Suffolk County Historical Society librarian Wendy Polhemus-Annibell runs an historic photo of the week feature out of Riverhead.
You could sign up for by visiting the historical society’s website and giving them your email address.
This week’s image was that of Bellport’s Grucci family making fireworks back in 1975, an image that comes courtesy of the Grucci family’s private collection.
Polhemus-Annibell also provides some text and suggested reading.
See below, from the newsletter:
Suffolk County is the proud home and headquarters of America’s First Family of Fireworks. The Grucci family has been lighting the skies on the Fourth of July and for other events and celebrations for six generations. The family traditions began with Angelo Lanzetta in 1850, founder of a small fireworks business in southern Italy. In 1870, Angelo brought his skills to the United States and settled on Long Island. His son Anthony carried on the business, passing the skillset to a nephew, FelixGrucci Sr., who joined the company in 1923. It was Felix Sr. who established the family’s deep roots in Bellport, sustained the business through the Great Depression, and expanded to develop military training ammunition simulators used by the Department of Defense, while also advancing the industry with innovative technologies that set him apart as a master of fireworks art.
Don’t miss our special summer exhibit, Grucci: The Family That Lights the Skies, in our Weathervane Gallery, now through September 9, 2017.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Visit the Fireworks By Grucci website.
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