Celebrating Annie Cooper Boyd

The Saturday of HarborFest weekend, September 7, will usher in a new program series at the Annie Cooper Boyd House headquarters of the Sag Harbor Historical Society at 174 Main Street. It will be an all-ages day of fun to celebrate Annie Cooper Boyd’s rich legacy of painting, crafting and can-do entrepreneurial spirit.

At 10 a.m. in the Whaleboat Shop there will be “Whales Tales and Songs of the Sea” for children and families. To celebrate the village's whaling heritage, visitors will sing and dance to songs of the sea with singer/songwriter Nancy Remkus and hear stories read by Deanna Lattanzio and Bethany Deyermond, all of whom are Historical Society trustees and longtime Sag Harbor Elementary School teachers.

The day will include an 11 a.m. Tussie Mussie Workshop led by Sag Harborite Adelaide Renkins. This 19th-century woman is said to bear a striking resemblance to WLNG “Rock On” host Bonnie Grice.

Tussie mussies are small bouquets of flowers and plants traditionally given as gifts for a wide range of occasions — from sympathy to romance and beyond. "Renkins" will help participants to explore the hidden meanings of flowers and plants inspired by 19th-century beliefs and customs. They can also create their own tussie mussies with personal messages.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., a group of local artisans will demonstrate their crafts and sell affordable works. Among them will be Sag Harbor’s own Al and Sue Daniels of Sag Harbor Seashells, offering compositions and ornaments created from sea glass, seashells, and driftwood. Handmade in Sag Harbor will offer upcycled sweater smalls, including organic catnip toys shaped like whales. Following the Tussie Mussie Workshop there will be hands-on crafts for children at the artisan tables following the songs and stories. A “porch full of neighbors” will be on hand too to informally demonstrate local crafts including sewing, knitting, quilting and more, throughout the day.