I felt compelled to offer a suggestion regarding Snouders future since my family currently resides in the former Snouders residence on East Main Street. I recently read the new owner’s vision for Snouders and was discouraged. Oyster Bay is in desperate need of a hotel/inn with a gathering place accommodating visitors and residences. What better place than Snouders, the center of town and the anchor of the hamlet.
Snouders stood vacant and alone for years where it once was a bustling gathering place for many in Oyster Bay. Snouders can become that gathering place once again but adapt to our contemporary times. Establishing Snouders as an inn with a cafe where people can congregate, relax and have the opportunity to stay for a weekend is what this town needs. Visitors come from all over to visit Sagamore Hill and Oyster Bay and its many historical sights, beautiful harbor, parks, not to mention friends and family of residents, but they must stay out of town to do so. Creating a small visiting center in the lobby to direct visitors and recreating the infamous ice cream bar to service this generation with various types of coffee and fine wines will surely increase passive visitation for our town and support our local businesses. Building additional, unnecessary apartments in Oyster Bay will not produce income for the business owner. Oyster Bay is already inundated, beyond community standard percentages, with renters. I understand the building is in much need of repair. I had the opportunity to explore the inside of Snouders several years ago when it was vacant. The need for renovations and restoration was great, in particular on the second floor, due to years of neglect. But looking beyond the obvious disarray, the architectural details of the structure still remains.
I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to look through the vast amount of large ledgers, hand written and recorded by Mr. Snouder, regarding customers who patronized his establishment. These ledgers date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, which included many old and famous families such as the Roosevelts. The ledgers are important documented history in its most intimate and authentic form. I only hope these invaluable and historical ledgers were donated to the Oyster Bay Historical Society, who have the professional staff and Koenig Center to properly house and protect our history.
Snouders has such significant history, including, the only phone in Oyster Bay installed in 1887. For several years Arthur Snouder, Andrew’s son, carried messages to TR at Sagamore Hill. Our family is honored to be living in the house built by Andrew Snouder in 1893. We lovingly restored our home knowing its history. We are only the third family to have lived here in 122 years. And, yes, we sense the occasional friendly ghost.
Life changes, progress happens, but people still yearn for a place to gather and a place to rest. Snouders can be that place. I sincerely hope the new owner recognizes the financial benefit and re-adaptive historical preservation of a revitalized Snouders for the good of all residents.
—Yvonne Noonan-Cifarelli
