US Census Reports:

1870 - Smithtown Town

1880 - St Johnland Home

(Employees and Residents)

1900 - Smithtown Town

1920 - Kings Park State Hospital
(Employees and Patients)

1930 - Kings Park/Smithtown

(Commack-Hauppauge-Kings Park)

1930 - Kings Park Town

1930 - St. Johnland Home
(Employees and Residents)

1930 - Nissequogue Village
 

2009 Kings Park Jazz Festival

The 3rd Annual Kings Park Jazz Festival was held on March 13, 2009 at the RJO Auditorium to a near standing room only crowd. Performing was the Rick King Combo (pictured above), Miss Emily, Glen Baldwinn's Friends of Jazz, Paul Zunno and Ranny Reeve Quartet. The Kings Park Heritage Museum holds this cultural event each year to celebrate African American History Month, usually held in February, this year's Jazz Festival was moved to a later date due to a scheduling conflict.

Pictured above is this year's honoree for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz is Percy Brice. Born on March 25, 1923, this legendary octogenarian has played with such jazz greats as Miles Davis, Harry Belafonte, Sarah Vaughan and was on the cutting edge of the NYC Jazz scene for close to 60 years. Mr. Brice is a quiet man of few words who prefers using the drums to express wherever possible. Percy is also a regular and the Mills Pond Jam Sessions mentoring the upcoming young jazz musicians in the subtleties of the jazz language. It is for these reasons that the Kings Park Heritage Museum has chosen Mr. Percy Brice for the 2009 Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Honor.

Pictured above, the sound crew on loan from the Kings Park High School, Derek and Melissa Troxler and Technical Department Coordinator Rick Holmes who was recently honored by the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce this year for his efforts in mentoring the students of the school district. The Kings Park Heritage Museum would like to thank Rick Holmes and the entire student technical crew for their selfless service to the museum as well as the Kings Park School District. When asked about the details of the complicated computerized sound system Melissa proudly said, "You don't have to be concerned with that. You supply the great musicians and I will make sure that they sound that way." ... and that she did.

Pictured above, the Heritage Youth Corps lead by Lois Vulpis, trustee of the Kings Park Heritage Museum. "This event give us an opportunity to mentor our children with the examples of truly great jazz musicians. You just never know how far the students will take this experience.", explains Mrs. Vulpis, "Its all for the children".

Click HERE to Download Program

2009 Jazz Festival Video:
 

Rick King Combo

Glen Baldwinn's Friends of Jazz

Paul Zunno Live

Click Link Above to View Video

2009 Jazz Festival Picture Gallery

Click Link Above to View Video

 

Mentoring at the Museum
with Lynne Nowick and Lisa Scott

"Women In Politics"

Suffolk County Legislator Lynne Nowick and Smithtown League Of Women Voters Vice President Lisa Scott toured the Kings Park Heritage Museum with members of the Young Lady Hibernians, SADD - Students Against Destructive Decisions, Girl Scouts of America and Kings Park Heritage Museum's Youth-In-Action Volunteers.

Pictured above with Kings Park's Future Leaders, Lynne Nowick explains that there are 3 women and 15 men in the Suffolk County Legislature, "You need to be assertive and be a strong advocate for your district". Legislator Nowick says that balancing home life and the matters of government is a challenge, but one she believes is well worth the effort. "It's a good example for my children and all the young women of Smithtown. You can be tough and still be a lady."

Amanda Robinson of the Heritage Museum's Youth-In-Action Volunteers said "Mrs. Nowick is from our neighborhood, that could be me someday!"

"Men and Women are Welcome at The League of Women Voters"

Explains Lisa Scott, Vice President of the Smithtown's League Of Women Voters.  In addition to her work at the LWV, Mrs. Scott is a past president of the Smithtown Book Club.

The League was founded in 1920 in Chicago, Illinois by Carrie Chapman Catt and other women active in the Suffragette movement, following the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote and was the subject of a mentoring session earlier in the year hosted by Smithtown Town Council Member Pat Biancaniello.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, volunteer organization working to promote political responsibility through the informed, active participation of citizens in government. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. It does support or oppose legislation after serious study and substantial agreement among its members. Membership is open to everyone.

Mentoring at the Museum! 

The Kings Park Heritage Museum Mentoring Program is a community based effort to help the young ladies of Kings Park and Greater Smithtown develop a healthy self image and help them learn and grow in an ever complicated world. By introducing these soon to be leaders to women of the community who have excelled in their lives, overcome obstacles and negative stereotypes the Kings Park Heritage Museum hopes to help these young ladies on their journey.

 For more information on the Mentoring Program contact:

Program Director Steve Weber
Email: info@kingsparkmuseum.com

Click Link Above to Read News Article
 

Russ Savatt Park - Main Street Kings Park

 Who is Russ Savatt?

