2022 Happenings
December 2022
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Dear Local History Lovers!
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Our area's historical society is just winding down the largest exhibition ever, WWI: The Home Front – Our Community Takes Action. The exhibition will reopen in the spring for the 2023 season. We are delighted at the level of community support shown by spirited attendance as well as the robust sales of our in-depth 160-page exhibition catalog, which was purchased by 46% of attendees.
Our community’s interest
in our shared local history
is obviously strong.
Some of our accomplishments over the past year or two include:
â–ª Annual Fall Colonial Fair, now free to the public, with demonstrating artisans, including a silversmith, potter, weaver, papermaker, beekeeper, lace maker, and an embroiderer. Hundreds of guests learned about these colonial-era skills.
â–ª Six 40-minute videos on specific aspects of Port Washington’s history were produced, including Along the Shore, Sands Point, Origins of Main Street School, Main Street, The Mill Pond Historic District, and our Historic Recognition Program, always available and often viewed on our website.
â–ª 3-year collaboration with ReWild Long Island, which is teaching students and parents to farm at our Dodge Homestead. The resulting vegetables are donated to Plant-A-Row for the Hungry and the Our Lady of Fatima Church food bank.
â–ª A well-attended Zoom lecture series by outside professionals on topics such as Building the Brooklyn Bridge, The Purdy Boat Company, Long Island’s Maritime History, Cheese & Butter Making, A History of Sea Chanties, The Culper Spy Ring, and more.
â–ª 5 years of guided historic walking tours along Manhasset Bay highlighting local history, joined recently by Mill Pond Historic District guided walking tours.
â–ª Monfort Cemetery Restoration. Plans are underway for the restoration of the Revolutionary War patriot's gravestones, in conjunction with the Town of North Hempstead.
â–ª Compelling online series celebrating Port Washington’s local Suffragists.
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â–ª A major rebuilding of the Sands-Willets House front porch, including the addition of an ADA compliant access ramp
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â–ª Our major Costume & Culture Exhibition, re-imagined and revived on our informative website via a 360-degree panoramic tour with 100 interactive informational panels added.
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â–ª Our Gardiner Young Scholars award allowed us to hire two students to help identify and tag hundreds of tools in our circa 1690 Dutch Barn.
We have served the community through our growing educational programming, engaging more of our residents and increasing their appreciation of local history.
The Historical Society receives no regular funding from government sources, unlike many similar non-profits. Continuous work and investments are required to maintain and operate our two historic properties. Although we seek grants for capital expenses whenever possible, we can only continue to maintain our properties and offer our educational programming with your help. We are completely dependent on private contributions from the public.
We are a dedicated group of volunteers committed to broadening the knowledge of Port Washington’s rich local history. Please help us in this mission with your strong support. Local history matters.
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Thank you,
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Chris Bain, President
516-659-7566
