BOOTH HOUSE UPDATE 06-02-11

Yaphank Historical Society members have been busy working on the Booth House in anticipation of having the House ready for viewing in August. The Society plans to host an open house celebration on August 20^th. Details will be published shortly.

Members of the Suffolk County Sheriff Department’s Vocational Training Program have also helped us in these restoration efforts. Sincere thanks go to them and to the Society members who have donated their time and muscles to the restoration project. Important milestones reached in the past few months are listed below.

Exterior:

• Topsoil has been delivered; front and side yards graded and seeded.

• A Nature Trail extension has been created starting from behind the Booth House and connecting with the Carmans River Nature Trail behind the Homan-Girard House. Signs will be added for hikers.

• A new historic sign has been ordered and will be placed near the front entrance of the house. The sign will match other historical signs in the area.

• Large stones, historically appropriate to the era, will serve as the front and rear entrance.

• Historically appropriate fencing will be installed once the grading is finished.

• Storm doors have been installed at both front and back entrances.

Interior:

• Prep work (sanding, scraping, etc.) is near completion prior to painting.

• Paint colors have been chosen for all rooms in the house and some painting has been completed.

• Restoration work has begun on the windows; windows will be restored and installed one at a time.

• “Old wood” (wide board planks) was obtained and used to re-build the original pantry (walls and floor). Special planing had to be done in order to match board-width requirements.

• Some furniture has been collected; this effort will be ongoing.