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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSD-104 � BUILDING-STRUCTURE INVENTORY FORM FOR OFFICE USE ONLY DIVISION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION UNIQUE SITE NO.163/0 .ffft4 �)P SD 104 QUAD NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND RECREATION SERIES ALBANY,NEW YORK (518) 474-0479 NEG, N0. YOUR NAME: 'own of Southold / SPMA DATE: January 1987 YOUR ADDRESS: Town Hall, Main Road TELEPHONE: (516) ��x-1892 Southold, L. Ii. , N. Y. 11971 ORGANIZATION (if any): Southold Town Community Development Office IDENTIFICATION 1. BUILDING NAME(S): Custer Institute 2. COUNTY: Suffolk TOWNECITY: Southold VILLAGE: Southold 3. STREET LOCATION: Bayview Road. east side 4. OWNERSHIP: a. public ❑ h private 5. PRESENT OWNER: ADDRESS: 6, USE: Original: Present: 7. ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC: Exterior visible From public road: Yes W No ❑ DESCRIPTION Interior accessible: Explain H, BUILDING a. clapboard ❑ b. stone ❑ c. brick IXR1 d. board and batten El MATERIAL: e_ cobblestone ❑ f. shingles ❑ g. stucco ❑ other: 1). STRUCTURAL, a. wood frame with interlocking joints ❑ SYSTEM: b. wood frame with light members ❑ (if kn(wn) c. masonry load hearing walls d. metal '(explain) e. other 10. CONDITION: a- excellent IR b. good ❑ c. !'air ❑ d. deteriorated ❑ 11. INTEGRITY: a. original site ❑ b. moved ❑ if so,when? c. list major alterations and dates (if known): SD-RSM XVI-2 12. PHOTO: from south 13. MAP: N.Y.S. DOT Southold Quad South and west (from} elevation willow 1401. af•`>7 Cem 24 j: C Z 54 ii r N1� . '4 r SD 104 14. THREATS TO BUILDING: a. none known N b.zoning ❑ c. roads ❑ d. developers ❑ e. deterioration ❑ f. ether: 15. RELATED OUTBUILDINGS AND PROPERTY: a. barn❑ b. carriage house ❑ c. garage ❑ d. privy ❑ e. shed ❑ f. greenhouse ❑ g. shop ❑ h. gardens ❑ i. landscape features: j. other: Ib. SURROUNDINGS OF THE BUILDING (check more than one if necessary): a.open land RP b. woodland ❑ c. scattered buildings FE d.densely built-up ❑ e. commercial ❑ f. industrial ❑ g. residential 1�1 It.other: 17. INTFRRF.LA]IONSHIP OF BUILDING AND SURROUNDINGS: (Indicate if building or structure is in an historic district) Low density, quiet country road, with houses surrounded by expanses of open Melds and farmland. I& OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES OF BUILDING AND SITE (including interior features if known): This observatory was started by a thoughtful group of local men under Dr. Charles W. Elmer's inspiration. (See form SD 126x.) Elmer was brought to Southold by Henry Fitz of Peconic (See form PE 36) . Certain members of this group had already made contributions to science . SIGNIFICANCE I1t. DA'I E: OF INITIAL CONSTRUCTION: 1�Q 1938-1940) -- New wing and observatory 1947 ARCHITECT: BUILDER: _I0 HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE: This important observatory was the outgrowth of amateur astronomy. With the passage of time its membership has grown to embrace the entire North Fork and it is now one the best small observatories in the metropolitan area. 21. SOURCES: N.Y.Times. 4/2/67; N.Y.Herald Tribune. 7/18/65; Suffolk Sun- 7/4/67 Interview Sophia Adler. 1/24/1987. 765-3418 Long Island _Forum. March 1950 22. THLMV Form prepared by Rosemary Skye Moritt, research assistant. a C 1 MAp)CH 1!150 LONG ISLAND 1NMUNI SD 104 Southold's Custer Institute � chogue T the eastern end of i,ang By Ann Hallock Currie-Bell funds filled the treasury; Island, between Long small dues of the members or wanted interests and hob- were all that could be counted Island Sound and Peconic Bay, there is Southold, found- bier for their leisure time. on. The Elmer home, tele- �s ed in 1640. At the time of its Scientific subjects of various scopes and the Elmers Dour- tercentenary celebration in sorts were added to the agen- ished the first years. ityville 1940, amidst the recollection da of talk. Visitors from im- Numbers again increased. and reverence of the past, a portant astronomical strong- The intimate, upstairs room ; ch holds and from scientific in the polar observatory house dedication took place whi pointed the way toward the laboratories occasionally became too small. The Uni- scientifically cultural future came to join the discussions, versalist Church offered its 'n of the village and township. adding zest to the meetings. parish house. This was used The home of Custer Institute for Scientific Research was - "''p dedicated to "the purpose of increasing interest in scien- tific developments and dis- d sc:minating the findings of research to its community." k New York State had given it ' IIP a charter as an educational �r koro.. institution. A solid, sinal! brick building of two rooms and a cellar had been built by the hands of the members W M1 AU themselves, to house