View December 2016 Part 2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
4 —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— Preserving Local History The vintage ice boats of Orient include the following: “Platter” — Original name “Git-There”, the “Platter” (pictured below) was built about 1880 by Will Brown, a son of Orient’s famous whaler, Peter Brown. This is a diamond stay boat, quite different from the other vintage ice boats. The boat was owned by Edward King for many years and then by his daughter, Fran Demerest who sold it to Bob Sorensen. “Red Bird” — The “Red Bird”, built in approximately 1850 by Ed King’s father, Charles Henry King. The photo on the right, taken in 1968, shows Ed King at 79 years old with his favorite ice boat. Ed was probably the most avid ice boater in Orient ice boating history, at one time owning four of Orient’s vintage ice boats that included, the “Platter”, the “Eagle”, and the “Effie”. The photo on the facing page, taken in 1917, shows the “Red Bird” ice boat in Orient Harbor in a nicely controlled hike with Ed King at the helm. You may be able to see the ice plume off the stern runner. “Rival” — Built about 1880. One of the fastest boats in the Orient fleet. Owned by the John Tuthill family. www.FlandersHVAC.com Think First! Santa’s Elves Work 364Days aYear Cute? Sure, But Not Exactly What We’d Call Dependable... NEED SERVICE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON? Think Flanders First! 24/7/365 (Christmas Too!) 100% Heating, Cooling Since 1954 Certified and Comfort HEATING & Technicians Since 1954 HEATING & 24/7 Serving Emergency ALL of AIR CONDITIONING Service Eastern Suffolk (631) 727-2760 24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE ©2016 LGM creative, LLC/631.775.7844 5 —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • Preserving Local History • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— 6 —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • Preserving Local History • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— Effie Our 93rd Year! —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— 7 Preserving Local History “Effie” — This iceboat (photo on page 6) is a gaff rigged, A-frame A period of cold weather during the third week in January of 2003 stern steerer built by Rufus Tuthill in 1903-4 and launched in 1905. Ed froze Hallock’s Bay for the first time since 2000 and provided a large King purchased it in 1960 from the Tuthills, and was later owned by the area of smooth ice– exactly what ice boating needs. These ice conditions Ken Newman family. brought out a considerable number of the vintage ice boats along with the newer ones as well. It is estimated that over 200 people were at the shore th “Eagle” — Built in approximately 1903 by Elmer “Bus” Vail, the of Hallock’s Bay on Saturday, January 25 watching the ice boaters skim- “Eagle” was first launched in Orient Harbor in 1905. (See photo on page ming over the ice. 9)Mr. Vail built this boat for his two sons who were 12 and 14. He also These 100 year old ice boats and their owners are all part of the Orient built another ice boat called “Jack Frost” in the late 1800’s. The “Eagle” Ice Yacht Club formed in 1991. It was kind of ironic that the name picked was purchased from Mr. Vail about 1917 by Ed King and his two brothers, was the same name of the club formed about 1900. In 1905 a Loving Cup Henry and Seward. The boat has the reputation of being one of the best Trophy, called the Challenger Cup, was presented by the Orient Ice Yacht sailing boats in Orient for almost a century. The “Eagle” was next owned Club to the winner of that winter’s races, a boat named “Cora”. by Bob Reeves, Ed King’s grandson. Perhaps the best description of local ice boating was that written by Lloyd Kluge in February of 1946 entitled, “Ice-Boating”, quoted below: Most every year when the snow disappears, the fields are brown and ice appears. The days are chilly and the nights are cold, they shake men’s bones both young and old. The men gather round and begin to say, ‘I guess ice boating is on the way’. The ice on the Bay is soft and sleek, where black ducks feed in the soft water creek. The ice gets hard and with some rain, which freezes on your window pane, the Bay will be hard in no time at all, where the old squaws played in the early fall. Ice boats in barns are covered with dust, some runners are spotted with thin coats of rust. With the help of sand paper and a coat of paint, too, the ice boats will soon look as good as new. The sails are rigged with bright new rope and the hearts of men are filling with hope. The boats are out on a bright windy day, and taken by truck to Hallock’s Bay. The wind is cold and nips