Please join us at The Reboli Center on the evening of May 16th, from 6:30 - 8:00pm for May’s Third Friday Special with Three Village Historic Society Historian, BEVERLY TYLER!

The topic of Tyler’s presenation will be A VOYAGE TO CHINA & JAPAN: The story of Mary Swift Jones, wife of Capt. Benjamin Jones of East Setauket, who sailed from South Street Seaport with her husband on a three-year voyage to China and Japan in 1858 just after Admiral Perry opened it to trade. Through her letters, artifacts, the first mate’s journal and a cabin boy's book we experience her adventures. Mary Jones was one of the women featured in the Three Village Historical Society’s exhibition The Sailing Circle, 19th Century seafaring Women from New York. Tyler will enlighten guests who will be welcomed to enjoy light refreshments throughout the presentation. As with all of our Third Friday events, this presentation will be free and open to the public. No reservations are required to attend. Seating will be first come, first served. Doors will open at 6pm.

Beverly Tyler is a writer, photographer and Historian for the Three Village Historical Society. Bev writes a bi-weekly History Close at Hand, column for The Village Times Herald, a local newspaper. His most recent books: Setauket and Brookhaven History Through the murals of Vance Locke (2020) and DOWN THE WAYS - THE WOODEN SHIP ERA: East Setauket Shipbuilders, Ship Captains, Maritime Trades and Dyer’s Neck Homes (2021), Mary Swift Jones, Love and Letters from Japan (2024).