that 7 which had been growing from 'y a seed of beginning in 1923- _ tchogu• 26 � In the years of the 1920's, � first one, then two, then three and four men of the village sought out Charles W. Elmer; s one of the foremost amateur LS astronomers Of the country, CUSTSR INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC 8651=ARCH eager to have discussions with him on astronomy and to That loosely formed little until further expansion,deter- experiment with astrophotog- group soon held the respect mination, and hard work ase raphy. In Mr. Elmer's Cedar of such institutions as Mt. brought about the dreamed of Store Beach, Southold home the dis- 'Wilson and the Harvard Col- home for scientific research. a t cussions were held, alive with lege Observatory. In fact it. The cornerstone was laid in vigorous thought, question- was the astro-graphic plates 1938,the building dedicated in ing, searching for truth. of stellar images made by one 1940. From the outset, each man of the group in those years But expansion, a necessary had his individual contribu- which were used by the Har- part of scientific progress, , tion to make, his individual vard Observatory. again demanded more facil- queries to ask. Charles El- The meetings took on more ities and space. In 1945-47 an mer's stimulating mind, vis- and more regularity and there entire new wing, library and rket ion and knowledge of the was the eventual need for observatory were added to i stars drew the best out of organization. When accom- Custer Institute's home. They �Ik each one. Little did those men plished, it was named Custer w e r e formally dedicated, think at that time that they Institute ih honor of the gra- August 30, 1947, as the John , were the initial start of an in- cious lady who had so often W. Stokes Memorial Hall, the stitution unique in the annals given hospitality and inspira- Charles W.Elmer Library and BS of scientific progress within a tion to the gatherings in the the May Custer Elmer Obser- UNG small country village. Cedar Beach home—M ay vatory. Months and months of The group increased. Men Custer Elmer, wife of Charles planning and manual labor by the members, plug financial re whose business had to do with Elmer, and descendant of the i' help from themselves and the the professions, with trades, distinguished family of Cus- with shops, with farms, had ter. At the beginning no ('nntinurd nn page 49 3 ' 4; SD 104 i l,ONG ISLAND FORUM MARCH 1950 jJ Physics Professor Emeritus of Corporation of America; John Southold $ 1.ustEr Johns Hopkins; Dr. Albert D. O'Neill, Science Editor of The Institutes Stern, inventor of the sound New York Herald Tribune, recorder used by the Army and others eminent in scien- Continued from page 43 and Navy during the war; Dr. tific fields, have come to speak community built the structure Hugh H. Bennett of the before the Institute and the as it stands today. It was a Department of Agriculture; community, invited to share product of the minds, hearts H. H. Beveridge of the Radio these meetings. Townspeople and hands of the members and some of the townspeople. In the observatory under a 22 foot dome, constructed by We've Never Paid Less Than a member, stands the 6 inch Clark Refracting Telescope; 104 inches focal length. On a 1INTEREST midway landing, transparen- cies of star clusters, of whirl- 22 % DIVIDEND pool nebulae, of the moon, can be viewed. Exhibits, geologi- cal, mineralogical, astronomi- and your savings are insured up to $5,000 cal, are placed against the curved walls. In the first floor's circular room, a good number Write today for our handy save-hy-mail kit of scientific books form an excellent library. The Stokes Hall, used for f Sufolk County Federal ' lectures and exhibits, holds as 1 County many as two hundred people. The members usually give the talks, each member presenting Savings and Loan a subject peculiar to his own interest. There are, however, guest speakers of outside sr7QClati©rl world renown often before the lectern. W. H. Barton, late curator of the Hayden Plan- Cadman H. Frederick, President etarium; Dr. Robert W.Wood., Main Street Tel. 600 ' Babylon, N. Y. Member Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Eat More Oysters Member Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation, }� Washington, D. C. World's Largest B U r C K Producers SALES SERVICE PARTS of Suffolk County's Largest Selection of Quality oysters GUARANTEED USED CARS Ande-McEwan Motors, Inc. THE FAMOUS Tel. Bay Shore 2 228 East Main St., Bay Shore 51✓ALSHIIP'I` BRAND WE BUY USED CARS FOR CASH Company, YOUR FINANCE PROBLEMS $IuepointsCom P MAY BE REFERRED TO US NN-EST SAYVILLE, L. I. THE WEST HEMPSTEAD NATIONAL BANK HEMPSTEAD, N. Y. Tel. Hemp®tead 6700 Member F.D.1.C_ -i ti A. SD 104 MARCH 1950 MAUC.H 1950 LONG ISLAND FORUAl Merica; John have filled the hall many