Cow Neck Historical Society expands outdoor museum space

The Island Now
Photo courtesy of Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

Thanks to a Grant from the Community Chest of Port Washington’s Esther & Harold Mertz Foundation Committee a Quaker-style shed now resides on the property of the Sands-Willets House. The Historical Society will use the new structure to display a variety of antique tools, farm implements, and household goods from its extensive collection.

Over the next few months, the shed’s interior will be outfitted with shelving and interpretive panels describing the pieces on display therein.  The grand opening is anticipated to take place early in summer of 2018 and will be an interesting addition to in the guided tours conducted from May through October on the first and third Sundays of each month at 2:00 pm.

While the shed is of contemporary materials and construction, its design is reminiscent of the typical farm out-building used during the 19th century. Its board and batten siding is an excellent match to the exterior of the Society’s existing barn.

Fred Blumlein, Treasurer of CNPHS who helped spearhead the project, said  “The Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society is extremely grateful to the Mertz Committee for this new grant which enabled us to purchase the shed. Without such assistance, it would be extremely difficult for us to maintain the Society’s many programs that depend on updating and improving our physical plant.”

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