In this issue: From the CuratoL page 2From the Historian page 5

Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter"Historic Yaphank - Where the rast Greets the Fresent"

March 2009

Robert Hawkins HouseP.O. Box 111

Yaphank, NY 11980-0111(631)924-3401

, Messa!!e from the President

Meetings Third Thursday ofthe month, 7:30pm at the

Hawkins House

Upcomina Events

Victorian Tea

Sat, April 25, 2009

Community Yard SaleSat, July 25, 2009

No Rain Date

Fall Appraisal TeaSat, September 26, 2009

Treats for TotsFri, October 30, 2009Sat, October 31, 2009

Dinner & DustingSat, November 21, 2009

Candlelight House TourSun, December 5, 2009

Victorian Holiday DinnerSat, Dec 12, 2009

Board of Directors

President - Helen KalbachVice President - RalfPetersenTreasurer - Audrey KesslerRecording Secretary - KayDonaldsonCorresponding Secretary ­Linda PetersenLibrarian - Bob JuddHistorian - Karen MouzakesCurator - Susan Maresco3-Yr. Trustee - KathleenSchmidt2-Yr. Trustee - Tricia Foley &Donna Trusnovec1-Yr Trustee - Lucille Stroud& Bob Kessler

Winter is almost over! But before it's gone, let me thank everyonewho participated in the Christmas Candlelight House Tour and the VictorianHoliday Dinner. Whether you worked behind the scenes or as a guest, Ithank you for your support and generosity. The Society could not functionwithout such dedicated members and supporters.

The Board of Directors has tentatively scheduled events for thecoming year (see box at left). The Society celebrates its 35th anniversarythis year, so watch for our special anniversary plans. Our field trips this yearwill be to the French Culinary Institute, the William Floyd Estate in Mastic,and the Meadowcroft Estate in Sayville. The French Culinary Institute isscheduled for Wednesday, April 15. If you are interested in joining us,please leave your name and number for details on the Society machine,924.3401. We will go into the city by train. Mark your calendars with theseevents! We are planning other events during the year, so "stay tuned"!

Society Historian, Karen Mouzakes, is continuing the videotapingprogram to interview long time members of the community obtaining insightsinto what life was like in Yaphank years ago. If you or someone you knowwould like to participate in this program, we would be happy to arrange ataping. Please leave your name and number on the Society answeringmachine, 924.3401. We have already had some wonderful interviews andlook forward to preserving more of local Yaphank history.

The Society's Constitution and Bylaws are being revised andupdated. The position of Librarian has been updated to reflect the actualtasks of this position. A Whistle blower Policy and a Conflict of InterestPolicy have been written. A vote on these items is scheduled for the April16 General Meeting. Thank you to Peggy Judd for her enthusiastic andefficient review.

On a sad note, I would like to remember former president andlongtime member, Jack Rauh, who passed away in January, and longtimemember Vera Hofmann, who passed away in February at the age of 101. Iwould also like to remember Corrections Officer Skip Vuolo who died inearly January at age 45. Skip supervised the Restoration Projects of theInmates Work Program.

Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter

Proposed Constitution and Bylaws ChanQes

page 2

After a review of the current Constitution and Bylaws, several updates were necessary. Currentand future technology have dictated that with the creation of the Society's website and it'smaintenance, a current description of the Librarian position needs to be incorporated. TheWhistleblower Policy and the Conflict of Interest Policy are dictated by the changes in the InternalRevenue Service codes pertaining to not-for-profit organizations. Although these policies aregeared toward larger organizations, all not-for -profits are recommended to adopt some form ofthese policies.

The scheduled date for the vote on these items is the General Meeting on April 16. The entireConstitution and Bylaws with propose~changes -canc-be-- reviewed on our -website,www.vaphankhistoricaLorq. Paper copies will also be available at the meeting. If you have anyquestions regarding these changes to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, please contactHelen Kalbach.

Yaphank Historical Society Cookbook

We are still looking for recipes for the Yaphank Historical Society Cookbook. Please feel free todrop off or send in your favorite recipe, including a little bit of information about yourself and theorigin of the recipe. There is a recipe form at the end of this newsletter that you can use. We areslowly but surely building a nice collection. Thank you!

SEARS CATALOG 1908

As I was thumbing through the Sears Catalog of 1908, I thought I would share some of the items thatthey had FOR SALE in that time period.