timer. people of the town to grind tion of the properly made base. litor of The Thus one of the chief aims of their own lenses and make the setting and orientation of d Tribune, the Institute has been carried their own telescopes. The the camera were the last bit; it in scien- out—service to the common- result may be far reaching. In jobs accomplished during the me to speak ity. no other science is the work of summer. Al e in b e r s giving ite and the The members themselves the amateur so valuable as it every ounce of strength and i !d to share now limited to the number of is in astronomy. leisure time outside working 'ownspeople fifty, meet, however, for bi- At the base of the observa- hours, under a blazing sun, monthly Saturday night talks tory, a huge stanchion has had done this, for the joy of ill the original room of the been constructed, solid, un- it, for their community; sig- building, the intimate gather- shakeable which extends right nificant again of the meaning F18I1 ing place for round table dis- to the mount of the telescope of Custer Institute. cussions, for chats by the aloft. Members worked out On Dec. 17, 1949,Charles W. hearth, for the refreshment very cleverly the intricate a*s=Elmer gave his traditional hour at the end of evening paratus which drives the tele- Christmas talk in the Stokes sessions. Its walls hold a series scope when set for sky-map- Memorial hall. His subject of micro-photographic prints ping. They also made the this year was "The Stars in of minute plankton and crust- proper hook-up with Wash- Their Courses." He talked of aceans, and photographs of ington for sidereal time. A astronomy, and he talked of 5,000 the aurora of September 18, person standing in the obser- ing spirit ito , tllehe two is 1941, work of members-, 1,hotographs of the Fitz oiatical r74 an astronomer can see, with achievements (the late Harry clarified vision, God." P Fitz, maker of the Fitz lens, «y A listener in the audience , was a Custer member). An thought of the many times he exhibit of semi-precious stones r had dropped in at the institute I eral and an optical glass exhibit to hear a competent instructor !I' show the thorough interest teach young people how to en- and work of the individual joy the heavens. He remem- 1 member s. In this room tiered the class in astronomy classes have met for astron- - which had further opened his only, photography, signalling, mind and his eyes to some- marine code, home mechanics. thing far greater than him- An excellent course in celes- self. He remembered the in- �l tial navigation was given dur- ... fluence of Charles Elmer and ing the war to the boys going his wife, and the continuing M into the armed forces. inspiration of Mr. E l m e r r n, N. Y. After one has had a look-in a through the years. The De- at the Custer kitchen with its cember 17th evening held for ,rk clam chowder kettles and cof- chades W. EIMOT him a quality- intangible in is racoon, feeling. It seemed to be fee pot a t attention, he vatory basement perceives the wrought out of all that Custer believes he has gone over the p g Institute and knows about it. Substantial foundation, the Institute was: it had started Not so. There is yet the base- support it gives to the dome from scratch, had gone i above, the Glome which opens through its difficulties and meat, one of the most inter- eating and vital parts of the to the areas of the stars: and surmounted them, had held ding. Two dark rooms he feels that it is symbolic or together staunchly through building. water are the closely related to the building the years, had now a great TS with scene of the finales of camera of Custer Institute in relation vision for the future. It could work. Along a corridor liNs to its community, serve as a model for many ion Of the polar telescope (from the On August 20th, 1949 the other institutes of like nature Elmer telescopes) waiting at major event of Custer Insti- which would grow as it had out a R S Borne time to be placed on a tute's summer season occurred of a sincere yearning for stanchion outside. Likewise a for members and the public. knowledge. There was a thor- C. Zeiss camera awaits its out- Talks on photography and as- oughly sound and noble mean- side placement. There is a tro - photography were given ing to Custer Institute. South- 3ay Shore long low room devoted to the by members. The camera club old possessed something of in- important grinding of optical of the Institute put on its ex- trinsic, rare value. lenses. Six newly acquired hibition of photography. The (Note: Courses in Astron- lens grinding and polishing basement with its completed only for the public, were machines with testing appara- apparatus was on view. On started in January of this tus are stationed in this room. the lawn at the rear a member year, meeting every other Fri- Right here, the community explained the Ross - Fecker day evening under the instruc- ANK ti•ision of the Institute must be camera for sky-mapping,' one tion of Hugh J. Stern, Charles �j 6700 stressed. It is the hope to of the most valuable assets of W. Elmer, Thomas A. Stacy create interest in the young the Institute. The construe- and L. C. Eichner.) 