Erwin Lavery of Oyster Bay is celebrating his 100th year. His willingness to help others has made him friends everywhere: at the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center, at St. Paul's Methodist Church, the Community United Methodist Church and at the Masonic Lodge. On Saturday, June 23, the Masons invited Erwin and his friends to a birthday party in his honor at the Oyster Bay Landmark Matinecock Lodge.

His longtime friend Al Ludlam was the master of ceremonies and he read aloud a history of Mr. Lavery, born June 26, 1901.

"Erwin was born in a house in Olmsteadville, New York in a house built by his father Augustus and his grandfather Edward Lavery. The house had a large kitchen, living room and dining room, two bedrooms downstairs and three bedrooms upstairs. Fresh water from a well was about 35 feet and about 50 feet from the back door. Water was heated on the wood stove to fill the large tub in the kitchen for the Saturday night bath for the children.

"Erwin, his sister Marion, two more sisters and a brother shared the chores such as collecting eggs, churning butter, feeding the chickens and tending the garden.

"There was no electricity and the home was lighted with kerosene lamps. In the winter Erwin helped his father cut ice from a nearby pond to store in the icehouse. Erwin's father had a woodworking shop, a sawmill and a gristmill. Erwin helped out with all of them.

In the spring when the sap began to run in the maple trees, Erwin helped his father tap the trees.

"Erwin attended a two room country school about one and a half miles from his home which he walked every day. In 1915 the Laverys got their first Ford for $720. In 1916 the family suffered a huge loss when their mother died. Soon after their father left and the five children were left to look after each other.

"Erwin took a job in the Garnet mines at Tahaus and when it was learned he could run a sawmill he was given that job. Later he worked in a paper mill in Corinth. It was during this time that he contracted typhoid fever and was delirious with fever. After several weeks under the care of sisters Marion and Eunice he came out of it.

"After all the children were grown Erwin left the Adirondacks to find his way in the world. He and a friend decided to take a tour of the east coast and the south and they camped along the east coast. Erwin ended up in Oyster Bay with his brother Ernest. The plan was to find work and save enough money to move and open a garage. Erwin found work at Commander Oil, in Oyster Bay, and he met the one and only love of his life, Edyth (Bayles).

"She worked in Oyster Bay Bank and they lived in a double house with Edyth's sister and her husband. Erwin stayed very close to his brother and sisters and he and Edyth would go up to Lake George to his sister's home. About this time Erwin heard that Republic Aircraft Company was hiring so he went for an interview and was hired and trained as a machinist. He worked there until he retired.

"One important member of the Lavery family was 'Whitey' a wise dog that just showed up at the house one day, at 112 Ivy St.

"Life was good and after his retirement Erwin got much more involved with his church, St. Paul's United Methodist Church of Oyster Bay, and Matinecock Lodge #806 of Oyster Bay. He never missed a work committee at either place, and when there was nothing going on he would find something that needed fixing. There wasn't anything he couldn't fix or if he needed help he would call upon Les Smith. They worked on hundreds of projects together, at the church or at the lodge for many years. Les Smith passed on several years ago and time was taking its toll on Erwin - and he finally slowed down.

"The church in Oyster Bay was sold and the congregation was merged with Wesley Methodist in East Norwich and became the Community United Methodist Church. A big renovation was completed in 1990 and now there was very little for Erwin to do. But he always asked me, what could he do to help.

"He never gave up trying to be a part of his church or his lodge. Every day that the weather was fit he would walk about two miles just to keep himself active. He would show up at the senior center, which he was a charter member of and would collect the trays from the tables and do whatever he could to help out. Edyth had passed on and Erwin was a very popular guy at the center. He became a great dancer whenever we had music.

"And now, at 100 years since his birth we are proud and happy to honor this man who has had such a meaningful life. His favorite expression is 'If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself.'

"God bless you Erwin and thank the Lord for giving him to us for this length of time," said Mr. Ludlam.

There were birthday greetings sent from Masonic Grand Lodge W.M. Carl Smith; Nassau County Executive Tom Gulotta proclaimed Saturday, June 23 as Erwin Lavery Day. Proclamation came from NYS Senator Carl Marcellino; Governor George Pataki; Congressman Peter King; President George Bush and Laura; as well as Nassau County Legislator Brian Muellers.

Both Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto came in person to extend their good wishes and to bring proclamations. Mr. Lavery's niece Dr. Carol A. Wakeley sat by his side, smiling, laughing and often holding Mr. Lavery's hand. She made commemorative bookmarks for the guests to take home.

In presenting her proclamation, Assemblywoman Ferrara said the Assembly only passes resolutions to recognize residents if they are 100 years old or married for 50 years, and nothing less. It was her first time to present a centennial proclamation.

Mr. Ludlam asked the assembled guests to add their comments about Mr. Lavery.

Mason Norman Youngs said he remembered Erwin in 1926/27.

