Southampton History Museum Held Halsey House Gala

On July 1, the Southampton History Museum held its annual Halsey House Gala, kicking off the 4th of July weekend. This year’s Gala Chair was philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, and she was supported by Committee Members Doug Halsey, Peter Hallock, Nancy Kane, Father Patrick Edwards, President of the Board of Trustees and honorary committee members Linda Stabler-Talty, Willi Salm, Margaret and Drew Watson and David Granville. The Halsey Family settled on the property about 1648 and built a two-room home which was expanded over the years.

The event was sold-out with over 350 guests attending — guests including Mayor Bill Manger, Rick Rose, Elyn Kronemeyer, Sylvia Hemingway, Brian Brady, Shari Rivkind, Guy Clark. Funds raised will be used for a wide range of educational programs for the entire community, and for stabilizing Halsey House’s rapidly deteriorating foundation to preserve it for future generations. The Gala also raises money for the preservation of the Halsey House & Garden, the oldest wood-frame home in the State of New York.

An outdoor exhibit titled IYA ALARO by multidisciplinary artist Oluwaseyi (Shayee) Awoyomi who is also a fifth-generation textile dryer from the Yoruba people of Nigeria was mounted and on display at Halsey House & Garden to bring awareness to America’s shared past with Africa and the dye plant indigo. The fifty-foot-long mural’s creation was curated by Harlem Needle Arts, Inc. The installation can be easily seen by walking or driving by Halsey House, located at 249 South Main Street in Southampton.