K of C Hosts Community at Historical-Themed Event

The area’s rich historical past was featured at a community event Saturday sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in Mastic where residents mingled with local officials among Revolutionary War encampments and other exhibits.

The few hundred neighbors who took up the James V. Kavanaugh Council on its invitation were treated to a barbecue and a taste of local history with a presentation by the 3rd NY Regiment of 1775, Manor of St. George, William Floyd Estate, and other features that make the area so historically unique.

“We wanted to give the residents an opportunity to learn more about our area’s amazing history and hear from the people who are making sure our exciting past doesn’t fade from view,” said Council 5293 Grand Knight Frank DeNatale, a Shirley resident. “We’re fortunate to have so many national resources so close by that the community can enjoy.”

Dressing as they would in Colonial times were Joey Devito and his sister Christina representing the Manor of St. George, a 127-acre estate that was the scene of a key battle in the nation’s war for independence from Britain. In a daring attack ordered by General George Washinton that helped change the course of the war, Col. Benjamin Tallmadge traveled across Long Island to take back the manor from British control. On the way back to Connecticut across the famed Talmadge Trail, his soldiers burned 300 tons of forage the British had stored at Coram for their cavalry. The Manor, given to Col. William Tangier Smith as part of a 1683 King George grant that predates the Dongan Patent, the government decree that gives Brookhaven control over the town’s underwater assets, has remained in control of the Smith Family and their trustees ever since.

Robert Chartuk

A ranger from the National Park Service was there with a display showing off the national treasure known as the William Floyd Estate, where a signer of the Declaration of Independence took up residence as one of the area’s earliest settlers. Chad Beemiller manned a booth that also display items from the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, just west of Smith Point Park, including whale baleen, deer antlers and facts about this amazing National Park Service gem named for a former Long Island congressman.

A crew from the Mastic Peninsula Historical Society was also on hand, a dedicated group of residents sharing the council’s vision of keeping the Bay Area’s heritage in the forefront. “Hats off to Grand Knight Frank DeNatale and all of the K of C members for putting together this great event,” said Ed DeGennaro, society president. The group is currently raising funds to renovate the centuries-old Hawkins House on Montauk Highway in Moriches.

Noting the region’s place in history was Barbara Russell, Brookhaven historian, who was there to talk about the Longwood Estate, Revolutionary War hero cemeteries, and other vivid representations of the town’s past. Russell oversees many priceless documents on display at town hall in Farmingville, including the Dongan Patent and deeds that conveyed property from the original native Americans to the European settlers. The region still maintains many place names from the ancient tribes such as the Poospatucks, Montauks and Shinnecocks.

The Knights annual barbecue is a must-attend event for local elected officials who turn out year after year to press the fletch with their constituents. Greeting the crowd was Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine, who is running this year for Suffolk County Executive. Councilman Dan Panico, who is on the November ticket to succeed Romaine as the town’s chief executive, stopped by along with Congressman Andrew Garbarino who doubled up his attendance from last year when his district was expanded to include the Mastic-Shirley Area. From the state legislature they had Senator Dean Murray and Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, who presented a certificate of recognition to DeNatale and the local council. District Court Judge Edward Hennsey, a member of the K of C, was also among the dignitaries.

“Events such as this one from the Knights are what makes our communities great,” Assemblyman DeStefano said. “They open their doors to their neighbors, while at the same time focus on the incredible historical past of a one-of-a-kind area with so many attributes tracing directly black to the very founding of our nation.” DeStefano’s chief of staff, Alice Painter, accompanied the assemblyman.

The event was co-sponsored by county Legislator Jim Mazzarella, who secured a $5,000 grant for the council to host the community. Mazzarella, whose father, Joseph, was one of the founding members of the local Knights organization, said, “I am both proud and honored that the legacy of so many people lives on to the point where the council remains a vital community organization that helps a lot of people, while promoting our rich historical heritage.”

Robert Chartuk

Many others contributed to the success of the annual affair including Center Moriches attorney John Scott Prudenti, who made a donation in the name of George Furman, an original trustee of the Manor of St. George. Fred Towle, with the South Shore Press newspaper, was there to support the function, along with long-time civic leader Joe May, who played the bagpipes while outfitted in Colonial garb. Mike Dubois, a Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library trustee, was there with his daughter, along with Grand Knight DeNatale’s daughter, Elise, a recent graduate of Hofstra Law School. Her dean at the college was Gail Prudenti, cousin of supporter and fellow Knight, John Scott Prudenti. A detail from the Suffolk County Police Department Community Relations Office was also present, along with Kevin Weiler, a volunteer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Robert Chartuk

Anyone interested in becoming a Knight should call 631-281-4473. They are located at 176 Madison Street in Mastic, which is available for parties and other events. To raise funds for food drives, scholarships, and other community activities, the Knights host bingo at the Farmingville Bingo Hall on Thursdays and Saturdays.