Historic Series: Seaford Historical Museum

06 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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community, historic, history, jackson ave, long island, museum, new york, schoolhouse, seaford, seaford fire department, seaford historical society, seaford new york, waverly ave

Located on Waverly Avenue, the Seaford Historical Museum is the community’s treasured time capsule. It is the home of Seaford memorabilia from its early days as a farming community and a true celebration of the antiquity of the area.

Back in 1893, Seaford had about 500 residents. At this time there were already two schoolhouses for the children in the union free district. The need for more space pushed the community to vote for a budget of $3500 to build a new school, which was originally constructed at the corner of Jackson and Waverly Avenue.

In 1917, due to the increase of students, the school board decided the district needed a bigger schoolhouse. The present one was moved a block away and renamed the Seaford Fire Department headquarters in 1921 and the new Jackson Avenue school opened. On July 4, 1976 it was chosen to be the Seaford Historical Museum in honor of the nations bicentennial.

Today the schoolhouse serves the community as a center of knowledge where one can learn about the history of Seaford. It is is a great place to attain information about the town and the schoolhouse itself. The Seaford Historical Society continues to take donations for the restoration of the building as well as encouraging residents to become members.

Support Seaford history and help the museum last for years to come. Not only is it a reflection of the future but a treasure chest of historical gifts. The building is a beautiful example of 19th century design and continues to carry the memories of lessons learned and future dreams.

Inspiration Photo Friday: At Peace

03 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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animals, cemetery, death, huntington, nature, new york, path, pets, photography, the little shelter, trees

Most people think of cemeteries as morbid and sad. I wouldn’t say they are happy places but they hold the remains of ones we love. I often find peace in cemeteries even though it makes me sad to be there. Surprisingly, they are beautiful places.

I took this photo during my visit to The Little Shelter in Huntington, New York a few years ago. What a place this is. There is so much space for the animals to run and be free. The one thing I thought was interesting was their pet cemetery. I was taken back by how serene and peaceful it felt to walk through it. The trees were mesmerizing and the grounds were simply graceful. It brought a tear to my eye to look at all the little stones engraved with the pet’s names but it made me happy to know they are resting in such a natural and pretty place.

Historic Series: Huntington Sewing and Trade School

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

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arts and crafts style, brick, colonial design, historic, huntington, huntington sewing and trade school, main street, medieval, new york, school, trade school

The Huntington Sewing and Trade School has been around since the early 1900s and is the home of the Huntington Historical Society. It was purchased by the Historical Society in 1982 and is used for administrative services as well as the society’s resource center. This building has been a part of Huntington for decades and played a positive role in its growth and success.

In addition, Huntington Sewing and Trade School was the first vocational school in the United States. The school taught many woman the important skills needed to keep a house and daily life moving forward as well as many trades to the men and young boys. Its classes included English, cooking and the arts as well as religion.

Many photographs of children in class at the trade school can be found in the Huntington Historical Society’s archives. Looking at those photos allows anyone to step back in time and see how different life was compared to today. It truly puts things into perspective.

The school building was designed by Cady, Berg and See in 1905, the same designers that created the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building across the street. Their resume holds works of art such as the Metropolitan Opera House and The American Museum of Natural History. However, their specialty was school buildings. They showcased the Tudor Revival style in the trade school, which was very popular at the time.

I love the architecture of this building. The next time you are walking by on Main Street be sure to take a good look at all of its unique characteristics. Its decorative accents are a combination of medieval and colonial design. The whole purpose of this style was so the building looked different and not as commercial as the rest. Think of the Arts and Crafts movement and this style fits it like a glove.

The arched doorway is typical for Tudor design and you can see Medieval accents in the hinged brackets and door knob palette. The brick and stone exterior plays on natural elements of the earth and the details in the wood is elegant and clean. Nothing is too loud, yet the building exerts power and strength. I love that. The second floor windows are beautiful and I feel they add that crafty touch.

Around the 1900s, Main Street along with New York Avenue was the center of town just as it is today. With all of its businesses and the great location, Huntington was an ideal place to live. The Huntington Sewing and Trade School was in the middle of it all, helping people learn and grow so that the community could gain success. It’s surely a place that will never be forgotten.

HIstoric Series: Takapausha Preserve

12 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places, The Great Outdoors

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algonkian, animals, birds, earth, forest, greenery, hiking, leaves, long island, museum, nassau county, nature, nature trail, new york, parks, plantlife, preserve, seaford, takapausha, trees

Being a nature lover you can count on me feeling at home at a place like Tackapausha Preserve. Located behind the Tackapausha Museum on Washington Avenue, it brings beauty in its purest form to Seaford, NY. If you need a place to escape from the rest of the world and you are local, this is it.

The preserve is free to enter and closes at sunset. It’s a great place for nature walks and exploring. Make sure you take note of the rules before you continue into the preserve, which are stated clearly at the gate entrances. You can also pick up a trail map at the museum to help guide you.

Taking good care of the preserve is important and even more crucial to the wildlife that live there. With 84 acres this sanctuary is the home of many small creatures including hundreds of bird species, like the ruby-throated hummingbird as well as Egyptian fruit bats. These species live amongst the plentiful oak and maple forests, ponds and streams.

There are three sections of the preserve, which are divided by major roads. However, you can follow the five mile nature trail that continues through the whole park. It fills the space between Merrick Road and Jerusalem Avenue.

You will find a small wetland between Clark and Jerusalem Avenue, a secluded pond (Duck Pond) in the section between Sunrise Highway and Clark Avenue and the Atlantic white cedar stand between Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway.

I really enjoyed my visit to the preserve back in December 2012. I felt as if I was traveling through tunnels of trees that welcomed me with every step. I have to say fall is a perfect time to go to see all the beautiful colors of the leaves and feel the crispness of the atmosphere. Although the warmer seasons would be nice with all the shade from the trees.

The preserve and museum are both operated by the Nassau County Department of Recreation. The county acquired the land in 1938 and since has been one of the most popular preserves on the South Shore. It was named after Chief Tackapausha of the Massapequa Band of Algonkian-speaking peoples.

The Tackapausha Museum is an impressive 3,000 square foot space with animals exhibits as well as activities for children. If you are interested in learning about the ecology of Long Island, you will find it all here. Why not take advantage of this natural resource and explore the gifts of Mother Earth. You can exercise and explore at the same time and its free!

Museum hours are 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and 1 pm – 4 pm on Sunday. Admission for children ages 5-12 is $2 (under 5 is free) and $3 for adults and teens. You can reach them at 516-571-7443 for updates and information.