SOLID OAK WOOD FIREPLACE MANTLE - $2.38- - ----COLONIAL DINING ROOM SUITE - 9 PIECE - $72.45--- -­

RUBY RED GLASS WATER SET - $1.89ACE CHARM SIX HOLE STEEL RANGE - COAL - $15.95GENUINE CORK FILLED LEATHER HIGH TOP SHOES - $2.50SINGLE BREASTED MENS SUIT - $7.68LADIES TEA GOWN - $1.69TWO PIECE BATHING SUITS - $ .80PORCH SWING - WOOD MADE TO SEAT 4 - $8.15OAK TOOL CHEST WITH WOOD WORKING TOOLS - $25.23SOLID OAK HIGH BED WITH SCROLLED HEADBOARD - $6.10MUSICAL INSTRUMENT - MANDOLIN - $1.95 AND UPOXFORD CYLINDER TALKING MACHINE - $14.95KIT CARSON HORSE SADDLE - ALL LEATHER - $22.67SIX ROOM HOUSE, TWO STORY - PLANS AND KIT - $725.00

As you can see, the prices of things now and then are sure a huge difference, but the wages weremeager back then. I think I will stay in 2009!

Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter page J

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~ Yow ~ r~(V yo-ur ~~ by ~ K~v~ at; 631.395.9870 or by tecvvi.¥tff' cv ~ cd:"fhe"flaMJ~fl~ at; 631. 924. 3401.

Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter page +

Gingerbread House Contest

Hopefully you were able to stop by theMill House Inn during the CandlelightHouse Tour for the Gingerbread HouseContest. We had wonderful andcreative gingerbread houses on displayfor everyone's enjoyment. Above isthe winning entry, created andsubmitted by Walter and SusanMaresco, Society members. Thankyou to all our contest participants!

BANK OF THE RIVER

GIFT SHOP

The Bank of the River Gift Shop isclosed for the winter. Please mark yourcalendars, though. We will be reopeningon April 2, 2009, and will be open everyThursday from 11 am - 2 pm. Come tothe Hawkins House and browse themany treasures.

We look forward to seeing you!

Yaphank Historical Societ.Y Newsletter

From the Historian, Karen Mouzakes ....

Susan Maria's NotebookSusan Maria Weeks is forty-eight years old. She is well to do andlives with her husband, James Huggins Weeks, a past president ofthe Long Island Railroad, at The Lilacs on East Main Street. Shehas purchased a 7" x 6" marbleized notebook with a maroon andgold binding for two cents. On the first page of the notebook shewrites: "This Blank Book

I Dedicate to my dear departed friends1850.", ...

The first dedication is a copied poem, "The Death 01 the Flowers"to honor her granddaughter Susan Weeks. She writes, "Theselines are very appropriate to the death of our beloved little Susy.She was a little pet plant and died the 23rd day of November 1850aged 23 months."

Another copied poem, "The Flower of Innocence" is followed bythese notations: 1851 May 15

"This day I planted at the grave of dear Susa plant called The Flower of Innocence presentedto me by WmChandler of N.Y."

page 5

Nov. 30 1852

"This little branch of the plant of the Flower ofInnocence taken from dear Susy's grave, two years this daysince her body was submitted to the earth. Earth to Earth, Ashes to Ashes." A branch from the plant ispressed between the pages.

Susan Maria continued to note the passing of friends and family. They were personal heartaches that did notextend much beyond Yaphank, but that changed when she penned an entry on April 20th 1865."This day I have attained my 63 year, and it is a day which will long be remembered, one which has been

appointed by a solemn f~t. day, th,~.tthe hearts of men may be humb!ed for the greatest calamity which hasever befallen the American people and Nation. President Abraham Lincoln was assaSsinated on the 14 thApril on the evening of Good Friday in a theatre in the City of Washington and died after lingering a fewhours - unconscious of the cause of his death. His death has filled the whole nation with mourning andlamentations and the city of New York the churches and residences are all draped in the habiliments ofmourning."The news of Lincoln's death took four days to reach Yaphank.

Handwritten dedications continued, though none are as touching as those of little Susy or as dramatic as theassassination of Abraham Lincoln. They are expanded to include a detailed description of the first serviceheld at St. Andrew's Church, the first ringing of the steeple bell, baptisms and confirmations. Numerousnewspaper clippings are filed between the notebook pages. The last entry is dated August 31, 1876. Itrecords the confirmation of three young girls-Arletta Homan, Julia and Laura Weeks.