4') f4 SD lO4 .1 t _ t k _ Celebra- r seen, and --utchogue geological t u ;pique and ` dard met ent of the I geological cribed the the Cor- ,jyr hores and stock, and 'Pe, Mat- te S at-res Cove, ave given heir camp is well as he typical As. "They l iecorating vould give Here is a Fhese fur- Lome fires .ndian ate r le squaw s by would preparing The inter- he above- sumably." Phatur by Cmiter Inftitatr, 1, 2 Dart, Cmjter lnilitrt[,3. little clay CUSTER INSTITUTE DEDICATION. r, Dr. William H. Barton, Executive Curator of fiayden Planetarium; z, Professor R. W. Wood, Johne flopkins University; 3, Alvah B. Goldsmith. President of Custer Institute, L'hornas A. Stacy, Dr. John 3 the men W, Stokes, Willard IL Howell, Dr. William H. Barton, Charles W. Eimer, Kurt W. Oppermnn, Dedication Chairman. { .. Ann Hallock Currie-Bell. Old Southold Town's :, '' Tercentenary. Garden City. L. I. 1940 t: S SD 104 40 OLD SO UTHOLD TOWN'S TERCENTEMMY Mrs. AlIan Heath, Mrs. John L. Muir, Mrs. Agnes T. Latham, Mrs. William Y. Terry, who worked everywhere on F everything, as all with the assisting committee did. Miss Tuthill's historical catalogue seemed like a picture of ancient Southold Town and included a full list of these heir- looms, all of which could be described in this book were there but space I Would that Southold Town's historical museum I might be a reality into which much of this beauty might eventu- ally go I That must have been the constant wish of the chair- man and her committee members as they handled each piece of the three thousand with admiration and a real affection for all that each one represented I { SCIENTIFIC EXHIBIT, CUSTER INSTITUTE I All during the Celebration Week, Custer Institute was open at specified hours with its interesting display of scientific equipment on view, its demonstrations scheduled on various days and its telescopes for use in sky observation at night. For a good period of years Custer Institute has been a part of Southold Town's life, started by a thoughtful group of men under Charles W. Elmer's inspiration. Bound together by a -- common interest in scientific progress, with astronomical and scientific equipment accumulating, certain members in this group have already made a most commendable contribution to science. r The exhibits signified what was going on. T. Taylor Bethel's optical-glass exhibit showed very clever and meticulous work done with his Iens-grinding equipment built by his own hand. Already Mr. Bethel has undertaken important work for an astronomer. Dr. Robert H. White-Stevens' chlorophyll- extraction apparatus and the carnivorous-pIant display of Kurt W. Opperman created great interest. Of decided importance was Thomas A. Stacy's seismograph, used for the purpose of detecting and recording earthquake waves. Mr. Bethel showed a Schmitt camera of his own construction, invaluable for sky mapping. A series of photographic enlargements of minute s plankton, crustaceans and diatoms hung on the walls, artistic as well as scientific achievement of Kurt Opperman. A spectro- scope was also on view. Ann Hallock Currie—Bell. Old Southold Town' s Tercentenary. Garden City, L. I. 1.9 0 4 3 SDS 104 r� THE EXHIBITS 41 F ! The Fitz Optics Exhibit, with "Uncle Harry's" photograph t hanging above, caused keen interest; for a sweeping, intelli- gent glance at the optical display, with the telescope in the center, recognized the part the Fitz family had played in the field of optics. Henry G. Fitz and his father, Henry Fitz, lead- r ing telescope maker, were creators of the famous Fitz lenses, ;. and this exhibit reflected historic and scientific value. i On the lawn at the back were telescopes. The most recent I one was a thirteen inch, presented by Dr. R. W. Wood of Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, the history of which Dr.Wood had given at a recent institute meeting. This and others were popu- lar on certain nights of the Celebration. After the evening affairs little groups stopped by and looked at the stars. DEDICATION OF CUSTER INSTITUTE On Saturday afternoon of the precelebration week, at three o'clock, the doors of the small attractive brick building were opened for a very interesting dedication. Custer Institute's home was to be dedicated to the "purpose of increasing interest in scientific developments and disseminating the findings of re- search to its community." Had it been possible to have included the dedication within the time of the Celebration Week it would have been on the schedule