Seaford Museum hosts successful fall festival

It looks like Mark Simonson Jr.’s efforts to save the Seaford Historical Museum have been a success. Simonson, who is the youngest lifetime member of the Seaford Historical Society, ran a lemonade stand several weekends throughout the summer to raise funds for the museum. The building was falling apart and in need of repairs, threatening the precious jewels of Seaford’s history that lie inside of it.

The building is an artifact in and of itself, according to Historical Society President Judy Bongiovi. It was built in 1893, and served as a schoolhouse until 1917, when Seaford’s school population had outgrown it. In 1919, it became Seaford’s firehouse, and served in that capacity until 1975, when, like the school, Seaford’s firefighter population had outgrown it. The fire department donated it to the historical society, which then turned it into the museum.

Countless artifacts inside, including old pieces of clothing, pictures and paintings of historic Seaford, and an authentic Seaford skiff, a boat used for the bay-men of old Seaford.

Building upon Mark Simonson’s efforts, which raised over $650 for the museum, the Seaford Historical Society hosted a fall festival on September 25.

The festival featured food, clothing and jewelry vendors, live performances from local dance groups, and a pumpkin patch.

Perhaps the shining feature of the day was bay man Ben Sohm’s display of animals from the Great South Bay, caught right in Seaford. In little pools, Sohm showed festival attendees a sand shark, flukes, different species of crabs, an eel, and fish called “croakers”. Sohm is a multi-generational Seaford resident, and his profession as a bay-man is one of the oldest in Seaford.

The day was a huge success, with many residents attending. Town of Hempstead Councilmen Christopher Carini and Anthony D’Esposito presented Mark Simonson Jr. with a special citation for his efforts in raising money for the museum.

The museum itself was finally open to the public during the festival. According to Historical Society president Judy Bongiovi and vice president Frank Allaire, the necessary repairs have been mostly made, and part of that is thanks to Simonson’s efforts.