Several of Oysterponds Historical Society’s historic buildings are open to the public on a regular basis during the summer months and contain compelling exhibitions of contemporary or historical significance featuring noteworthy items culled from OHS’s collections.

 

Although OHS buildings and exhibitions are now closed for the season, staff may be available Monday thru Friday to open the doors and give tours. If interested, please call the office at 631-323-2480 for more information.

 

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Village House

 

Village House is period-furnished with noteworthy pieces from the OHS collection and shown as a late 19th-century boarding house, demonstrating a significant chapter in its history. Every year six new exhibitions, curated by William McNaught (except where noted), are installed on the 2nd floor:

 

 

 

Loren A. Rowley, East Marion Photographer

Loren A. Rowley (1858-1918) was the minister of the East Marion Baptist Church from 1896 to 1904. He was also an excellent photographer whose photographs of East Marion are a wonderful record of turn-of-the-century life in this part of the world. Included are a fascinating group of photographs he took of the Rocky Point Life Saving Station in East Marion.

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William Steeple Davis: Etchings

William Steeple Davis (1894-1961) was a painter, photographer, and printmaker whose work constitutes the largest single collection at OHS. In 2023 we featured an exhibition of his linoleum and wood block prints. This year we are focusing on his etchings which were his first foray into printmaking. Some of the actual copper and zinc plates will be included in the exhibition.

 

 

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Recent Acquisitions

Important objects of all sorts continue to be given to OHS by generous members of the community: Paintings (a splendid early portrait of Elizabeth Brown Dyer Tuthill signed and dated 1842); Documents (Augustus Griffin’s son’s marriage certificate from 1828); Furniture (a mail sorter from the original Orient Point Post Office); Textiles (an oak-leaf pattern mid-nineteenth century applique quilt); Toys (a mid-nineteenth-century china-head doll).

 

 

The 150^th Anniversary of Poquatuck Hall

OHS has numerous documents and other items relating to the history of Poquatuck Hall and to the variety of events which took place there over many decades: meetings, plays, parties, lectures, recitals etc. John Holzapfel, who has lectured about its history, has generously agreed to put together a video presentation about the long and important part the Hall has played in the life of Oysterponds.

 

 

 

 

Highlights from Oysterponds Kitchens

OHS has period kitchens in two of its most important buildings: Webb House and Village House. This exhibition will focus on the individual items that were used in Oysterponds kitchens like these over two centuries. Some items will be familiar, but many will seem somewhat curious or even mysterious. Co-curated by Sarah Olmstead.

 

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“All dressed up…”

The textile collection at OHS is extensive. The largest part is clothing – worn in Oysterponds and eventually donated by families over the last 80 years. Most of the clothes date back to the 19th century or the early years of the 20^th century. This exhibition will focus on our collection of early children’s clothes. Sarah Olmstead is the curatorial assistant for this exhibition which will provide an opportunity to see one of the most charming aspects of our textile collection.

 

 

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Red Barn

The 19th-century Red Barn was originally constructed as a grain market near the Orient wharf but served many different functions including acting as a seine house for repairing and storing fishing nets. OHS purchased The Red Barn in 1966 and moved it 750 feet to its current location on the OHS campus.  2024 marks its debut as a revitalized and repurposed exhibition space, home to “The Red Barn Collection,” a permanent multi-media exhibition focused on the storied farming and fishing history of Long Island’s North Fork.

 

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The Red Barn Collection is comprised of pictures, tools, equipment, and artifacts of farming and fishing as well as winter activities and early transportation. The objects on display are intended to evoke images of life in the Oysterponds community as the 19th century transitioned to the 20th.

 

Acknowledgements: Without the generous donations of noteworthy artifacts contributed over the years by many local families , a $20,000 NY State grant procured by Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., and the hard work and determination of John & Joyce Holzapfel, the Red Barn Collection would not exist.

 

 

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Webb House

 

The 18th-century Webb House was floated across the bay in 1955 from Greenport to its present location overlooking Poquatuck Park. It now contains period-furnished rooms on the 1st floor and a permanent Maritime Exhibition on the 2nd:

 

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“Webb House Permanent Maritime Exhibition” – Given the Oysterponds community’s historical connection and proximity to the sea, it is no wonder that OHS’s collection abounds with significant artwork and artifacts that have to do with ships, seafaring, whaling, etc. This Exhibition, on the 2nd floor of Webb House, is a compelling distillation of the many noteworthy maritime-related items in our collection, including 16 of our maritime paintings and seven of our ship models—many recently restored.