Ward Melville Heritage Organization

Spring Appreciation Day Festivities in Stony Brook Village

By WMHO

Stony Brook, NY –Spring Appreciation Day will once again be held in Stony Brook Village with fun for the entire family on Saturday, April 18 beginning at Noon.

 

Along with the simple beauty of the area and a multitude of shopping and dining choices just steps from each other, it won’t be hard to spend the entire day enjoying a host of special events planned.

 

There will be live music with WALK 97.5 and “Walkie Bear,” a petting zoo, balloon artists, Roseland School of Dance performances and the music of “Beige” performing Americana, jazz and popular music. Admission is free.  While you’re here enjoy bike, kayak or paddleboard rental as well. 

 

Additionally, the historic Stony Brook Grist Mill officially opens for the season kicking off a special Drop-in-Sundays series of events that will include the “Milestones in Millstones” exhibit telling the unique story of people who owned and operated the mill; shopping in the charming Country Store for jams, jellies, colonial sweets and toys and seeing how the mill’s mechanisms grind grain into flour just as it was done in 1751.  Kids crafts and a bag of cracked corn to feed the ducks at the Stony Brook Mill Pond is included.  Drop-in-Sundays with themed craft activities will also be offered April 19, May 24, June 7, July 5, August 30 and October 11 between 1 and 4 pm.  Price for Drop-in-Sundays will be $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12.  The Stony Brook Grist Mill is on the NYS and National Register of Historic Places and is located within walking distance of Stony Brook Village on Harbor Road off Main Street.  Regular admission on all other weekend days through October is $2 for adults and $1 for children under 12, and it is open noon to 4:30 pm.

 

For full information, visit stonybrookvillage.com or call 631-751-2244.

 

WMHO Presents Diwale – The Festival of Lights!

By WMHO

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – On Sunday, November 3 at 1 pm the Ward Melville Heritage Organization will host the Hindu Diwali Festival of Lights celebration at their Educational & Cultural Center.

Performances include Nartan Rang Dance Academy of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.  They have performed at the United Nations, Madison Square Garden, Stony Brook University, Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. With their colorful costumes they will showcase various styles and genres of the Indian dance. Tamil Academy will also perform traditional Parai Drumming with ITPA’s NY-Parai-Group – used in ancient times to warn citizens about upcoming war, during festivals and at special celebrations.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a joyous Hindu festival, held in October or November. It is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks the beginning of the fiscal year in India. It is India’s largest and most important holiday of the year. The festival is so named from the lamps that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the light that protects them from spiritual darkness. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains all over the world. “Stony Brook is one of the most diverse communities on Long Island, and we want to celebrate that diversity” said Gloria Rocchio, President of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. “We would like to thank everyone in advance for making this event successful and wish you all a very Happy Diwali.”

All guests will be welcome to enjoy food tastings by The Curry Club. Cost is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and children under 12. Call 631-689-5888 for additional information and reservations.  The event is partially sponsored by RJG Consulting Group, Walmart and Apple Bank

“Courageous Women of the Revolutionary War” Tours

By WMHO

Stony Brook, NY – Coming out of the shadows of history are four “Courageous Women of the  Revolutionary War” who will be showcased at one day only, first of its kind live theatrical  performances at four of Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s (WMHO) historic properties September 28 from 10 am to 4 pm (rain date September 29).   This will be the first time these historic homes have all been open at the same time. The critical roles women played during the war and the rich history of the Three Village area will be featured as well. Each of these sites is listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places and has its own connection to the American Revolution.

Based on historical literature and oral histories from the Three Village area, the general public will be invited to take a guided tour on a journey back in time to the years that also helped spearhead the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Visitors will be greeted by a character in the first person who will explain her personal fears and tribulations learning to survive during the war. At The Thompson House, c. 1709 guests will meet Doctor Samuel Thompson’s wife, Phoebe Thompson; Rebecca Mills Brewster, wife of Joseph Brewster (cousin of Spy Ring member, Caleb Brewster) will be at The Brewster House, c. 1665; a Grist Mill “Dusty” at the Stony Brook Grist Mill, c. 1751 and Ruth Mills, the wife of Culper Spy, Jonas Hawkins will be at The Mount House, c. 1725.  These live performances will take place in the middle of the conflict, forcing guests to consider, “What would you do during these treacherous times?” The British have taken hold of Long Island. Many husbands and young men are arrested and enslaved on prison boats in New York Harbor. Innocent boys are forced into service for the British Army. Wives, mothers and daughters are alone, protecting their children and property. 

