Greek American Presence at Southold 375th Anniversary Parade

On July 14, 1990, Greek Americans participated in the 350^th Anniversary of Southold Town. “Let’s all march in the Parade,” said the June 18, 1990 Transfiguration of Christ Newsletter, Mattituck, New York. We will represent our Church…” The Hellenic American Taxpayers Civic organization (HATCAST) participated, along with other religious organizations.

History repeated itself. On Saturday, August 1, 2015 a Greek-American contingent led by Rev. Jerasimos Ballas of the Sts. Anargyroi­­­­­­, Taxiarchis and Jerasimos Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Greenport participated in the 375^th Anniversary of Southold Town Parade. It commenced at the west end of the hamlet of Southold near the intersection of route 25 and South Harbor Lane in the vicinity of

Triangle Park and Catapano Farms and concluded at the corner of Route 25 and Boisseau Ave.  The Town of Southold celebrated 375^th year of its founding with a yearlong series of events. Religious, Greek and American banners, made a strong presence in this historical happening.

Memories of the 350^th Southold Town Anniversary were present in this writer’s mind. In 1990, the Transfiguration Church’s Greek Culture and Sunday Schools with Philoptohos marched. HATCAST, under the leadership of President Andreas Markakis had the largest contingent of marchers. We are fortunate to have a powerhouse of Greek-American representation under the leadership of Rev. Jerasimos Ballas of the Sts. Anargyroi­­­­­­, Taxiarchis and Jerasimos Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Greenport. Rev. Ballas and his Presvitera has transformed the Greek Orthodox isolationist image into one of global commitment to the North Fork community.

The 375^th Anniversary reminds many of the former powerful presence of HATCAST. The Hellenic American Taxpayers & Civic Association of Southold Township (HATCAST) role in Southold community life extends back to the 1980’s. Southold Supervisor William Pell attended a picnic hosted by HATCAST on the grounds of the Transfiguration Church under the leadership of President John Nicholas, according to the Suffolk Times, August 5, 1982 and the Long Island Traveler-Watchman, August 5, 1982. The organization had its first Annual Dance on August 1, 1981 at the former Mattituck Manor (Handy Pantry) in Mattituck. Proposed zoning changes in 1994 were fought by President Andreas Markakis. The 375^th Anniversary of Southold Town attempted to rekindle enthusiasm in local churches and civic organizations.

The 1990 350^th Anniversary of Southold Town Parade photographs were converted from photograph to digital media by Director Jeff Walden of the Mattituck-Laurel Library