your nose, and the people around are all half froze. Young and old gather around and say, ‘I guess the “Eagle” will sail today’. Those long slender runners back inside, too, are shaped as good as they were when new. Peak halyard, throat halyard, tiller and bow stay are familiar expressions we again learn to say. The sails are lashed with new cotton twine, while the winds in the stay whistle and whine. We’ll hop on the “Red Wing” with Ed King at the tiller, the ride he will give th use will sure be a thriller, as we turn into the wind and then come around, “Silver Eel” — Here is a shot of the “Silver Eel” taken January 25 away on the next lap we are soon bound. As we glide to the shore with the of 2003. This ice boat was owned by Orville Terry, then purchased by Scott ride at an end, our dreams have come true. Ice boating’s here again. Harris who has clocked the “Silver Eel” using a GPS at speeds of over 50 miles per hour. This article is republishrd from our archives. It was written in 2003 by the late Merlon Wiggin, who credited Bob Reeves, Jr. for most of the background information. More “North Wind” — One of the newer stern steerers built about 1930. It photos can be seen on the following pages. was purchased by Curt Tabor and Ed Adams in the late ’40’s. New oak run- If any reader would like to update the ?news of these iceboats today we would love to ners were installed by Bob Reeves, Sr. Last known owner, Kent McCarthy. hear from you. Please see our contact information on page 2. 8 —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • Preserving Local History • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— May the Warmth of the Season Light Your Way roughout the Year. Januarey 25, 2003 Iceboating on Hallocks Bay. Photos by (877) 786-6560 • myNYCB.com Merlon Wiggin. 9 —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • Preserving Local History • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— Eagle 10 —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— Preserving Local History This image is a reduction of a large rolled map showing the various changes of the North Fork from 1640 to 1965. It shows details (using a magnifying glass!) such as wind and tide mill sites, Indian villages, church cemeteries and more. 11 —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • Preserving Local History • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— 1216048—————————— Peconic Bay DEC_16048 Peconic TheBay DEC Peconic 12/7/16 Bay 10:53 Shopper AM Page •1 Preserving Local History • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— Season’s Greetings from the crew at Cross Sound Ferry. We’d like to wish all ferry travelers throughout the East End a safe and happy holiday season. Give The Gift Of Travel. Cross Sound Ferry’s Captain’s Cards and Gift Cards are a great stocking stuffer! It's quick and easy. A few clicks and your holiday shopping is complete. Order online at www.longislandferry.com Also available at the ticket offices, or by phone: 860-443-5281 and 631-323-2525 Gift cards are available for travel to Block Island via Cross Sound Ferry and Block Island Express. Please call (631) 323-2525 and speak to an operator. Vehicle & Passenger Ferry SeaJet High-Speed Service Nov. 28 - Dec.15, 2016 Depart Return New London, CT Orient Point, NY —————————————————————————— Monday- 8:15 AM 9:15 AM* Thursday 5:15 PM 6:15 PM —————————————————————————— 7:15 AM 8:15 AM† Friday- 9:15 AM 10:15 AM† Sunday- 5:15 PM 6:15 PM 7:15 PM 8:15 PM† —————————————————————————— *Buses to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casinos will meet the 9:15AM Mon. through Thurs. †Buses will also meet the 8:15AM and 10:15AM Friday through Sunday and the 8:15PM on Friday & Saturday only. Dec.16,2016 - Jan.1,2017 No Service Dec. 25 Depart Return New London, CT Orient Point, NY —————————————————————————— 7:15 AM 8:15 AM* 7 Days 9:15 AM 10:15 AM* A Week 5:15 PM 6:15 PM 7:15 PM 8:15 PM† —————————————————————————— *Buses to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casinos will meet OUND the 8:15AM and 10:15AM 7 days a week. † Buses to Foxwoods and S F S E Mohegan Sun Casinos will meet the 8:15PM Friday & Saturday only. S R O R R Y C Year-round, daily, vehicle and passenger service between • • Orient Point, Long Island and New London,CT. Large, fast, O S The SeaJet Gets You There In Just 40 Minutes V R E A comfortable ferries that will save hours off your trip. R 4 0 Y E For schedule, rates and reservations: (631)323-2525 (860)443-5281 www.longislandferry.com —————————— The Peconic Bay Shopper • • DECEMBER 2016 —————————— 13 Preserving Local History LIST YOUR EVENTS! Our monthly listings are free to all non-profit organizations and fundraising events.