UPDATE: Suffolk County Historical Society -- Photo of the Week -- MERRY HALLOWE'EN, 1909

Photo of the Week

FROM THE SCHS LIBRARY ARCHIVES

“How shall we know it is us without our past?”
– John Steinbeck

by Wendy Polhemus-Annibell, Head Librarian

“Merry Hallowe’en” Postcard, October 24, 1909. (Image from the Collection of the Suffolk County Historical Society Library Archives. Copyright © Suffolk County Historical Society. All rights reserved.)

This 1909 “Merry Hallowe’en” postcard is addressed to Miss Grace Miller of Miller Place. It was signed by “H.R.T.” from New London, Conneticut, and includes a note that reads: “I am thinking about that Hallowe’en social. How about you?”

All of our Halloween postcards from the penny postcard era spell the holiday name as “Hallowe’en” (with an apostrophe between the two vowels). The word’s etymology probably originates with an older name for the holiday, “All Hallows’ Even,” in which “Even” meant “Evening.” The “All” and “s” were dropped, “Hallows’ ” and “Even” became a closed compound, and the apostrophe took the place of the “v,” giving us “Hallowe’en.” Other spellings before “Halloween” included “Hallow-e’en,” “Alhollon Eue,” and “Halhalon evyn.”

Whatever you call the spooky and fun-filled trick-or-treat holiday that falls on October 31, we hope you enjoy the festivities!

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November 13 – 16, 2019 – Veterans Day Week – Opening of Long Island in Conflict, a Newly Interpreted Permanent Exhibit. Free museum admission for Veterans of all wars during Veterans Day Week, November 13-16!

This newly renovated and permanent exhibit, Long Island in Conflict, offers examples of uniforms, weapons, medals, and other objects from our permanent collection, honoring Long Island’s contribution to our country’s defense. From the earliest days of settlement, Long Islanders have played an active role in the nation’s military history—on battlefields, in theaters of operation, and in conflicts wherever American armies have fought, including on Long Island itself during the American Revolution. On the home front, residents raised money, food, and supplies, and they provided the links to home and family so crucial to a soldier’s performance. The Civil War and the two World Wars saw the largest numbers of Long Islanders in uniform. During the twentieth century, Long Island was the site of major military training grounds, encampments, and airfields. Local industries turned out boats, ships, and torpedoes, and from the 1930s to the 1990s, many of the nation’s military aircraft were built right here on Long Island. Free museum admission for veterans on Nov. 13-16. More info.: 631-727-2881 x100.

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VISIT: Suffolk County Historical Society — Photo of the Week Series / 2019

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