Long Island Automotive Museum

 Henry Austin Clark, Jr. opened the Long Island Automotive Museum in 1948 to store his burgeoning collection of antique cars. It was located on about 8 acres along County Road 39 in Southampton. Early on, Clark tended to focus on thoroughbreds and other significant American cars of the early 20th Century. Later, he amassed a collection of fire trucks and hosted brass-era flea markets at the museum among other auto-centric events. 

Henry Austin “Austie” Clark Jr. was a Harvard freshman when he acquired his first early auto, a Ford Model T made in 1915, two years before he was born. After leaving the Navy, where he served as a radar technician in World War II, he began collecting vintage vehicles in earnest. Clark owned some 250 autos and countless other motorized devices (a gas-powered pogo stick). What separated him from other collectors was his role as a one-stop shop. His museum hosted “The Iron Range,” a sporadic flea market of rare parts, many made of brass from the 1890s to World War I.  Clark filtered his encyclopedic knowledge into The Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1802-1945, a bible for collectors and historians. He was the chief researcher for writer Beverly Rae Kimes.

The museum closed in 1980 due to declining revenues. Clark auctioned many of the vehicles when he closed the museum. In 2017, Skip Norsic bought the property to use as storage for his company.

Sources:

“Remembering Henry Austin Clark Jr. and the Long Island Automotive Museum.” Hemmings.Com, www.hemmings.com/stories/2014/08/19/remembering-henry-austin-clark-jr-and-the-long-island-automotive-museum. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024

Strohl, Daniel. “Site of Former Long Island Automotive Museum Sells Decades after It Closed.” Hemmings.Com, www.hemmings.com/stories/2017/08/31/site-of-former-long-island-automotive-museum-sells-decades-after-it-closed. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024

Montauk Point Lighthouse

The Montauk Point Lighthouse, commissioned by President George Washington in 1792, is one of the best-known and most-beloved icons of Long Island. It was the first lighthouse to be built in New York, and is the fourth-oldest working lighthouse in the nation. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2012, one of only 12 lighthouses to be so honored.

Construction o the lighthouse began on June 7, 1796 and was completed on November 5, 1796. It was built by John McComb, who also built Gracie Mansion and two other lighthouses that are still standing: in Eaton’s Neck, Long Island and Cape Henry, VA.

In 1860, 30 feet were added to its height and a new lantern room was built by Ira Winn of Portland, ME. The height of the tower is 110′ 6″ and there are 137 iron steps to the top.

When Montauk Point Light was first lit in 1797, it burned whale oil. Whaling was a growing industry at the time. and for more than hair a century Montauk Point's lantern used fuel from the huge mammals. By the late 1850s, however. whales began to be scarce as ships ranged the globe in search of them. For a time. Montauk Point Light was forced to burn lard oil when whale oil was unavailable. With the discovery of petroleum came kerosene which was cheaper and easier to obtain than whale oil. In the 1860s. finally, the light was converted to a kerosene wick permanently.

For many years Montauk Point Light was an inaccessible place, and the early keepers of the light, their wives, and families led solitary and very lonely lives There was only one rock road leading from the Point to East Hampton and the nearest village 20 miles away. Life at the light continued this way until the early 1900s when the new motor cars brought droves of visitors to the light.

Wives replaced keepers at tending light when they died or when they were called to other duties such as rescue work. Such was the case in December 1856, when the brig "Flying Cloud" ran aground on the rocks at Montauk Point and Patrick T. Gould, the keeper climbed down the face of the bluff in a gale to save the crew from drowning in the surf. He was awarded a gold medal by the grateful Lifesaving Benevolent Association of New York. The inscription on it told of his "courage and humanity saving from inevitable death the crew of the brig "Flying Cloud," wrecked on Montauk Point December 14.1856." However, apparently nothing was mentioned of his wife's role in maintaining the light during her husband's heroic rescue efforts.

The lighthouse was tended by civilian keepers until 1939, when the Coast Guard took over. During the Second World War, the Army moved into the lighthouse and built the large tower that stands next to it for the purpose of watching for submarines.

 

Sources:

“Montauk Point Lighthouse.” Montauk Historical Society, montaukhistoricalsociety.org/montauk-point-lighthouse/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024

“The Story Of the Montauk Point Light House.” Long Island Genealogy, www.longislandgenealogy.com/lighthouse.html. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024

Heitz Place Courthouse/Gregory Museum

 On Aug. 19, 1893, Arnold Heitz donated the present Heitz Place site to be used as a village hall.  The main building was completed in 1895. Between 1895 and 1920 the village hall served a variety of governmental and meeting purposes. During World War I, the Heitz Place Courthouse served as headquarters for Selective Service for Eastern Nassau County. By 1915, the existing jail was deemed inadequate and a brick three-cell jail was built adjacent to the building.  One of these cells was retained by the museum

With the commencement of World War II, the courthouse resumed its function as a Draft Board Headquarters. In the post-war years, the building served several new purposes. The parole officers were located there, and the town’s veterans agency official, Joseph McCarthy, counseled returning servicemen.  The Heitz Place Courthouse fell prey to vandals until 1970, when arrangements were made between officials of the Town of Oyster Bay and the trustees of the museum for a long-term lease of the facility to Gardiner Gregory, to serve as a Long Island Earth Science Museum.

