Long Island Traditions

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  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Nancy Solomon
  • Folklorist Nancy Solomon has documented the maritime culture of Long Island through these interviews spanning the years 1987 – 2016. The collection includes baymen, fishermen, boat builders and other maritime tradition bearers.   

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Bill Hamilton Long Island Traditions

On September 15, 2002, Nancy Solomon of Long Island Traditions interviewed Bill Hamilton, a member of the Brookhaven Baymens' Association, in Patchogue, New York. Hamilton provided a detailed history of the Brookhaven Baymens' Association, founded in the 1970s, and its initial focus on clamming issues. Key figures in its early days included Grant and John Mensal, Doc Murray, and Mario Carrera. Hamilton discussed various challenges faced by the Association, such as price fixing, reciprocal agreements between townships, and attempts to limit licenses.

Nancy Solomon Patchogue, NY Long Island Traditions
Bill Reed Long Island Traditions

On February 3, 2015, Nancy Solomon interviewed William "Bill" Reed for Long Island Traditions. Bill comes from Hampton Bays and is the fourteenth of sixteen children in his family. From a young age, he was influenced by his older brothers, who were baymen, and he developed a keen interest in the water and fishing. He pursued college for a brief period before fully immersing himself in a career as a fisherman.

Nancy Solomon Hampton Bays, NY Long Island Traditions
Bill Tunney Long Island Traditions

On November 28, 2007, Nancy Solomon conducted an interview with Bill Tunney as part of the Long Island Traditions Oral History Collection. Tunney is a commercial fisherman based in East Patchogue, New York. He grew up in Bellport Village and started clamming on Great South Bay when he bought his first boat at the age of thirteen. Over the years, Tunney began to work out on the ocean and has expanded his fishing activities to include gillnetting as well as dredging for crabs and scallops.

Nancy Solomon East Patchogue, NY Long Island Traditions
Bob Doxsee, Jr. Long Island Traditions

On March 8, 1988, Nancy Solomon interviewed Bob Doxsee Jr. as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Bob's family has a long history in the fishing industry on Long Island. Bob begins by recounting his childhood experiences living in a house on Meadow Island, which was only accessible by boat. He describes the unique features of the house, such as the kerosene stove and lamps, rain barrel, and artesian well.

Nancy Solomon Point Lookout, NY Long Island Traditions
Bob Doxsee, Jr. Long Island Traditions

On January 26, 2015, Nancy Solomon interviewed Bob Doxsee Jr. as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. He recounts his experiences and memories of Point Lookout, New York, particularly focusing on the mid-20th century. He describes the significant impact of nor'easters and hurricanes. Bob details the extensive efforts to combat coastal erosion, including the placement of rocks by the Town of Hempstead and the creation of a clam shell reef by his father, a project approved by the U.S. Army engineers.

Nancy Solomon Point Lookout, NY Long Island Traditions
Bob Kaler Long Island Traditions

On July 12, 2000, Steve Warrick interviewed Bob Kaler as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history collection. Bob Kaler, a lifelong resident of Patchogue, New York, worked in clamming and crabbing for decades. Bob discusses the process of setting trap lines for crabbing, attributing his start in the industry to living near the bay. Over the years, he's seen the number of crabbers increase in reaction to a decline in the clamming industry and the rising demand for crabs.

Steve Warrick Patchogue, NY Long Island Traditions
Bob Slager Long Island Traditions

On July 16, 2000 Steve Warrick interviewed Robert Lowell Slager for the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Bob followed in the footsteps of his father, and started dredging clams at the age of 16. Bob provides details about his life as a clam dredger and the changing nature of the bay, including the sharp drop in clam populations due, in part, to pollution, as well as the shift from primarily seeing commercial boats to pleasure boats.

Steve Warrick West Sayville, NY Long Island Traditions
Brad Keene Long Island Traditions

On April 5, 1988, Nancy Solomon interviewed Brad Keene as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Brad is a seasoned boatman with a deep-rooted connection to his family's maritime legacy. The Keene family has a rich history in Freeport, as Brad's grandfather, Henry Uktch, founded the Freeport Boatman's Association. Brad traces his family lineage back to his great-grandfather, Van Schaaner, who had a fish market in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Carmine Marinnacio Long Island Traditions

On May 7, 1987, Nancy Solomon interviewed Carmine Marinaccio, a passionate fisherman and charter boatman. Carmen discusses his early years, detailing his family's move from the Bronx to Long Beach, and his experiences growing up near the water, where he developed a love for fishing and boating. The interview covers his career transition from a charter boatman during the Great Depression to making fishing lures. Carmen shares his perspectives on the challenges small-scale fishermen face, including economic hardships and the impacts of regulatory changes.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Charles Brower Long Island Traditions

On December 8, 1989, Nancy Solomon interviewed Charles Brower, a former cod fisherman from Baldwin. Brower, who began fishing at fifteen, comes from a lineage of fishermen, with his father and uncles also deeply involved in the trade. The interview delves into the evolution of fishing techniques and equipment, particularly the use of gillnets and the transition from cotton to nylon lines. Brower describes the process of gillnetting and cod fishing, highlighting the seasonal nature of these activities and the physical demands involved.

Nancy Solomon Baldwin, NY Long Island Traditions