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info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org iJournalof theCow NeckPeninsulaHistoricalSocietyPrinted in the U.S.A. Copyright © 2012by the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society336 Port Washington Boulevard, Port Washington, New York 11050All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission forbidden.1962-2012Celebrating 50 Years
iiCow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyBoardofTrusteesCNPHS Officers and Trustees President: Christopher BainVice President: Margot GramerVice President: Lucy DavidsonTreasurer: Glen DeSalvoRecording Secretary: Gregory DanilekCorresponding Secretary: Lucy DavidsonPresident Emerita: Joan KentTrustees Lee AitkenTom AmatoFred BlumleinRobert BriceKen BuettnerAnn Marie ColtonArthur DonovanEvelyn FitzsimmonsFay FraserMarla FreemanAnn W. LatnerMilan SchiffPublication CommitteeChris Bain: Project Coordinator Ann W. Latner: EditorSmallkaps Associates, Inc: Graphic DesignSpecial thanks to George Williams, Evelyn Fitzsimmons, Greg Danilek, and Helen Vogt for decades of dedication to the Society.EducationDirector of Education: Marina Vlahos
Dear Friends,Iam excited to present you with a fascinating compilationof articles that convey the history of Port Washington inmoving and personal details. When you read CharlotteMerriman’s moment by moment account of her journey toPort Washington to accept a teaching position in a town shehad never heard of, you will be transformed, as I was, to anearlier era when receiving a telegram that offered a salary of$700-a-year was received with the thought: “What a fortune!”Originally published in the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society’s very firstJournal back in the early 1960’s, Miss Merriman’s article tells how she left herhome in upstate New York and traveled to our small village to teach in [one of itselementary schools?]. We reprint it here in its entirety, since it so perfectly capturesthe charm of another era. On any given day, most of us drive down Main Street, passing locations thathave been the primary anchors of our town for more than 100 years, including therailroad station, Starbuck’s corner, Alper’s corner, the Library, Bayles’s corner (nowDolphin Books), and the shoreline from Louis’ to Baxter Pond to the Mill Pond. Do you ever wonder what these spots looked like 100 years ago? Your historicalsociety knows, and we help you get to know the Port Washington that existed whenthere were six different hotels to serve the many visitors. Once known as CowNeck, our town has a rich history that is still all around us—including a seafoodrestaurant (Fish Kebob) that once was a bank, and Landmark on Main Street thatwas the town’s brand new school, not once but twice!We are also reprinting a recently uncovered article written in 1896 by CharlesThomas Dodge, a member of one of Port Washington’s earliest families. A newarticle by Society trustee and treasurer Glen DeSalvo sheds light on “The LostSchoolhouse” and our town’s earliest schools. Rounding out this issue of ourJournal is another new article by trustee Lucy Davidson, detailing some of thepermanent inhabitants of the Sands Cemetery, located on a small plot in Sands Point.This is our collective history, whether your family has been here for generationsor has only lived here for a few years. For half a century, hundreds of your fellowtownspeople have volunteered their time, donated their funds, and enjoyedpreserving our local heritage by their involvement in the Cow Neck PeninsulaHistorical Society. This issue of our Journal commemorates the 50th year of suchlocal involvement, and we invite you to help celebrate our history as we looktowards the next 50 years.From all of us at the Society, we thank you for your continuing support!Chris Bain, Presidentinfo@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org iiiA Message from Our President
ivCow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyOur MissionThe mission of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society is to engagepeople of all ages in programs that highlight the lifestyles of the peopleand families that lived and worked on our peninsula throughout theyears. Central to this mission is the preservation of the Sands WilletsHouse (circa 1735) and the Thomas Dodge Homestead (circa 1721),which the Society operates as house-museums, serving as resources for the community.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org vTableofContentsTheLostSchoolHouseBy Glen J. DeSalvo6ReminiscencesoftheDodgeHomesteadatPortWashingtonBy Henry Thomas DodgeThePortIRememberBy Charlotte E. Merriman1431AVirtualTouroftheSandsBurialGroundBy Lucy Davidson25
6 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyTheLostSchoolHouseBy Glen J. DeSalvo, TrusteeThe “Up-Neckers” and the “Down-Neckers” clashed at Baxter’s Bridge,currently Shore Road at Baxter Pond. It was the West Side Story of the late19th century except the weapons of choice were rocks, sticks, and mud balls.Charles F. (Chip) Dodge recalled in an interview in 1961: “We calledanybody who lived up beyond Baxter’s Creek Up-Neckers. I was a Down-Necker myself, and it was a wonder we ever got together because in those daysit was almost worth your life to go across that bridge into Up-Necker territory.”Ernie Simon, a long-time Port Washington resident, recalled: “I saw many ofthese battles and they were certainly far from being tame. Many a lad wentback to his home with a black eye and full of bruises.” It would not be until1904, when the Down-Neckers and Up-Neckers would compete in inter-scholastic baseball games, that the fighting subsided and the competitionmoved to the baseball field.The Rivalry between the Up-Neckers and the Down-Neckers can be tracedback to 1819, when, on May 12th of that year, the Town Commission ofCommon Schools of North Hempstead divided the town into nine districts. The“Bottom of the Neck” would be designated No. 5 and “Flower Hill” as No. 4.Sands Point School No. 1 class photograph ca. 1890.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 7School district No. 5 schooled the Down-Neckers and the original district wasdescribed by the Commission as “beginning one rod north of John Allens housethence one rod north of Daniel Hoaglands house, thence one rod South of JohnMitchells house to the bay, westerly by the bay, northerly by the sound, easterlyby Hempstead Harbor bay to the place of beginning.” This district included thebusinesses centered around the Mill Pond including the Grist Mill and McKee’sGeneral Store. It was sometimes called Cow Bay Village and was the hub ofactivity on Cow Neck. The Flower Hill district No. 4 was comprised mostly oforchards, meadows and farmland and extended south to the Head of CowNeck (Manhasset) district. It would not be until 1898, when the Long IslandRailroad extended its line to Port Washington, that the Up-Necker populationwould swell, and development would consume the once pristine farmland.The first school house in Cow Neck, which the Port Washington peninsulawas called prior to 1859, was the Flower Hill School, a one-room school housebuilt in 1757. It was located on the Onderdonk farm at the corner of what isnow Bogart Avenue and Port Washington Boulevard. Nine years earlier, in1748, the first school teacher arrived in Cow Neck. He answered an ad placedin the New York Mercury which read, “Thomas Dodge and Petrus Onderdonkwant a man well qualified to teach school in Cow Neck.” As there was not yeta formal school house, Cow Neck’s first teacher would travel and teach in thelocal settlers’ homes. As the area population grew, a second teacher was addedin 1813. The salary was raised to $12 per month, a substantial increase overthe 25 pounds per year that the teacher was paid in 1763.Photograph from the Witmer Collection showing the Mill Pond with Sands Point School No. 2 on the hill.
