73°Good evening
Watch Now 2:57

Living history actors bring tales from the past alive

The Historical Society of Islip Hamlet put on a show at Oakwood Cemetery in Bay Shore on Sunday, Sept. 18, where actors portrayed the people buried there, bringing the history of Long Island to life. NewsdayTV’s Shari Einhorn reports. Credit: Newsday/James Carbone; Photo Credit: The Historical Society of Islip Hamlet


Drivers coasting down Montauk Highway in West Bay Shore might do a double take when they see a man in 1700s apparel “haunting” the road in front of Sagtikos Manor. It’s no ghostly figure, though, just Joe Bentivegna. 

He’ll be dressed in knee-high riding boots, breeches and an overcoat with ruffled sleeves that evoke the image of Alexander Hamilton on a Broadway stage, all the better to portray Isaac Thompson, a former resident of Sagtikos who lived in the manor in the 18th century. 

When a fall chill creeps through the air, many Long Islanders turn to tours where guides like Bentivegna dress in period costumes and unwind the clock. For these tours, volunteers research the stories of Long Island history through primary documents and portray local figures, some famous — or infamous — and others lost to time. 

“It’s an honor in one part because you realize you’re actually stepping into somebody else’s shoes for a while, and you want to do their life justice,” Bentivegna said. “There’s a responsibility that comes with that part.”

Various local churches, historical societies and municipalities hold living history tours in October, which they promote on social media. For immersive history outside of autumn, the Old Bethpage Village Restoration gives Long Islanders a taste of 19th-century living during various events throughout the year. 

The portrayals, which rely on research skills by history sleuths and a bit of performance by volunteers, can spark a love of history for visitors. Impersonators can entice visitors to take a look at the past through the eyes of the people who lived it, Bentivegna said.

Bentivegna, of Massapequa, has for several years portrayed Thompson for the Sagtikos Manor Historical Society’s fall festival. Thompson, whose family lived in Sagtikos, was Islip Town’s first magistrate and organized Suffolk County's Revolutionary War militia.

“The magic of history comes to life,” Bentivegna said about the tours. “It’s always going to be people that connect us.” 

Gloria Sesso, co-president of the Long Island Council for the Social Studies and a retired social studies teacher, agrees, adding that it’s through the art of storytelling that history perseveres. 

“I think they humanize the historical characters,” she said of impersonators. “What you’re doing is bringing characters to life. They’re not dead, they’re alive in people's minds.” 

Christine Scibelli, 36, of Islip and an Islip Hamlet Historical Society member, has portrayed Cynthia Hawkins and Anna Luther for the society’s Oakwood Cemetery tours. The women are buried in the Bay Shore cemetery, where visitors tour the historic graveyard and listen to monologues performed by the volunteer actors. 

Hawkins and Luther met their demises in Islip. Hawkins was slain by her son in 1887 when she wouldn’t bless his engagement to a servant. Luther, whose tragic story could “be a Netflix movie” according to Scibelli, was killed by her philandering, bigamist husband in Islip, where he lured her in 1909 under the guise of looking at property. 

“She was 27, and she had nobody,” Scibelli said. “The only connection she has with Islip is that she was murdered here. … I’d want someone to tell my story.” 

The desire to keep stories alive is what fuels Bev Tyler, 84, of East Setauket, who has portrayed spy ring leader Abraham Woodhull since 1976. It started when the Three Village Historical Society debuted historical impersonators in honor of the nation's bicentennial that same year, he said.

“It became evident that we didn’t want to let it go,” Tyler said. “We didn’t want this to just end. We thought that it was important, especially for schools." 

After more than 45 years of portraying the famed spy, Tyler said he feels deeply connected to him. So much so that he often slips into first-person mode when discussing Woodhull, with whom he shares relatives. 

Tyler said living history tours and presentations provide “touchstones of local history” for an audience that might not otherwise be aware of what happened in their own communities a lifetime or more ago. 

Bentivegna agrees.

“History in a sense is the death of knowledge,” he said. “There is something that goes away with that person, their life experiences, their knowledge. To preserve that in some way ... that’s the role of a historic site and an interpreter, to make that difference tangible and real somehow.”


Drivers coasting down Montauk Highway in West Bay Shore might do a double take when they see a man in 1700s apparel “haunting” the road in front of Sagtikos Manor. It’s no ghostly figure, though, just Joe Bentivegna. 

