Chris Kretz

Chris Kretz produces and co-hosts the Long Island History Project. He is the Head of Stony Brook University's Southampton campus library and the co-author of Oakdale from Arcadia Press.

Scandal on Plum Island: A Commander Accused

October 15, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

In 1914, Major Benjamin Koehler faced a court martial on Plum Island, off the eastern end of the North Fork coast of Long Island. A number of men under his command at the island’s Fort Terry had accused this career officer of immoral conduct. The resulting trial and verdict, after an initial flurry of notice in the press, is largely forgotten now.

Marian Lindberg, a lawyer with the Nature Conservancy and a former journalist, has gone to great lengths to retrieve Major Koehler’s ordeal from obscurity. Her book, Scandal on Plum Island: A Commander Becomes the Accused (East End Press), uncovers the possible motives for the court martial as well as the social and political climate surrounding it. [Read more…] about Scandal on Plum Island: A Commander Accused

The Preserve Plum Island Coalition On The Long Island History Podcast

September 29, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

Historic Plum Island, a small 840-acre spit of land off the North Fork of Long Island, is slated to be sold to the highest bidder by 2023. This is a result of the planned removal of the Animal Disease Center on the western side of the Island, a lab that has lodged Plum Island in the public mind as a place of mysteries and conspiracies.

In this episode of The Long Island History Project‘s podcast John Turner helps paint the full picture of Plum Island as a jewel of a natural habitat worthy of conservation, not commercialization. A spokesman for the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, Turner puts forth the case for making the area a publicly accessible hub for research, exploration, and contemplation. [Read more…] about The Preserve Plum Island Coalition On The Long Island History Podcast

NYS History Press Acquisitions Editor Interview

September 13, 2020 by Chris Kretz 1 Comment

The History Press has been publishing local history since 2004. Now an imprint of Arcadia Publishing, it’s a showcase for local and regional history, uncovering forgotten heroes, vanished industries, and intriguing stories from around the country.

Banks Smither is an Acquisitions Editor for the Press, focusing on the New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania area. On this episode of the Long Island Project podcast he walks us through his process of finding and working with authors. He also explains what makes Long Island one of the best markets for local history books. [Read more…] about NYS History Press Acquisitions Editor Interview

Baseball’s Satchel Paige on Long Island

August 24, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

By 1950, Satchel Paige was a star of the Negro Leagues and a World Series winner with the Cleveland Indians. He spent most of that year barnstorming across the United States which is what brought him to Riverhead Stadium on Long Island.

In this episode of the Long Island History Project, librarian and historian Fabio Montella relates his research into Satchel, Riverhead, and the deeper connections between Long Island and Negro League baseball. [Read more…] about Baseball’s Satchel Paige on Long Island

Synagogues of Long Island (Podcast)

July 29, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

Brad Kolodny started with some curiosity and an Instagram account but wound up with a coffee table book full of his images documenting synagogues from every corner of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

He tracked the evolution of the architecture, from simple buildings to post-modern masterpieces, as well as the growth of the Jewish community on Long Island itself. The post-Second World War boom led to a boom in synagogues as well.

On this episode of the Long Island History Project podcast, we discuss the history of Long Island synagogues, the role they play in their communities, and what drives a man to document their storied histories. [Read more…] about Synagogues of Long Island (Podcast)

Long Island Preservation Award Winner Interviews (Podcasts)

June 26, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

The Long Island History Project, in collaboration with Preservation Long Island, hosted a week-long awards ceremony highlighting their 2020 Preservation Award winners.

The five interviews cover projects including 19th century sawmills and Gilded Age mansions, ranging from Seacliff on the North Shore to Oak Beach on the Atlantic. [Read more…] about Long Island Preservation Award Winner Interviews (Podcasts)

NY Almanack’s John Warren Featured On Podcast

June 5, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

On the latest episode of the Long Island History Project, we discuss the wider world of New York State history with John Warren, founder and editor of New York Almanack (formerly the New York State History Blog). He shares his experiences working in the history field as a documentarian, author, and public proponent for learning more about our state’s past. [Read more…] about NY Almanack’s John Warren Featured On Podcast

Old NYS Newspapers Online (Podcast)

May 29, 2020 by Chris Kretz 1 Comment

The NYS Historic Newspapers site provides access to over 10 million pages of content published in local papers over the last two hundred years. If newspapers are the first draft of history, this is the mother of all manuscripts, filled with stories and people from every corner of New York state. [Read more…] about Old NYS Newspapers Online (Podcast)

Capturing the Life in the Historic House (Podcast)

May 22, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

Home isolation does not mean we can’t experience that thrill of curiosity and discovery that comes with a visit to an historic house.

Kendra Gaylord, creator and host of the Someone Lived Here podcast, does just that. From Steepletop in Austerlitz, New York, to Sailors’ Snug Harbor in Staten Island, each episode weaves an on-site visit with the story of who lived there. On our latest episode, you’ll hear why Kendra created the series, how she does it, and who had the best gift shop. [Read more…] about Capturing the Life in the Historic House (Podcast)

Gruesome, Lucrative: Long Island Whaling History (Podcast)

May 8, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

On this episode of the Long Island History Project, we speak with Brenna McCormick-Thompson, coordinator of the Whaling Museum and Education Center in Cold Spring Harbor. You’ll hear how she works to tell the story of Long Island whaling through objects, historical records, and even the streets of Cold Spring Harbor itself. [Read more…] about Gruesome, Lucrative: Long Island Whaling History (Podcast)