Forty years ago, a Greenport High School senior named Tim Heaney constructed an iconic “Welcome to Greenport” sign under the supervision of art teacher Bruce Meirowitz and shop teacher Dorville Finkle.
The four-foot by eight-foot wooden sign was painted in bright colors, depicting sailboats and water and was touted by a local paper as a “welcome sign for summer visitors.”
Commissioned and paid for by the Village of Greenport, it sat near the corner of Route 48 and Moores Lane for two decades before it began falling apart. After one of the sailboats fell off, it was replaced by two smaller boats, the paint was touched up and the sign continued to stand guard for two more decades before it started deteriorating once again.
About a year ago it was removed and returned to Tim Heaney’s family, according to Greenport Mayor George Hubbard.
“It was in pretty bad shape,” he said. “Tim’s sister Maria took the sign to her home in New Jersey to refurbish it.”
This weekend, Maria Heaney will bring the sign back to Greenport, where it will be reinstalled and dedicated. Sadly, Tim Heaney could not be involved with the refurbishment; he was murdered at the age of 30 in 1988. See story.
The dedication ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 18, at Moore’s Lane and Route 48. All are welcome to attend.
