Rocky Point Historical Society Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary Tel: (631) 744-1776 Circa 1721 Noah Hallock Homestead September-October-November 2015 MARK YOUR CALENDAR RCA Ornament MEETINGS HELD AT 7:30 PM AT THE VFW POST #6249 Our 2nd Annual Christmas 109 KING ROAD, ROCKY POINT Ornament is now available. This HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE year we are featuring the world- renowned RCA Radio Central Transmitting Station, which oper- Thurs., Sept. 10th at 7:30 PM ated in Rocky Point from 1921- General Meeting & Program: 1978. The ornament is featured “Along The Native American Footpath” in a striking royal blue with white by Sandi Brewster Walker and gold artwork. You will want to add this to your collection of Rocky Point memorabilia. Sunday, Oct,. 18th at 3 PM Annual Tea at VFW Post, King Rd The 1st edition of the Circa 1721 Noah Hallock House is also available in red or green. The orna- Theme: Louis Del Bianco, Chief carver ments are $10 and are available during Saturday tours Mt. Rushmore (see enclosed flyer) at the Homestead and at our regular 2nd Thursday meetings at the VFW Post. The ornaments will also be Thurs., Nov. 12th at 7:30 PM sold at the Lasting Treasures Gift Shop, located at General Meeting & Program: 757 Route 25A in Rocky Point. We are grateful to “The Gezaris at Rocky Point” Joan & Joe Fuoco for selling these ornaments at our By Daniel Gezari price, with no profit to the Gift Shop. Mail orders are $15. each, which includes shipping and handling. Send orders to: Rocky Point Historical Society, Saturday, Nov. 21st at 11 AM P. O. Box 1720, Rocky Point, NY 11778 Noah Hallock Cemetery Clean-up Please bring a rake Our Thanks Rocky Point Historical Society Our thanks to PLEASE RENEW YOUR 2015 MEMBERSHIP DUES Landmark Properties for OR BECOME A NEW MEMBER fixing the area to the Help us to preserve beautiful Rocky Point’s history cellar at the Home- stead. Our thanks to DUES: Individual: $15 Family: $20 the Duenas family for Full time Students: $10 Business: $100 helping to put together Rocky Point Historical Society our rock garden. P. O. Box 1720, Rocky Point, NY 11778 We are a 501 ( c ) 3 Non-profit organization Photo: Rafael Duenas, Donations are tax deductible Erin Duenas, Tristan THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE RE-NEWED Liam, and Sabrina Brick Walk $150. - $50. 2nd brick Duenas Yard Sale at the Homestead - May 30th, 2015 Photo: Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker, with volunteers: Lin Cagna, Jeanne Santoriello, Joan Sele, Mark Walker, Lynda Walker, Mary Ann Posse Natalie Aurucci Stiefel, and Linda Cathcart Thanks to our community & volunteers Our gratitude to the residents of the local communities for their kind support. We are thankful to County Legislator Sarah Anker & Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner for their attendance and encouragement. Legislator Anker purchased a vintage typewriter to add to her collection. Our 3rd Yard Sale event was a huge success, thanks to its dedicated volunteers, led by yard sale coordinators Lin Cagna and Maryann Posse. Volunteers who helped with the event: Michael Affatato, Lin Cagna, Ed Cathcart, Linda Cathcart, Jeff Davis, Joan Depken, Walter Depken, Rick Devereaux, Joseph, John Forberg, Annette Falcetta, Pete Falcetta, Jim Higgins, Suzanne Johnson, Charlene LaCascia, Wayne Mammina, Dick Pav, Nancy Pav, Maryann Posse, Rory Rubino, Jeanne Santoriello, Joe Santoriello, Joe Saunders,Marie Sedell, Joan Sele, Maryann Shucker, Natalie Aurucci Stiefel, Lynda Walker and Mark Walker. Their dedication is deeply appreciated by everyone including those of future generations who will benefit from their work. The proceeds of the Yard Sale are used directly for the maintenance and support of the historic Hallock Homestead. Tours of the house are open to the public on Saturdays from 1-3 PM thru December. Phone 744-1776 for group tour reservations. Kjell Markstrom and Lars Johansson presented an informative historic program of the SAQ Station Front row: Lars Johansson, Kjell Markstrom of SAQ, Grimeton, Sweden, Rory Rubino,(RPHS) Natalie Aurucci Stiefel, Pres. Rocky Point Historical Society. Back row: Christian Billard (DEC Assistant Forester), Dick Pav, (RPHS) Robert Marsh, (DEC