OLD BETHPAGE VILLAGE RESTORATION, a step back in time
Written: Jan 05 '04 (Updated Dec 06 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Special events every season.
Cons: Not enough funds to refurbish acquisitions the village already possesses
The Bottom Line: This is a fine step back into the 1800s. It is relatively inexpensive and can be a full day of exploration and learning.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Old Bethpage Village Restoration |
Many New Yorkers travel down to Virginia to visit Colonial Williamsburg. Others go to Massachusetts' Old Sturbridge Village to get the same overall feel of the past. These are two wonderful destinations. Many people do not realize that, though not as comprehensive as these two other places, you can get this same sense of history just thirty miles east of NYC, on Long Island, at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration. I have been there many times and it is an excellent teaching tool and interesting way to explore the past.
HISTORY
In reading their web site I learned the restoration village is on 209 acres of land of which 165 were originally a farm that was acquired by Nassau county in 1963. The first building added to the property was a church that was just three miles away on Old Country Road. It was put on a flatbed truck and after overhead power lines were removed the church was brought to a new home that now boasts 51 original historic buildings and 7 reproductions.
For your information, Sturbridge Village has 40 structures on 200 acres. Colonial Williamsburg has 88 original buildings on 301 acres. Sturbridge and Williamsburg also have many many new buildings that enhance the settings. Bethpage has a handful.
As compared to these other two popular destinations, the Old Bethpage Village has a slower pace to it, less people on hand, and therefore and does not have as many live demonstrations. It also lacks as many places to dine and the site does not have a busy 1800's town feel to it. Even so, it's definitely a place to visit. In fact the peacefulness of it can be an attraction in itself.
I have found that, for the most part, you get individual attention without huge crowds. I must warn you however that early on weekdays, especially in the spring, many school groups come and the quiet atmosphere can change.
STRUCTURES
The oldest home on the property is the Schenk home. It is one of the very few surviving Dutch homes in all the United States. This one was constructed about 1730. It was originally on Shelter Rock Road.
The owners kept slaves that were housed in a nearby building. That is also where all meals were cooked. There is no kitchen in the Schenk home.
The next door Conklin House was built many years later in about 1820. It is thought that Walt Whitman lived in this home in 1837-38 while teaching school in Smithtown where this building was originally from.
This building, as all the structures, has been researched and brought back to a particular period of time. Some may have an original piece or two of furniture inside.
A building that was originally on the northeast corner of RT 25A and RT 106 was the Layton General store. This was a combination store on one side and home on the other. The store is stocked with goods that would have been sold in the 1870s, just after the civil war.
The Noon Inn was originally located on Prospect Avenue in East Meadow. That's one of the other facts I enjoyed about this outdoor museum. I know of the places where these building once stood. There is a public swimming pool now on the property of where the Noon Inn once stood. I know this may not of interest to those who do not know Long Island but I feel it enhances the visit for those who do, therefore, I am mentioning some of the original sites where they first stood.
The Noon Inn also had a barroom. Today they sell cold cider in the Summer and Hot Cider in the Winter along with pretzels and cookies.
The Kirby House, built in 1845, was located near the corners of Clinton and Front streets. I know that area of Hempstead very well. In fact, there is a nearby church, still standing in that neighborhood, that has shot marks in its weather vane from the "boys" having rifle practice during the civil war.
This property the village is now on is all part of the Powel Farm that was originally worked in the 1840s-50s. In 1962 the farm house and carriage shed were the only two buildings on the property. Everything else has been brought in.
These first two buildings are the heart of the working farm that is part of this living and working museum. It is very interesting to learn of the farming skills of 150 years ago. I love watching the hogs wallow in the mud pits in the summer. Other live animals on the site include oxen, sheep and cows.
All the homes, stores, the school building, the church and farm buildings that are restored have folks in period costumes ready to share a wealth of information. There is at least one person stationed inside each building. They will engage you as soon as you enter a building. I have always found them enthusiastic about their work.
The village has examples of many different types of homes. Doctors, ministers, teachers, farmers, fishermen and others lived in these buildings. These are homes of the wealthy and the poor. It's fascinating listening to the stories of the structures and those who lived and worked in them.