8 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyThe original “Down-Neck School” was a one-room school house builtsometime prior to 1841. This school was located directly across the street fromthe Dodge Homestead, at the corner of Pleasant Avenue and Mill Pond Road. Itwas later moved across the street to the opposite side of Pleasant Avenue sothat the Free Church, Port Washington’s first church, could be constructed onthe site. The location of the church and school, situated side-by-side, was areminder of the importance education and religion played in the lives of theearly settlers.In his memoirs, Paul D. Schreiber, a Port Washington educator, describedthe quaint school house: “The exterior of the school house was of rough siding.The floor boards inside the school were unfinished lumber, with cracks so widebetween, they could not possibly keep out the cold air beneath in the winter.The schoolroom was heated by a Franklin stove that stood in the center of theschoolroom, around which hand-made desks, with deeply gouged initials ofthe previous occupant, were clustered for warmth… wooden benches in thefront of the room, with the inevitable switch or paddle, within easy reach of theculprit and a slate or painted blackboard, in back of the teacher’s desk,completed the furnishings of the schoolroom.”It was expensive to attend school in those days. As the Union Free Schoolwas not established until 1863, families had to be fairly well-off to afford thefourteen cents per day that it cost to send a student to school. A receipt in theDodge archives notes that on May 26, 1841, William Dodge paid twentydollars on account for the tax on school house No. 5.The one-room school house on Mill Pond Road served the Down-Neckersfor over 30 years. During that time Cow Neck was officially named PortSands Point School No. 1 ca. 1890 after the alterationsto the original structure.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 9Washington and a post office was opened to serve the growing population. In1870, the ‘little red school house” as it was then called, was deemed too smallto serve the growing population of Down-Neckers. After contentiousnegotiations with the land owners and at a cost of $6,000, a new school housewas built on School Street, perched high on a hill overlooking the Mill Pondand bay. On August 24, 1870 the town came out to celebrate the dedication ofthe new school house. Politicians from the First Assembly District addressedthe crowd. The sounds of Prof. Gumbles’ Brass Band echoed over the bay. Atthe conclusion of the program an Indian clam bake and dancing ended aperfect day.It was an impressive structure for its day [shown on the cover of thisjournal - ed]. Known as the “Green School House,” or “Sands Point School No.1,” it had large 6-over-6 windows around the entire structure, massive woodendouble brackets gracing the roof line, and a magnificent cupola adorning thetop front portion of the school house. Of course, no school would be completewithout a towering flagpole in front of the school. Alterations to the school overthe years included new covered front and side entrances. The school was builtin the shape of a T and rested on a red brick foundation. The front entrancewas located at the bottom of the T. The rear section measured 55 feet by 25 feetand the bottom of the T measured 25 feet by 25 feet, not including the side andfront entrances. An extension, adding two rooms to the rear of the schoolhouse, was completed in 1879. The new addition was 25 foot square, with 12foot ceilings and a flat roof. Each classroom in the school was heated by a pot bellied stove. Theprimary source of fuel was coal which was an improvement over the wood-burning stove in the prior school house. The cost of coal was a major expensein the school budget, second only to the salary of the principal and teachers.The school desks in each classroom were about 5 feet long and three studentsSchool tax receipt dated May 26, 1841 signed by collector William Baxter acknowledgingreceipt of payment of $20 from William Dodge for School House No. 5.
10 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Societysat at each desk. The original privie was replaced in 1875 with a new one onthe west side of the school. The new privie was the same width and heightexcept that the district agreed to extend the length to 12 feet. The only water inthe school house was from a faucet in the cellar which drew water from acistern located outside the school house. Even though the main access to the school was from School Street, manyDown-Neckers approached the school from Harbor Road, climbing to the topof the steep hill, using the roots of the locust trees as steps. Years later, woodensteps would be added making the assent up the 75 steps much easier. Goinghome after a long day at school was much less tedious and usually included astop at Susie Brunner’s store at the corner of Harbor Road and Sandy HollowRoad or at McGee’s General Store at Harbor Road and Shore Road for a pennycandy. The CNPHS Journal cover photograph, reproduced in full scale in thisarticle, was recently discovered in the archives of the Dodge Homestead and isthe earliest known photograph of a Port Washington school. Althoughmentioned in articles over the years, photographs of this “lost schoolhouse”while it was a thriving school serving the down-neck part of Port Washingtonwere never previously thought to exist. This newly discovered photographcaptures the school as originally constructed, before any architecturalalterations. The photograph dates from about 1875, after the addition of a fencein 1873 and before the alterations to the front entrance in 1877. It is interestingto note in the photograph that all of the girls are playing in the school yard orPostcard ca. 1905 of Sands point School No. 2.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 11Postcard ca. 1905 of the first school house and church in Port Washington.posing on the stairs on the left side of the photograph and all of the boys are allon the right side. One can only wonder if this was intentional as directed bythe photographer or customary for the day. Many of the Dodge childrenattended the Sands Point schools and in the Dodge archives there are severalclass photographs taken in front and on the side of the school.By 1884 there were four teachers and a librarian employed by the schooldistrict. Records indicate that there were 348 children living in the district. Ofthe 348 children, 236 were attending school, with an average daily attendanceof 128 students. In contrast, District No. 4 in Flower Hill only had one full-timeteacher. There were 153 children living in the district, 69 attending school,with an average daily attendance of 27 students. On June 1, 1898, the voters of School District No. 5 held a special meetingto vote on a proposition to designate $18,000 for a new school house. Theproposition passed and Sands Point School No. 2 was completed in 1899 at acost of $20,000. In contrast to the stark green school which formally stood onthe hill, the new school was an imposing 2-story white building with a flagadorned cupola and two massive chimneys at the rear of the structure. Sittingon top of the hill, overlooking and facing the Mill Pond, the white school couldbe seen from the shore and the boaters on Manhasset Bay were awed andinspired by its imposing stature. After the turn of the century, many postcardswould be mailed by tourists and residents depicting the Mill Pond with thewhite school on the hill. A visit to Port Washington would not be completewithout a trip to the school at the top of the hill to enjoy the views of the pondand bay below.
12 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyThe new school was well-equipped to serve the growing population ofDown-Neckers. There were eight large school rooms, a library, and a receptionroom. A well-equipped gymnasium was constructed in the basement where agym teacher would supervise the physical education curriculum of thestudents. All students were required to spend two half-hour periods per week in the gym.This is the oldest known image of aschool in Port Washington, probablytaken about 1875, when it was in itsoriginal location, on the north side ofSchool Street. Note the beautifulcupola, the roof brackets, and otherarchitectural details. The childrenreflect the diversity that was evidentin Port Washington schools eventhen, with the girls lined up on theleft side of the school yard and theboys on the right. At some point afterit ceased being used as a school, thebuilding was moved across to the south side of School Street, where it stands today(lower image, taken in the Summer of 2012 in what is now the backyard). Note the manyalterations, such as the removal of the cupola and the main door with its porchway.Windows have been boarded in some places, added in others, though some windowswith their 6-over-6 sashed panes are still intact. The beautiful double roof brackets arestill there!
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 13Early 20th century postcard looking across the Mill Pond to the school house.By 1907 discussions were underway to combine school districts No. 4 andNo. 5 into a single district to serve all of the students of Port Washington. Twoyears later, on September 17, 1909, the town celebrated, in grand fashion, thededication and opening of the Main Street School. Over 600 students, teachers,and staff marched up Main Street following the trolley tracks to their newschool, for the dedication ceremonies and celebration. The Up-Neckers andDown-Neckers stood together, the battles at Baxter’s Bridge long behind them. All of the Port Washington schools built prior to the construction of theMain Street School have been lost to history, except one, the “Lost SchoolHouse.” The “Little Red School House,” which stood on Mill Pond Road at thebase of Pleasant Avenue (currently the entrance to Mill Pond Acres) wasdestroyed by a fire on January 27, 1926. After the school closed in 1870, thebuilding was used by the Free Church and renamed “Temperance Hall.” At thetime of the fire the building was being used as a stable. The Sands Point SchoolNo. 2, the white school house on the hill (pictured in many postcards lookingacross the pond), was used by the school district until 1929, when Sands PointSchool No. 3 was built on Rockwood Avenue. This school is known today asthe John J. Daly Elementary School. In later years, the Sands Point School No. 2was used by the Port Washington Athletic Association until it was sold todevelopers in the 1940’s. This building, at the end of School Street, was razedand private residences were eventually constructed on the property.
