The Oyster Bay Historical Society announced their plans to construct a non-combustible, masonry building which will be located behind the Colonial Garden at the rear of the Earle-Wightman House. Spurred both by growing pains-since its founding in 1960, the Oyster Bay Historical Society has become a vital part of community life-and by the need for a safe archival site for its historic collection, now located in the historic 1720 building, the Society has begun raising funds for the new building. It will have the heating, ventilation and air conditioning needed for proper archival storage, and will be made to look like a period barn. It will serve the Society as its research and collections center.

The estimated cost of the building, which was approved in concept by the Oyster Bay Landmarks Commission in October 2003, is between $750,000 and $1,000,000. Through their various fund-raising efforts and pledges from their benefactors, the society has raised almost $200,000.

"We shall be undertaking a capital campaign shortly to raise the remainder. Any fund-raising ideas, or willing volunteers to serve on the committee, would be greatly appreciated," said Oyster Bay Historical Society Director Tom Kuehhas.

"Although quite a bit of 'tweaking' remains to be done to the proposed exterior design, in cooperation with the members of the Landmarks Commission, we felt that the time was right to unveil these plans so that residents were aware of how seriously the society regards its role as caretaker of Oyster Bay's history and of how great our needs are in order to properly safeguard the collections," he added.

Mr. Kuehhas said, "We are indebted to Locust Valley architect Austin T. Gray for all his work in taking our concepts and needs and formulating them into the coherent plans you see here.

Since 1720 the little house on Summit Street has been expanded, renovated and even moved to suit its masters: and now it's time for a major new addition.

Originally built on South Street as a small, one-room dwelling, located near the present Oyster Bay Fire Company #1 house, the Earle-Wightman house grew over the next 150 years to its current size. During that time the house had several owners. As the 19th century began, two successive Baptist ministers, the Reverend Marmaduke Earle and the Reverend Charles S. Wightman, made their home there, each for over 50 years.

In 1966 the house was donated to the Town of Oyster Bay by Hempstead Bank President, Bruce Wood Hall with the stipulation that it be used as the headquarters of the Oyster Bay Historical Society. It was moved to Summit Street and renovated and under the direction of John Collins, an authority on architectural history and historic preservation. Today the little house with charmingly irregular windows, hand-wrought nails and riven-oak furring, serves as the headquarters and museum of the Oyster Bay Historical Society.

The society uses the house for historic exhibitions -- such as the just-ended "Art of Oyster Bay" exhibit; educational programs-over 1000 schoolchildren visited the Earle-Wightman House for exciting, hands-on programs this past year alone; a research library-well over 1000 researchers utilize the resources of the library each year, either through personal visits, telephone calls, US Mail, or via e-mail; a gift shop; and office space for staff. It is also used to house the society's ever-growing collection of historic documents, books, photographs, and artifacts.

"Of course the house was not built with any of these purposes in mind," said Mr. Kuehhas. "The fact that the society has run out of space in which to house all of our operations is a minor consideration compared to that of the danger of fire. The dangers of housing an irreplaceable historic collection in a 300-year-old wood frame structure was made all too vivid by the October 2003 fire which destroyed the historic Masonic Lodge just a few blocks away. Many artifacts, historical records, and Masonic memorabilia were lost forever in the fire."

The OBHS plans to insure the safe survival of its extensive collections. For more information about the OBHS and to become involved in its projects, please call 922-5032.