Raia Opens Town Records for Archives Month

All during the month of October, the Huntington Town Clerk’s Archives section will hold an open house from 1:30-4 p.m. Monday – Friday to help bring local history to life, Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia announced. The house takes place will go on every weekday except Friday, Oct. 12.

Along with local history, the town’s fire departments and first aid squads get top billing in a new exhibit. Huntington is joining many organizations across the United States in bringing America’s history to life during Archives Month.

Those who are interested can visit the archives, view the manuscript collection, talk to the staff and learn about the town’s Records Management Program. That program’s mission “is to provide the ongoing, coordinated, administrative effort to systematically manage the Town of Huntington’s records from initial creation to final disposition, in addition to the Archives, which stores the town’s historical records,” according to the town’s website.

Among the many items in the collection is a statue of America’s first hero, Nathan Hale, sculpted by Frederick William MacMonnies, one of America’s prominent sculptors. The archives also is home of one of the three tabletop-sized copies of the Nathan Hale statue that exist in the state of New York.

In addition, visitors can view the new exhibit curated by the Huntington Town Clerk’s Archives, “Lest We Forget Those Who Preserve Life and Property – Honoring the Town of Huntington Fire Departments and First Aid Squads.” The exhibit highlights the history and traditions of our firefighters and emergency personnel over the years. The oldest vehicle and a new truck owned by each one of the fire departments and aid squads will be on view at a date to be determined during the open house period.

On display are images and original artifacts on loan to the archives from Huntington’s fire departments and first aid squads; a replica model of Northport’s first fire house; and historical and modern-day pictures representing all fire departments. The exhibition is installed on all three floors of Huntington Town Hall. It will remain open to the public until December 2018, and can be viewed Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and on Fridays until 7 p.m.

Caption: The first ambulance in the Town of Huntington is expected to be on display at Town Hall during Archives Month, date to be determined. Photo credit: Town of Huntington

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