JULY / AUGUST 2021 The Bryant Library, 2 Paper Mill Road, Roslyn, NY 11576 516-621-2240 • www.bryantlibrary.org SUMMER READING PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES Free gift CHILDREN’S TEENS ADULTS THROUGH SAT., AUGUST 7 TUESDAY, JULY 6 - TUESDAY, JULY 6 - Free, fun, and rewarding! Join our TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 summer reading program and earn Grades 6-12! Track your reading Free Gift For Joining! Stop by the weekly prizes. Children are encour- on READsquared for the chance to Reference Desk to claim your gift. Join aged to read all year, especially win weekly raffles! After you sign us for a summer of reading fun! Weekly during the summer. Our program up, stop by the Reference Desk to raffles, author talks, cooking & baking begins Monday, June 14 and runs pick up your registration prize. Also demonstrations, book & movie discus- through Saturday, August 7 for be sure to flip to Pages 15 & 16 sions, prizes, and more! For Bryant children in Preschool to 5th Grade. for more information on upcoming Library Card Holders Only. To sign up, Registration and recording is all done special events and visit www.bry- visit www.bryantlibrary.org or call the through READsquared (Online) and antlibrary.org to sign up. Limited to Reference Desk (516) 621-2240. All of prizes will be awarded weekly to Bryant Library cardholders only. our Summer Tales special events will participants, while supplies last. The take place on Tuesdays at 1:00 PM via last week of the program there will be Zoom. Flip to Page 9 for more details. a chance to be entered into a grand finale prize drawing! So let’s get to reading! BRYANT LIBRARY TECH FAIR Wednesday, July 28 from 2:00-3:30 PM Online Join Bryant staff as they showcase all of the new technological gadgets, resources, programs, and services that the library offers! You will explore all of our latest devices, learn how they work, and will be able to ask questions and make suggestions for the collection. July / August 2021 • 1 The Bryant Library Local History Collection A Cool Drink of Water: Roslyn’s Freshwater Springs as recalled by John J. Radigan By Carol L. Clarke, Archivist seen. There was, however, in the most conveniently A phone call several months ago from Mar- located springs some slight changes made for the shall Johnson, whose grandparents, Edward and convenience of the public. This was accomplished Katherine Ramsauer, resided at 44 East Broadway by making a slight change in leading the stream a from 1905 through the late 1950s, spurred my cu- short distance underground through tile to a more riosity about the various springs that once flowed suitable outlet. throughout the Village. All springs used as private or public were always Mr. Johnson recalled how much he and his boxed up. This raised the water level to cause the siblings enjoyed the refreshing cold water from water to pour out making it possible to take water the spring in his grandparent’s backyard on hot into a household or drinking vessel. The most popu- summer afternoons, and wondered if the spring lar springs were close to the street where a drinking still flowed. While I couldn’t answer definitively, vessel was sure to be found. This was made possible his question led me to the handwritten notes of because the vessel you found was always a food con- amateur local historian John J. Radigan (1869- tainer and no person forgot to leave it for the next 1949) preserved in the Local History Collection. thirsty traveler. Children thirsty or not could never pass by one without a lingering stop. It is of these In the excerpt below, Mr. Radigan recalls some springs their story will be written. of the freshwater springs that once flowed in Roslyn, providing a cool drink to passers-by on hot The most active spring in this category with the summer days. greatest volume of flowing water had at its source in the door yard of Miss Jessie Smith, 106 Main Street. In time when Main Street was laid out, a waist high Springs in Roslyn outlet was made at the entrance to the older paper Roslyn in all portions of its lowlands lying at the mill dam, a few steps in foot of surrounding hills had many active springs, a from Main Street. From number of them visible with a location easy to ap- here it flowed through a proach. Others, which included the greater number, small gully to the paper were in the swamps or marshes where they were mill pond. This I think inaccessible. And in later years to be the water sup- was the only hard water ply for ponds that were flooded over them. Springs