This living museum is a self guided tour to each building. You do receive some literature and a map. Most of the walking is flat with slight uphill and downhill slopes.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Spring Festival
The Spring festival, held Memorial Day weekend, is sheep shearing time. Along with these demonstrations you will find other entertainment like bands playing and craft shows. This is also when the garden show is held. People in period costumes will be walking the grounds too.
Civil War
At the end of May or very early June is when a Civil War re-enactment is performed. In August the grounds become home of Civil War Encampments. I like this. You walk right up and among the soldiers living there. They are open for questions as they live their day maintaining the grounds, cooking, cleaning equipment and always prepared for battle.
Summer
This historic museum also fields baseball games using 1900s rules. About ten teams play in this league throughout the summer. Special music programs are held and the Fourth of July is celebrated in old time fashion too.
Harvest Music Festival
Over the Labor Day weekend music is the theme. Bands, choral music and contra dancing are featured.
LONG ISLAND COUNTY FAIR
The Fairgrounds exhibition hall is the center point of two exciting October weekends. We have been coming to these for years and I can only say it gets better every year.
4H demonstrations and agricultural Blue Ribbon entrees are amazing to see. The animals are the best of Long Island and all kinds of music is going on all day. I enjoy seeing the huge pumpkins that are grown. I'm amazed at the sizes.
Great walk around foods are available at reasonable prices.
Everyone receives a schedule of magic shows, puppet shows, contra dancing and jugglers. The place comes alive with old time games, corn husking contests, crosscut sawing contests, and so much more. We always enjoy ourselves when we go. They do not have mechanical rides at this fair. They have had some old fashioned rides.
All this goes on and at the same time the village is open for touring too.
Night Time Lantern Walks
We have joined in on what has become a sort of holiday tradition. Every year between Christmas and New Years plus a few other days before Christmas the village closes down during the day.
Th grounds open at 5:00PM till 9:30PM. For a $7.00 fee adults and $5.00 for kids we walk the grounds at night for a special holiday treat.
Most of the buildings are open as they usually are with personal inside to help give information. There are also some other nice touches.
Everyone is welcome to bring their own candle lit lamp or flashlight. At one time they had lanterns you could use. Due to a lack of funds the lanterns are no longer offered. They do, however, sell mini-lanterns for $5.00. We did purchase one. The candle would not stay lit in the lantern while walking outside.
Everyone follows the paths that are marked buy lit smudge pots to different stops.
One of the stops we make is in the Layton General Store and home. Every year they have two woman who entertain us by playing an antique pump organ and singing Christmas carols around a tree decorated in the tradition of the 1800s.
Near the Noon Inn, where you can purchase a hot cider and ginger bread cookie for $1.00, is an open bon fire. This is a very warm place to rest up and listen to more antique instruments and a flute player.
In the church you can hear poetry readings of "I heard the Bells" and "A Visit from St Nicholas" more widely known as "The Night Before Christmas".
In the School house we could hear some fiddle music. When we finished up most of our tour we headed for the Fair Grounds Exhibition Hall where a group of eight singers give a short concert every half hour. They always sing "Dashing through the snow" as first written and sung in the 1800s. The "Jingle Bells " part is somewhat different than how we sing it today.
After all this the museums reception center has live music and Contra Dancing that I can only describe as a kind of square dancing. We were there with our two youngest daughters 14 and 16, a friend of theirs and our grand daughter. We all joined in on the dancing. It was a lot of fun.
The place offered some light foods but at $2.50 for a soft pretzel we passed. Have dinner before getting there and just enjoy some cookies and cider for a $1.00. The kids did get some rock candy in the center store for 85 cents.
In the same building "Lantern Shows" are presented in the auditorium. This is an old fashioned type of slide projector that throws light and shadows in the darkened room. They had five shows that evening.
IN CLOSING
The Bethpage Village Restoration is a gem of Long Island. The hours vary by season as do days open. Be sure to call ahead to check the ever changing schedule. They are open some holidays and closed others.
The admission charge is $10.00 and $5.00 for kids 4-14 and seniors. I do not recommend going on any overly hot or humid days. Most everything is out in the open with little shade and, darn, those old homes don't have air conditioning!!
General Information (516) 572-8400
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