Long Island’s barrier beaches are fascinating places. Stretched along the south shore of the island, they persist through much of Long Island history as wild natural landscapes constantly shifting and remolded by the Atlantic Ocean. And despite the storms and shipwrecks and isolation, people have persisted in thinking “I want to live there.”
The latest episode of the Long Island History Podcast features Mike Cavanaugh, whose curiosity brought him to Gilgo Beach in Suffolk County over twenty years ago. Through deeper research he has tracked the history of his beach cottage and the Gilgo community back to the 19th century. You’ll hear about eccentric hermits, the lost colony of Hemlock Beach, and the complicated legacy of Robert Moses. You’ll also hear about Mike’s other passion, collecting old bottles from the Great South Bay that tell stories about the people who had lived here before.
You can listen to the podcast here.
The Long Island History Project is an independent podcast featuring stories and interviews with people passionate about Long Island history. It is hosted by academic librarian Chris Kretz.
For a full list of this week’s New York Almanack podcasts announcements click HERE.
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