OYSTERMANS
BANK
(GRANGE
HALL)
Photo courtesy of
the Yaphank Historical Society
Dating from
circa 1895. Through the years this building had various
uses. Around 1900 it was a Grange Hall.During World War I soldiers from nearby
Camp Upton attended the dances held there.
The
Yaphank ladies auxiliary used the hall in the daytime for
its meetings. The Ladies Red Cross Auxiliary used the
hall to knit socks for the soldiers.
The
Patchogue Advance posted the following;
Feb. 8 1918-The Grange Hall has been leased
out as a soldiers recreation clubhouse. Military dances
are a prominent feature. A billiard room and a bowling
alley will be added.
Later it became
a restaurant and bowling alley. In the 1950's it was used
as a clock factory. The building is now owned by Mr. John
McMahon of Yaphank.
Memories
of the Grange Hall. Written by Mr. Gus Neuss
Yaphank Grange Hall
POMONA GRANGE
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY
A shield type banner on the wall of the second floor
entrance lobby proclaimed the identity of the
organization responsible for the building now known as
the Oysterman's Bank (now the Dime bank). At age eleven
when I first viewed the banner my first question to my
parents was "Are there PATRONS OF WIFERY?". I
was immediately given the definition of
"HUSBANDRY" as all forms of farming. The hall
was a meeting place for farmers of all types from the
surrounding area. The building was constructed just prior
to the start of the twentieth century.
The hall faces north on Main Street. The entrance lobby
was in the front on the second floor to the west side.
Also in the front on the east side were living quarters
for the building custodians. A set of double doors opened
to the south from the lobby to the meeting area which
also served as the dance floor and entertainment area. A
flight of stairs just inside the double doors to the east
led to the lower or ground level. At the far south end of
the dance floor was located an elevated stage for
theatrical performances.
Adjacent to the stage on its east side was another flight
of stairs leading to the lower level. Rest rooms were
situated there. No such facilities were on the second
floor. Seating was provided by church pew type benches.
These were eight feet long, of curved back and seat
design, of slat construction. Normally these seats were
stored along the east and west walls. For meetings or
stage performances they were readily positioned for a
theater viewing.
The Grange Hall was the only facility of its kind and
size in the surrounding area. It was ideal for dances and
receptions. In the early 1920's I was privileged to see
something that today cannot even be discussed. This was a
real live minstrel show. The talent was all local. The
costumes and make-up were what had been traditional for
such presentations. I was only about twelve years of age
at the time but thought it was not only real comedy but a
great musical show as well.
During the 1920s also the Grange would, on occasion,
bring in individual entertainers of varied talents to
provide some respite from the daily farming activities.
These were, in many instances, singers and story tellers
and musicians. They all encouraged audience
participation. The group singing of all the golden oldies
was for me an education Some would play music for
dancing. I
learned to waltz, with my mother as my instructor, at one
of these entertainment evenings.
The hall was an excellent spot for dances. The hardwood
floor provided a perfect surface for all types of
dancing. In addition to the conventional waltz and fox
trot, those with the talent displayed the Charleston,
Black Bottom, the Shag and, of course, the POLKA.
Strangely, although we lived in farm country there was no
square dancing. The hall was available for any group
desiring this form of recreation. All that was necessary
was to arrange a date with the hall custodian and pay the
current rental fee. The Yaphank Fire Department held
annual dances as did the local Young People's Club.
Because of the Prohibition Law no alcoholic beverages
were sold on the premises. After the repeal of this law
in 1933 beer was available. Prior to repeal, wine or
bootleg whiskey had to be provided by the individual
consumer.
