FINAL 2026 WEEKEND FOR THE HAVENS FARMERS' MARKET!
Hard to believe but the summer is nearly at an end – and so is the Havens Farmers’ Market 2026 season!
Please join us this Saturday, September 5, from 9am to 12:30pm, for a great finale, with live music from the Jam Band, special events and, of course, our amazing local businesses, farm, food, and craft vendors.
While you’re here, make sure to stop in and view our exhibits, “Havens House: Witness the American Revolution” and “Unsung Heroes,” and try out our interactive 3D Model of Shelter Island.
And if you’d like to volunteer to help out during our final weekend, email
[email protected]
or call 631-749-0025 for details.
See you Saturday!
Please join us this Saturday, September 5, from 9am to 12:30pm, for a great finale, with live music from the Jam Band, special events and, of course, our amazing local businesses, farm, food, and craft vendors.
While you’re here, make sure to stop in and view our exhibits, “Havens House: Witness the American Revolution” and “Unsung Heroes,” and try out our interactive 3D Model of Shelter Island.
And if you’d like to volunteer to help out during our final weekend, email
[email protected]
or call 631-749-0025 for details.
See you Saturday!
COMING SOON!
A RARE GEM FROM THE ARCHIVES!
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This is the Epitome Totius Astologiae, an astrology anthology published in Reformation era Germany circa 1548.
In English, the Latin inscription on the inner cover reads, “written by John of Seville, a most famous Spanish astrologer, four hundred years ago, and now published for the first time. With a Preface by Joachim Heller of Weißenfels (Leucopetraeus), against the adversaries of Astrology. Nuremberg, in the printing office of Johann Montanus & Ulrich Neuber, in the Year of our Lord 1548.” There is a handwritten signature by Mich. Richey, 1724.
This is a first edition/first time mass commercial printing of the anthology. John of Seville (1133-1153), noted in the inscription as the author, was a 12th century Spanish astrologer credited with bringing Arabic astronomical and astrological scholarship to Western Europe by translating it from Arabic to Latin. Scholars say that the Epitome Totius Astrologiae is a synthesis of many of those Arabic texts.
It is an especially historically significant text, as the Reformation was a period of political and religious conflict in German society, and the publishers of this book seemingly place themselves squarely on one side of the argument by producing this book "against the adversaries of astrology."
The "Mich. Richey, 1724" may indicate that this book belonged to influential German early Enlightenment era scholar Michael Richey.
In English, the Latin inscription on the inner cover reads, “written by John of Seville, a most famous Spanish astrologer, four hundred years ago, and now published for the first time. With a Preface by Joachim Heller of Weißenfels (Leucopetraeus), against the adversaries of Astrology. Nuremberg, in the printing office of Johann Montanus & Ulrich Neuber, in the Year of our Lord 1548.” There is a handwritten signature by Mich. Richey, 1724.
This is a first edition/first time mass commercial printing of the anthology. John of Seville (1133-1153), noted in the inscription as the author, was a 12th century Spanish astrologer credited with bringing Arabic astronomical and astrological scholarship to Western Europe by translating it from Arabic to Latin. Scholars say that the Epitome Totius Astrologiae is a synthesis of many of those Arabic texts.
It is an especially historically significant text, as the Reformation was a period of political and religious conflict in German society, and the publishers of this book seemingly place themselves squarely on one side of the argument by producing this book "against the adversaries of astrology."
The "Mich. Richey, 1724" may indicate that this book belonged to influential German early Enlightenment era scholar Michael Richey.
EXHIBITS BY
OUR SI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
OUR SI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
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UNSUNG HEROES
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3D MODEL OF SHELTER ISLAND
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The "Unsung Heroes" exhibit, curated by SI High Schoolers, showcases the history of women's service organizations, highlighting their courage, sacrifice, and generous volunteerism. The students selected and researched various service uniforms that were owned and worn by local Shelter Island women. Please join us in congratulating this hardworking group of young women and be sure to come check out the exhibit for yourself!
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This 3D Model of Shelter Island during the Revolutionary era was created by SI High Schoolers with the help of their teachers. It was designed for families to interact with and enjoy the challenge of considering what our home looked like over 250 years ago. The model is open to the public. Thank you to the incredible team who made this happen: Jayden Frias, Lucas Reiter, Emily Shepherd, Jimbo Theinert, and Chris Conrardy.
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FROM THE ARCHIVES:
THE SHELTER ISLAND DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Many Shelter Islanders have heard of the “Shelter Island Declaration of Independence,” but fewer know its story. In the spring of 1775, more than a year before the signing of our nation's Declaration of Independence, the sparks of revolution were just beginning to grow in New York. That was until the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
Boston was ground zero for the rising tensions against British tyranny. In response, the British government appointed General Thomas Gage as Governor of Massachusetts in 1774. Through the implementation and enforcement of the Intolerable Acts, Gage punished colonists for acts of defiance against the crown. In April of 1775, he ordered a seizure of all weapons and powder being stored in Concord.
Boston was ground zero for the rising tensions against British tyranny. In response, the British government appointed General Thomas Gage as Governor of Massachusetts in 1774. Through the implementation and enforcement of the Intolerable Acts, Gage punished colonists for acts of defiance against the crown. In April of 1775, he ordered a seizure of all weapons and powder being stored in Concord.