Gardiner Gregory was the curriculum materials director for the Hicksville School District in the late 1960s and early 70s. He collected moths and butterflies and then began collecting minerals. Displays at the museum include his collection as well as mineral collections, fossils, local artifacts, moths, butterflies, and fluorescent rocks.

The United States Department of the Interior recognized the building as a National Historic Place on July 30, 1974.

Sources:

“The Gregory Museum: Then and Now.” Nassau Observer, 10 May 2013, nassauobserver.com/the-gregory-museum-then-and-now

“History of Hicksville.” Hicksville Historical Society, 31 Jan. 2016, hicksvillehistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/about/history-of-hicksville

Harbor Hill - Roslyn

 Among the largest estates ever amassed on Long Island was the enormous Renaissance –style mansion known as Harbor Hill designed in 1899 by Stanford White and built in 1900 to 1902 for Clarence H. Mackay and his wife Katherine. Clarence Mackay was the son of Comstock Lode magnate John William Mackay, and inherited much of an estimated $500 million fortune upon his father's death in 1902

 The 576-acre estate was built in 1900-1902 and was divided into formal gardens and terraces surrounding the main house and a 70-acre farm.  A description of the house was given in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. This is a brief excerpt: “Early in the course of the preparations of plans Mr. Mackay made known his preference for the natural wildness of the estate and of his desire to preserve this feature as much as possible. It was decided that the house should be built on the very apex of the hill.” At the bottom of the west garden, Mackay commissioned two replicas of the famous Marly Horses statues. The 26-foot statues and pedestals were carved by sculptor Franz Plumelet and installed in 1920.

Social events held at the house included a grand party for the then Prince of Wales and Charles Lindbergh, was feted at a banquet and dance Mackay held the night of transatlantic aviator's ticker-tape parade on 5th Avenue.

With Clarence Mackay’s death in 1938, the Harbor Hill estate was left to his son John Mackay III. Due to vandalism during the World War II, the mansion was demolished in 1947. The property was sold in the late 1950s and became the Country Estates housing development.

The remaining structures associated with the Harbor Hill Estate are: Mackay Estate Dairyman's Cottage, Mackay Estate Gate Lodge, Harbor Hill Water Tower, John Mackay III House and retaining walls throughout Country Estates.

 

 

Sources:

“Harbor Hill.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Dec. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_Hill

“Harbor Hill Country Home.” Roslyn Landmark Society, 1 Jan. 1969, www.roslynlandmarks.org/profiles/harbor-hill-estate

“Mackays and Harbor Hill |.” The Bryant Library, www.bryantlibrary.org/local-history/from-the-bryant-room/places-and-events/harbor-hill-for-the-mackay-estate/. Accessed 26 Feb. 2024

The Mansion at Glen Cove

 The Mansion at Glen Cove was designed by architect Charles Adams Platt in 1910. The 55-acre estate was the home of John Teele & Ruth Baker Pratt. John Pratt was an attorney and an executive with John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company. Ruth Baker Pratt was the first woman elected to Congress from New York. The area surrounding the Mansion is scattered with former Pratt estates. John Pratt’s brothers were also his neighbors. George developed “Killenworth,” a Gothic Tudor mansion, which is currently the Russian Consulate’s quarters. Frederic’s stone mansion, “Poplar Hill,” which is now a home for seniors. Herbert’s waterfront home, “The Braes,” is now the Webb institute of Naval Architecture and Harold’s Neo-Georgian mansion is now Nassau County’s “Welwyn” Preserve.

Originally known as The Manor, The Mansion features a stately two-story portico entrance, an elegant, baronial double staircase, imported paneling and antique fixtures. Portions of the movies “Sabrina” and “North by Northwest” were filmed at the mansion.

The estate was maintained by the Pratt family until 1965, when Ruth passed away. Two years later, in 1967, the Harrison Conference Center bought the mansion and transformed it into a conference center and hotel.  In 1967, it became one of the very first conference center hotels in the United States. In 2018, it added 60 more rooms to its accommodations, making the room total 187.

