By Ben Reilly
The Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society now has full access to its large storage attic at the Sands-Willets House thanks to Plandome Troop 71 Eagle Scout candidate Will Simone. Starting with a space akin to Hogwarts’ crowded Room of Requirement, Simone led a team of more than two dozen Scouts, friends and adults in removing and carting away truckloads of garbage and digging through piles of antique furniture, framed photos and other items to purge, clean and organize its centuries-long collection of history.
The Sands-Willets House, host of the annual Country Day Fair on the corner of Homewood Place and Port Washington Blvd., was built around 1735 by a family of farmers and merchants known as the Sands who were among the first to settle on this neck of the island. Seven brothers, all born in the house, fought in the American Revolution including John Sands IV who was a Colonel in George Washington’s army at the Battle of Brooklyn. This makes it fitting that the house is featured as a historical site on the New York State Revolutionary War Heritage Trail. The second part of the homestead’s name derives from the Willets family led by Edmund Willets, prominent Quaker and abolitionist, who expanded the home to how we see it today after purchasing it in 1845. Miss Eliza Willets, a descendant of Edmund, sold the house to the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society in 1967. The Sands-Willets house is one of few 18th century homes remaining on the island, is a Village of Flower Hill Historic Landmark and is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
To earn Eagle rank, a Scout must “plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community.” Simone raised funds and obtained donations from Home Depot for the project, worked with the staff to outline its needs, then recruited volunteers to help at the Sands-Willet House. Over the course of two days, they erected new and extra shelving so all items could be safely stored, cataloged and viewed, installed lighting and hanging dust covers along the length of both sides of the attic and organized the many vintage chairs, furniture, trunks, instruments and countless other treasures, leaving the attic neat, lighted and easily accessible to its staff, plus with room for the ever-growing stockpile of real history.
This is just one of many Eagle Scout projects that has benefited the community in Troop 71’s more than 95-year history. Learn more at www.plandometroop71.com.
