Hallockville: ‘Slavery on the North Fork’ Presentation, 2.23rd | Workshops | Barn Progress | Summer Camp ….

News from the Farm – February

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Dear Friend,

One would think this would be a quiet time of year at Hallockville, but we are busy planning events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Hallockville as an organization. We are also updating the meeting room in the Hudson-Sydlowski House to serve as an exhibit space. Our first exhibit will be based on long-time board member Richard Wines’ book, A Farm Family on Long Island’s North Fork: The Lost World of the Hallocks and Their Sound Avenue Community. It is a treasure trove of information about the Hallocks and of the agricultural history of the North Fork. We cannot think of a more appropriate exhibit for this commemorative year.

Our gift store, Miss Ella’s Shop as it has been known, is also being updated and will have a fresh new look in the spring.

To view what we have in store for 2025 so far, click here: https://hallockville.org/

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Upcoming Events

In recognition of Black History Month, we will host “Slavery on the North Fork,” a presentation by members of the North Fork Project, which has spent four years researching the history of slavery in local communities.

The event will be held on Sunday, February 23 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Community Room at the Visitors Center of Hallock State Park Preserve, 6062 Sound Ave., Riverhead. The illustrated presentation will lay out the history of slavery on the North Fork from the earliest settlements in New York State to the abolition of slavery here in 1827. Free, but registration is required at Slavery on the North Fork presentation .

Photo: Elymas Reeve, former enslaved man from Mattituck.

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We had to postpone our Candle Making Workshop due to inclement weather so, as of this writing, we have two spots available for the rescheduled February 23rd event. For more information and to register, click here: Candle Making Workshop .

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EGG-citing Needle Felting Workshop

Needle felting is a popular crafting workshop at Hallockville and we are pleased to welcome back Instructor Michele Miroff on March 8 from 10 a.m. to noon for an EGG-citing workshop.

You will learn how to create a beautiful felted egg like the one pictured here.

$30 members, $40 non-members. $25 supplies kit fee payable to instructor at the time of the workshop. Light refreshments will be served.

Space is limited. To register, click Needle Felting Workshop .

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Thank You

Last year, we received a Preservation Supply Grant from the NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program to purchase a Miele vacuum for the Homestead and other areas where special care is needed on fabrics and delicate items. The NYSCA/GHHN Grant Program is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City. We are overdue to thank NYSCA, the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation and the Greater Hudson Heritage Network for these funds.

Pictured above is Maddy Heller, our 2024 Gardiner Young Scholar via the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

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Sound Avenue Stitchers

Craftwork has been among the activities at Hallockville since its beginning, and the Sound Avenue Stitchers, a group created for sharing and continuing the fiber arts tradition, are an integral part of it. Fiber arts include sewing, quilting, needlepoint, macrame, weaving, felting, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, rug hooking and basket weaving. The group’s mission is to share techniques, innovations, products and upcoming events pertaining to fiber arts and to socialize while working on their projects.

The Stitchers meet at the Hudson-Sydlowski House meeting room on the first Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting March 5. All are welcome to join, just come on by!

For the history of Stitchers, go to Sound Avenue Stitchers.

For more information, call 631-298-5292.

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What’s the Buzz?

Our beekeeping program is already buzzing with activity with a presentation this past January about keeping bees healthy. Our next event is a Honey Harvest Get-Together on March 15 from 3 – 5 p.m. at the Hudson-Sydlowski House.

Master Beekeeper Chris Kelly will teach you all about honeybees and beekeeping. Watch Chris harvest and bottle honey straight from Hallockville’s hives. You can get hands-on and help with the process and take home a 4 oz jar of fresh honey! Enjoy a glass of local wine paired with delicious cheese.

$40 members, $50 nonmembers includes refreshments.

To register, go to Honey Harvest Get-Together. To find out more about our beekeeping program, click here: Beekeeping Program.

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Early Bird Camp Registration Savings until March 3

While the weather outside is frightful (temperature-wise), the thought of our Summer Camp is delightful. Our camper friends agree which is why we were voted Best of the Best North Fork Camp by Dan’s Papers in 2024.

To take advantage of our Early Bird Discount for your child(ren), register by March 3 at

Summer Camp!

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Naugles Barn Project Update

South side of the Barn.

Second floor view.

New restroom area.

We are thrilled about the progress being made to the Naugles Barn for the Adaptive Reuse Project. Our contractor, Jeff Heidtmann of Heidtmann & Sons, has been great to work with and we are grateful for his dedication and enthusiasm.

We are edging closer to our fundraising goal to see the project to its full completion. Want to be a part of this important initiative for Hallockville? Please consider donating via this link: Naugles Barn Donation or by sending a check to our address below. Thank you!

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Did You Know?

For Black History Month, we are taking a page (specifically page 37) from Richard Wines’ new book that relays Halsey Hallock’s first close contact with people of color.

“In 1844, with Halsey in first grade, the trustees of the district reported one ‘colored’ student. By 1851 three ‘colored’ attended Halsey’s school. Who are these ‘colored’ students? The 1850 census recorded five single Black men living in the community, ranging in age from 17 to 20 and working on farms of Halsey’s neighbors. The names of two younger Black people also appear: a 13-year-old boy named ‘That’ listed as a laborer on the farm of Caleb Hallock (Herman’s cousin three farms west of the Homestead) and an eight-year-old named Fanny who lived with John T. Luce, about a mile to the west. Perhaps these are two of the ‘colored’ students in the District 11 school with Halsey in 1851. He never mentions any of them in his writings.”

Richard will be offering a presentation about his book on May 10. Copies can be purchased on Amazon by clicking here: A Farm Family on the North Fork Book.

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We are excited to see you at one or all of our events soon. There is something to do year-round at Hallockville Museum Farm!

All the best,

Heather

Heather Johnson

Executive Director

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