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Samuel Ballton in his Civil War Uniform
Date Unknown
Done in Atlantic City
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Samuel Ballton was born about 1838 as a slave on the plantation of Vincent A. Marmaduke in West Mullan, Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was one of nine children. When Ballton was seven years old, he was sent out to work on a neighboring plantation. During this time, Ballton met Ann Rebecca Richardson, who lived on John Kircher's plantation.
In April 1861, they got married by an overseer on the Kircher plantation. On May 23, 1861, Virginia voters ratified the state's succession from the Union.
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Westmoreland County, Virginia
Between 1872 and 1887
C.D. Gedney
Library of Congress
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As an "able-bodied slave," Ballton was hired out to work as a section hand on the Virginia Central Railroad in the Blue Ridge Mountains. On Whitsunday, or Pentecost, 1862, Ballton and five other slaves formed a group and took advantage of the four-day holiday. On Saturday night, with some flour and bacon under their shirts, they walked 17 miles to Frederik Hall, Virginia, where they ran into the master of the railroad. Luckily, the master didn't suspect anything, so they continued on until Wednesday morning when they reached Union lines. They walked approximately 40 to 50 miles to freedom.
Once reaching the North, Ballton enlisted in the Union Army as a private for a 3 year enlistment. He joined the Wisconsin regiment as a cook, but his ultimate goal was to rescue his wife. Despite the land near the plantation being held by Union forces, Ballton did run into Southern troops. As a ruse, Ballton told them that he was captured by Northerners but escaped and was now returned to his plantation. His story was convincing enough that he was able to reach Rebecca. Since he didn't feel he could get her out safely, he instead helped three other enslaved Africans escape. Ballton then returned and took Rebecca, her mother, and two others 50 miles to Fredericksburg, which took 14 hours.
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View of Fredericksburg, Virginia
c. 1863
E. Sachse & Co.
Library of Congress
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The Balltons originally settled in Alexandria but went to Boston in early 1864. On March 5, 1864, he enlisted in the Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Calvary as a private for a 3 year enlistment. Around the end of November 1865, Ballton was honorably discharged and returned to Alexandria. | |
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Birds Eye View of Alexandria, Virginia
c. 1863
Charles Magnus
Library of Congress
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In 1873, Ballton found work on the Greenlawn farm of Charles D. Smith, but it is uncertain how Ballton made his way to Long Island. Within two years, Ballton owned land in Greenlawn. In 1882, it was reported in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that Ballton had gathered 1.5 million pickles, leading to his nickname "The Pickle King."
From the 1880s onward, Ballton became an important figure in the Huntington community, with his most notable contribution being the construction of several houses, many of which still stand today. He lived in the house at 67 Boulevard until his death on April 30, 1917. In 1920, Rebecca sold the house and lived with her daughters until her death in 1925. The couple is buried at Huntington Rural Cemetery.
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Remembering the life and legacy of Samuel Ballton, 'The Pickle King of Greenlawn'
February 18, 2025
News 12 Video Segment
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Samuel Ballton (Third from Right)
Stands with Fellow Civil War Veterans
Thompson Building, Northport
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The Long-Islander
March 20, 1914
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Big Apple Almanac - The Pickle King
Patrick M. Reynolds
Featured in Newsday in February of 1994
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The Greenlawn Pickle Works
Near Lake Road
c. 1880
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The Centreport Hotel
Also known as:
Bishop's Hotel
Fabian Hostelry
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Centreport Hotel/Fabian Hostelry
c. 1890
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Families and Businesses
of
Centerport and Greenlawn
in the year 1870
Print Available at GCHA
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Considered the earliest commercial building in Centerport, the Centreport Hotel used to stand on the northwest corner of 25A and Centershore Road.
In 1870, it was called the Bishop's Hotel after its owner, A. Bishop. By 1880, it was owned by C.O. Merrill and was renamed the Centreport Hotel. After Merrill, it was run by George E. Doty, who put the hotel on the map.
Doty was dubbed the 'mine host' of the Centreport Hotel, becoming a popular landlord in the area.
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View of Centreport Harbor. L. Island
c. 1881
Edward Lange
Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
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George E. Doty was born on August 16, 1851, in Woodbury, to a substantial and reliable farming family. Like most other kids, he attended school but left for New York City to start tending at bars when he was fourteen. Doty continued working in bars in the city and Brooklyn before coming out to Centerport in 1884. From there, he leased the hotel and was granted a "Second Class Hotel" license in May.
Doty had a reputation for being a fantastic host. According to the Long-Islander, “He is of generous nature and refers summer guests to houses which are opened only in the summer season... But he is always willing to accommodate those who prefer to stay with him..."
The hotel was a popular spot for the Fabian Literary Union of New York, which would hold meetings and summer vacations there. Since they visited so often and loved the place so much, the union proposed a name change. In September 1885, the Long-Islander wrote:
"The members of the Fabian Literary Union of New York, have presented George E. Doty, the proprietor of the Centreport Hotel, with a fine photograph of about 40 of their number. During the past few years, they have taken such a fancy to the place that they have induced Mr. Doty to change the name of the hotel. It will hereafter be known as the “Fabian Hostelry.” The boys always add life to the place by their presence."
