A Special Thanks to Our
2024 Annual Boat Burning Sponsor:
Joe Farino
&
Superior Waste Services of New York
Our 2024 Burn Boat
Verbeke, Built in Quincy, Massachusetts,1929
Verbeke, Built in Quincy, Massachusetts,1929
Join us as Long Island Maritime Museum bids a fond farewell to the historic clam dredge John D. Verbeke.
Possibly the last surviving mechanized clam dredger that worked the Great South Bay during the last century, Verbeke was a floating fixture at the LIMM docks since her donation in 2013. Her doner was also her namesake, John D. Verbeke, of Bayport. She was built in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1929 and operated in the bay since the 1950s. During the 1970s, the Verbeke was most often seen in the bay waters between Sayville and West Sayville, her conveyor belt and dredging gear hanging off her port side, scooping up clams, mud, empty shells, fish, weed and bottles from the bay bottom. After more than 10 years as a dockside attraction, her old wooden bones seemed destined to join that which she once scooped up off the sea floor.
So come bid the Verbeke a flaming farewell on October 25th at the 35th Annual Halloween boat burning fair! Bring family, friends, any old clammers, baymen and kids to enjoy the music, food, and boat raffle. Overlooking the Great South Bay with Fire Island in the background, gates open at 5:00 pm. The Long Island Maritime Museum, 88 West Street, West Sayville.
Possibly the last surviving mechanized clam dredger that worked the Great South Bay during the last century, Verbeke was a floating fixture at the LIMM docks since her donation in 2013. Her doner was also her namesake, John D. Verbeke, of Bayport. She was built in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1929 and operated in the bay since the 1950s. During the 1970s, the Verbeke was most often seen in the bay waters between Sayville and West Sayville, her conveyor belt and dredging gear hanging off her port side, scooping up clams, mud, empty shells, fish, weed and bottles from the bay bottom. After more than 10 years as a dockside attraction, her old wooden bones seemed destined to join that which she once scooped up off the sea floor.
So come bid the Verbeke a flaming farewell on October 25th at the 35th Annual Halloween boat burning fair! Bring family, friends, any old clammers, baymen and kids to enjoy the music, food, and boat raffle. Overlooking the Great South Bay with Fire Island in the background, gates open at 5:00 pm. The Long Island Maritime Museum, 88 West Street, West Sayville.
A Community Tradition
Thank you one and all, particularly Al Pisacano, his son Dale, and the crew from Al's Mobil Marine
who provided their expertise moving & blocking our 2024 burn boat!
Likewise, it would not be possible without the support of the West Sayville Fire Department,
Suffolk County Parks Department, Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services,
and Community Ambulance Company, Inc.
Additionally, we would like to give a great big thank you to our volunteers, staff,
and community for helping to make this event a great success!
Thank you one and all, particularly Al Pisacano, his son Dale, and the crew from Al's Mobil Marine
who provided their expertise moving & blocking our 2024 burn boat!
Likewise, it would not be possible without the support of the West Sayville Fire Department,
Suffolk County Parks Department, Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services,
and Community Ambulance Company, Inc.
Additionally, we would like to give a great big thank you to our volunteers, staff,
and community for helping to make this event a great success!
Our 2023 Burn Boat
Donated by Charlie Balsamo, built by Dick Carlton in 1967
Donated by Charlie Balsamo, built by Dick Carlton in 1967
1993
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1967
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Additional 2023 Acknowledgements
In addition to Charlie Balsamo, South Bay Boat Repair, tugboat owner and doner; we would like to thank - Bill Tunney, South Shore Boat Yard, Patchogue, for generously giving a free haul out, dry time and storage of the boat before trucking to the Museum; Sonny, at South Shore, for collision avoidance on a windy, unscripted arrival; Tom and Marty, fearless delivery and towing crew; Pauli, Rob and Pat, South Bay Boat Repair denizens for their cheerful contribution towards transportation costs. To Carl Froelich, who worked the boat as a clammer from 1967 to 1993, and for sharing his wild and wooly bay stories. Respect and thanks to Arthur Sr., Arthur Jr., and Jeanne Volkmann, owners of Patchogue River Realty for decades, literally, of generosity, giving Charlie and his tugboat dockage, and his collection of friends a place for morning coffee in the shop -- a safe harbor for old friends in their golden years. Last but not least, a special thanks to Tom Occhiogrosso and Nick Balsamo (Charlie’s grandson) of Tom’s LI Boat Transport for safely transporting our burn boat from South Shore Boat Yard and blocking her up on the Museum grounds for this special event.
In addition to Charlie Balsamo, South Bay Boat Repair, tugboat owner and doner; we would like to thank - Bill Tunney, South Shore Boat Yard, Patchogue, for generously giving a free haul out, dry time and storage of the boat before trucking to the Museum; Sonny, at South Shore, for collision avoidance on a windy, unscripted arrival; Tom and Marty, fearless delivery and towing crew; Pauli, Rob and Pat, South Bay Boat Repair denizens for their cheerful contribution towards transportation costs. To Carl Froelich, who worked the boat as a clammer from 1967 to 1993, and for sharing his wild and wooly bay stories. Respect and thanks to Arthur Sr., Arthur Jr., and Jeanne Volkmann, owners of Patchogue River Realty for decades, literally, of generosity, giving Charlie and his tugboat dockage, and his collection of friends a place for morning coffee in the shop -- a safe harbor for old friends in their golden years. Last but not least, a special thanks to Tom Occhiogrosso and Nick Balsamo (Charlie’s grandson) of Tom’s LI Boat Transport for safely transporting our burn boat from South Shore Boat Yard and blocking her up on the Museum grounds for this special event.
Memories of past events ...
photography by Ryan Sweeney & Gary O'Rourke.
photography by Ryan Sweeney & Gary O'Rourke.
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