14 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyReminiscences of the Dodge Homesteadat Port WashingtonBy Henry Thomas DodgeIn 1886, Robert Dodge published “TristramDodge and his Descendants in America.”The book soon became the genealogicalbible documenting the descendants ofTristram Dodge in America, from the firstDodges who arrived in Salem,Massachusetts in 1629, through the year ofpublication. In 1896, in an attempt tocorrect many of the errors and omissionsin the original publication, RichardDespard Dodge, in collaboration withHenry T. Dodge, published “THE DODGELANDS AT COW NECK, An Appendix toRobert Dodge’s history of Tristram Dodgeand his descendants in America.” The 32 page publication was dividedinto 3 parts. Part I – “Corrections to bemade in the first edition of the History,” begins with a listing of the errors in theoriginal book along with the correct data. Part I continues with “Descendantsof Daniel Dodge,” and “Memoir of Daniel and Richard J. Dodge.” As theancestral lineage of Richard Despard Dodge was abbreviated in the originaltext, this was an attempt by him to update his lineage as he was the grandsonof Daniel Dodge. The last section in Part I is titled “Note on Old Grave Yards,”which is a brief one-paragraph description of the Dodge cemeteries on CowNeck.Part II comprises the majority of “The Dodge Lands,” and is made up oftranslations of original deeds, wills, and letters pertaining to the DodgeHomestead in Cow Neck. At the time, all of these documents were stored inthe museum room of the Dodge Homestead, which Henry T. Dodge, who wasliving at the Homestead at the time, had unlimited access to. The documentschronicle the original purchase of the Dodge Homestead and the additionalland purchases which would eventually reach from Hempstead Harbor on theIntroduction and Remarks by Glen J. DeSalvo, TrusteeAbove: Front page of Robert Despard Dodge’s “The Dodge lands at Cowneck,” published in 1896.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 15east side of Cow Neck to Manhasset Bay on the west side. Following is a list ofthe translated documents:• Samuel Clowe’s Map• Purchases of Thomas and Samuel Dodge• Deed – S. Clowes to Thomas Dodge 1718• Deed – Thomas D. to Samuel Dodge 1718• Deed – Thomas D. to Tristram Dodge 1719• Deed – J. Cornel to Samuel Dodge 1720• Deed – J. Cornel to Thomas Dodge 1721• Samuel Dodge’s 10 acre lot 1730• Thomas Dodge’s 81 acre track 1730• Deed – A. Onderdonk to Samuel Dodge 1731• Change of Highway 1728• Deed – Montfort Ex’rs to Jeremiah Dodge 1730• Deed – Hutchins to Baxter 1743• Deed – R. Cornell to Wilkie Dodge 1746• Will of Samuel Dodge 1761• Letter of Samuel Dodge, Jr. 1776• Deed – S. Rapelye to Tristram Dodge 1810• Deed – H. Coutant to John Dodge 1793• After History of the Dodge LandsPostcard of the Dodge House about 1905 after the addition of the modern kitchen, coveredporches, and front dormers.
16 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyIn “Reminiscences of the Dodge Homestead at Port Washington,” the titleof Part III, Henry T. Dodge reminiscences about life at the Dodge Homesteadas experienced by himself and through family stories passed down fromgeneration to generation. It is a fascinating account of life on the farm, withhighlights of events from over 150 years of family ownership. The earliest record of the Dodge family in America is the arrival of Williamand Richard Dodge in Salem, Massachusetts, on July 10, 1629. William andRichard were probably related to Tristram, but in what capacity is unknown. It was fitting then that the Memorial First Reunion of the Dodge Family inAmerica was held in Salem, Mass. on Thursday, July 10, 1879, the 50thanniversary of their arrival in the new world. Dodges from all over the countryattended the event, including the Cow Neck Dodges. The earliest records of Tristram Dodge indicate that he arrived in Americafrom Cheshire England about 1648. In 1661, he was one of a group of sixteensettlers that sailed to Block Island. A skilled fisherman at the time, Tristram wasinvited to join the settlers with the sole purpose to teach them the art of fishingand to promote the fishing trade on Block Island. In return for teaching themthe fishing trade, the original settlers granted him, and his heirs forever, threeacres of land on the island. In 1667, his four sons, Tristram II, William, John,and Israel, followed him to the Island. Two daughters, Margaret and Ann,would later be born on the Island.Tristram’s grandsons, Thomas and Tristram III, sons of Tristram II, and theirfirst cousin Samuel Dodge, son of their uncle William, Tristram Dodge II’sbrother, would cross Long Island Sound and settle in Cow Neck about 1718.Thomas would be the first purchaser of land, buying 202 acres on the westside of Hempstead Harbor from Samuel Clowes, one of the original settlers ofCow Neck, and the surveyor of all lands on the Neck. Thomas divided his landThe front of the Dodge house before the demolition of the kitchen wing in 1898.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 17into three farms, selling one parcel to his cousin Samuel in 1718, and thesecond parcel to his brother Tristram II in 1719. An additional purchase fromJosuah Cornel and his wife Sarah in 1721 of 53 ¾ acres would extend theDodge holdings east to Cow (Manhasset) Bay and would eventually be thelocation of the current Dodge Homestead. Additional purchases through 1810would extend the Dodge land holdings to about 620 acres with ¾ milefrontage on Hempstead Harbor.The current Dodge House, located at 58 Harbor Road, was not the firstdwelling built on the Homestead. Shortly after purchasing the property in1721, Thomas constructed a log cabin on the hill overlooking the bay. Thesecond homestead residence was constructed just north of the current house.The current house was probably built about 1763 by Thomas Dodge II.Thomas was a weaver by trade and one room in the house was dedicated tohis weaving business. The location of the house was carefully chosen. It waslocated close to an Indian spring where fresh water was readily available. TheMatinecock Indians occupied the area long before the arrival of the Dodgesand the Indian spring was a central meeting place. Daily chores includedcarrying water from the spring to the house and with the house just a stone’sthrow from the well, it made life on the farm just a bit easier.The house, as it stands today, was constructed based on old Dutch colonialarchitecture, with a steep pitched roof, small paned windows, and hand hewnbeams. The original divided front door with hand-made wrought ironhardware, almost 250 years old, still welcomes visitors. The front door facessouth, as do many colonial doorways, and a noon mark in the sill, long sincefaded, which the sun struck each day at noon, helped the early settlers markthe time of day. The original house had a living room with a fireplace and a wide hall withThe rear of the Dodge house before the demolition of the kitchen wing.
18 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Societya staircase leading up to two small bedrooms. The walls were coated with clayand rye straw with salt and bay mud used for insulation. Later additionsincluded a formal dining room with a fireplace, weaving room, and a kitchenwing, forming an L-shaped addition to the house. There was a massive hearth,encompassing an entire wall of the kitchen, with a built-in Dutch oven.Tramels hung from the chimney to which pots were attached for cooking. In1898 the kitchen wing was replaced by a “modern kitchen” complete with acast iron stove, kitchen sink, and pump. Upstairs dormers and additions to therear of the house would complete the transformation from the 18th centuryprimitive farmhouse to the house that stands today.Seven generations of Dodges lived on the Cow Neck Homestead. Theyincluded Thomas Dodge, d. 1755, Thomas Dodge II, d. 1789, William Dodge,d. 1844, Henry Onderdonk Dodge, d. 1898, Henry Thomas Dodge, d. 1907,Charles ForsterDodge, d. 1973,and Marie DodgeRoss, the lastsurviving memberof the Cow NeckDodges descendedfrom TristramDodge, d. 1998. “Sketch of Part of CowNeck,” from RobertDodge’s “The DodgeLands at Cowneck,”showing the extent of the Dodge land holdingsafter their last purchasein 1810.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 19REMINISCENCES OF THE DODGE HOMESTEADATPORT WASHINGTONBy Henry Thomas Dodge (Originally written in 1896)The location of the house seems to be determined by the proximity of the“Old Indian Spring” immediately in front of it, and on the edge of themill-pond, formerly the Cove. The cellar was first dug where the garden now is,but the next morning about six inches of water being found in it, a new onewas dug further up the hill, in a dryer spot. This was early in 1700.The south end of the house (always called “the shop”) was used forweaving, there being a loom there. Thomas, the brother of Henry O. Dodge,was a weaver by trade. In this room, during the revolutionary war, twelveHessians were stationed all one winter.The “Indian Spring” was walled up by the Dodges, as now in use. Thepresent aged beech tree that overhangs it is of peculiar, low spreading shape,on account of cutting off the top branches, so that the fine view from the housewindows should not be obstructed. Its bark is covered with initials, cut in; theoldest inscription is T. D., 1807, being my uncle Thomas, above mentioned.Photograph taken about 1897 of Henry Onderdonk Dodge (sitting in chair), Henry ThomasDodge, standing to his left, and Marie Antoinette Dodge, his wife, with Charles ForsterDodge, standing to left of his father, Henry, and two unidentified men.