 

Sources:

“The Mansion.” The Mansion at Glen Cove -, 9 Apr. 2022, themansionatglencove.com/the-mansion

Ryan, Caroline. “A History of the Glen Cove Mansion.” Glen Cove Record Pilot, 29 Aug. 2019, glencoveoysterbayrecordpilot.com/a-history-of-the-glen-cove-mansion

The Christeen

 Christeen, a 38-foot gaff-rigged sloop, is the oldest oyster sloop in America and a National Historic Landmark. She was originally built in 1883 for Captain William Smith in Glenwood Landing for harvesting oysters in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor. The vessel was licensed to work the offshore oyster beds of Long Island and to participate in the coasting trade in 1884. In 1894, then owned by Henry W. Schmeelk, Jr., Christeen was licensed to work the Connecticut Oyster beds.  The sloop continued to oyster and carry cargoes under sail until 1914, when a small engine was added and she was converted to an auxiliary powered motor vessel.

In 1936, Christeen was sold on the occasion of Capt. Bond's death. The sloop worked in the New Jersey fisheries.. After a brief service as an excursion and sightseeing charter boat in the 1970s, Christeen was sold again and became a liveaboard at New London, Connecticut, when discovered and purchased by the Connecticut River Museum, who restored the vessel's  appearance and.rehabilitated her to return to sail, and occasionally dredge for oysters. On December 4th, 1991, Christeen was officially certified as a National Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Over her 125 years, Christeen served not only as an oyster dredge but also as a cargo carrier and live-aboard between Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. After surviving 16 major hurricanes, numerous nor’easters, two sinkings, and severe neglect, Christeen was returned home to Oyster Bay in 1992. A dedicated group of volunteers worked tirelessly on the restoration of Christeen.

Christeen was completely restored and launched in 1999. Christeen’s new mission is to serve as a floating classroom for The WaterFront Center. Programs offered on the ship include sunset cruises, harbor tours and marine ecology classes. During daytime harbor tours and golden-hour sunset cruises, passengers aboard Christeen set out on a two-hour boat ride that allows them to experience Oyster Bay and the Long Island Sound from a new perspective.

While on board, crewmates will offer visitors information about the surrounding towns, waters, houses and boats.

Sources:

“History.” Oyster Sloop CHRISTEEN, www.sailchristeen.org/history. Accessed 12 Jan. 2024

 “Sail Aboard Christeen.” Long Island Weekly, 26 July 2022, longislandweekly.com/sail-aboard-christeen

WBLI

 WBLI-FM, located at 106.1 on the radio dial first emerged in 1971, replacing WPAC-FM. They originally broadcast from a trailer before moving to the Wedgewood Building on Main St. in Patchogue, and later from a custom building in Medford. 

The station had Block Party Weekends. Held every Labor Day, Memorial Day and Fourth of July, the station would play one artist for an entire hour, all weekend long. It had a Saturday Night disco show called "Club 106" during the disco days, and a Sunday Night Oldies show known as "Only Gold" during the 70's through the mid 80's hosted by Don Nelson.

DJs from the '70s & '80s included Barry Neal, Randi Taylor, Bruce Michaels, Nick O'Neil, Chris Tyler, Bill Terry (was PD in the '80s), Jeff Thomas (also the PD), Scott Taylor, Don Nelson, Rick Sommers, Keith Allen (now of B103 Long Island), Rob McLean, Mary Ann (aka J.J. Kennedy of WLTW/New York City),Carl Dayton, TK Townsend, Brooke Daniels, Larry Adams, Scott Miller and Kelly Hart.

Its most recent incarnation began in 1996. Under Doc Medek and Al Levine as M-D/night jock the station redeveloped it's sound, voiced by Billy Moore, and a new jingle package, playing the current records, and had night show features like the "Fresh 5 at 9", and the "New Music Challenge" return. When Cox Radio took over 'BLI they evolved into a more mainstream playlist voiced by Kurt Flood, Mark Driscoll, Jennifer Vaughn, and Brian James. In 2006, Beau Weaver took over as voice of 106.1 BLI.

In 1996, the station dropped the Syndicated weekend Program "Open House Party" on Saturday nights in favor of a disco show hosted by Party Marty Mitchell, also the longtime host of the B-103 Disco Party, and currently, The K-JOY All Request Party Marty Saturday Night Show. Open House Party continued on Sunday nights until November of 96. Party Marty's show would continue until 1998 when "CLUB BLI" would begin, playing current club music. CLUB BLI is the current Saturday night show featuring occasional live broadcasts from popular Long Island clubs.

The morning program, known as "BLI in the Morning" features Dana DiDonato, "Big Gay Randy", Drew,and Ted Lindner with news and traffic. The show has benchmarks such as Dana's crush of the week, Randy's Happy Horoscopes, the Dirt report, Phoney-Phone crank calls; a staple of former co-host Steve Harper, and Hersday, a feature that was pioneered by former co-host Maria Garcia.

WBLI, which is currently owned by Cox Radio and licensed to Patchogue, New York, is programmed by Jeremy (J.J.) Rice who has been with the station since 1998. 

Sources:

70sKid. “WBLI-FM.” Long Island 70s Kid, 23 July 2013, www.longisland70skid.com/wbli-fm

“WBLI.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Dec. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBLI#:~:text=History-,Early%20years,off%20the%20air%20at%20sunset