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Upcoming Event
Partnering with HPL
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Yankee Stargazers
February 19th - 7 PM (Zoom)
Stars have been part of America's identity from the first flag in 1777 to the star charts in Benjamin Franklin's almanacs. In this program, we'll explore how astronomy has evolved from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to today. We'll also point out a star whose light began its journey 250 years ago and will reach Earth in 2026.
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250th Merchandise
Now available in office!
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Liberty 250
Sticker
or
Car Magnet
(3.5" x 5")
$5.00
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Liberty 250
Coin
$5.00
Liberty 250
Flag
(12" x 18")
$20.00
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Charles & Bertha Ballton
Son and Daughter-in-law
of the Pickle King
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Charles H. Ballton was born in Virginia in 1867, as the son of Samuel Ballton, shortly after his father's service in the Union Army. The family all moved to Greenlawn in 1873, and as a young man, Charles made his living as a clam digger.
Later in life, Charles owned a moving and trucking company in addition to a sand, gravel, and refuse removal business, and eventually became known as one of the wealthiest African American businessmen in Huntington. His wife, Bertha L. Ballton, was born in September of 1872. The couple married on October 7, 1887.
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Charles Ballton
Donated by niece Virginia Jackson via Berenice Easton
| | Together, they owned Odd Fellows-Ballton Hall and Rosetta Hall, as well as property on Spring Road. Rosetta Hall hosted different offerings from a dance hall, to a restaurant, a barber shop, and even a pool room with apartments on the top floors. Meanwhile, Odd Fellows-Ballton Hall was the primary meeting place and hub for social activities in Huntington for African Americans. Fraternities, sororities, church members, Boy Scouts, Odd Fellows, and other social groups would all have their meetings in the Hall. A major source of transportation was the trolley car, traveling from Halesite to Amityville, stopping in front of Ballton Hall. | | Charles Ballton acquired the property on April 19, 1920, from George Fox, and on December 31, 1921, relinquished sole ownership of the Hall to his charter organization, Crispus Attucks Lodge No. 9055 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. The Huntington lodge was named after Crispus Attucks, who was one of the five people killed in the 1770 Boston Massacre. The trustees listed included Charles Ballton, John H. Plummer, and George Allen. The organization was first chartered in 1843 with the first Lodge in Philadelphia. | | |
Odd Fellows-Ballton Hall
April 24, 1935
Photo courtesy of Huntington Historical Society
via Town Historian Robert Hughes
| | African Americans were generally members of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. At the same time, whites were members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On January 17, 1945, the Lodge handed over the Hall to Max and Clara Herman. The building still stands, an unsuspecting yet important location regarding the African American experience in Huntington. | | |
Charles passed on April 4, 1947, at the age of 80, and Bertha passed on December 1, 1948, at the age of 76. The couple is buried at Huntington Rural Cemetery under the same Ballton stone as Samuel Ballton and his wife, Rebecca.
The couple had no surviving children, so their home in Huntington was left to their niece, Virginia Jackson, in appreciation for her care for them.
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Ballton Gravestone
Photo taken in 2014
DMC on Find a Grave
*Click image for source
| | Bertha Ballton News Articles | | |
Welcome Colored Soldiers - A.M.E. Church Representative
Brooklyn Eagle
March 8, 1919
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Bethel A.M.E. Church - Sunday School with Bertha Ballton
The Long-Islander
January 23, 1941
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Bethel A.M.E. Church - Sunday School with Bertha Ballton
The Long-Islander
January 30, 1941
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Coming Soon: New Display Case Showcasing Items from the Ballton Collection!
Our new display case is currently airing out, but will be available for viewing later this week in our office at the Harborfields Public Library! Our hours are Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM.
We look forward to rotating artifacts on a monthly basis, showcasing more of our collection!