He’ll be dressed in knee-high riding boots, breeches and an overcoat with ruffled sleeves that evoke the image of Alexander Hamilton on a Broadway stage, all the better to portray Isaac Thompson, a former resident of Sagtikos who lived in the manor in the 18th century. 

When a fall chill creeps through the air, many Long Islanders turn to tours where guides like Bentivegna dress in period costumes and unwind the clock. For these tours, volunteers research the stories of Long Island history through primary documents and portray local figures, some famous — or infamous — and others lost to time. 

“It’s an honor in one part because you realize you’re actually stepping into somebody else’s shoes for a while, and you want to do their life justice,” Bentivegna said. “There’s a responsibility that comes with that part.”

What to know

  • Local living history tours are held in October, hosted by churches, historical societies and municipalities, and are promoted on social media.
  • The Old Bethpage Village Restoration gives Long Islanders a taste of 19th-century living during various events throughout the year.
  • The Three Village Historical Society in East Setauket debuted historical impersonators in honor of the nation’s bicentennial in 1976.  

Various local churches, historical societies and municipalities hold living history tours in October, which they promote on social media. For immersive history outside of autumn, the Old Bethpage Village Restoration gives Long Islanders a taste of 19th-century living during various events throughout the year. 

Volunteers research the stories of Long Island history through primary...

Volunteers research the stories of Long Island history through primary documents and portray local figures, some famous — or infamous — and others lost to time. An Islip couple recently portrayed Civil War veteran Frederick Wright Sr. and his wife, Phoebe, during a tour at Oakwood Cemetery in Bay Shore. Credit: James Carbone

The portrayals, which rely on research skills by history sleuths and a bit of performance by volunteers, can spark a love of history for visitors. Impersonators can entice visitors to take a look at the past through the eyes of the people who lived it, Bentivegna said.

Storytelling captures 'magic of history'

Bentivegna, of Massapequa, has for several years portrayed Thompson for the Sagtikos Manor Historical Society’s fall festival. Thompson, whose family lived in Sagtikos, was Islip Town’s first magistrate and organized Suffolk County's Revolutionary War militia.

“The magic of history comes to life,” Bentivegna said about the tours. “It’s always going to be people that connect us.” 

Gloria Sesso, co-president of the Long Island Council for the Social Studies and a retired social studies teacher, agrees, adding that it’s through the art of storytelling that history perseveres. 

“I think they humanize the historical characters,” she said of impersonators. “What you’re doing is bringing characters to life. They’re not dead, they’re alive in people's minds.” 

Christine Scibelli, 36, of Islip and an Islip Hamlet Historical Society member, has portrayed Cynthia Hawkins and Anna Luther for the society’s Oakwood Cemetery tours. The women are buried in the Bay Shore cemetery, where visitors tour the historic graveyard and listen to monologues performed by the volunteer actors. 

Hawkins and Luther met their demises in Islip. Hawkins was slain by her son in 1887 when she wouldn’t bless his engagement to a servant. Luther, whose tragic story could “be a Netflix movie” according to Scibelli, was killed by her philandering, bigamist husband in Islip, where he lured her in 1909 under the guise of looking at property. 

“She was 27, and she had nobody,” Scibelli said. “The only connection she has with Islip is that she was murdered here. … I’d want someone to tell my story.” 

'Touchstones of local history' 

The desire to keep stories alive is what fuels Bev Tyler, 84, of East Setauket, who has portrayed spy ring leader Abraham Woodhull since 1976. It started when the Three Village Historical Society debuted historical impersonators in honor of the nation's bicentennial that same year, he said.

“It became evident that we didn’t want to let it go,” Tyler said. “We didn’t want this to just end. We thought that it was important, especially for schools." 

After more than 45 years of portraying the famed spy, Tyler said he feels deeply connected to him. So much so that he often slips into first-person mode when discussing Woodhull, with whom he shares relatives. 

Tyler said living history tours and presentations provide “touchstones of local history” for an audience that might not otherwise be aware of what happened in their own communities a lifetime or more ago. 

Bentivegna agrees.

“History in a sense is the death of knowledge,” he said. “There is something that goes away with that person, their life experiences, their knowledge. To preserve that in some way ... that’s the role of a historic site and an interpreter, to make that difference tangible and real somehow.”

On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's high school sports writers talk flag football, baseball and boys lacrosse.  Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas

SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Flag football exploding on Long Island  On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's high school sports writers talk flag football, baseball and boys lacrosse. 

SUBSCRIBE

Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months

ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME