Episode 94: The Bayport Aerodrome with Bob Mott and Walter Winnicki
The Long Island History Project
Release Date: 07/24/2019
Episode 102: Harry Higbie and the Higbies of Higbie Lane
The Long Island History Project
The LaGrange Inn was a storied stopping point along Montauk Highway from the 1700s when it opened for business with a Higbie at the helm. It remained a local landmark, operating under many different proprietors, into the 21st century.
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Episode 101: Christopher Matthews and Historical Archaeology in Setauket
The Long Island History Project
Today we speak with anthropologist Christopher Matthews about his work in Setauket helping the people of a traditionally Native American (the Setalcotts) and African American community uncover more of their past.
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Episode 100: Warren McDowell and How Fire Island Got Its Name
The Long Island History Project
Warren McDowell, former publisher of The Fire Island Tide, has been pondering the mystery of how Fire Island got its name all his life. This burning question has been answered in many ways over the years. Many myths, legends and theories have been proposed but Warren wanted sources. He turned his newspaperman's eye to every old map he could find.
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Episode 99: Pottery on Long Island with Mark Smith
The Long Island History Project
Mark Smith, bottle collector extraordinaire last heard on episode #63, returns to reveal his other Long Island history passion: pottery!
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Episode 98: Local Author Theresa Dodaro
The Long Island History Project
Theresa Dodaro survived a life-threatening illness, waking from a coma determined to make the most of the time she had been gifted. One of the promises she made to herself: write. Since then, she has published four books and is working on her fifth.
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Episode 97: Jonathan Olly and Prohibition on Long Island
The Long Island History Project
Our guest is Jonathan Olly, a curator and public historian from the Long Island Museum. Our topic is Prohibition on Long Island and the long road of protest and activism that led to the passage of the 18th ammendment. Our location: a bar in Patchogue. Produced in conjunction with Bar Crawl Radio.
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Episode 96: Revisiting the Founding Era with Brentwood Library
The Long Island History Project
Discussing the Revolution on Long Island at the Brentwood Public LIbrary.
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Remembering Gene Horton
The Long Island History Project
We were saddened by the recent news of the passing of Gene Horton, Blue Point historian, former social studies teacher, tour guide, storyteller, friend and colleague. To honor Gene’s memory and his passion for Long Island history, we’re reposting here excerpts from two interviews we conducted with him over the years. One is from 2006 and the other from 2014. Our condolences go out to his family and all those who were lucky enough to know him. Links (find in a library via WorldCat) (complete interview) (Bayport – Blue Point Heritage Association)
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Episode 95: Elaine Kiesling Whitehouse, Writing Stories
The Long Island History Project
Elaine Kiesling Whitehouse knows a good story when she sees it, and those stories often come from history. Writing from an early age, she was intrigued by the signs of the past all around her. There was a WWI era German radio transmitting station across the street and the decaying windmill of a former Gilded Age estate down the block. On today's episode, we discuss Elaine's writing history and how she has drawn on Long Island's past for inspiration. Her novel Hart's Tavern, set in Revolutionary War-era Patchogue, sprang from a roadside marker commemorating George Washington's trip through the...
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Episode 94: The Bayport Aerodrome with Bob Mott and Walter Winnicki
The Long Island History Project
Imagine a world with a private airport around every corner and an airplane in every garage. Where your form of ID could just as easily be a pilot's license as a driver's license and your weekend is spent with people with names like "Red" and "Speed" and "Ace". That's the world Walt Winnicki grew up in, learning to fly on Long Island in the early 1950s. And that's the world that Bob Mott and the Bayport Aerodrome Society is trying to preserve. On this episode, both men relate their long history and love of flying. We also discuss the lost world of private airfields and the near miraculous...
info_outlineImagine a world with a private airport around every corner and an airplane in every garage. Where your form of ID could just as easily be a pilot's license as a driver's license and your weekend is spent with people with names like "Red" and "Speed" and "Ace".
That's the world Walt Winnicki grew up in, learning to fly on Long Island in the early 1950s. And that's the world that Bob Mott and the Bayport Aerodrome Society is trying to preserve.
On this episode, both men relate their long history and love of flying. We also discuss the lost world of private airfields and the near miraculous survival of the Bayport Aerodrome, built by Curtis Davis out of his family's corn field right after World War II.
Research
- Bayport Aerodrome Society
- Cradle of Aviation Museum
- Long Island Airports
- 50 Years Later, ‘Blind’ Flight is Routine (NYT)
- The Brunner Winkle Bird
- Biplane noise from Freesound.org (by Loveburd)