Eavesdropping Through the Decades

 

It is with immense pleasure that both Judy Skillen and I are introducing an original blog on the history of Babylon Village. Judy, the present President of the Village of Babylon Historical Society and I, the newly appointed Village Historian, admit to a combined 100 years of ‘Being in the Room’ or at the very least, listening in on the events of our community.   The blog will be posted monthly on the Historical Society website and will be reaching out in the future to other venues to expand the readership. 

Babylon Village is in a unique position to tell the story of Long Island.  The one square mile community offers the best of Long Island. The fact that we have a rich history was central to the beginnings of Long Island and why we live here. Many of us heard the stories of some of our luminaries of the past: Robert Moses, Robert Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo), Nathanial Conklin and his mom, the Cuban Giants, and the list goes on. What has not been told is our more recent History. Babylon Village and its surrounding community has historically matured and changed at a fast pace and many stories have not yet been told. These are the stories we want to share, stories that will be new to some and may recall a memory for others.

Some of us have been promoting the axiom, ‘Babylon Village, where history is made’. The stories we share here will hopefully be poignant, often humorous and always enriching. As an example, we believe there is a direct line from the woman of a new group called the Beautification Society of the early 1970’s to the successful restaurant businesses of today. Do you remember the half barrels placed throughout downtown overflowing with flowers? From the Great South Bay and the collapse of the world class clam population to the erection of the Village Gazebo, there are stories to tell.  

Judy and I truly hope you will join us in reminding you of those stories. We have full access to the records of the Historical Society that will provide us with background primary sources and will often have photos that we can publish. As far as Judy and I are concerned, I quote Bob Dylan, ‘May your hands always be busy’- Forever Young -Wayne R. Horsley 

Next up: Leaning into History: The Story of the Steeple (part 1)