Natural Resource Manager), John Winnet (DEC Supervising Forester), Nancy Pav (RPHS) touring RCA site in Rocky Point Visit from SAQ - Sweden Swedish Radio Directors visit Rocky Point Directors of the famous SAQ Transmitting Station in Sweden visited the area to tour the RCA Radio Central site in Rocky Point. The Rocky Point Historical Society hosted a reception and tours for them on June 29th and 30th to meet local radio historians. Mr. Lars G. Johansson serves as the present CEO of the SAQ Grimeton Station in Sweden and as a former archaeologist with the Swedish National Heritage Board. Mr. Kjell Markstrom is the former CEO of SAQ and the former Director of the Swedish Telcom cell phone company. RCA built the SAQ station in Grimeton, Sweden in 1922, just one year after they established their transmitting station in Rocky Point. The Swedish station has become a museum and de- clared by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site. This museum is still functioning, as their archival 200 kw Alexanderson alternator and six 420’ high long-wave towers are still in opera- tion. The alternator is the only functioning one in the world. The station is used by the Swedish Navy which brings some revenue for the museum. Mr. Johansson explained that each of the six towers require painting every ten years at a cost of one million dollars each. Volunteers from the Alexanderson Society help maintain the station museum. Over 20,000 visitors and 5,000 young students tour the station museum each year. Communication and cooperation were vital between the SAQ Station in Sweden and the RCA Radio Central Station in Rocky Point. The Rocky Point station especially played an important part in communication during the World War II era. The inventor of the alternators, Ernst Alexanderson, originally worked at the Swedish SAQ tation, was employed at General Electric in Schenectady, New York and became Chief Engineer and Consultant at Radio Central in Rocky Point. Alexanderson, who was an engineer and radio pioneer, was noted for his work with the award of the IRE Gold Medal in 1919, IRE President in 1920, entrance in the Inventor’s Hall of Fame and the Edison Medal in 1945. Grimeton’s (call sign “SAQ”) still transmits a message to the world twice a year: at the yearly “Alexanderson Day” (Sunday at the end of June/beginning of July) and at Christmas Eve. The frequency is 17,2 kHz CW. Mr. Johannson and Mr. Markstrom presented Rocky Point Historical Society with an engraved crystal of the SAQ station as well as two books, one about the SAQ station and the other the biography of Ernst Alexanderson. Rocky Point Historical Society P. O. BOX 1720,ROCKY POINT, NY 11778 OFFICERS Natalie Aurucci Stiefel, President James Higgins, Vice President Linda Cathcart, Treasurer & Membership Joseph Santoriello, Recording Secretary Charlene LaCascia, Corresponding Secretary TRUSTEES Jeff Davis Mike Levonick Joan Depken Robert Rizzotto Walter Depken Rory Rubino Pete Falcetta Thomas Samuel (Hallock) Tuthill (Honorary) Kenny Blinn, Emeritus PAST PRESIDENTS: Walter Depken,docent Peter Carroll, Daria Cwik, Kenny Blinn, Suzanne Johnson at the Honorary Members: James Keegan Robert T. Lundquist , RCA Radio Central Station Engineer Noah Hallock Anne Tuthill Polta Homestead’s farm room Internet Web Host: Judy Haber Assistant Web Host: Annette Falcetta Internet Website: www.rockypointhistoricalsociety.org Circa 1721 Noah Hallock Homestead 172 Hallock Landing Road, Rocky Point Annual Trip Open for guided tours—Saturdays 1-3 PM (April thru December) Telephone (631) 744-1776 for group tours & information Our Annual Historic trip on June 6th took us for a tour of the Masury Estate in Center Moriches. The building was originally built in 1898 and part of the Masury family estate. It features a magnificent ballroom, bowling alley and billiards room. The building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned and maintained by the Holiday Beach Property Owners Association. Our sincere gratitude to Sally Burgess, the Board of Trustees and volunteers for their gracious tour and hospitality of home- baked pastries and ice tea. Sally is the daughter of our members, Lou and Carmela Parrinello. Our group enjoyed a delicious and well-prepared luncheon at La Volpe Restaurant. .