Since 1985, the Bay Shore Historical Society has been a staple of the Bay Shore community. Their dedicated members can often be seen participating in community-wide events, enthusiastically educating the public about Bay Shore’s rich history.

Last Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Bay Shore Historical Society hosted an open house at their headquarters, located at 22 Maple Avenue. Visitors were invited to take a tour; each room told a story of Bay Shore’s past.

In 1985, the society acquired Dr. Mary Holt’s former c.1820 residence on East Main Street. It became the center of the society’s activities. In 1986, the historic landmark was loaded on a flatbed truck and moved to 22 Maple Avenue, where it still stands. Over the next five years, the house was restored, with the work primarily done by the society’s members, Jewell Klarman and Jack Pullis.

Volunteers continue to donate their time to maintain the house, collect and preserve Bay Shore’s history, and share it with the community. They have created exhibits, presented programs, conducted tours of the house, sponsored fundraising events, and produced a DVD, “Yesteryear in Bay Shore,” which features 140 vintage photographs of Bay Shore scenes accompanied by narration describing what presently occupies the site.

Aside from house tours, the Bay Shore Historical Society offers access to the historical reference library, which contains maps, photographs, yearbooks, journals, ledgers, books by Bay Shore authors, albums of “Treasured Memories,” artifacts, and memorabilia pertaining to Bay Shore. Additionally, they sponsor educational programs, which are held on the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Bay Shore-Brightwaters Public Library.

Bay Shore Historical Society president Barry Dlouhy was pleasantly surprised to see some old faces, including former District 11 county Legis. Tom Barraga, who has been a great friend to the Bay Shore Historical Society.

Despite the rain, attendees were encouraged to take part in a public barbecue. The open house was a success for both the community and Bay Shore historians.