The Old Cubberly House at New Dorp^ 



Arthur Hollick 

 (with plates ().,']) 



Those of us who are familiar with the region at the foot of 

 New Dorp Lane are acquainted, at least in so far as the external 

 appearance is concerned, with the old stone cottage owned by 

 our fellow member Dr. Nathaniel L. Britton and commonly- 

 known as the Cubberly House. To the older members of the 

 Association it recalls one of the pleasantest meetings ever held 

 by the Association, that of June 8, 1895, on which occasion the 

 regular June meeting was held there on invitation of Doctor and 

 Mrs. Britton, who at that time were living in the cottage. Inci- 

 dentally it may be recalled that the principal function in con- 

 nection with the meeting was an open-air clambake, which is 

 probably remembered by those who were present with greater 

 distinctness than are the officially recorded proceedings f hence 

 it may be pertinent to recall one item of the business transacted, 

 which we little imagined at the time would have the important 

 influence which it did upon our subsequent progress and develop- 

 ment. One of the three new members elected at that meeting 

 was Howard R. Bayne, and certainly none of us had the remotest 

 prevision that in this new member was the germ of our future 

 president in 1902, who was destined to guide us through a period 

 of radical reorganization in 1905 and to remain our presiding 

 officer continuously until 191 5. So that twenty years ago the 

 fates had decreed that this house was to be a significant factor 

 in the affairs of the Association. 



I also find, at the end of the minutes of the meeting, the 

 following interesting footnote: 



1 Presented at the meeting of the Association January 15, 1915. 



2 Proc. Nat. Sci. Assoc. Staten Is. 4 : 77-81. June 8, 1895. 



