Greek and Roman myth and legend find ways into modern consciousness daily, and many times per day for residents of Stony Brook, whose beautiful waterfront is guarded by a daunting, expressive Hercules protected under the cover of a pavilion sitting on the edge of the wetlands.
The land it sits upon is formally known as the Hercules Yard alongside Stony Brook Harbor, and can be found across Dock Road to the west of the famously haunted Three Village Inn, near the historical grist mill. The pavilion was built to honor the figurehead of the hero, who originally played sentinel to the U.S.S. Ohio, which was decommissioned, destroyed, and sunk in Greenport on the North Fork of Long Island's luxurious East End. The ship was originally built in 1820 at Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The large carving was impressively created from just one single block of cedar at a cost of $1,500, a value which has of course grown through the ages. However, its value did sink to a mere $10 at its first sale at a military surplus auction to the Aldrich family of Aquebogue, then to the owner of the Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays for only $5 more.
This magnificent bust was acquired by noted Long Island philanthropist Ward Melville in 1954, who deeded it to the Ward Melville Organization for preservation -- as he did numerous priceless historical artifacts in the Three Village area.
The Polaris Whaleboat shares the spotlight with Hercules, the only surviving artifact from the Charles Hall expedition to the Arctic in 1870 and another generous donation of Ward Melville's to his organization.
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