Hallockville Museum Farm Author Talk: “A Farm Family on Long Island’s North Fork,” Historian Richard Wines Delves Into the Complexities of Three Centuries of Farm Living

 RIVERHEAD, NY (April XX)—Hallockville Museum Farm, a 28-acre preserved farm homestead in Riverhead, will present a talk by historian and author Richard Wines about the history of the local agricultural community as featured in his new book, “A Farm Family on Long Island’s North Fork.” The author talk will be held on May 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hallock State Park Preserve, 6062 Sound Avenue in Riverhead.  

In his book, “A Farm Family on Long Island’s North Fork,” Wines traces the history of the vital North Fork agricultural community through the story of the last family to live in the old Homestead at Hallockville.  

“For well over two centuries, community members were almost all descendants of the same group of seventeenth-century Puritan founders. But despite their shared heritage and complex interrelationships, cultural wars raged,” explained Wines. “Family members and the community divided bitterly on issue after issue, ranging from whether to allow a melodeon into the church to supporting abolitionism.” 

During his presentation, Wines will examine the many changes weathered by the community over the centuries, including the Civil War, the emergence of new agricultural technologies, the arrival of Eastern European immigrants, even an attempt to build a string of nuclear power plants in the twentieth century. Wines’s deep dive into one community’s history uncovers stories about slavery, racism, and prejudice that many have chosen to forget, as well as stories of compassion or human tragedy we want to remember.  

Admission to the author talk is free, but advance registration is required. Registration may be completed online at: www.hallockville.org.