20 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyThere are in addition,among others, H. D.,1820, M. W. D., 1858,and H. T. D., 1867, beingthe initials of my father,my brother, and myself.There were formerly twogreat weeping willowsnear the spring, togetherwith a large stone, shapedlike a seat, where mygrandfather used to sit intheir shade. They wereboth blown down about1860 in a storm.There is now standing by the roadside, about one hundred feet north of thehouse, what was once a noble specimen of a pine tree, but which is now dead,supposed to have been killed by lightning a few years ago. This tree, in the year1825, when it was not much larger than a man’s arm, was transplanted by mygrandfather, aided by his sons, Robert, Peter, and Henry, from his “big woods,”adjoining Hempstead Harbor, to its present position, where for many years ithas served as one of the ranges used by pilots in entering the harbor of PortWashington. My great grandfather, Thomas (son of the first Thomas), was a subscriberto a copy of the Laws of New York, from Nov. 11, 1752, to May 22, 1762,published in the latter year. The name of Abraham Polhemus also appears as asubscriber, who was probably an ancestor of my wife, This copy is now in mypossession, in very good condition. Adam Mott, a neighbor, was a sea-captain in the old days, and once hebrought a cargo of what was represented to be gunpowder, to be stored in thehouse, over the weaving room. It remained there two or three days, and for theprivilege thus granted he invited the said Thomas aboard of his vessel, andpresented him with a chest filled with flasks of good Holland gin. The chestand some of the empty flasks are still in the house, but the gin has disappeared.My grandfather, William Dodge, sailed two packets from this place to NewYork, and was in the habit of anchoring them in Dodge’s Creek, below thehouse, at Dodge’s landing (before the mill-dam was built.) There were then fivefeet of water at high tide, while now the depth is not two feet. Dodge’s Pondwas formed in 1795, by Caleb Cornell building a dam across the mouth of theformer creek or cove.At one time, during the revolution, Wm. Dodge lost some sheep, and ongoing up into the lot to look for them, on walking from the brow of the hill,The old beech tree and Indian spring located in front of theDodge House taken in 1902.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 21down into the locusts, or “little woods,” he espied there two English soldiers,who had killed the sheep and had them hung up and partly dressed, being stillat work upon them when he saw them. He walked away, not daring to say aword, and came down to the house, knowing the futility of a remonstrance onhis part.In the “hard winter” of 1780, some relatives came from the west side ofTappan Zee on the ice, across the mainland on the snow, and over the Soundon the ice; made a visit of two days and nights at this place, and returned in thesame way.In the days of Slavery there would be hauled into the old kitchen fire-placebig back-logs, so large that two slaves could sit on each end – four in all –without crowding. In front of the fire-place my grandmother and my great-grandmother before her, baked cakes in an old oven, which is still in the house.One day one of the slaves (Greetje by name) reported that while she waslooking for eggs, she had seen a little red dog in the old Dutch thatched barnon the north side of the hill, close to the homestead, up the farm lane, on theflat near the big black walnut tree. Shortly afterwards the poultry began todisappear mysteriously, so a trap was set, and Mr. Fox was evolved from thelittle red dog.In 1808 my grandfather, finding that the roof of this old barn, after a heavystorm, had leaked down upon the horses, determined to build a new one. Myfather remembers the erection of said barn, he being three years old at the time.It was built by Joel Davis, my grandfather’s first son-in-law, who married myaunt, Sarah Dodge, and always claimed that he took the daughter in paymentfor building the barn. Dr. Chapman was present at the raising in case ofaccident, which, however, did not occur. He was of great assistance in otherways. One hundred people, small and great, were present. The raising and thedinner were all over by one o’clock, and the rest of the day was spent inplaying ball in the orchard, right above the new barn. In those days deer werenot infrequently seen in and near the cattle-yard. The “new barn” is still in use.On the former property of Samuel Dodge, on the north-east corner ofSandy Hollow road and the present Flower Hill avenue, a well was once dugseventy-six feet deep, reaching creek mud and clam shells at the bottom, aswitnessed by my father who was present. This shows the depth of the glacialdrift at that spot.The wood-pile formerly stood right in front of the homestead, and mygrandfather would say that not until forty loads of wood was piled up there, didhe consider that he had his winter supply on hand.On the 16th of March, 1805, he was appointed by Gov. Morgan Lewis, tothe office of Coroner for Queens County, his appointment being still preservedin good order in the family archives. At one time, he and Thomas Thorne, of“Success” went to Albany on horseback, on official business and returned the
22 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Societysame way, a decided contrast to the present mode of travel. He was one of thedeacons or trustees of the Reformed Church of Manhasset, when first built, afterit was removed from “Success.” He and his sister Molly would ride to church inthe farm wagon on chairs, in which they also sat during service – one of thechairs is still extant in the household. During the war of 1812 my Uncles Robert and Thomas were stationed atFort Greene, in Brooklyn. My father was relieved of military duty on account ofa certificate from Dr. Townsend, that his shoulder was liable to dislocation. Myuncle Peter, who lived in New York, was in the habit of riding to the trainingground in Manhasset, over the ferries and through all the tollgates free ofcharge when in uniform.Among the family papers is a regimental warrant dated August 18, 1817,and signed by M. Townsend, Lt. Col., appointing my uncle, Thomas Dodge, aCorporal, “in Capt. Martin Rapylee’s Company” in the 17th Regiment, NewYork State Militia.During the Civil war, my brother, Jordan C. Dodge, was drafted in 1863,and paid $300 exemption money. Alonzo P. Dodge, son of uncle Peter, enlistedin the Navy during three years of the war and returned in safety to his homeafter doing good service.Empty Holland gin flask givento Thomas Dodge II by AdamMott, his neighbor, before the Revolutionary War.Indian grey sandstone axehead and Indian stonemortar that Henry T. Dodge included in his list ofrelics still at the Homestead in 1896.Wafer irons etched with the initialsT. D. and S. D., and the date 1762.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 23The Following is a List of Some Relics etc., at the Homestead:• One Indian axehead, of hard grey sandstone, nine inches long, five and aquarter pounds weight.• One Indian mortar of stone for grinding corn, etc., height six inches,depth, one and three-quarter inches.• One Indian mortar of hard wood, hallowed by fire from tree trunk, heightthirty inches, inside width, fourteen inches, depth, seventeen and one-halfinches.• One cannon ball three and one-half inches in diameter, six and a quarterpounds weight, left by the Hessians.• One ancient oak checker board, twelve inches square.• One pair wafer-irons with my great grandfathers initials T. D. 1762 on oneside, and his wife’s initials, S. D., on the other side.Also horse pistols and other firearms, swords, etc., etc., such as arefrequently found in old colonial homes.RemarksAt the end of the 19th century, Henry T. Dodge pledged to maintain the DodgeHouse as a museum dedicated to his ancestors who occupied the homesteadbefore him. He set aside one room in the house which would store, preserve,and present, the books, documents and photographs which today chroniclealmost 300 years of his family’s occupation of the Dodge lands in Cow Neck.Before her death in 1998, Marie Dodge Ross donated many of the documentsto the Port Washington Public Library where they now reside in the DodgeCollection. Walking into the Dodge House, one is reminded of a simpler way of life. Itis as if time stood still for 250 years. Many of the artifacts and documentsmentioned in R. D. Dodge’s “Dodge Lands” and H. T. Dodge’s“Reminiscences” still reside in the house. An empty Holland gin flask, given byAdam Mott, a Dodge neighbor, to Thomas Dodge II before the revolutionarywar, is displayed in a cupboard made by Henry O. Dodge. The chair, whichWilliam Dodge sat in while riding to church, rests quietly in the living room,along with the wafer irons, etched with the initials T. D., S. D., and the date1762, belonging to Thomas Dodge II and his wife Sarah Dodge, which areperched against the ancient fireplace. In the tool room, one of the additions tothe original structure, may be found many of the implements used in theoriginal hearth kitchen. Resting on the cluttered floor are two grey stones. TheIndian grey sandstone axehead and the Indian mortar of stone survived fromthe days when the Indians shared the land with the Dodges. The agreement
24 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Societybetween Joshua Cornel and Thomas Dodge dated 1721 for the sale of thatparcel of land currently occupied by the Dodge House, the 1805 Certificate ofAppointment of William Dodge to the Office of Coroner, County of Queens,and the Regimental Warrant, dated Aug. 18, 1817, appointing Thomas DodgeCorporal, all reside in the Dodge collection at the Port Washington PublicLibrary. Henry T. Dodge died in 1907 at the age of 57, 11 years after thepublication of his “Reminiscences.” His reminiscences of life on the farmmemorialized stories passed down for generations of life on the DodgeHomestead as experienced by his ancestors. While the Dodge family has spenttheir last days on the homestead, their memory will live on forever in thepreserved house they once called home.Copy of Regimental Warrant, dated 1817, appointing Thomas Dodge, Corporal in the New York 117th Regiment Militia.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 25AVirtualTouroftheSandsBurialGroundLucy Davidson, CWPHS TrusteePhotographs by Pat BlumleinIn Sands Point, not far from the intersection of Sands Point and Middle NeckRoads we find the Sands family burial ground. This small country cemeteryis surrounded by a fence and tall hedges, which enclose a private world.Daylight is filtered by mature trees whose leafy branches provide a soaringcanopy. The colors of nature are muted, as they might be in any sacred space.The birds provide an avian choir.And so, we come to pay our respects to those who came before us. To themen, women and children who helped to form our young American nation. Aswe move from marker to marker, we read the inscriptions and try to imaginewhat these people were like and how they lived. And as we are transported bythe symbolism and beauty of the engravings, we realize that funerary art wastruly the earliest of American art forms.The Sands Burial GroundJohn Sands I (1649-1712) gave thefamily of Sands an acre of land northof his house as a burying ground. He and his wife Sibil Ray Sands areburied there.John Sands II (1683-1763) saidthis in his will, which was probatedOctober 9, 1763:“I give and bequeath unto the family of Sandses forever for a buryingplace a piece of land 6 rods square in my orchard round the buryingplace that is there on Cowneck and on the farm I now live on.”According to Comfort Sands’ manuscript list dated 1900, and the 1974cemetery inscription list of Constance Sands Bowen, 112 people were buriedhere from 1704 to 1867. Some of the original grave markers are standing, someare fallen and some are broken. Some have collapsed to the ground and aresubmerged beneath the earth.Although the Sands Burial Ground was bequeathed to the family of Sands,we must remember that the cemetery became a community cemetery;numerous non-Sands are interred within.
26 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyJohn Sands I (1649-1712)John Sands was the first child of James Sands I and Sarah (Walker) Sands ofBlock Island. He was a prosperous sea captain and owned a sheep farm onBlock Island, where he also served as Deputy to the General Assembly there.In about 1691 he moved with his wife, Sibil Ray Sands, to Cow Neck where heand his brother Samuel purchased adjoining farms. John purchased his farm of700 acres from Richard Cornell. The price for this property was about £200. Itwas there he built his home and called it Home Farm.He left Home Farm to his son, Nathanial, with the understanding that hiswidow could remain on the property until her death.He also purchased land in middle Cow Neck, which he called Inland Farm.He willed Inland Farm to his son, John Sands II.John I is credited with introducing the straight, sturdy locust tree to LongIsland from Virginia. The trees, which are prized for ships’ masts, spreadprolifically, grow quickly, took hold in the Cow Neck area and spread to mostof northern Nassau County. In the spring, they perfume the air with theirbeautiful scent.He died in Cow Neck at the age of 63 years. He is buried beside his wife,Sibil.Simon Sands (1727-1782)Simon Sands was a son of John Sands II andCatherine Guthrie Sands. He was married twice,first to Catherine Tredwell (d. 1769) and then toSarah Sands (daughter of James and RebeccaBailey Sands).He actively supported the American causeand, in 1775 voted in favor of sendingrepresentatives from Queens County to the FirstProvincial Congress in New York City (at that time,what we know as present-day Nassau County waspart of Queens County. The two counties were notcreated until 1899). He was a member of theSafety Committee, the committee for the “FirstDeclaration of Independence,” which separated the Town of North Hempsteadfrom the Town of Hempstead, and a member of the Sons of Liberty. He servedin the Cow Neck-Great Neck Militia and, following the Battle of Long Island,returned to Cow Neck.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 27Benjamin Sands (1735-1824)Benjamin Sands, a miller by trade, was theyoungest son of John Sands II and CatherineGuthrie Sands and the brother of Simon Sands.He married Mary Jackson, daughter of Justice JohnJackson and Keziah Mott Jackson.An outspoken leader among the Cow NeckPatriots, he was one of the signers – and quitepossibly one of the creators – of the 1775 FirstDeclaration of Independence. He was a delegateto the fourth Provincial Congress (held in WhitePlains, NY) and, in September of 1776, after thedefeat of the Americans at the Battle of Long Island, he was captured, courtmarshaled and sent away to the mainland for his involvement with the Patriotcause. The British allowed his family to join him there during his seven-yearbanishment.After the war, Benjamin and his family returned to Cow Neck. From 1793to 1795, he was a highway overseer for the Middle Cow Neck district.Lt. Col. John Sands IV (1737-1811) John Sands IV was the oldest child of John SandsIII and Elisabeth Cornell Sands.In 1757, he married another Elisabeth, the21-year old daughter of Justice John Jackson andKeziah Mott Jackson. After his father’s death in1760, he inherited Inland Farm. John was notonly a strong believer in the American cause; hewas a man of action, possessed of greatleadership qualities. In 1775, he was chosen tocommand the 150-man Patriot Militia Companyof Great Neck-Cow Neck. In June of 1776,Captain Sands was promoted to the rank ofColonel and placed in command of ten companies of the Queens CountyMilitia. Subsequently, because of command realignment, his rank changed toLt. Colonel of the Long Island Militia. Sands was one of the officers of the LongIsland Militia at the Battle of Long Island in August of 1776. After losing thatbattle, the Continentals retreated north. Lt. Col. Sands went with them,bivouacking first in New Rochelle and later in Fishkill.In early December, 1776, he returned to his Cow Neck home. He wasarrested there by the British and confined in New York City where, after beingheld in deplorable conditions for a month, he was granted a pardon andreleased on parole.
28 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyIn November 1781, he secretly collected money from Long Island residentsloyal to the Patriot cause and smuggled it across the sound to Governor GeorgeClinton in Poughkeepsie. “One thousand pounds of current money of the Stateof New York.”Once the war was over in 1783, John Sands IV was treated as a war hero,held in high esteem and was eventually elected to the New York State Assembly.Elisabeth Jackson Sands (1735-1796)Married to Col. John Sands IV, Elisabeth Jackson Sands was herself a woman ofcourage and, in her way, a hero of the Revolution.While her husband was away with General Washington, he sent her amessage, asking her to retrieve a cache of gun powder, hidden on their farm anddeliver it to a party of Continental Militia on the tip of Sands Point, three milesaway. To get there, Elisabeth had to pass a company of Hessian soldiers, whowere stationed in about the same spot as today’s Port Washington Post Office.She posed as a very old woman and, accompanied by a trusted slave, was ableto slip past the troops with the gun powder hidden in the springs of her carriage.Once the Hessians realized her ruse, they followed in hot pursuit, gallopinginto view just as the supplies were being loaded onto a waiting boat. Mrs. Sandsmade a split-second decision to join her husband in exile across the Sound.Noah Mason (1755-1841)Noah Mason was born a British subject in 1755 inDighton, Massachusetts. The British invasion ofLexington and Concord in early 1775 aroused manyNew England residents, and the 20-year old Masonenlisted in the Continental Army in May of that year.He helped build a fort at Dorchester Heights inMassachusetts and another one on the North River atTarrytown, New York. He was injured in the Battle ofSaratoga. After being discharged in 1778, Masonmoved to New London and became a mariner. He married Lucretia Kinnie in1786 and continued to work at sea for another twenty years until he submittedthe winning bid for constructing the Sands Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse, a40-foot octagonal tower made of coursed brownstone, was completed in 1809and was first lighted in November of that year. It served continuously from1809 until 1922. On September 10, 1814, Mason observed another act of British aggression.But, this time it was only from the top of the Sands Point Lighthouse. Duringthe War of 1812, he watched the British frigate Acosta battle 30 Americangunboats just off shore.
