Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular Saltwater Stories program was created to ensure that the region’s maritime history and culture is preserved. The “living history” program enables visitors to learn directly from Long Island fishermen, baymen, boat builders, decoy carvers and maritime artists as they share the skills and traditions passed down through their families. The need to share and celebrate this important aspect of Long Island history is more important than ever following Hurricane Sandy. Saltwater Stories is made possible with funding from the New York Council for the Humanities.
The storm’s impact was felt across Long Island, but felt most forcefully in the towns that line our shorelines. Many of the bay houses that have been part of our landscape have been destroyed or swept away. Commercial fishing has been disrupted as the clean-up continues. But one thing remains constant – the desire to get “back to the bay.”
On January 12-13 families are invited to become maritime tradition keepers as they learn to bait a trap, use woodworking tools to work on a duck decoy, try on clamming shoes, repair a dragger net and learn how boats are built. Join us to learn what we can do help get us “back to the bay” this summer.
“Long Island Children’s Museum is committed to presenting and preserving our community’s history through innovative and immersive programming,” explained LICM President Suzanne LeBlanc. “Visitors to this year’s Saltwater Stories will come away with a unique understanding of how changes, sometimes beyond our control, can impact our way of life and affect families and communities.” LICM launched the annual maritime program in 2009 and has watched the program grow into a family tradition for museum visitors.
Maritime tradition keepers on hand during the 2013 Saltwater Stories will include
Ben Bentley, a Greenport boat builder, John Buczak, a commercial bayman from Bay Shore; Tom Jeffries, a commercial fisherman from Freeport; Herb Jurist, seascape artist from Freeport; John Remsen, a killey trapper and bay house owner from Freeport; George Rigby, a master decoy carver from Center Moriches; Joey Scavone, a Freeport commercial fisherman; Flo Sharkey, a second generation baywoman who works in Patchogue; Charles Tekula, a gil netter in the Great South Bay; Pete Wenczel, a Southold conch fisherman and Collin Weyant, a baymen-in training from Freeport.
During the weekend, families will have the opportunity to hear stories of how Long Island’s fishing community weathered the storm, practice basic maritime skills, learn what they can do to help Long Island’s coasts rebound and share their own “Sandy” stories and wishes for the future through conversation boards and seascape murals.
Project scholars Nancy Solomon (Executive Director, Long Island Traditions) and cultural anthropologist Judith Burgess, Ph.D. will complement the information shared by the fishermen with stories of Long Island’s seafaring people and places. Visitors will also learn about the influence of Dutch immigrants on Long Island’s maritime history and view artifacts from the Long Island Maritime Museum.
On Sunday afternoon, visitors will also have the opportunity to view a vintage 1950s travelogue highlighting Long Island’s own Knutson Marine. The episode of the CBS-TV show “Let’s Take a Trip” was shot in the Huntington, NY boat yard. Dan Knutson will be on hand at 2 p.m. on Sunday to share his memories of life at the boatyard and the important role Knutson’s played in Long Island’s economic development.
All activities will be held at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Museum admission: $12 for adults and children over 1 year old, $11 seniors, FREE to museum members and children under 1 year old. Additional fees for theater and special programs may apply. For additional information, contact 516-224-5800 or visit www.licm.org