Pictured above at a Kings Park Fire Department Clam Bake in the late 1940's, Russ Savatt after who Savatt Park on Main Street is named, was a true old school Kings Parker in every sense of the word. Russ was a Marine Corps Judo Instructor in World War II, member of the American Legion, founded the Kings Park Boys Athletic Club which focused on Boxing, was an active member of the Kings Park Volunteer Fire Department and owned and operated a barber shop for the better park of 40 years, just footsteps away from the park which now bears his name.

"Russ was the kindest, folksy person you would ever want to meet. You could walk by the shop, sit down and he would talk to you for hours, never losing that smile for a second. Russ was a very strong man although he only stood about 5 foot 4; In many ways he was one of the tallest men I have ever had the pleasure meeting. He was originally from Pennsylvania and although he never totally lost that Mill-Town accent, he was a true Kings Parker in everyway."

- King Pedlar, Kings Park Historian
 

Russ Savatt Picture Gallery - Click Image to View

Russ Savatt Park:

Click Here to Read Details on Park Expansion!

 

Click HERE to Read News Paper Coverage!

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The Lost Farm of St. Johnland Video by Steve Weber and King Pedlar King and Steve search for the Lost Farm of St. Johnland which was located across Sunken Meadow Road from the current St. Johnland Nursing Facility in Kings Park and operated as a working farm for over 100 years. The St. Johnland Society came to Kings Park, before there was a Kings Park at the end of the Civil War during the 1860's. The St. Johnland Farm provided all the Fruit, Vegetables, Dairy and Meat for the Society. Beginning in the 1940's, as more of these goods became available locally, farm operations were slowly phased out until a fire in the 1970's destroyed the last remaining farm buildings and the land was left to return to nature. ___________________________ Click Here to Watch Video ______________________________ Click Image Above to View!

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The Lost Camp Of St Johnland Video By Steve Weber and King Pedlar King and Steve Search for the St Johnland Camp which was located in Sunken Meadow State Park in NY until 1951. St Johnland Home was a home for children, each summer the children would walk to this rustic camp on the shores of the Long Island Sound to enjoy what nature had to offer and get away from the summer heat back in the St Johnland Home. In 1951 Sunken Meadow was expanded and the camp was disbanded and the land claimed under eminent domain by Robert Moses.   Click Here to View Video

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St Johnland A Forgotten Utopia   New Release! The Kings Park Heritage Museum is proud to announce the publication of the long awaited book on the History of St Johnland written by Bradley Harris and King Pedlar and Published by the Kings Park Heritage Museum entitled "St Johnland a Forgotten Utopia". Prior to becoming a elder care facility, St Johnland was a home for children founded by the Reverend Muhlenberg in 1865 to help inner city orphans and children of single parents a place to learn and grow. This ground breaking book by Kings Park Historian King Pedlar and Smithtown Historical Society's President and former Smithtown Council Member Bradley Harris, is a heartwarming historic documentation of the children of the St Johnland Home and their lives together. This book is available via mail order from the Kings Park Heritage Museum for a suggested donation of $12, which included shipping. Also available via mail order are George Tiernan's book "Kings Park a Pictorial History 1870-1960", Myra Fontana's Book "Irish Immigrants of Kings Park" and David Flynn's Book "Early Homes of Kings Park - 1690-1917", each has a suggested donation of  $12 via mail order. Buy all 4 books for $35 - Shipping Included! Irish Immigrants of Kings Park St Johnland Forgotten Utopia Early Homes of Kings Park Kings Park Pictorial History Send $12 donation for each book ordered or  $35 for all 4 books to: Kings Park Heritage Museum 101 Church Street Kings Park, NY 11754 for more information email: info@kingsparkmuseum.com Read Press Coverage:

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Kings Park Town "The Second Wave"- 1964-1969   Kings Park's Rapid Expansion! During the mid to late 1960's Kings Park experienced a period of unprecedented rapid growth which was fueled by the Aerospace Industry, Defense Contractors and the Kings Park State Hospital. This film documents the changes which occurred during that time period, including the building of the Kings Park High School, Park View Elementary School and the many housing developments including Old Bridge Estates, Wilshire, Crestwood, Gramercy Towne, Miller Homes, Flower Hill, Hillside Terrace and Lawrence Manner. Also included are clips from the last year of RJO School when the historic building served as both the Jr. and Sr. High School, including Mr. Bowman's Archery Club, the Baseball Team, Track Team and a very rare clip of William T. Rogers, after whom the current middle school is named. Click Here to View Video!   Photo Gallery: Click Image above to View! Video restored/prepared for the Internet and article written by Steve Weber, Historic References from Miles Borden, "History of Kings Park" Published by the Kings Park Heritage Museum. Special thanks to Mrs. Gardner who had Charlie finally clean out the basement and found these historic films!