Guided Tour Explores Huntington’s Haunted History on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays* in October
Huntington – Huntington Town Clerk Andrew Raia dares fearless residents and visitors to be his “ghost” for a Halloween fright, opening All Hallow’s Month at the “Hauntington” Town Clerk’s Archives with a guided tour exploring Huntington’s haunted history, kicking off Archives Month on Friday, October 1 at 1:30 PM in the Town of Huntington Jo-Ann Raia Archives at Huntington Town Hall, 100 Main Street.
To celebrate Archives Month 2021, the Town of Huntington Jo-Ann Raia Archives will hold an event for the month of October, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:30 to 4:00pm, except Monday, October 11, when Town Hall is closed in Observance of Columbus Day.
Our theme, “All Hallows Month at the Town Clerk’s Archives,” will feature live interpretations of stories taken out of our manuscript collection such as:
- The Legend of Peace and Plenty Inn, the ghost of Asa Chichester.
- Nathan Hale, executed by the British in 1776.
- Charles Kelsey, tarred and feathered in 1872.
- Richard Latting, expelled from the Town for turbulent behavior. Then, he went on and purchased land, which today is known as the hamlet of Lattingtown.
- Jacob Conklin, who sailed with pirate Captain Kidd in 1690’s; Conklin was later chosen Town Supervisor on May 7, 1728 and Suffolk County Sheriff in 1734.
The area outside the Archives vault will be transformed to resemble the interior of the Peace and Plenty Inn’s main gathering room.
The Archives vault will be transformed into a mausoleum, ornate with grave stones and flameless candle lights.
Town employees will take turns in portraying the characters described in the records we highlight and the manuscripts associated with the stories will be on display.
Archives Month events are educational, informative and entertaining. They help the public realize that historical records have value not only for an understanding of the past, but for making a contribution to today's society as well.
For more details contact Town Clerk Andrew Raia at 631-351-3216 or the Archivist, Antonia Mattheou, 631-351-3035 or email: amattheou@huntingtonNY.gov
Visitors will also have a chance to review the Town Clerk’s current exhibit, “Farming in Huntington,” and see the manuscript collection housed in the repository.
The Town Board ceremoniously renamed the Town of Huntington the Town of Hauntington for Halloween in 2018, 2019, and 2020, after then-7-year-old Angelica Dee Cunningham wrote a letter suggesting the new tradition dated August 26, 2018, addressed to Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci. A similar resolution will be introduced at the October 13, 2021 Town Board meeting.
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