With the full moon casting a silver glow on the snow covered hills of Locust Valley, Raynham Hall Museum had its annual Valentine’s benefit gala at the Piping Rock Club, where 170 guests—many sporting red—celebrated the holiday of love. Executive Director Harriet Gerard Clark discussed the significance of the event.
“Tonight is our annual Valentine’s party to commemorate that Raynham Hall is the home of the purported first Valentine in America, which was composed for Sarah Townsend by a British officer who was occupying her home in 1779,” said Clark. “We are also honoring James M. Murphy, who has been on our board for 18 years.”
Raynham Hall Museum marks an important landmark in this country’s history and had it not been for George Washington’s spy ring (one of whom was Robert Townsend), we all might be drinking tea instead of coffee and speaking with a British accent. The brief back story is that the British came and took over the Townsend home, chopped down their orchards and billeted their troops there. The officers camped out in the home, sending the family to live in one room. Robert Townsend, the son, had enough and secretly became a spy for George Washington. His sister, Sarah Townsend, was courted by a British officer living in the home. He fell in love with her and wrote of his love for her in the first Valentine.
“One of the best ways we can educate our children is by bringing them there,” said Rita Roselle, the first vice president of the museum. “The Townsend family was living comfortably in Oyster Bay and then the British soldiers knocked on their door and told them they were taking over and you will have to live in this one room with your six children. The history is unbelievable that one of the children, Sarah Townsend, a teenager, was able to eavesdrop and hear that the British were planning a coup. She told her brother Robert Townsend, who became a Culper spy, and he was able to get a message to George Washington and stop the attack at West Point.”
This happened a month after Sarah received her Valentine.
The story became more complicated when Sarah Townsend fell in love with the British officer who gave her the Valentine, but she was never able to return his love. She never married and lived with her two siblings in the house until her death at the age of 82. The Valentine was found among her possessions.
James Murphy, a Vietnam veteran, Village Justice for the Village of Oyster Bay Cove and board member for Raynham Hall for the past 18 years, shared why this museum is so special to the community.
“The museum preserves the Townsend homestead and puts together educational programs for children. It’s actually quite amazing that 6,000 school children come here through school tours on an annual basis,” said Murphy. “When the children first arrive they seemed to be glued to their hand-held technological devices, but by the time they leave the museum those devices are put away because they have just experienced a very moving and hands-on experience on how life was in the Colonial days.”
Appreciating the history of this country were guests Owen and Bernadette Smith.
“We have owned the Milleridge Inn for the past 50 years and it dates back to 1670,” said Owen Smith. “We came here to celebrate my cousin and honoree James Murphy.”
As guests dined on scrumptious hors d’ oeuvres, John Schwartzberg tickled the ivories of the grand piano in the dining room, which was filled with fragrant red and pink sweetheart roses in silver vases. Other guests mingled near the open bars in the many rooms which were warmed by blazing fireplaces. Some took advantage of the “speak easy” where slot machines and casino tables helped raise money for the museum. Down a long hallway guests could also bid on silent auction items or wait for the live auction event which took place after a buffet dinner of prime rib, turkey and pork loin.
Councilwoman Michele Johnson came with a certificate for the honoree.
“Raynham hall Museum is an important part of our history and it highlights the importance to our community,” said Johnson. “We also appreciate Jim Murphy’s legal counsel to the museum for the past 18 years.”
The Town of Oyster Bay owns the museum and grounds, but the museum has an agreement with the town that the Friends of Raynham Hall operate the museum. The town provides a third of the funds and the friends of the museum provide the additional funds through events like the gala.
Theresa Skvarla, director of public relations, had high praise for Murphy, saying, “He is just the sweetest, best man we have ever worked with and we really appreciate all of his hard work.”
John Bonifacio, president of the Main Street Association in Oyster Bay and board member of Raynham Hall, discussed the importance of the night’s events.
“Jim is a fabulous role model for all of us. I am very proud to work with him on the board. Raynham Hall is an integral part of the history of Long Island and Oyster Bay. This is a wonderful museum that should be preserved for all to see.”