In addition to providing healthful recreation a dance was
a fund raising enterprise. The best way to attract a
large crowd was to hire a name band. The Young People's
Club was fortunate in contracting with a five piece
orchestra from Patchogue which had a steady following for
each of their performances. As a result each of the
dances put on by the Club was a financial success. All of
these dances, while a real happy event for most
attendees, was a source of trouble, on occasion. Rival
gangs from the Riverhead area would use dances as an
arena for their battles. One such contest took place in
the front of the bowling alleys at the first floor of the
Hall. Fortunately, Suffolk County lawmen were aware of
these troublemakers and with blackjacks expertly used,
subdued the fighters posthaste. The culprits were
escorted from the building without the dancers on the
upper floor knowing what had transpired.
Wedding receptions were readily accommodated because of
the spacious floor area.. The fall of the year was the
favored time for Polish weddings and the Hall was ideal
for the after nuptial festivities. My friend, Bruno
Kiesel, and I would invite ourselves to the joyous
occasion. The seats were left in position along the east
and west walls and tables arranged in front of them for
food. The crops, having been harvested, provided a
tremendous quantity and variety of food, prepared by
excellent Polish cooks. The beverages were in ample
supply and again home made. Relatives and friends
attending assured a sizeable number to be served. No
Polish wedding celebration would be complete without a
typical orchestra or band. This was usually three pieces,
an accordion, drums and either a clarinet or saxophone,
or both. The dance floor, when populated by a host of
polka enthusiasts, was a sight to behold.
It was customary, at the interval between dance numbers,
to pass a basket wrapped with the bride's veil around to
all the tables. The money donated was given to the bride
and groom as a starter for their nest egg. The happy
couple left on their honeymoon the day of the reception.
This did not stop the relatives and guests from extending
the celebration for a succeeding day or days.
The first floor or ground level of the hall was a
recreation center. Two bowling alleys were situated along
the west wall. These ran north to south. The pits were at
the south end or back of the structure. The ball rack and
the bowler approach area to the foul line were at the
north end of the alleys, as were the scorekeeping easel
and seats for the bowlers. Automatic pin setting machines
were yet to be invented. All resetting of pins was done
manually by pin boys, one serving each alley. To insure
accuracy in pin location, the pin boy was guided by a
triangular array of ten metal disks set flush with the
alley surface immediately in front of the pits. Each disk
was the size of the base of a pin. The pins, if set
properly on the disks, were ready for the next bowler.
The pit for catching and containing felled pins was as
wide as each alley including the side gutters. They were
about ten inches deep. The distance to the swinging
leather bumper or pin backstop was about four feet.
Protecting wood partitions were at the outside of each
alley and between the two alleys. These ran from the head
pin location to the ball return rack behind the pits.
These partitions contained flying pins within their
respective alleys. A small flat wood seat was mounted
atop each of two of these partitions for pin boys to use
to avoid flying pins. These bowling lanes were used by
both local as well as out of town patrons. All required
pin setters. My brother Bill and I were active during the
bowling season, the winter months, working as pin boys.
This provided us with some income which was most welcome.
The one drawback to this was the lack of ventilation. The
bowlers were all smokers. As a result, we needed a
thorough cleansing when we got home.
Adjacent to the easternmost bowling alley at its south
end were rest rooms. The men's facility was just east of
the alley, the ladies was east of that, with a flight of
stairs going up to the second floor above. In the area in
front of and north of the rest rooms were two standard
size pool tables. Beyond these tables, again parallel to
the bowling alleys was an area with tables for serving
food. It was used by bowlers upon completion of their
competition. The kitchen for the custodian's living
quarters opened on to this dining location.
On my last visit to the Grange Hall I and some of my
family were served a bountiful meal. This was in the
early 1950's. .We were on a visit to see my brother Henry
and other relatives. Prior to this my wife, Marjorie, was
obtaining a hot dinner, each day, for our Aunt Augusta.
Originally, there was no restaurant service. The changes
that have occurred since my departure from Yaphank in
1945 will have to be chronicled by more recent residents
who are knowledgeable of what transpired at the Hall
beyond that date.
Submitted by
Gustave Neuss, Jr.
804 Lakeshore Drive
Maineville, Ohio 45039
November 16, 2001
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