Castro Presents Gift to Christeen

NYS Historic Preservation Grant of $50,000 Given to Christeen

By D.F. Karppi

Bernadette Castro visited Oyster Bay on Monday May 11, to present a check to another Long Island lady - the oyster sloop Christeen. Ms. Castro, commissioner of the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Places made the presentation at the site where the Christeen is being restored by Dave Short, shipwright. The event was cause to break open some oyster and clam shells for an Oyster Bay celebration.

David Short, shipwright, shows the class one of the wooden frames he is working on. The wood was cut on the sawmill at the COSPC location at the Jakobson Shipyard. The students are in Ms. Felice Gordon's third-grade class at the Roosevelt School. Photo by Eileen Solomito.
The Christeen has been stripped for repair. The inside of the ship has been removed and Mr. Short is making new ribs for the inside. Some rib pieces are laid out on the floor below the ship and on the sawhorses. Photo by Eileen Solomito.

The grant of $50,000 is from the Clean Air, Clean Water Bond Act which had a provision for historic preservation.

NYS Senator Carl Marcellino, a big supporter of the Christeen Oyster Sloop Restoration project missed the ceremony on Monday because of having to return to Albany where the legislature is in session.

He was instrumental in making the bond act a fait accompli, said Pat Reiss, his community coordinator.

"During the evolution of the Western Waterfront Plan, there is a home for the Christeen and a home for continuing the restoration. She is an integral part of the plan," he said.

"It is living classroom for kids," said the senator, who himself spent 20 years as a teacher.

The Christeen is already being used as a classroom venue. Ms. Felice Gordon's third-grade class at the Roosevelt Elementary School visited the restoration workshop recently.

David Short, shipwright working on the Christeen restoration met the class outside the original carpenter shop on the Jakobson property, where he gave the children an introduction to the history of the Oyster Bay waterfront. His daughter Eliza is in Ms. Gordon's class.

Inside they saw a short video on the restoration project. He explained the painstaking process that's involved to resurrect the vessel. "I want this to be a sort of floating classroom to bring awareness to Long Island's rich maritime history and the environmental concerns," said Dave Short.

The Christeen was built in 1883 in Glenwood Landing and was owned by Captain William Smith of Oyster Bay who named it after his teenage bride.

Michael Deering, executive director of Friends of the Bay is appreciative of the educational work of the Christeen. "We see her as the education vessel for our children to allow them to get a better understanding and appreciation of all that Oyster Bay has to offer. It is the perfect companion to the marine education center at Jakobson Shipyard, he said.

"The environmental importance and historical significance of Oyster Bay are what makes this area unique. Friends of the Bay was there when the Christeen was presented to Oyster Bay for restorations and we are pleased that the state has seen fit to help restore her," said Michael Deering, executive director of FOB.

Immediately following the activities at the Christeen, Commissioner Castro hosted a boating safety demonstration in honor of Boating Safety Week, which is May 17 through May 24.

If you would like more information on the Christeen or would like to donate funds, or logs, or to volunteer with the Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corporation please call Dave Short at the Carpenter's Shop at 922-1098.