by Pierce Rafferty Of all the decades in Fishers Island’s storied history, there are few whose outcome was as unpredictable as the 1870s. The sudden death in 1871 of Fishers Island’s owner, Robert Ralston Fox, derailed his ambitious farm operation and exposed the island to wildly divergent development plans. Robert R. Fox, a wealthy
Ed Horning in front of the second Museum, c.1997. Photo by Ethan Kibbe. Edwin Horning’s Extensive Bird Data to be Uploaded to eBird by John Sepenoski My involvement in the Ed Horning Journals Project can be traced back to the Town of Southold appointing me as the Town’s representative to an Audubon
Wilderness Dairy, circa 1890s, from exhibition “History of Farming on Fishers Island.” Museum Collection. In my first letter as president, I want to begin by remembering Penni Sharp and all that she did for our Museum. As our president since 2003, Penni provided quiet but confident leadership in all her initiatives. She educated
Elizabeth McCance Elected President The Museum’s Board of Trustees announced on December 23, 2014, that Elizabeth McCance had been unanimously elected as the president of the Museum, effective immediately. She graciously accepted her new position. Elizabeth joined the H.L.F. Museum board in 2006. She has served on various committees including heading the leadership gifts
Penni Sharp. Courtesy of Genie Trevor. The following remembrance was read at the Memorial Service for Penelope “Penni” Sharp, held at the First Congregational Church, Guilford, Connecticut, 11:00 a.m., April 18, 2015. My name is Pierce Rafferty. I am the director of the Henry L. Ferguson Museum, Fishers Island, NY, where Penni
Fresh Water Turtles of Fishers Island by Penni Sharp Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) On any sunny spring or summer day, anyone passing by one of Fishers Island’s freshwater ponds may catch a glimpse of turtles basking on an exposed rock or fallen tree. These turtles are most likely to be painted turtles (Chrysemys
Sessile-leaved bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia) Starflower (Trientalis borealis) Indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana) Photos by Thomas Kent. From the President Now that the long winter is behind us and thoughts of the polar vortex thankfully fade, our attention turns to the most welcomed season—spring.
The Museum Begins Second Floor Renovation Project The Museum has commissioned a new plan to bring our unfinished second floor into more active use as a reference/research area for visitors and as a site for programming of all types. At our October 2013 meeting, the HLFM board voted to move forward with finished architectural
Rob Bierregaard Rob Bierregaard, Research Associate of the A cademy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia, returned to Fishers Island in late April at the invitation of the Henry L. Ferguson Museum. Rob’s goal was to “tag” a second male osprey on Fishers Island with a cell tower transmitter, having
Edwin’s tracks from 4/01/14 to 5/17/14. Charlie’s tracks from 5/01/14 to 5/18/14. A Report on “Tagged” Ospreys Edwin and Charlie by Beth Jepsen Edwin spent much of the summer last year in Connecticut, most frequently around Lake Konomoc in Montville and nearby water sources. In August he began
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F.I. Sketchbook 2005
