SQUADRON HISTORY

On these pages you will find Historical Facts of the Smithtown Bay Power Squadron

Historian: P/C Daniel J. O'Brien, SN

THE STORY BEHIND THE SQUADRON

 BURGEE

63rd ANNIVERSARY

1950-2013

If you are not a native of Smithtown Township, you may not know the history of how Smithtown was founded.

P/C Marcial L'Hommedieu, a charter member of the Smithtown Bay Power Squadron, vividly recalls when the Squadron was recognized by USPS® in 1950. He tells new members the following heritage of the Burgee.

The bull on the burgee represents a "revered bull" figure in the history of the town, located on the north shore of Long Island, NY. The red, white and blue colors represent the National Colors. It seems that in 1665, a man named Richard Smith, the legendary founder of Smithtown, owned a bull named "Whisper".  As the legend goes the local Indians made a pact with Smith, an English settler, who knew a good real estate deal when he saw one. He could keep whatever land he could encircle in a days time, riding atop his trusty bull Whisper.

Smith, a clever man, waited for the longest day of the year to undertake the trek. The day before the trip, he even trotted out Whispers' favorite cow, to trace the course. Her fetching scent would surely quicken Whispers' pace and get Smith to the end of the 55 mile border on time. Naturally the trip was successful and what later became Smithtown, was his land.

This is the legend.

Of course, history challenges this version, but it's a nice community yarn and it is always interesting to see the reactions as it is related to new members.

This article was submitted by P/Lt./C Harry Walter

Ed note: This is no Bull!

The above story was featured in the July - Aug,  2005 Issue of the Ensign.

 

SQUADRON CHARTER

On July 12, 1950 Smithtown Bay held it's "Charter and Initiation" night dinner meeting at the Longview Restaurant, St. James, NY. Total attendance was 65 people. Our Commander was Vincent L. Kramer, N.

This is a copy of the Squadrons Original Charter dated

 14 April 1950

CHARTER MEMBERS

Clarence Acker* Earl R. Scott*                           
Frank Corbani* P/C James M. Shay*
Andrew A. Everett William Takats
P/C Karl M. Kirsch* S.T. Tassinari
P/C Vincent L. Kramer* John C. Tompson
George E Leuchner* William Wadelton*
P/C Marcial B. L'Hommedieu Robert F. Wagner*
Patrick O'Sullivan William A. Wilson*
William Poulson, Jr. John W. Wolf*
Boris Radoyovich  

      (* Deceased)

                  The photographs below were submitted to us by Paul Leuchner son of George E. Leuchner, AP  one of the Charter Members of the Squadron. These  photos are from the early 50's.

On the left is Commander Vince Kramer, N with George standing beside him. This photo was taken at Stony Brook Harbor, the Stony Brook Yacht Club is believed to be in the background. The Squadron was participating with the US Army seen on the right for some exercise.

The above photos appear to be a Squadron Booth, location/event unknown, with Commander Vince Kramer,N and George. Leuchner, AP on the left speaking to some prospective boaters. In the right photo George is speaking to a prospective boater.

 

SQUADRON PUBLICATION

The Squadron Publication is officially known as the "WHITE CAPS"

The cover page shown below is from Volume 1, Issue #3 dated December 1951

Shown below is the current cover page design which you can see is

 quite similar

In 2009 with the expansion into the internet we went to e-mail for the "White Caps" with the below cover page.

PAST COMMANDERS

* 1950-1952 VINCENT L. KRAMER, N    1979-1980 JOSEPH ZIMMER,  AP 
* 1952-1954 JAMES N. SHAY, AP * 1980-1981 JOHN ROSLAWSKI, P
* 1954-1956 KARL M. KIRSH, AP * 1981-1982 ARTHUR L. NUSTED, P
   1956-1957 VALENTINE KEIFER, JN    1982-1983 BEN LA ROSA,  AP
   1957-1958 WALTER MOXON, JN    1983-1984 DANIEL J. O'BRIEN, SN
* 1958-1959 GEORGE W. HOLST, N    1984-1985 EUGENE HOUGHTON, AP
   1959-1960 ROBERT H. DENTON, AP    1985-1986 RICHARD LEATHERMAN,  SN
* 1960-1962 CHARLES  L'HOMMEDIEU  * 1986-1987 FRANK LA ROSA, P
* 1962-1963 JAMES R. BRANNIGAN, AP    1987-1988 RICHARD POUPARD, SN
* 1963-1964 ALEX  SONNENBERG,  JN    1988-1989 DONALD E. BURDEN, JN
   1964-1965 OSCAR E. OLIN, AP    1989-1990 JEROME E. FRIEDLAND, JN
   1965-1966 HAROLD DAVIS, AP * 1990-1991 STEPHEN  CIARAVELLA, P
* 1966-1967 HENRY H. COOK, AP  * 1991-1992 JAMES J. BRENNAN, P
   1967-1968 ADAM S. MAY, JR.,  JN    1992-1994 RAYMOND V. DRISCOLL, P
   1968-1969 JOHN CERNY, AP    1994-1995 MARCIAL L'HOMMEDIEU, P
   1969-1970 GEORGE VOGT, N    1995-1996 Dr. ROBERT L. RUPNICK, AP
   1970-1971 EDWARD L. MOORE, AP  * 1996-1998 JAMES E. BRENNAN, P
   1971-1972 DONALD S. COHEN, N    1998-2000 JOSEPH F. TIPALDO, AP
* 1972-1973 ALDOLPHUS  LA ROCHE, N    2000-2001 ANTHONY BHARAT, P
   1973-1974 ALLAN S. HILTUNEN, SN    2001-2003 WILLIAM HOFFMAN, P
   1974-1975 JOSEPH F. TIPALDO, AP    2003-2004 ANTHONY BHARAT, P
* 1975-1976 JOHN J. McCARTHY, AP    2004-2006 DENNIS SCHUG, AP
* 1976-1977 JAMES E. DAVIS, JN   2006-2010 MARC GOTTLIEB, AP
   1977-1978 RICHARD S. PRUITT, SN   2010- 2012  RICHARD SILVA, AP
*  1978-1979 GEORGE R. DECKER, P   2012-            DOUGLAS SCHROEDER, AP

 (*Deceased)

Past Commanders at the 56th COW 4/12/06

Left to Right: James Brennan, Anthony Bharat, Daniel O'Brien, Dennis Schug, Bill Hoffman, Marcial L'Hommedieu, Raymond Driscoll, Dr. Robert Rupnick, Joseph Tipaldo, Allan Hiltunen.

SMITHTOWN BAY COMMANDERS  WHO SERVED AS DISTRICT COMMANDERS

  1984 P/C James E. Davis, SN *

1990 P/C Joseph Zimmer, AP

    1996 P/C Jerome Friedland, JN

LIFE MEMBERS

Life Members are those who have earned 25 Merit Marks

P/C Donald Cohen, N

P/Lt./C Gilbert Gluck, SN

P/C Allan S. Hiltunen, SN

P/C Marcial B. L'Hommedieu, P

P/C Daniel J. O'Brien, SN

P/C Robert Runick, AP

Lt./C John Rockensies, SN *

P/C Joseph F. Tipaldo, AP

HONORARY MEMBERS

                  Shirley Davis      Bea Holst*      Claire McCarthy*      P/Lt. Richard Tepedino, AP 

* Deceased

NATIONAL and DISTRICT AWARDS

NATIONAL

1951 Honorable Mention Teaching Aids Harbor Model. The original was donated to the Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy.

1982 Teaching Aids 2nd Place - Sail

1984 Teaching Aids 1st Place - Seamanship

2005 Web Site Excellence Award

2006 Membership Growth Award 13.73%

2006 Co-op Charting Program- Marc Gottlieb National Rank 533

2007 Web Site Award

2008 Web Site Excellence Award

2009 Web Site Excellence Award

2010 Distinctive Communicator Awards for our Website and White Caps Publication.

2010 National Growth Award

2011 Distinctive Communicator Awards for our Website and White Caps Publication.

2012 Distinctive Communicator Awards for our Website and White Caps Publication.

2012 NBF/USPS Excellence in Recreational Boating Education Award.

DISTRICT

1951, 1963, 1965  Haedrich Memorial Trophy

1966, 1969 Prince Henry Navigation Trophy

1981 Teaching Aid Awards, Sail, JN, Marine Electronics

1982 Teaching Aid Awards, 1st Place Boating, 2nd Place Piloting, 3rd Place Marine Electronics, JN, Seamanship.

1983 3rd Place DEO Award, Honorable Mention Price Henry Trophy,  Teaching Aid Awards 1st Place Engine Maintenance, 2nd Place Marine Electronics, Weather, 3rd Place Sail.

1984 Teaching Aid Awards 2nd Place Weather, 3rd Place Seamanship.

1987 Headrich Memorial Trophy, Training Aid Awards 1st Place Seamanship, Engine Maintenance.

1988 Teaching Aid Awards 1st Place Instructor Qualification, Engine Maintenance, 3rd Place Sail and Seamanship.

1989 DEO Award, Teaching Aid Awards 1st Place Engine Maintenance, Boating.

1991 Karl Walter Memorial Trophy.

1998 Prince Henry Navigation Trophy, Robert R. Rachoi Memorial Award

2001 Prince Henry Navigation Award, 2nd Place Robert R. Rochoi Memorial Award, Bowsprint Award.

2003 Haedrich Memorial Trophy

2009 Haedrich Memorial Trophy (2nd place)

2010 P/C Allan Hiltunen received the D-3 Nomination for the National Chapman award and received the Anthony A. Scimeca Memorial Award.

2011 Haedrich Memorial Trophy

2011 DIR Award (Doing It Right)

2011  2nd place for the DEO Award.

2011 3rd Place Co-Op Charting Award

2012  Haedrich Memorial Trophy

2012 DIR Award (Doing It Right)

2012 George. W. Popella (Co-OP Charting) 3rd place Award

SQUADRON MEMORIAL FUNDS

Vincent Kramer Memorial Fund

The Vincent L. Kramer Fund was established in September 1974 with a bequeath of $2000 to the Squadron for the purpose of establishing an award in his name the interest from which shall be used for educational purposes.

George Holst Memorial Fund

A Memorial Fund was established  in 1987 to honor P/C George W. Holst, N. This fund was established in his name with the principal to remain untouched, with interest from the fund to be used for the general needs of the squadron.

 

40th ANNIVERSARY DINNER CRUISE

On April 28, 1990 a 40th Anniversary Dinner Cruise was held aboard the 160 foot "Princess of New York" in New York Harbor. If you want to read about and see photos of the festivities click on the link below.

CRUISE

60th ANNIVERSARY/HOLIDAY PARTY

See Photo Album 19

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Last updated 3/17/13