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It’s a great moment when new history impacts old history.

In Port Jefferson, between October 12 and 22, the Bayles Boat Shed will be erected at Harborfront Park, the historic site of wooden boat building for 100 years. The new building will be constructed of wooden timbers with oak pegs. Members of the Bayles family will be in attendance. The building when completed will be used to exhibit and teach small wooden boat building skills for future generations.

The project is envisioned as a workshop for those with post and beam building skills and those wishing to learn them. The construction will be done under the supervision of the Timber Framers Guild of Beckett, Mass which undertakes community projects like this around the world. (Their website is: www.tfguild.org ) Those wishing to be a part of it can download the application and registration packet by clicking here.

Help is also being sought to house and feed the workshop participants. It is hoped that many will bring their families to see this ‘historic’ work in progress, and to help where they can. LISEC envisions the project as a community barn-raising. If you would like to help with housing or food contact Cathy Van Ostrand or leave a message at our offices at (631) 474-4725.

This is a project undertaken by the Long Island Seaport & Eco Center, an organization which was a prime mover among Village residents leading to the purchase of this condemned waterfront property in 1997. That it is now a beautiful park, with a reconstructed Village Center and Chandlery Building, is due to the concerted efforts of local and state government backed by volunteer committees. NYS Senator Kenneth LaValle, who was instrumental in bringing over $4,000,000 in grants to the Village to make the reconstruction possible, also earmarked a $50,000 grant for the boat shed.

This seed money has been tripled by generous local donations of money and in-kind services including architectural and legal fees, tree removal and site preparation, and building materials.

There are funding opportunities still available, including naming rights for sponsoring parts of the structure. For instance, for a donation of $2,000 a memorial plaque can be placed on one of the nine rough hewn trusses which support the building and are its main architectural feature (for info. click here).

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