There will be three tours: 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm and guests will be transported to the performances by trolley.  Each tour will be 1 ½ hours long. The cost will be $40 pp.  The mission of the program, made possible by a grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, is to inspire and educate the public about the contributions of these valiant women while fostering an appreciation of the Three Village region and its cultural heritage. Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation said, “We view this educational program as a model and resource for other historical organizations to use to engage the public. This event brings the historic homes to life.” Gloria Rocchio, President of WMHO says, “We are very thankful to the Gardiner Foundation for giving us the opportunity to share our vision that we’ve had for so long with the general public.”

For reservations and further information call 631-751-2244.

Ward Melville High School Alumni Celebrate Special Reunion in the Wetlands

By WMHO

Stony Brook, NY – For the last 50 years students have been taking summer courses at the first marine biology center in Stony Brook, founded by a pioneer in the marine science field, Dr. Erwin J. Ernst.  Some of Dr. Ernst’s original students, and long-time friends from Ward Melville High School, celebrated their 1969 class reunion aboard WMHO’s “Discovery” Wetlands Cruise which meandered through the 88-acre wetlands preserve and past the Ernst Marine Conservation Center, the very place where their interest in the sciences was first awakened by Dr. Ernst 50 years before.

Programs at the center, which houses two classrooms, touch tanks, microscopes and distance learning equipment, are still offered today teaching children of all ages the “wonders of the wetlands.”  For information on future programs, call 631-751-2244. 

Photo Credit:  Rosanne Buscemi

Meet the Man Behind the Stony Brook Village Eagle

By WMHO

 

Stony Brook, NY – Do you know what an Antiquarian Horologist is? It’s someone who restores antique timekeeping devices!  You can come and meet the man literally behind the Stony Brook Village Mechanical Eagle, Marshall Irving, who is responsible for taking care of the very intricate mechanisms of this popular landmark, at a free Master Class on May 22 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm.

The massive, original wood carved eagle atop the Stony Brook Post Office is synchronized with a clock inside its dome enabling it to flap its 20 foot wing span each hour on the hour from 8 am to 8 pm daily, as it has done for almost 80 years.  Access to the inner workings of the eagle is an achievement in and of itself as Irving, who recently turned 90 years young, has to navigate through various passageways to work on the beloved attraction.  In addition to the on-the-hour display, Irving added a push-button feature allowing the eagle’s wings to be turned on manually for special occasions.

Hear his fascinating story of growing up on a small farm in Maryland to becoming a Naval Engineer.  Irving attended the Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy where he received a degree in steamship engineering and received a master’s degree in engineering management from Long Island University.  He worked at Dayton T. Brown’s testing lab in Amityville on aircraft and survival and safety gear for the U.S. Navy, and during the Korean War he served aboard the Intrepid as a Lieutenant transporting special weapons through the Mediterranean during two deployments in Europe and the Middle East. 

The event will take place at WMHO’s Educational & Cultural Center located at 97P Main Street in the rear of the Stony Brook Village Center and refreshments will be served.

For further information on Marshall Irving visit http://stonybrookvillagecenterblog.com/a-marshall-irving/ or call 631-689-5888.

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WMHO Receives Prestigious Pinnacle Award 

Stony Brook, NY – The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) is proud to announce that it has received the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Pinnacle Award for Distance Learning in 2017-2018. The Award is given annually to organizations that receive outstanding scores on program evaluations submitted by educators and other end users. Receiving the award indicates a remarkable quality of educational content and exceptional skill at program delivery. WMHO is recognized alongside the Andrew Jackson Hermitage, the New York Hall of Science and Cleveland Museum of Art. [Read More…]

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization

PO Box 572
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Phone 631-751-2244
Fax (631) 751-2024

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