The notebook of Susan Maria Weeks has been passed down through her family and donated to the YaphankHistorical Society. The branch ofthe Innocence Plant from Susy's grave, after 155 years, is still pressedbetween the notebook pages. We thank Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Martino for their kind donation of the notebook.

Yaphank Historical Societ!j Newsletter page 6

Attention - Local BusinessesIf you are interested in having your business card printed in If the Yaphank HistoricalSociety newsletter, you may do so for a $50 donation per year. Please leave a phonemessage at the Hawkins House at 631-924-3401. We support our local businesses!

rm MILL HQUS~_INN

~;':;~~:,,;~~~);?-~!Jfv'1~:r£,.,:iE;J}l~~j'~:.k,;:'~;'5C: C!'JR'JJ'••{'.,

Don Cerce (631) 924-2157

D.C. PLUMBING & HEATING

Yaphank Beautification CommitteeP.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

PUMPKIN PATCH FARM STANDFarm Fresh Vegetables

Wholesale Stand (631)924-7444

Retail Home (631)924-5178 LlC 965E

J. HOLOLOB ELECTRIC

Industrial-Residential-Commercial Wiring

142 Long Island Ave.

Yaphank, NY

Don & Pat Allen.o.vners

Joe

Eastport, NY

(631)325-1131

Jim

Yaphank, NY

(631)924-5139

YAPHANK GARDENS, LLC

PRIVATE INVESTIGATORNewYOfk. Pf# 11-000033192

www.GIGIBS.net

GlobalInvestigallons Inc.

128 Main StreetPO BOx 241

Yaphank,New York 11980

631-924-9042Fax 631-924-0537

15501 Stoneybrook W. PkwySUIte 125Wmter Garden.Rorid.34787 Steve Trusoovec888-924-0042F""407~83

Global Investigationsand

Background Services_ PI# C.2000032

James & Reagan Hololob. o.vnersCommercial Office Rentals

128 Main SlYaphank, NY 11980

(631) 924-5139

RECIPE COLLECTION SHEETFOll.OW INSTRUCTIONS TO THE RIGHT

Category

For office use only Dil1structiorlS

Recipe Tille

Submitted By

INGREDIENTS: Use abbreviations: pt qt. pkg. any. c. tsp. T. oz. lb. gal. doz. sm. mad. 19."

DIRECTIONS:

Copyright C 2003 MORRIS PRESS COOKBOOKS

• Type or print clearly in ink. Do notuse pencil or write in cursive. Placeonly one recipe per sheet.

'-':';;0 If more room is needed, use'another

sheet of equal size and stapletogether. Write on one side only.

•.List all ingredients in order of usein ingredients list and directions.

• Include container sizes (e.g., 16-oz.

pkg., 24-oz. can).• Keep directions in paragraph form,

not in steps.• Use names of ingredients in the dir­

ections, e.g., "Combine sugar andeggs." DO NOT use statements like"Combine, first three ingredients."

• Include temperatures and cooking,chilling, baking, marinating, andlorfreezing times.

• Anything not part of the recipe(ingredients, directions, contributorname, servings, or recipe title) willnot be included unless you selectRecipe Notes for an extra charge.

• Be consistent with the spellingof your name for each recipeyou contribute.

• Your recipes should fit intothe following categories, unlessyou use custom categories:

Appetizers &.BeveragesSoups & SaladSVegetables & Side DishesMain Dishes

Breads & RollsDesserts

Cookies & CandyThis & That

2009 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE**Reminder** Dues are presently payable.Join the YAPHANK HISTORICAL SOCIETY by paying dues for the current year. If you areinterested, please complete and send in the form to:

Yaphank Historical SocietyP.O. Box 111

Yaphank. New York 11980-0111

Please enroll me as:

( ) Active Member

( ) Contributing Member( ) Life Member( ) Patron Member( ) Benefactor Member

$10.00/person - $7.50/Senior Citizen (62+)$15.00/couple - $12.50/Senior Couple (62+)$25.00$75.00/person - $50.00/Senior (62+)$200.00$500.00----------.-----------------------------------------.-----.---------.--------------

Name Telephone # -----------------

Address E-Mail: ------------------

Town State Zip Code _

NOTES:

The Society would like to conduct more of its business through its website, which is up and running atwww.vaphankhistorical.orQ. Please update your email address with us by completing the above form and returning it to theSociety .