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 29Noah Mason resided in or near the lighthouse, becoming its keeper untilhis death 32 years later. Jerusha Sands (1766-1795) Slides #18 & 19 ???She was the daughter of Benjamin Sands and MaryJackson Sands.Her grave stone, which is cracked but still stands,is near the grave of her father. The inscription reads:“Jerusha, wife of William Sands, died 14th April,1795, in the 29th year of her age. She resignedher life giving birth to her first child which, withherself, lies beneath this marble.”When we compare this text to other grave markersin the Sands Burial Ground, we see that the phrasingis uncommonly elaborate. Historic record shows that her husband, Williamwas three years her junior. He lived to age 63.When we look at the average life span of females buried in the cemetery,we arrive at an age of about 48 years. Considering Jerusha was probably 28when she became pregnant, and with the understanding that early marriageswere common, she was mature for a first-time mother.Was she wed late in life? Did she have difficulty conceiving? Was shepleased to be pregnant, or did she have reason to be fearful? These arequestions her marker does not answer. Nor do we know if William was sobereft at the passing of his wife and child that he decided not to remarry. He isburied nearby and there is no record of a second wife.Jerusha’s short story captured my attention and my imagination. I becamefascinated with both the stone’s detail and the lack of it, picturing story linesthat might be true…but were probably not. She became my muse in researchingthe people and their stories, and I am grateful to her for the role she played.Pretty Horses: A Lullabye to Jerusha’s BabyHush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy you little baby.When you wake, you shall have cake, and all the pretty little horses.Blacks and bays, dapples and grays, Go to sleepy you little baby, Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby.Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,Go to sleepy little baby,When you wake, you shall have,All the pretty little horses.
30 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyIn Appreciation My thanks go to Joan Kent, historian,writer and my mentor in this project.Her book, Discovering Sands Point:Its History, Its People, Its Places wasinvaluable to me, especially ingetting a feel for the peoplethemselves and the historical contextin which they lived. I excerpted,adapted and shamelessly cribbedfrom her book. Joan…I apologize! I am guilty as charged. She also loaned meher copy of Leonard Wanzor’s Patriots of the North Shore and pointed me inthe direction of the website www.lighthousefriends.com, where I was able toread about Noah Mason and his wonderful Sands Point lighthouse. She mademany other helpful suggestions, for which I am grateful.Constance Sands Bowen was a caring, meticulous woman whodocumented the Sands Burial Ground, the Sands family, the Sands-WilletsHouse and worked hard to get the Sands Cemetery the love and care it neededand deserved. The records she left behind are amazing. If it were not for herresearch and documentation, A Short Tour of the Sands Burial Ground wouldnever have gotten off the ground.Bibliography:Joan Kent, Discovering Sands Point: Its History, Its People, Its Places, 2000,Sands Point, NYLeonard Wanzor, Patriots of the North Shore, 1976Benjamin Aymar Sands, The Direct Forefathers and All the Descendants of Richardson Sands, New York, NY, 1915.Josephine C. Frost, Sands Point Cemetery – Circa 1900, Long Island Cemeteriesfrom a survey of Long Island Graves circa 1900.www.idreamof.com/cemetery/ny/longisland/sands_point.htmTemple Prime, Descent of Comfort Sands and of His Children, Huntington, NY,1897
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 31ThePortIRememberCharlotte E. MerrimanStraight out of college, Charlotte E. Merriman came toteach the children of Port Washington in 1915, eventuallygoing on to become principal of Main Street School. In1935 she published her collected memories of PortWashington’s history in the now famous book “Tales ofSint Sink”. In the early 1960’s she was asked to jot downher story for the newly formed Cow Neck PeninsulaHistorical Society, which became the very first Journalpublished by the Society. We reprint the text from VolumeI, Number I, in its entirely, as it perfectly captures life onour peninsula in the early 20th Century, and is the ideal way to commemoratethe Historical Society’s 50th Anniversary.Ihave been asked to write of my memories of early Port during the years Ispent there as a member of the school system. Since I kept no diaries of mypersonal activities, I shall have to rely upon my memory of impressions of whatlife was like as I lived and worked there.Needless to say, most incidents are definitely related to my experiences asa teacher in the schools beginning with my introduction to Port Washington asa very inexperienced young woman in her early twenties.One noon during the early spring of 1915, I returned to home where Iroomed during my studies at Cortland Normal School at Cortland, New York.The year would soon be over, I knew, and thoughts of securing my firstteaching position were ever with me. As I came into my room, I saw a yellowenvelope which I immediately recognized as a telegram.Tearing it open, fearful of bad news, I was startled to read, "Will you acceptposition Port Washington? Salary $700 per year. Signed Palmer Jones."Would I? Seven hundred dollars a year! What a fortune! With little delay Iwired my acceptance, scarcely believing my good fortune.Only then did I open an atlas to learn where Port Washington could be. AsI look back to that day, I am surprised that I felt no dismay when I found thatthe place where I was to teach was far from my home in upstate New York.I was eager to start my new work and immediately began plans for myteaching in September. The summer flew by and soon I found myself, suitcasein hand, ready to take off. Having been cautioned not to speak to strangerswhile on the train, I sat bolt upright, clutching my pocketbook and eagerlyawaiting the beginning of my new life, which lay ahead.Charlotte Merriman, 1923
32 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical SocietyWhen I arrived in New York, I was treated to the sight of what seemed likean endless stream of men and women coming up the stairs from the trains andsubways. I shall never forget the sight of their bobbing hats as they seemed tocome at me in waves!My journey to Port Washington seemed endless and I worried becausethere seemed to be no apparent division between the towns. The conductorshouted out the stations but I had no idea when my time to get off would come.Had I known that mine was to be the last stop on the line, I could have relaxedand enjoyed looking at the sights along the way.I still remember the smell of the Flushing meadows. Was it there that I sawseveral shacks surrounded by old bedspring fences? Some¬where along theway I saw them and wondered how anyone could live in such desolation.I arrived at the station in Port early in the morning, planning that way inorder to have plenty of time to arrange for a place to lay my head before nightfell. Searching out the home of my future Principal, I was embarrassed to findthat I was interrupting a late family breakfast. I shall never forget the friendlyattention given me by Mr. Palmer Jones and his gracious wife — all of thiswhen they were entertaining week-end guests.Mr. and Mrs. Jones lived on Adams Street near the Main Street School.After serving me a delicious breakfast featuring juicy home¬grown peaches,Mr. Jones took me for a sightseeing tour and then to several homes whererooms were available.Charlotte Merriman, principal, surrounded by the teaching staff in June 1923, near MainStreet School (now Landmark on Main Street): Left-right: Sarah Dickinson, Mildred Lane,Merry Brooks, Evelyn Topping (substitute), Charlott Merriman Principal, Frances Buckley,Sarah (Sally) Welch, Alice Smith, Hazle Tryon; (photo courtesy Helen Morgan Vogt)
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 33My first rented room was at the home of a Mrs. Lothian on Madison Street.She impressed me immensely because she had been a well-known actress. Theentrance hall was literally covered with pictures of her in her various successes.She had now retired but her husband was trying out roles in possible plays.I remember so well how astonished I was one morning to hear a man'svoice saying over and over, "My God! I wouldn't do that!' Then, in a differentpitch and with changed emphasis, "My God! I wouldn't do that!" This went on and on until I scurried down the hall to the room of anotherteacher, Martha Perry, who soon set me straight by explaining that the man ofthe house was readying himself for another try-out with a road company.After that I became accustomed to the theatrical atmosphere. Time aftertime, I was to see him set forth in high hopes only to hear him tread slowly upthe porch steps when the ventured had failed. She, herself, never lost herdramatic air. How amused we would be to hear her summon her dog from hisoutdoor playtime with, "Come now, you brown-eyed luxurious mutt!"During the years of 1915 and 1916 when I lived in their room, I madearrangements to take my meals at the home of Mrs. Anna Wetmore, a widowwho lived on Adams Street. Here we teachers gathered three times daily toenjoy the delicious meals, which she prepared. We were not supposed to talk"shop" as I remember; but frequently heated discussions took place around