Sam Desmond
The Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association held its annual Historic Bike Tour on Saturday, September 17 with over two dozen participants. Upcoming BBPHA General Manager Frank Giebfried led the tour which visited 14 sites along Middle Road from its starting point at the Meadow Croft Estate on the Sayville/Bayport border via Blue Point.
“It’s such a fun and lively event for the community to learn about the historic homes and structures in their own neighborhood,” said BBPHA President Mary Bailey.
Lisa Voos, a Bayport resident who took part in the tour, said, “The town is so beautiful and rich in history.
The first stop on the tour was the former White House Farm at 344 Middle Road, where historic Maplewood served as Captain Henry Richmond’s estate, an Italianate house built some time before 1888. The property included a mill to wind and a greenhouse.
In 1915, after John J. Asher purchased Maplewood, the building was remodeled into the sprawling and impressive structure seen today. In 2017, the Maloney family restored the home which includes a New York-style veranda believed to have been designed by Stanford White.
Suydam’s former estate at 250 Suydam Lane, known as “Edgewater”, was purchased by John R. Suydam as a wedding present for his wife, Ann Smith, in 1853. The estate was eventually sold to Julius Liebmann, president of S. Liebmann’s. Sons Brewing Company, which sold the famous Rheingold beer and was based in Brooklyn.
Of course, what historical tour would be complete without a drawing by Isaac Green?
At 100 Snedecor Avenue was the Effie Shannon House, which was designed by Green and built for Regis H. Post, in 1902. Post sold the house to nationally known stage actress Effie Shannon and her husband , Herbert Kelcey, in 1912.
The couple remains together, buried in the Sainte-Anne cemetery. The Moon Rise restaurant at 626 Middle Road was known as Ma Moon’s and run by German immigrant Minnie Moon, who was married to English immigrant George Moon.
German style food was served with beer and dinners for 0.50 cents and up. Community members came to play cards and socialize.
Another epicurean gem in the community, Flo’s Famous Luncheonette at 302 Middle Road was opened by Flo Kimball in the late 1920s. lift-up doors and the counter.
Flo died in 1950 and is buried in Blue Point Cemetery.
