~ February 2018 Newsletter ~

General Membership meeting

Please note: Due to a conflict with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, we have decided to change our March general membership meeting to Sunday, February 25. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience.

Join us at our next general membership meeting at the Bayport-Blue Point Library on Sunday, February 25 at 2 o’clock. We will welome historian Bill Bleyer who will present “Sagamore Hill: Theodore Roosevelt’s Summer White House.” Discover the story behind Theodore Roosevelt’s favorite place on earth. No house better reflects the personality and interests of its owner than Theodore Roosevelt’s cherished Sagamore Hill. After Roosevelt returned to Oyster Bay following the death of both his beloved wife and his mother, he and second wife Edith made the house a home for their growing and rambunctious family. What began as the perfect getaway from unhealthy New York City summers in his grandfather’s day became the summer White House during Roosevelt’s presidency. He hosted political guests like Henry Cabot Lodge and cultural luminaries like novelist Edith Wharton. Roosevelt spent his final years happily at Sagamore Hill, and after his death in 1919 the house was preserved by his widow, the Theodore Roosevelt Association and eventually the National Park Service. With previously unpublished photographs and a room-by-room guide to the house and grounds, historian Bill Bleyer recounts bygone days at Roosevelt’s haven.
Bill Bleyer was a prize-winning staff writer for Newsday, the Long Island daily newspaper, for 33 years before retiring in 2014 to write books and freelance for magazines and Newsday.
He is co-author of “Long Island and the Civil War,” published in 2015 by The History Press. He is the author of “Fire Island Lighthouse: Long Island’s Welcoming Beacon” published by The History Press in 2017.

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United Methodist Church of Bayport

UMC of Bayport has been serving this community since 1873. Learn about its history in this brief video. Click here.
 St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Come out and celebrate! On March 11th Bayport Blue Point will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. This is the 28th year our communities will be marching in the parade starting at 11:00. This wonderful festive event sponsored by the BBP Chamber of Commerce has selected Walter Ramsey as the Grand Marshal for this years event. Walter has been involved with the parade from the beginning and it is an honor having him as the Grand Marshal.
All BHA members are encouraged to march in the parade and show support of our association and our community. Congratulations or ‘comhghairdeas’ to Walter and we hope to see you there!

Boy Scouts visit Meadow Croft

On Saturday, November 4, the Bayport Heritage Association welcomed over 200 Boy Scouts to Meadow Croft. The day was part of the Scouts’ History Alive program, which makes local history an element of the Scouting experience. The program aims to be more than a visit to the local museum; it intends to teach youth interactively about the history of their community.
Camp was set up at the Grange in Sayville, where the Scouts toured the historic buildings and talked with period reenactors. The kids then hiked south to the Roosevelt property and followed the old Roosevelt trail. Once at Meadow Croft, they were treated to a tour of the house, garage, and carriage house by BHA members dressed in period attire. Following the tour, the Scout patrols worked cooperatively, answering questions about the Roosevelt family and property to earn awards back at the Camporee. The importance of programs such as this was demonstrated by the enthusiastic responses and interest of the kids. Thanks to Blue Point resident and Boy Scout representative Brian McAuliff and Frank Grasso for including us in such a rewarding day!
On January 28th 2018, both Brain and Frank came back to Meadow Croft to say Thank you! They gave our board members a beautiful letter of thanks, some nice t-shirts and a donation to our organization. It’s experiences like these that make the countless hours the volunteers spend working hard to preserve our communities rich history that make it all worthwhile.
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Researching Your House

The BHA has a large archive of historical information on most of the residences in Bayport. These archives, which include, photos, deeds, news clippings and handwritten notes from previous owners, was compiled by many of the early members of the BHA. Their hard work and persistence is so appreciated by the current BHA board and members. We would like to offer the chance for BHA members to view these archives by special request. If you are a member with current dues paid, you can email John Amato to make an appointment to see the file on your old house. Just send John your address and he will retrieve the file and meet you at the Bayport Blue Point Library on the weekend. These files cannot be taken home for obvious reasons, but you may make copies of documents. John is a current board member and the treasurer of the BHA. His email address is 

Bayport Heritage Association

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