Tour Highlights
Susan Hantz-West
Upon awakening, we were greeted with an overcast, snowy morning.  However, by the time 12 noon rolled around, the day became brighter and the small amount of snow that fell gave just the right touch to the day. Eager ticket-holders were already forming a line at Islip Town Hall by 11:00 a.m.

This year we had two houses from what was known as "Islip Manor". Both the Filipowski and Cooper houses were built on land originally owned by William Moffitt and developed by Andrew Wolpert and his sons.

The Lycke house was built in 1931 by the Kinney family and purchased in 2002 by the current owners. Ruth C. Kinney, a long-time teacher and administrator of the East Islip School Dist., grew up here.

The Gonzalez house, though built in the 1990's, was built on the exact spot where Schuyler Livingston Parsons mansion, Whileaway, once stood.

The Johnson house, which was on an earlier tour, had had a make-over and showed a new interior to this year's attendees.

This year's reception was held at St. Mark's Fenton Hall, which was gaily decorated for the Christmas season. Hot chocolate, coffee and tea were served as well as freshly baked cookies provided by the BOCES Career Center Culinary Arts students. Our Main St. merchants provided wonderful items and baskets for our Chinese auction and some lucky winner went home with $175 from our 50/50 raffle. Absolute Harmony Barbershop Quartet provided our guests with holiday music.

Once again we asked and our tour participants answered by providing toys for the U.S. Marine Corps "Toys for Tots" program.

Both Margaret Nocera and I would like to thank the Filipowski, Cooper, Lycke, Gonzalez and Johnson families for beautifully decorating their homes and opening them up to us.

We also wish to thank St. Mark's for letting us use their premises for our reception.

A big THANK YOU to Jane Mizrach and her costumed tour guides, the Freeman's (and our Main St. merchants) for putting together such a great Chinese auction, Roberta Drake and Gina Ryan (and their helpers) for keeping the food and drink flowing, Silverthorn's and Marilyn Pfeiffer for helping at the rotunda, and Lori Zegel, owner of Nook & Cranny Gift Boutique for handling ticket sales.
Our 12th Year of Holiday Cheer!!
Est. 1992 Historical Society of Islip Hamlet