*Display case funded by the Suffolk County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Omnibus Museum and Historic Association 2025 Grant
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100 Years Ago
February 1926 News Articles
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Rupert Hughes to the Fore
Brooklyn Eagle
February 2, 1926
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Huntington Townspeople Plead for Streetlights
The County Review
February 4, 1926
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Stacey's Corner Light
The Long-Islander
February 5, 1926
*Note "Greenlawn-Centerport"
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Greenlawn School Dance
The Long-Islander
February 5, 1926
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Centerport News
The Long-Islander
February 12, 1926
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Building Lots for Sale - Edward Smith
The Long-Islander
February 12, 1926
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Farm Machinery Dealer - Edward Smith
The Long-Islander
February 26, 1926
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Mr. & Mrs. Edward Smith Sr.
c. 1922
Donated by Margurite Miltner
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Greenlawn School New Teacher
Brooklyn Daily Times
February 22, 1926
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11 Youths Fined in Gambling Raid in Huntington
Brooklyn Eagle
February 23, 1926
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11 Youths Fined in Gambling Raid
Brooklyn Daily Times
February 23, 1926
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John Deans - Fire Chief
c. 1906
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GCHA Membership
Looking to Become a Member or Renew?
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Consider renewing your membership or joining! Your annual dues allows us to continue maintaining our two historic properties, the John Gardiner Farmhouse, and the Suydam Homestead, alongside the preservation of paintings, photographs, documents, and ephemera at the Russell B. Brush Research Center.
An annual membership entitles you to a subscription to our quarterly newsletter and monthly e-newsletter, in addition to discounts on programs. You will also get early access to our digitized collection, and virtual exhibits/tours.
Senior/Student - $20
Individual - $25
Family - $40
Sponsor - $75
Patron - $125
Click a tier & pay online via Square
or
Mail a check to:
GCHA
31 Broadway, Greenlawn, NY 11740
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Gift Options
To Support Our Association
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Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association Mug
$12.00
Click here!
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(Images of America)
Greenlawn: A Long Island Hamlet
From the archives of the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association comes this striking visual history of the north shore Long Island hamlet of Greenlawn.
Originally known as Oldfields, the area was settled in the early 1800s by farmers. The extension of the Long Island Railroad through the farmlands in 1867-1868 provided the impetus for the development of a profitable pickle and cabbage industry, the growth of the community, and the arrival of vacationers, many of whom soon became year-round residents. Greenlawn includes stories of the Halloween eve conflagration, the Adirondack-style vacation retreat, the opera house, the farmhouse murders, the vaudevillians, and the Pickle King, among others. Today, houses cover the old farmlands; yet Greenlawn with: one main street of small shops, a railroad crossing that halts traffic throughout the day, and many historical buildings-still retains its small-town charm.
$20.00
Click here!
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(Images of America)
Centerport
Discover the Deco estates, summer camp spots, and stunning landscapes that Long Island's North Shore coastal community of Centerport has to offer.
Once known as Little Cow Harbor, the coastal community of Centerport on Long Island's north shore is rich in natural resources, including a beautiful harbor with several freshwater streams surrounded by wooded hills. Centerport was originally the site of several important mills, but in the late 19th century, it became a summer retreat for both the rich and the not so rich. Youth camps, most notably the Franciscan Brothers' Camp Alvernia; guesthouses; and resorts as well as popular restaurants dotted the shoreline. In the early 20th century, large estates were established by the Vanderbilt, Van Iderstine, Burling, Morse, DeBrabant, Whitney, and Corbin families on the Little Neck peninsula. As the 20th century progressed, modest and generously sized houses replaced the small farms and many of the large estates. The unspoiled natural beauty and rich history has for centuries drawn residents whose love of Centerport continue to make our village a great place to live.
$20.00
Click here!
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Harvey A. Weber's Centerport
In 1990, Harvey Weber wrote, edited, designed and published Centerport, a written and photographic account of his adopted home. The book was well received and was reprinted in 1991. Upon his death in September 1991, the rights to his book about Centerport became the property of his widow, Madeline Weber. In 2001, as the book was about to go out of print, Mrs. Weber generously gave the rights to the Centerport book to the GCHA in loving memory of her husband. The Association has now re-issued Harvey Weber's book as a tribute to the great contribution he has made to preserve the history of Centerport through his own beautiful photographs and through the historic photographs that he assembled. The Association also acknowledges with heartfelt gratitude the generosity of Madeline Weber. Her gift has made it possible for our community to enjoy her husband's work for years to come.
Harvey Weber was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1917. He died in Centerport in 1991. During his lifetime he received many prestigious awards and honors, including the Joseph Costa Award from the National Press Photographers Association. He exhibited his work in six one-man shows. His photographs are included in museum, university, and private collections.
$5.00
Click here!
(Available only through the GCHA)
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