thelong table, which seated about fifteen. Sometimes a smaller table had to be setup in the next room to accommodate the overflow.I could scarcely wait to begin my teaching, which was to be in the oldSands Point School on the hill by Sandy Hollow Road. Here I worked under thesupervision of Mr. George Stilwell, teaching fourth grade. I shall never forgetthe friendliness of the older teachers with whom I worked. How could theyhave accepted me so kindly and without rancor when I, a green, uncertainnew-comer, received the very same salary as they? In those days, all were paidthe same regard¬less of experience and ability. No married teachers were hiredthen.My first paycheck seemed like a fortune to me. The very next Saturday I setforth for New York and "did" Macy's from basement to the top floors. Most ofmy hardearned cash went very quickly but I was happy and felt independent.Life was simple, indeed, for the teachers. Of course, we had no cars. It wasconsidered in doubtful taste to live alone in an apartment until several yearslater so we rented rooms and went out for our meals. Our chief relaxation andamusement were in taking long walks after dinner, always making a call at thelocal post-office on Main Street where we hopefully asked a young fellownamed Web Walker for any chance letters which might have come.There were times when we walked down to the village dock and watchedthe beautiful sunsets while we listened to the water softly lapping against the
34 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Societypiles of the dock. This was frowned upon finally and we were advised thatteachers should not frequent that part of the village.Sometimes we went for picnics over by the sand banks at HempsteadHarbor or on O'Gorman's Island. Lunches prepared good-naturedly by Mrs.Wetmore were consumed with zest and appreciation.Another custom enjoyed by me and Eudora Benedict was going down toBayles's drug store after receiving our checks and treating ourselves to icecream sodas as we sat around the little glass-topped tables in the so-called ice-cream chairs. George Varney's store on Main Street, almost across from theschool, was always good for deli¬cious ice cream, too.We made good use of the trolley cars, which would come clanging downthe street and around the curve near the Methodist Church. The trolley almostcaused my un-doing on a certain week-end when I had been in PortWashington only a few weeks.I had been invited to visit a friend who taught in Freeport and went bytrolley to Mineola where I changed to another car, which took me to Freeport.We had a glorious time and just at dusk on Sunday night I set forth for homewith only a little cash in my pocketbook.When I arrived at Mineola, I got off the trolley and went to another, whichawaited among several others at the exchange station. I saw the word"Hicksville" on the front of a car and promptly boarded.I had several school pupils who said they lived in Hicksville so assumed Iwas on the right car. In those days, a part of the section served by the SandsPoint School was commonly referred to as "Hicksville".Soon a man who was much the worse for his week-end holiday came inand sat down beside me while I looked out of the window at the darkness andtried to ignore his comments. The car jounced off.Soon the conductor came to collect fares and said to the man, "Where areyou going?" He managed to mumble, "Port Washington.""You’re drunk!" the disgusted conductor shouted. "This car goes toHicksville. You'll have to get off and wait for the return trolley!"Then he looked at me and I stammered, "I guess I've made the samemistake. "After unloading the other passenger along the tracks somewhere, theconductor considered me and, probably sensing my dismay and terror, let meride to the next village and told me to wait for the return trip. What a long waitit was on a lonely dark corner! He didn't make me pay another fare on thereturn trip thus saving me from having to admit that I didn't have enoughmoney to pay again. Was I glad to see my little room on Madison Street thatnight after my round-about journey back to Port!At that time, there were four elementary schools, Sands Point, Flower Hill,
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 35Main Street, and Hempstead Harbor over near the sand banks. Here Mrs.Winifred Davis took charge.We, who taught in the out-lying schools, usually walked all the way. I canremember going across the Baxter property beyond the pond near the shoreone windy, snowy day. The cold was so severe that my chest pained and Icould scarcely see where I was going. I covered my mouth with my scarf andstumbled along. Suddenly I heard a woman's voice shout, "My God! MissMerriman, are you crazy? You shouldn't be out in this weather!"Neither should the woman who advised me but she was taking it in herstride and may have been somewhat hardened to such weather. I fought myway on and reached the long steps, which led to the school-house on the hill.Once there, I learned that there would be no school because of the storm. Insome way, I had not been notified.As I said before, we usually walked; but sometimes a good-natured friendor taxi-driver would give us a welcomed ride to the foot of the steps of theschool. We all valued the help of one good friend whom we grew to dependupon. A Mr. Sullivan, a taxi-driver, was to be relied upon to look out for uswhenever we called upon him for help. On days before vacation, he could betrusted to be on hand at the back door of the school to drive us to the railroadstation in time to board the train, which would take us to our destination for along-looked-for vacation. He never failed us!It was at about this time that a young man came to Port Washington asPrincipal of the High School — Paul D. Schreiber. He immediately became apopular addition to the system and showed early promise, which was to befulfilled in the years later on.I spent three happy years at the old Sands Point School. Then I decidedthat I should move on because it was then considered a good plan to make achange after three years. (There was no tenure then so nothing compelled oneto stay in a place longer than to earn a good letter of recommendation.)Early in the spring of 1918, war had come and there was muchrestlessness. Many left the teaching profession for other more lucrative fieldsand who could blame them.I applied for a position in New Jersey and taught in that state for two yearsas head-teacher in two small schools. The salary was good — the first year$900 and the following a raise to $1200. This, after the $800 dollars was mostwelcome.However, when I was asked to return to Port Washington to act as head-teacher in my old Sands Point School, I was delighted to return to the placewhere I had been so happy. It had been decided by the Board of Education tore-place the men in the outlying schools with women who would act as helperswhile they taught a regular grade. Salaries now began to rise rather rapidly and
36 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Societyin 1920 I was receiving $1850.About this time, I spent a part of my summer vacation in upper New Yorkattending Syracuse University. One of my courses dealt with the education ofadults who were now eligible to attend classes in the evening devoted to whatwas called "Americanization." This I found to be most challenging and, when Ireturned in the fall, I was asked to be one of the teachers of this delightfulgroup of people. Many who had lived for years in Port were now able to satisfytheir desire to learn to read and write English not only for their own satisfactionbut also to qualify for citizenship and the right to vote.I shall always remember the few years I taught these ambitious people. Westudied together evenings at the Main Street School and had a few parties atwhich the strong men joined whole-heartedly in the fun. There were mildflirtations carried on among the younger unmarried students in spite of thedifficulty in bridging the language barriers. It was astonishing to see howquickly the new arrivals from foreign countries became proficient in the trickyphrases of our language.One man in particular caused all manner of confusion and amuse¬ment.He worked at the Hempstead Harbor Sand Banks. His only desire was to learnto write his name. So, on his first evening, he presented a crumpled piece ofpaper on which a name was written. Forthwith, we embarked upon the task oflearning to write the name, which meant so much to him. He wanted to beable to endorse his checks he said. Since he had never learned to write in hisown language, the task was unbelievably difficult for him.I sometimes guided his hand over the curves and lines while he laboredwith perspiration standing in drops on his forehead. At last, he could write thename very legibly and, after bowing deeply and shaking my hand, he departed.The next day my telephone rang and Mr. Bert Thompson, who all shouldremember as one of the superintendents at the sand bank, said, "What kind ofteaching do you do at that evening school? I have a man here who says he canwrite his name but he isn't writing his name at all. It's the name of anotherfellow who works here."So back he came, this time with his proper identification and we went allthrough the performance again. Mr. Thompson never tired of twitting me aboutour poor teaching.I enjoyed every minute of my work with these people and treasure thememories of the amusing things that happened.Work at the day school went on happily. The parents were friendly andhelpful. One delightful mother was most co-operative. Mrs. Jacob Cocks, whomothered a large family, did her best to spread some of that mothering to theschool. At one time she donated a quantity of tulip bulbs to be set near theschoolhouse to encourage the children to care for them and to respect the