Stand Your Ground, a National Guard Heritage Painting by Dom Troiani, courtesy of the National Guard Bureau.
Patriot spies caught wind of his plan, and on the evening of April 18th, patriot riders, like Paul Revere, raised the alarm that the British were on their way. American forces assembled during the night to stop the British before they reached Concord. What followed on April 19th in Lexington and Concord was the first armed engagement of the Revolutionary War. More than 5,000 men were involved, and after approximately 400 casualties, the Americans won. Although “the shot heard around the world” was fired more than 140 miles north of Shelter Island, its reverberations were certainly felt by all its residents.
By April 23rd, news of the event had reached New York, and shortly thereafter, a Form of Association pledging support to the Continental Congress and to the Provincial Convention was circulated to all the counties in the province of New York. Only free, white, landowning men were allowed to sign, and those “freeholders” who did not sign were therefore known as “non-associators” or “recusants,” and often assumed to be loyalists.
Shelter Island’s Association was signed by 43 freeholders. These men were farmers, mariners, privateers, and patriots. Many of the family names on this document are still familiar to us today.
By April 23rd, news of the event had reached New York, and shortly thereafter, a Form of Association pledging support to the Continental Congress and to the Provincial Convention was circulated to all the counties in the province of New York. Only free, white, landowning men were allowed to sign, and those “freeholders” who did not sign were therefore known as “non-associators” or “recusants,” and often assumed to be loyalists.
Shelter Island’s Association was signed by 43 freeholders. These men were farmers, mariners, privateers, and patriots. Many of the family names on this document are still familiar to us today.
Copy of the 1775 Association of Shelter Island published in Historical Papers on Shelter Island and its Presbyterian church (1899) by Rev. Jacob E. Mallman.
Unfortunately, no one living today has ever seen the original of this historic document. What happened to it, you may ask?
Forms of Association from New York townships, along with other historic material from this time period, were compiled into a collection known as the “Papers Laid Before the Provincial Congress” and stored in the New York Capitol Building in Albany.
Tragically, on March 29th, 1911, a fire broke out in the Assembly Library of the Capitol. The fire is said to have destroyed over 725,000 books and historic documents. Our 1775 Association was among the casualties, completely destroyed in the blaze. It remains one of the most significant library disasters in modern history.
Forms of Association from New York townships, along with other historic material from this time period, were compiled into a collection known as the “Papers Laid Before the Provincial Congress” and stored in the New York Capitol Building in Albany.
Tragically, on March 29th, 1911, a fire broke out in the Assembly Library of the Capitol. The fire is said to have destroyed over 725,000 books and historic documents. Our 1775 Association was among the casualties, completely destroyed in the blaze. It remains one of the most significant library disasters in modern history.
Photos of the 1911 Capitol Fire, courtesy of the Empire State Plaza collection.
Our “Declaration of Independence”—our “Magna Carta”—was thus lost to history. Fortunately, prior to the fire, copies of our 1775 Association were published. This has allowed us to preserve its image and the historical signatures it contains despite the tragic loss of the original.
To learn more about the 43 signatories, their families, and those who were excluded from signing the Association, visit the “Havens House: Witness the American Revolution” exhibit at the Shelter Island History Museum, open now through December!
To learn more about the 43 signatories, their families, and those who were excluded from signing the Association, visit the “Havens House: Witness the American Revolution” exhibit at the Shelter Island History Museum, open now through December!
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A FEW SELECTIONS
FROM OUR CURRENT EXHIBIT, "HAVENS HOUSE: WITNESS THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION" |
OUR MISSION:
The Shelter Island History Museum collects and preserves the artifacts, records and stories that define the island's unique history. We welcome and connect our community by exploring our shared history through exhibits, research, educational programs and performances. SUMMER HOURS:
Open Tuesday - Friday, 10am to 2pm Saturday, 9am-12:30pm To schedule an appointment, please call 631-749-0025. |
A big THANK YOU to the the New York State Council on the Arts for awarding us one of their 2025 Professional Development Grants for Museums!
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THANK YOU to the North Forker readers for voting us the Best History Center!
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Physical Address: 16 South Ferry Road, Shelter Island, NY 11964
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 847, Shelter Island, NY 11964
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-749-0025
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The Shelter Island History Museum's main floor and lower level are ADA accessible.
Service Animals are welcome .
Personal photography, without flash, is allowed in the galleries. No photographic equipment (tripods, selfie sticks) is permitted.
When sharing your photos on social media, please tag the Museum! #shelterislandhistorymuseum
Outside food and drink are not permitted inside.
This is a completely smoke-free location. Smoking and Vaping are not permitted anywhere on the grounds.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 847, Shelter Island, NY 11964
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-749-0025
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The Shelter Island History Museum's main floor and lower level are ADA accessible.
Service Animals are welcome .
Personal photography, without flash, is allowed in the galleries. No photographic equipment (tripods, selfie sticks) is permitted.
When sharing your photos on social media, please tag the Museum! #shelterislandhistorymuseum
Outside food and drink are not permitted inside.
This is a completely smoke-free location. Smoking and Vaping are not permitted anywhere on the grounds.