January 1944 | Abigail Fithian Halsey to Jesse Halsey

Sunday Afternoon

Dear Jesse,

Well, this week our good friend Dr. Nugent left us, the funeral was yesterday. He has been bed ridden and I guess stricken on one side since Nov.—Only last week I went in and he said, “Come up.” He and Helen and I had such a good time. I had had a call from Ada Bishop and regaled him with her account of Henry losing his false teeth at night. He lay prone on his bed, but chuckled away and enjoyed it. Helen has been so fine all thru and called me and asked me to write an article for the Press—says it is one of her greatest comforts, it’s so like old times.

I told her I tried to write something he’d like to read and that she and Liz would approve of.

I’ve been shut in the house all week with bronchitis—that ends in a wracking cough, but it’s letting up and I shall get out tomorrow. Jerry had chicken pox and now Jean is down with it, well broken out. Ibby is the valiant one of us all, but is expecting her call any time, is very well. Jerry was home Thurs. after working all night and so tired he slept most of the day. But a great comfort to Ib. to have him come.

The Rulands celebrated their January birthdays by going to Tobey’s (Camp) for supper last night and took Jerry with them. The Herricks are happy today with John and Dorie and Connie all at home. Adelaide spent a day with us and is grand and Ethel takes lovely care of her going and coming. They came in after Dr. Nugent’s funeral Friday.

Dan Halsey and all of them were sick but are better now, also Mr. Van Brunt. Days are very late in the morning, but the sun stays up a little longer.

Let me know your plans, when and where you will be coming out next month—would you be home sometime to get some oysters if I could get any to send? Henry hasn’t been along for two weeks, but the ice must be out now for it is mild for a change.

I have loved Dunnybrook and wish Adelaide Wentworth [of Cincinnati] were here to read of her Kittery. Of course, you knew Dr. Kennon Dunham’s son [Harry] was lost in aviation [while serving in New Guinea]. Sarah Withrow’s letters are full of it, says Mrs. D. stands it wonderfully, Dr. Dunham not so well. A lovely letter finally from Mrs. [W. E.] Stilwell [in Cincinnati] who is broken hearted over the University School going out.

So ends my weekly chronicle with my love for you and all, am anxious to know Abbie’s plans. I hope you all are well and I look forward to being with you all, but feel I am in the right place, and Ibby is certainly fine. Ed is in Wash. And last week had Eddie and Helen and Anita Howell down to N.Y. for a lovely weekend all together Eddie was in and looks well, goes into the Navy tomorrow. Take care of yourself and take time to rest.

Lovingly,

Abbie

Bald Hill School | Descendants of First Pupils Recall Events

August 23, 1929
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle

"The only former pupil and teacher [present] was Mrs. Amanda Terry Ruland of Terryville. Among those present were . . . Mrs. W. G. Corwin, Mrs. Thomas Corwin, Miss Ethel Corwin, Miss Ethel Corwin, Mr. and Mrs. L.W. Ruland of Southampton . . .the Rev. Jesse Halsey and Miss Abigail Halsey of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mrs. Luella M. Terry of Patchogue."

"The Bald Hills Schoolhouse"

In eighteen hundred seventeen

When James Monroe was President and when

Long Island’s Middle Country road

Was but a footpath way,

The few settlers

In the shadow of Bald Hills

Built a schoolhouse for their children.

A good school makes a settlement,

And others came, and children grew

To womanhood and manhood

Making homes.

In eighteen fifty three the school out grown

Was sold to one James Clark,

And on this site

The present one was built:

‘Tis known today both far and wide as Farmingville.

My Mother went to school here,

I can see her now,

Little Melvina, trudging on between

Her brothers, Tom and Dan’l,

Holding by the hand

Her little sister, Lyd

Who grew to teach the school,

That is my story

Yours is just the same,

Each one of you who gather’s here today.

Your Mother went to school here or your Father –maybe both,

Their names are carved upon the trees and in the desks.

Their feet have worn the door sills, as with laugh and shout and lessons done they whooped their way to freedom through that door.

Their road, to knowledge, rough perchance, and steep

Grew many flowers of joy along its way

Whose odors sweet are wafted down the years.

Their fathers all were farmers,

Men who owned their land,

And every man a king in his own right.

And in this place they gathered on the Sabbath to acknowledge Him, the giver of all good—Almighty God.

They took their joys, their sorrows

And their planting and their harvests from His hand.

Their children growing here in this good land,

(Inhaling freedom in the air they breathed),

Grew up together making their own homes and teaching to their children

As their fathers taught to them,

Lessons of uprightness and thrift.

Some went away, some wandered far,

But once a year we all come home.

Here in the schoolhouse in the wood

We meet to pay homage due those noble souls

Our fathers and our mothers, true Americans

This is America

This spot of ground

Where freeborn men and women

Made their homes and reared their children

In the fear of God,

Afraid of none

And bound to none

And envying non:--

God save America

By Abigail Fithian Halsey

For the Fiftieth anniversary

Of the Farmingville Reunion Association, 1935

Southampton DAR Float 1923

from "Southampton" by Mary Cummings

Talmadge-Ruland | Wedding

Southampton Press

Thursday, October 27, 1932

Leroy & Edna Ruland, Charles, Amanda, & Mary Talmadge
c1945 Shinnecock | film still

Talmadge-Ruland

A very pretty wedding took place on Friday evening. October 21, at the home [on North Main Street] of Mr. and Mrs. [Edna Halsey] Leroy W. Ruland, when their daughter, Amanda Halsey, was united in marriage to Charles DeWitt Talmadge of East Hampton.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Jesse Halsey, D.D. pastor of the Seventh Church, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, who was a near relative of the family and had come for the occasion. The bride wore a gown of ivory stain and carried white roses with lilies-of-the-valley and orchids. Her only attendant was her sister, Joanna, Mrs. Thomas Honnett, who wore a gown of turquoise blue and carried a bouquet of roses. The best man was Charles Frank Dayton of East Hampton. The bride was given away by her father and the ring was used in the marriage ceremony. The wedding march was played by Ralph Douglass.

The decorations were of Autumn leaves and laurel with chrysanthemums and roses. About forty guests were present, near relatives and few intimate friends of the families of the bride and bridegroom.

The wedding ceremony was performed at 8:30 o’clock after which a bountiful collation was served.

The bridal couple left by automobile for their wedding journey, after which they will reside in East Hampton, where they will be at home after November 15. They were the recipients of many beautiful gifts from friends who wish them joy and long-continued happiness.