Linda Gier said, "I've known Mr. Lavery all of my life, he was a buddy of my father's. And at the church (St. Paul's) he was always the first one to say, 'yes I'll do it!'" At 50, 60 and 70 years of age, he and my father were up on the roof shingling or doing whatever you needed at the church or at home. He always volunteers and did a fine job. He is a really good example of a Christian man. He has had a long and wonderful life," she said. "And you really have made a difference," she said to Mr. Lavery.

Eileen McFetridge sang her greeting: "You must have been a beautiful baby."

"I didn't know you then. We came in 1966 to Oyster Bay and Erv greeted us at the church. We needed some second hand tools and some cabinets. Dodds & Eder was having an auction on West Main Street and there was Erv. He came over and greeted us. He stood next to my father and me, and helped us have the nerve to bid and after, he found someone with a truck to bring the stuff out to the house: so he was a friend and a church companion from the beginning."

She brought past bulletins from St. Paul's and Wesley Methodist churches. "He was a faithful servant to them all the time." She read a church verse that typified him that ended by saying, "If you cooperate with God to bring every good to fruition." There was applause at her choice.

Mr. Lavery's niece Dr. Wakeley said, "You couldn't have a better uncle. I've only known him half his life because I've only been around that long. Every spring and fall he'd come and check on the three sisters and all of us and make sure the heavy work was done. And like you said: he was in his 80s and he'd be climbing up in the apple tree cutting down dead branches and I'd have to leave because of the anxiety." The audience laughed in recognition of the feeling. "He's been an inspiration to me, that's for sure," she added. Dr. Wakeley is a physician and works for NYS in the area of disabilities. Her husband, who videotaped the event is an immunologist and works at Albany Medical College.

Past Grand Master of the Matinecock Lodge, Richard Kaiser said, "As most of you who live in Oyster Bay know, we've been working on this building for the last 15 years in a very sincere and honest manner trying to renovate the entire building from top to bottom. I don't think there's a room that Erwin hasn't had his hands on.

"We were doing the dining room downstairs and the whole ceiling had to come down. We were trying to do it: a little crowbar here a little crowbar there. Erv took a big two by four and shoved into between the beams and hung on it, that was about 10 years ago, maybe at the most, so he was about 88, and he tore that ceiling down as if it was nothing at all. But that's the kind of guy he is.

"There has never been a work party that he wasn't with and a very integral part of.

"Keep healthy Erv! Stay with us."

Warren Obes had an aside to the story. The work party started early and when Erv came in, it was almost 11 a.m. He said, 'I'm sorry I was late. I had to lay 2,500 sq, ft, of sod for a neighbor.'"

There was more great laughter.

That sparked Mr. Youngs to say Erv loved his battery powered screw gun. "He loved that screwdriver, he put the floors down with it," said Mr. Youngs, at whose family house George Washington stayed when he visited Oyster Bay on April 23, 1790.

"A P.S. from T.S." said Tim Shea. "About 10 years ago, I was helping with the Chirstmas decoration and Erwin was 15 to 20 feet up on a ladder, and I was scared to look at him. I thought he must have had a parachute and thought: 'Where does he get the guts to do it?'"

Mr. Ludlam chimed in: "That's what Erwin has done all his life. After everything was fixed he would look around and find something that he could do to make things better, to make someone's life a little easier. That was the story of his life. What will be the next 100 I don't know."

Mr. Ludlam, whose ancestors, in the 1600s, owned Hog Island, now known as Centre Island, said, "It is certainly nice to see the people from the different groups and different churches and Doubleday Babcock Senior Center. One of these days I'll be old enough to join," he quipped.

"We don't see Erv as much, as we did, but as long as he is well," said Mr. Ludlam.

Mr. Lavery said softly, "Thank you. And I enjoy all the friends here."

Mr. Ludlam asked Mason Warren Obes for a last word. He said, "Four score and seven years ago: I bet Erv was there!"

Mr. Ludlam said they had the party on Saturday because many of those attending still work. He asked Dr. Carol about the family house in Olmsteadville and she said she returned there. It had been empty for many years and it was taken down just three years ago, she said. "There are pictures in the books of it and Erv, on the table," she said.

There is even a picture of him when he was 2. It was that picture she used in making the bookmarks for guests. That and a recent photo and a Masonic emblem were shown.

Mr. Ludlam announced that there were three beautiful cakes baked for the occasion. "Florence and I spent many hours making them. Don't believe it," he quipped.

People started coming up to personally wish Erv a Happy Birthday.

Masons Mike Applequist and Warren Obes carried one of the cakes, decorated with the Masonic symbol, to Mr. Lavery so that he could see it.

Mr. Lavery's birthday celebration was continued on his actual birthday on June 26, at Oyster Bay Manor where he currently resides. On July 1, the Community United Methodist Church of East Norwich will also celebrate his 100th year as they recognize young members of the church who have graduated from any educational institution from nursery school up to college.