spring around Roslyn. were found along the east side of the harbor around The next spring in the head and through the whole valley. To have the quantity of flowing known all the springs in the 1870’s or 1880’s was water but greater in to know the same springs the first white men had Follow us on Instagram @RoslynLocalHistory July / August 2021 • 2 The Bryant Library Local History Collection importance to the public was the St. Mary’s Church The Willet Titus spring [was] an outlet for a spring spring, the source of which is under the church on the Skillman property [now the Harbourview altar. When the basement was excavated the spring Shopping Center] formerly a swamp. It was placed in was welled up and the water carried through tile to the driveway a few feet in from the sidewalk between an outlet which at that time had a very convenient the tinshop and residence [1441 Old Northern Blvd.] height on Summit Street. Under the administration Here a bright tin cup would be found. It was always of Rev. Nicholas Doran 1886-1898 a chained ladle held in high favor by the children from the old pub- was kept there for drinking purposes. When Bryant lic school diagonally across the street. The flow from Avenue was improved in 1898 the grade was raised it was good. ... also on Summit Street. This placed the spring in a About 1884 the Titus spring was discontinued hole. In a very dry season when some families de- and the water diverted to a fountain erected by Mrs. pendent on cisterns for water supply, a cistern would Ellen Ward in the triangle of Skillman Street and sometimes run dry. St. Mary’s spring water for the Northern Boulevard in memory of her husband hauling away in cans or barrel they would be safe General Elijah Ward. This was in the days of horses, until rain. even oxen would not cause you to turn your head. The East Broadway spring was located on Jonathan The fountain had two water levels. The upper bowl Conklin’s property [208 East Broadway] about one was used by horses to drink from should they be hundred fifty feet north of his residence, recently checked. Mrs. Ward thought of the horses some owned by James McGee. It was inside and below the drivers would permit to travel thirsty rather than to edge of the foot path (sidewalk) with another side leave their seats and uncheck the horse to drink. path leading around it up or down. The flow was The lower bowl found general use with all animals small but ample without trying your patience. Along not under restraint. Man was also served at the the edge of the walk above the spring protecting the fountain.... public were about sixty foot of fencing all covered with honeysuckle. With the introduction of street water in Roslyn and the installation of pumps, many springs have been dried up and the free flowing with a large volume have been considerably reduced. The ponds it would seem still have springs enough left to maintain their level. It is, however, doubtful if they could power or turn the cumbersome old mill wheels with the same constancy as in the past. For an extended look at Roslyn’s freshwater springs, check out our Bryant Room Blog by visiting bryantlibrary.org/local-history and clicking the Blog tab. Help us expand our knowledge about Roslyn’s past. Contact Archivist Carol Clarke at [email protected] or 516-621-2240 x 260 if you have photographs or documents to share. Follow us on Instagram July / August 2021 • 3 @RoslynLocalHistory Technology Center COMPUTER CLASSES Please visit www.bryantlibrary.org and then click on the Calendar of Events to register. INTRODUCTION TO LEARN WITH LINKEDIN LEARNING 3D DESIGN & PRINTING Taught in English: Wednesday , August 11 from Wednesday, July 14 from 7:00-8:30 PM Online 10:00-11:00 AM Online Introduction to 3D Design and Printing - In this virtual Taught in Chinese: Wednesday, August 18 from class, students will learn the basics of 3D printing 10:00-11:00 AM Online including how to use the software Tinkercad, to create Want to learn new skills and don’t know where to start? and design 3D objects. Prerequisite: good computer Your Library is here to help. In this class, we will learn skills. how to use LinkedIn Learning - the new online resource the Library offers to learn business, technology-related, VIDEO EDITING & YOUTUBE and creative skills. Wednesday, July 21 from 7:00-8:30 PM Online In this virtual class, learn how to combine and edit your INTERMEDIATE PHOTOSHOP videos using Windows 10 Video Editor and post to You- Wednesday, August 11 from 7:00-8:30 PM Online Tube. Keep the parts you want, remove what you don’t.