From then on, the hotel was known as the "Fabian Hostelry," a popular summer vacation spot, and also functioned as a polling place. It was also a honeymooning location, resulting in an amusing altercation, which was reported in the Brooklyn Daily Times.
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Centreport Hotel/Fabian Hostelry
c. 1890
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The Brooklyn Daily Times
May 11, 1891
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On May 10, 1902, it was reported in the Brooklyn Daily Times that Doty had sold the hotel to John Wolfert of Cold Spring Harbor. The article says that "Mr. Doty and family moved to Cold Spring Harbor on Thursday, and he was loath to leave. As he left to drive away, he remarked that he would not live a week. His remarks proved true, for Sunday night he died."
From there, on February 9, 1905, the property was leased by Han Iverson before being sold to Archie Hall, proprietor of the Lakeside Inn, by Wolfert. In preparation for the construction of "Halls," the old hotel was torn down, and that was the end of the Centreport Hotel.
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The Brooklyn Eagle
February 9, 1905
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Valentine Pickle Postcards
Donated by J. Fred Rodriguez
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GCHA Membership
Looking to Become a Member or Renew?
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Consider renewing your membership or joining, as your annual dues allows us to continue maintaining our two historic properties, the John Gardiner Farmhouse, and the Suydam Homestead, alongside the preservation of paintings, photographs, documents, and ephemera at the Russell B. Brush Research Center.
An annual membership entitles you to a subscription to our quarterly newsletter and monthly e-newsletter, in addition to discounts on programs. You will also get early access to our digitized collection, and virtual exhibits/tours.
Senior/Student - $20
Individual - $25
Family - $40
Sponsor - $75
Patron - $125
Click a tier & pay online via Square
or
Mail a check to:
GCHA
31 Broadway, Greenlawn, NY 11740
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Gift Options
To Support Our Association
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Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association Mug
$12.00
Click here!
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(Images of America)
Greenlawn: A Long Island Hamlet
From the archives of the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association comes this striking visual history of the north shore Long Island hamlet of Greenlawn.
Originally known as Oldfields, the area was settled in the early 1800s by farmers. The extension of the Long Island Railroad through the farmlands in 1867-1868 provided the impetus for the development of a profitable pickle and cabbage industry, the growth of the community, and the arrival of vacationers, many of whom soon became year-round residents. Greenlawn includes stories of the Halloween eve conflagration, the Adirondack-style vacation retreat, the opera house, the farmhouse murders, the vaudevillians, and the Pickle King, among others. Today, houses cover the old farmlands; yet Greenlawn with: one main street of small shops, a railroad crossing that halts traffic throughout the day, and many historical buildings-still retains its small-town charm.
$20.00
Click here!
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(Images of America)
Centerport
Discover the Deco estates, summer camp spots, and stunning landscapes that Long Island's North Shore coastal community of Centerport has to offer.
Once known as Little Cow Harbor, the coastal community of Centerport on Long Island's north shore is rich in natural resources, including a beautiful harbor with several freshwater streams surrounded by wooded hills. Centerport was originally the site of several important mills, but in the late 19th century, it became a summer retreat for both the rich and the not so rich. Youth camps, most notably the Franciscan Brothers' Camp Alvernia; guesthouses; and resorts as well as popular restaurants dotted the shoreline. In the early 20th century, large estates were established by the Vanderbilt, Van Iderstine, Burling, Morse, DeBrabant, Whitney, and Corbin families on the Little Neck peninsula. As the 20th century progressed, modest and generously sized houses replaced the small farms and many of the large estates. The unspoiled natural beauty and rich history has for centuries drawn residents whose love of Centerport continue to make our village a great place to live.
$20.00
Click here!
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Harvey A. Weber's Centerport
In 1990, Harvey Weber wrote, edited, designed and published Centerport, a word and photographic history of his adopted home. The book was well received and was reprinted in 1991. At his death in September 1991, the rights to his book about Centerport became the property of his widow, Madeline Weber. In 2001, as the book was about to go out of print, Mrs. Weber generously ceded the rights to the Centerport book to the GCHA in loving memory of her husband. The Association has now re-issued Harvey Weber's book as a tribute to the great contribution he has made to preserve the history of Centerport through his own beautiful photographs and through the historic photographs that he assembled. The Association also acknowledges with heartfelt gratitude the generosity of Madeline Weber. Her gift has made it possible for our community to enjoy her husband's work for years to come.
Harvey Weber was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1917. He died in Centerport in 1991. During his lifetime he received many prestigious awards and honors, including the Joseph Costa Award from the National Press Photographers Association. He exhibited his work in six one-man shows. His photographs are included in museum, university, and private collections.
$5.00
Click here!
(Available only through the GCHA)
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