Chris Bodkin is a man with a keen eye for detail and a deep love for his hometown of Sayville. We’ve published our interview with him in three parts  – three chapters that cover his life, career, and research into the past.

Chapter 1
In which the Bodkins move to Sayville from Brooklyn, Chris learns to sail, and an exotic food named pizza appears on Main Street.

Chapter 2
In which Chris becomes a captain on the Fire Island Ferries and later goes into politics. A look back at some of the stories behind Sayville’s war veterans.

Chapter 3
A number of stories, including life in Depression-era Sayville, Father Divine and the African American community, and the dashing figure of Dr. Bard – dentist to the stars and first ladies.

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Further Research

• After the Day of Infamy: “Man-on-the-Street” Interviews Following the Attack on Pearl Harbo (Library of Congress)
• Father Divine’s International Peace Mission Movement
• Sayville Public Library’s Historic Image Collection
• Sayville Historical Society
• Cherry Grove, Fire Island: Sixty Year’s in America’s First Gay and Lesbian Town by Esther Newton (find in a library)