Sylvester Manor: By the Numbers 2022

ENGAGEMENTS & EVENTS

Donnamarie Barnes, our Director of History & Heritage, presented at 13 History & Heritage events & presentations, for a TOTAL of 1,000 minutes (16.6 hours) with nearly 500 attendees. She appeared in New York City, Virginia, Nantucket, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Mystic, Connecticut, & Barbados

HISTORY & HERITAGE INSTITUTES OF HIGHER LEARNING

BARD GRADUATE CENTER

10 students are enrolled in a class titled “A Brief Introduction to a New York AngloDutch Provisioning Plantation for Sugar Plantations in Barbados and Objects for Student Projects”

RECENT RESEARCH FINDINGS

Through primary and secondary source research we have identified the names of approximately 50 individuals who are buried in Afro-Indigenous Burial Ground.

Graduate students are studying the history of Sylvester Manor, it’s collections and material culture. Students choose a particular piece such as ceramics, silver, wallpaper or mourning ephemera and conduct scientific analysis on its condition and makeup.

SYLVESTER MANOR PRESERVE

MELLON FOUNDATION PLANNING GRANT

WHAT IS IT? This year we have been supported by a $150,000 Officer’s Planning Grant from The Mellon Foundation to support the 2022 History and Heritage Planning and Partnership Initiative. This year-long Initiative focuses on organizational engagement with institutions of higher learning and other historical sites, enhancing Sylvester Manor’s capacity as a place-based center of inquiry, scholarship and public engagement.

WHERE HAS IT LED US? The funding has enabled us to fully establish a department of History & Heritage at Sylvester Manor allowing us to expand our research into the lives and histories of the individuals who lived and worked as enslaved and free people of color at Sylvester Manor. The Mellon Grant has let us establish new partnerships and collaborations with institutions of higher learning such as New York University, The Bard Graduate Center, Yale University, Brown University and the University of the West Indies/Cave Hill.

SPEAKER SERIES & PROGRAMS

Donnamarie Barnes, Lauren Brincat, Curator of Preservation Long Island’s Lloyd’s Manor, and Malik Work, poet and actor spoke at 2 events, attended by 100 people.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

With the help of Architectural Preservation Studio, historic preservation architects, we completed 360 degree, baseline drawings of the Manor House. It was the first time scaled drawings of the House have been done since 1908! Work is now underway to complete a redesign of the electrical/mechanical and future fire suppression systems.

In July, we applied for a $500K grant from NYS to repair the Exterior Envelope, including roofs and chimneys, windows, doors, siding and foundation. We expect to hear back on this grant by the end of 2022, and are currently preparing an application for a $750K federal grant due in December of 2022.

CAP Grant - Sylvester Manor was accepted into the Collections Assessment Program of the Institute of Museum of Library Services, which funded an overall assessment of the Manor House contents and interior finishes during a 2-day site visit by preservation professionals. The CAP Assessors’ report will guide best practices for rehabilitation of interior rooms and care of the Manor House collections.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

OLD FARMHOUSE

The Old Farmhouse at Sylvester Manor was built circa 1850 and has housed a succession of farm staff and property caretakers. In the 1970s it became an outparcel on two acres under the ownership of distant family relations.

Then in June of 2022 Sylvester Manor acquired it to preserve/use the house and make the property whole again.

The Farmhouse is slated for renovation and adaptive reuse as part of our upcoming capital campaign. The first floor would support office/administration and educational programs and a residential apartment is planned for the second floor.

WINDMILL

In August, we held another Windmill Cocktail Party and raised over $20K for the rehabilitation of the 1810 Dominy Windmill.

Then in September, our master carpenters came back to repair a cracked beam under the mill and start working on the internal mechanisms.

This is PHASE III of a multiyear restoration project to eventually make the mill fully operational!

SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE

Full Season Shares, (20 more than last year!) 31 Bread Shares, 8 Pork Shares, 36 Egg Shares, 24 Farmstand Credits, 3 Off-Island Shares 24 shares were donated to local food pantries, plus leftover shares each week

of produce donated to our food pantry partners, including CAST, Shelter Island and Montauk.

CSA SHARES FARM

COMPOST & FOOD WASTE DIVERSION PROGRAM

50 CSA members participated and provided approximately 7K lbs of compost

FARMSTAND

We spread 200 yards of our own compost, which was used to mulch the garlic and amend a small section of the Windmill Field. We purchased 500 yards of compost from the Town Recycling Center and used it to spread on all the other vegetable beds.

We removed a cooler, added more retail space, installed a porch with an awning, created a back office and a new check-out counter.

There is now 3 times more retail space, including a covered porch area. We also added an additional display fridge and freezer. We now have approximately 3,500 sq ft of refrigerator space, which allows us to grow more and increase our CSA, farmstand offerings and donation program.

EDUCATION

SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS

Traditional: 50 kids each week for 8 weeks in 5 pods

STEM: 13 kids for one week in July (first ever!)

Forest Theatre: 24 kids ages 5-12 over 2 3-week sessions; performed Through the Looking Glass and A Prince & A Swallow

Extended Day: 88 kids enjoyed extended days from 12:30-3:00pm

It has been another absolutely fantastic farm camp experience for the (our) family. (The kids) have loved their time at camp, have eagerly dressed themselves every morning in anticipation of another day of dirt and fun, and have come home full of facts about nature and wildlife that they have excitedly absorbed while on the farm. You have covered so many educational topics this summer and I can only imagine the organization and thought that goes into creating such a deep and enriching curriculum. We are truly so grateful.

100% of parents surveyed were very satisfied or satisfied with the program.

98% are very likely or likely to recommend the Summer Youth Program to another family.

We had a wonderful time at camp this summer! Picking my child up covered in mud after an afternoon in after care was a total highlight! He loved every minute and still says it was his favorite part of the summer!

Thank you for reassuringus that (our son) was safe and keeping himat camp today. I had to email you guys because hetold me that it was the best day ever! For an LA kidwho doesn’t see many storms like that…he REALLYloved jumping in those puddles. Thank you guys.What a great camp! You all are amazing!!

EDUCATION

FIELD TRIPS

5 field trips from as far west as Wading River to as close as SI School.

229 students from grades PreK through 6th grade visited to learn about regenerative farming techniques, soil science, sustainability, and the Afro-Indigenous Burial Ground. A few heard directly from Shane Weeks, a tribal leader in the Shinnecock Indian Nation, as he told stories of his ancestors and demonstrated native drumming.

CULTURAL PROGRAMMING

ACROSS AMERICAN ROOTS CONCERT

250 people attended the Concert that featured: Rites of Spring Woodwind Quintet, Shane Weeks of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, and The Jazz Loft Big Band.

HARVEST MOON FERRY CRUISE

172 people attended the Harvest Moon Ferry Cruise, in support of Sylvester Manor. The harvest moon happens once annually in either late summer or early autumn depending upon the lunar cycle.