parks to take a break, have a picnic, or just enjoy nature. The Long Island History Hunt is sponsored by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation and brought to you in partnership with the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

History of the Fire Island Shore Line

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12TH 7-10PM (TICKETS GO ON SALE AUGUST 1, 25)

$40.00 pp sold on website only ( click here )

Rain date is August 13th, (no refunds).

Sayville Fire Island Ferry Terminal

41 River Road, Sayville

The Great South Bay and Fire Island are not only beautiful parts of our community, but have amazing homes and landmarks, as well as a tremendous history to share!

We will set sail on August 12th (rain date Aug. 13) from the Sayville Fire Island ferry terminal promptly at 7pm and head out onto the bay. You must be on the ferry by 6:45 to check-in. With the sun setting we will cruise out across the bay, as our Local Historian, Frank Giebfried highlights the historic sites along the Fire Island Shore Line. The boat will then head up the Connetquot River and stop for an hour at The View Restaurant were you can buy cocktails. Then we’ll cruise back to the Brown’s River under the beautiful full moon and dock around 10pm. You can purchase cocktails while at The View Restaurant (there will not be enough time to order food), however snacks and refreshments are allowed on the ferry. Cruisers can park at the Sayville Ferry freight parking lot across the road from the ferry for $5.00. Just let them know you’re with the History Tour.

Passengers must be on the ferry by 6:45 to check in.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of one of our very special volunteers. You could find Lenore Ringer-Prezioso volunteering her time at so many community events and organizations.

At only 60, she passed on Friday, July 5, after a valiant battle with cancer. The longtime Bayport resident leaves behind a legacy of leadership, generosity and fierce community pride that helped shape the lives of all who knew her. She was a driving force in Bayport-Blue Point for decades. She served as a leader in the Chamber of Commerce, chaired the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade beginning in 2015, and was named Grand Marshal in 2019. We were lucky enough to have her at Meadow Croft as she was one of our very entertaining docents and you could find her bundled up in the carriage house at Christmas serving up the hot cocoa and cookies. She will be truly missed by everyone, especially the Heritage.

“Lenore, your candle burned so bright but way to short.”

These articles first appeared in the Bayport Blue Point Gazette and were written by Gene Horton.

They are reprinted here with permission.

November 2002

Last month in this column, a picture of the Blue Point Post Office in 1942 was featured. This month, an old postcard is seen of the BAYPORT POST OFFICE as it appeared around 1910. This Bayport building is also known as the Hicks-Morgan house, named after two previous owners: John A. Hicks and John Morgan. The building was located on the south side of Middle Road in Bayport exactly where Morgan Court is today. The building had five doors: 2 in front, 2 in back, and 1 on the west side. In 1894, Edward J. Woods became Post Master of Bayport. Between 1895 and 1914, this building served as the Bayport Post Office. The Post Office was housed in the west side of the building.

The Woods Bros. also had a real estate business and fire insurance business in part of this building. Prior to 1936, Sara Morgan had a tea room here. The house partially seen on the right (558 Middle Road) is still standing today. In 1946, this former Bayport Post Office building was moved to 2 Morgan Lane where it is a private residence today.