Celebrating Glen Cove 150 Years Ago

Written by Dr. Millie DeRiggi

A small leather-covered book with the title Bi-Centennial Celebration at Glen Cove, L.I., May 25th, 1868 can be found in the History Room of the Glen Cove Public Library. It belonged to Robert Reed Coles, for whom the room is dedicated. Older Glen Cove residents of the City may remember Bob Coles, because each year he would go to the schools and tell the students about the beginning of Musketo Cove in 1668, and how it grew into their City of Glen Cove. He had a booming voice and a dramatic flair that he also used giving presentations at the Planetarium of the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Edna Coles, his wife, would be seen each fall, always with a fresh flower in her hair, leading her new class of kindergarteners and a few parents on a walk from Deasy School to the Library. She would introduce them and show them the wonders they might find and the photos and other items telling the story of their city.

Perhaps inspired by his small book from 1868, Robert Coles agreed to co-write the History of Glen Cove from 1668 to 1968 for the Tri-Centennial celebration. His co-author, the young city historian, Peter Luyster Van Santvoord, tragically died before the book was complete.

Those who have been working on Glen Cove’s 350th Anniversary would be familiar with the efforts of the bi-centennial celebration organizers recorded in the book: forming committees, planning programs, collecting funds, etc. Present Glen Covers might be interested in how residents in a much smaller community celebrated 150 years ago:

At 10 A.M. on May 25th, 1868, a procession of about two thousand residents of Glen Cove passed down School and Glen Streets and entered a large open space. Henry J. Scudder, Esq. gave the opening address, telling the story of the founding of Musketo Cove. He explained that although the original Indian name referred to long grasses, residents in 1834 wisely decided to change the name to the present Glen Cove. After the speech, everyone was invited to a feast set out on long tables, including 50 bushels of clams and quantities of corned beef and ham. Following the meal, there were 21 toasts to different groups in Glen Cove, such as the mechanics, the clergy, the Veterans of the War to Defend the Union and so on. Each toast was followed by a responder who said something about the subject.

Toast #19 was “The Sons and Daughters of Temperance of Glen Cove.” The responder began with the following comment: “Many object to this organization on the ground that it is a secret society. Now sir, it cannot be a secret society, or ladies could not become members, for it is said that they cannot keep a secret.” Undaunted, the group stood and sang an original song by “Daughters of Temperance” including the admonition: “Then neighbors, fill your glasses up with water fresh and clean . . . “

A newspaper account remarked that all the toasts had taken five hours and in the spirit of fellowship as the people left to go home after a long day and evening approached.

Musketo Cove was founded by workers, not aristocrats or very wealthy people. Five proprietors owned the land purchased from the Matinecock Indians. The leader, Joseph Carpenter, was a carpenter by vocation as well as name. He was joined by three brothers, Nathaniel, Daniel and Robert Coles, and Nicholas Simkins, about whom less is known.

Another remarkable volume in the History Room contains the actual agreements and business records kept by the Proprietors from the beginning. The agreements show an attempt to be fair in the distribution of land bought from the Matinecock Indians and the common labor required, with future decisions settled by majority vote.

Carpenter and the Coles brothers were children of parents who first settled in Massachusetts, only to find that the religious freedom which Governor Winthrop and his followers sought in America applied only to themselves. If you disagreed, you were caste out, even in winter. The Carpenter and Coles families settled with Roger Williams in Providence. It was in Rhode Island that the sons would learn the skills needed to build the homes and mills in Musketo Cove.

One early woman settler, who appears in the records, had the formidable name Maha-shalal-hasbaz. Her father, Samuel Gorton, a believer in reason had the distinction of composing the Rhode Island Statute against slavery, adopted in 1652, but sadly never enforced. Gorton had a bitter feud with the father, Robert Coles. Their children, however, Daniel Coles and Maha shalal-hasbaz, married, crossed the Sound and helped build the new settlement.

Founders of Musketo Cove came from Rhode Island and brought the same belief in religious tolerance, independence and the right to representative government.

The City of Glen Cove is having a free community event on May 24th to celebrate our rich heritage and commemorate all those who contributed to the life in Glen Cove in its 350 year history. There may not be bushels of clams, but there will be music, performance and fireworks.

Photo Caption:

Robert and Edna Coles, courtesy of the Glen Cove Public Library Robert T. Coles Long Island History Room.