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 37property of the school. Dire prophesies were made by doubtful neighborsabout possible van¬dalism; but, to my knowledge, not one blossom was"snitched" by children during the time school was not in session.Mr. Schreiber will undoubtedly write in more detail about this period oftime. I know that the rooms were crowded and children were moved from oneschool to another to care for the overflow. When the Flower Hill School burnedjust after the close of school in June of 1924, it was necessary to house thechildren on a part-time basis for several months. With the building of the newFlower Hill School nearer the center of the village, conditions improved. Whenthe new High School was voted and built, Mr. Schreiber and his staff movedout and left the Junior High and grades in the old building.In the fall of 1925, after the sudden death of Eudora Benedict, I was askedto come to the Main Street building as Principal of the elementary department.At that time, Mr. William Rumens acted as custodian and with his helpers didhis best to keep the building in spic and span condition.It was about this time that I became concerned about the fact that therewas so little material in suitable form to be used by our children in their studyof local history. We were asked to devote considerable time to this study; butthe facts we were able to assemble were not in the form to be interesting tochildren in spite of the fact that there had been several articles written aboutold times.As a student in my early days, history had always been a dry and rathermeaningless recital of dates. So, I decided to gather such material as I couldand write a series of junior historical stories, which might make the story ofPort Washington's growth a more human story. These stories were to be basedupon actual happenings in this area.It seemed to me that, no sooner had I made known my desire to write ashort account, which might be mimeographed, than people from all parts of thevillage came to my assistance. It was amazing to me that so many people couldand would give of their time to share their treasures of the past — the olddocuments, letters, maps and articles. At once, I saw that my former idea of ashort paper was not to be adequate to show the valuable information, whichmy friends had shared with me.Over a period of five years, materials of all sorts came my way. Informationwas assorted according to chronological significance and finally divided intoperiods of time. Into each period, I set an imaginary character who saw peopledoing the things which our records said that they did.Mrs. A. Valentine Fraser of Middleneck Road told me tales of her Mottancestors as she graciously served tea in her beautiful home rich in localatmosphere. She showed a picture of the old Mott Homestead as it hadappeared when Adam Mott first took up his acres soon after 1600. We
38 Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Societyimagined that we could look across at the far shore where Ann, the girl hewould someday marry, lived. A book, "Adam and Ann Mott" was the source ofrich and delightful material written about this early couple by one of theirdescendants.Mr. Lyman Langdon, Principal of the Junior High School, consented toillustrate the stories I planned to write. In order to gain personal atmosphere, hewent to the Fraser home and also to the Tibbits residence at 75 Sands PointRoad, which was one of the original Sands's homes.Mr. Hall Tibbits proved to be a great help and showed us the home as wellas its museum-like contents. He should have been the one to write the story, Ithought, as he shared with us his memories and stories inherited from hisgrandparents.Mr. Allison Wysong and his brother, Charles, both ardent students of localhistory, shared their time and treasures with us. The Gates Rights map ownedby Charles Wysong is a real treasure.Charles Dodge, living in the original house, which was built in 1700,showed us where the Hessians were quartered during the Revolution. When Ivisited the home of W. P. L. Davis, descendant of the Joel Davis who,according to records had been the carpenter who helped Tristam Dodge raisehis barn on a certain day, he showed me a bed¬spread woven locally with thenames of Joel and one of the Dodge daughters worked into the border — realevidence of a local romance.The Mitchells and Cornwalls, among the earliest families, had left recordswhich were eagerly studied and noted. Mr. George Cocks told of his boyhooddays as he worked at the old Cocks's Mill. Old town records and newspaperswere carefully studied and countless notes made to be added to the colorfulstories told me by interested residents.Finally the writing and illustrating began. The Board of Education,prompted by the urging of Paul D. Schreiber, Superintendent of Schools,generously volunteered to finance the printing of the book which we decidedto call, "Tales of Sint Sink". The type was set in Utica and then, after proof-reading, Carlton Pierce, teacher in our school print shop, directed the printingof the pages. It has always been most gratifying that our boys should be theones to feed the press for the 600 copies decided upon. Young Malcolm Lowrywas one of the many willing boys who gave of their time.Finally, in the fall of 1935, the book was completed. Although originallyintended for children below the teen-age, it proved to be interesting to all ages.Three hundred copies were sold to defray the cost of printing and theremainder of the copies was set aside to be used for study in the grades of ourelementary schools.Copies were requested from outside sources and we were pleased to read
info@cowneck.org • www.cowneck.org 39the comments of those who wrote reviews. I understand that, at present, thereare few copies left.This book was written for Port Washington, alone, and it is my hope that itwill always be a source of help and interest to those who have lived here formany years and to those who choose to make their new homes in this area.One who took up residence near Mill Pond Road wrote a delightful note to mesaying that she had read the book and felt that she already "belonged".The years slipped by — more and more children, more and more problemsin meeting the needs of those children. All too soon, the year of 1949 came toa close and I had reached the time when it seemed best for me to retire.Had I kept diaries, I could perhaps write a more accurate and colorfulpicture of the times and happenings during the years I spent in Port. However, Ihave my memories of many children of all sizes, shapes and dispositions. Theirfaces flash before me as names are mentioned — always childish faces — notthe ones I frequently see on the pages announcing their marriages, etc. To me,they will always be round-cheeked and plump-legged, gaps where teeth hadbeen, freckles not covered with make-up.My days in Port Washington were full of happiness, fun and excitement.Truly for me, as for many others, Port Washington proved to be "The Place toLive."“Tales of Sint Sink,” written byCharlotte E. Merriman, Principalof Main Street School and illustrated by Lyman A. Langdon,Principal of Flower Hill School.Originally published in 1935 bythe students of the junior highschool printing class, it wasreprinted in 1965.
NameAddressCity State Zipemail address: PhoneMy check for $________ is enclosed. Please make checks payable to:Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society1962-2012 •Celebrating 50 Years336 Port Washington Blvd.Port Washington, NY 11050email: info@cowneck.org • Visit: www.cowneck.orgJoin your community in supporting Port Washington’s history!The Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society is recognized as a 501c(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service,which means that any contribution you make to the Society (including stock transfers) may be claimed as a deduction onyour income tax return. If you are interested in learning more about our organization or how you can contribute, please contact us at info@cowneck.org.Please Check one: 3 Renewal 3 New MembershipLife Member ........................................$500Sponsor ................................................$100 Sustaining ..............................................$75 Family......................................................$50 Individual................................................$35 Student ...................................................$10Additional contribution welcomed:$3 I am already a Life MemberMission Statement: The mission of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society is to engage people of allages in programs that highlight the lifestyles of the people and families that lived and worked on our penin-sula throughout the years. Central to this mission is the preservation of the Sands Willets House (circa 1735)and the Thomas Dodge Homestead (circa 1721), which the Society operates as house-museums, serving asresources for the community.Corporate Categories:Corporate Sponsor .............................$100Corporate Patron ................................$500Corporate Benefactor......................$1000Lifetime Corporate Sponsor............$2500For additional information regarding Corporate Sponsorship, please email:info@cowneck.orgEnsuring Our Future by Preserving Our Past.