of events. It would seem, o therefore, fitting that a description of such a worthy occasion be included in this chapter. Kurt W. Opperman was chairman of the committee which planned a memorable dedicatory pro- gram. One hundred or more people attended the dedication. Alvah B. Goldsmith, president of the institute, welcomed the gather- ing with a cordial acknowledgment of the initial part Custer Institute had played in the Celebration. Charles W. Elmer, "father" of the institute, introduced Wm. H. Barton, execu- tive curator of the Hayden Planetarium and dedicatory speaker. Mr. Elmer's introduction will long be remembered by the members and guests for its gracious recognition of South- old out -old Town's cultural offerings in the Past, of its present Cele- bration, as well as its presentation of the speaker. Alfred E. Dart, science instructor in Southold High School, 1 secretary of Custer Institute and active member, reported the .Ann Hallock Currie—Bell. Old Southold Town' s r ., Tercentenar . Garden City. 1940 r SD 104 �r must have bra g; description. "I rr. stone celt whit r was to be don E - There had to antler arrowh 4 tools of indus 1 + i r :' • •,.,� axes of tough, } but the Kamm, r and the net si the nearest sto "Needs of for self-decor IN 2 Along with tl ' - toward beauty The crcmat yielded many - broken soaps arrow points, INfound much i Old Field b, component in Indian occupy The scrapf the bifurcate- pipes, the chi! the jasper ti blades from much more w of the wealtl ■ Long Island lishing knowl This Tero terial from extensively o Of course tht the explorati- !?:, !n rrru:r, r of Long Isl; scge rgetc ext{_ua'r, cu5rFR a".Trrure. t. The Fitz Optical Misplay and a Fitz separated pa Telescope; z. T_ 'Taglor Bethel', Lrns Grinding F.yttipmcrtt; ;, Cuorr In•tiqute. Anne Halloek Currie-Bell. Old Southold Town's come about t. Tercentenary. 1940 1 W- w,� <} r SD 1o4 Mondsy, July 1 (Continued) furnished for the Celebration from the homes of the Town. The great hearths, +the huge central chimney against which the steep, old stairs cling; the old beams, floor-boards and panelled wails, all preserved for posterity! And on the lawn outside, tea served by many hostesses in costume. z - a p, M. Opening of the Archaeological Exhibition, Cutchogne School. Given by the Long Island Chapter of the Now York State Arch- aeological Association. The exhibits of Aboriginal Indian Artifacts drawn,"on this occasion, from the invaluable material found within the limits of Southold Town, memorial of a past age and culture. A collection which offers a vastly interesting contribution to the Tercentenary Celebration. 2:30 - 4:30 P. M. Scientific Exhibition, Custer Institute, Southold. The Institute open for display of astronomical and scientific equipment used in its research. Results of real value have already been produced by members of this group. A special feature dem- onstration held by an exhibitor member as "Astronomical glass- grinding equipment,""Photosynthesis and Sugar Extraction,'"Spec- troscope" and "Microscopes and Slides, Photomicrography staged for scheduled afternoons of the week . 9 P M. — Telescope avail- able for sky observation, weather permitting. 8:15 P. M. Southold Town Choral Society Concert, Greenport High School. i First evening entertainment of the Celebration Week. The choral group of sixty members, holding a reputation for its accom- plishment and high musical standard, presents a superb program of music, under the direction of Harold Niver, Chairman of the Celebration Week's music, accompanied by Herbert Studier. Mrs. L. Baron Hill is to be guest pianist. This group has been invited to sing several times at important occasions at the World's Fair. An informal reception after the concert in the gymnasium. 9 P. M. Baseball. North Shore League. Night Exhibition Game at South- old High School Grounds. Greenport vs. Southold. Tuesday, July 2 9 - 12 M. Open house at the Southold Academy, Southold. An event for students from 1867 to 1937 to can at the Academy for reminiscent chats and recollections. "Come and live with us in the fondly remembered Past," said they at the 275th Celebration. Again the call goes forth! Students are urged to hunt up old photo- graphs and bring them. 1:30 P. M. Dedication of the Whitaker Memorial Collection at the Cahoon Memorial Library, Southold. Dr. Charles E. Craven, D.D., author of "Whltaker's Southold," former Mattituck Pastor, dedicatory speaker. William Wells, of Now York, Memorial Committee Chairman, presiding. Rev. E. Hoyt Palmer, George C. Terry, Lewis A. Blodgett, Mrs. Elsie Hilliard, taking part in the ceremony. A dedication especially fitting to take place during this celebration, as Dr. Epher Whitaker's irffiu- ence and work not only played a major part in the 250th Celebra- Tercentenary Celebration of Southold Town. 1640-1940