7/21/2014 - Petrone, Berland, Raia Take Part in Historical Society’s Groundbreaking

 

Huntington – Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, Councilwoman Susan A. Berland and Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia took part July 21 in the groundbreaking for the renovation and expansion of the Huntington Historical Society’s headquarters at 209 Main Street.

As part of the project, the society is renovating the 1905-vintage Huntington Sewing and Trade School Building that has been its home since 1982; expanding into the vacant lot to the west to provide additional, climate-controlled archives storage space; and adding an entry courtyard. The Society has long sought additional storage space to house its ever-expanding collection of photographs, maps, documents, books and other ephemera from Huntington’s History.

Designed by Cady, Berg and See, architects of the original Metropolitan Opera House and The American Museum of Natural History, the unusually-shaped Trade School Building originally housed one of America’s first vocational schools. It has been important to many generations of Huntingtonians as a place to learn marketable skills; to study English, citizenship, dance and dramatics, and as a Hebrew School.

At the groundbreaking Supervisor Petrone offered brief words of encouragement, noting that Huntington is a community that values preserving its history and thanking the Society for its continuing role in that effort. Joining supervisor Petrone, Councilwoman Berland and Town Clerk Raia were Gary Strong, president of the Society’s Board of Trustees, Linda Walch, its executive director; and other trustees and supporters. Also taking part from the Town were Town Historian Robert Hughes and Town archivist Antonia Mattheou.