Oct. 10, 1963
Town Meeting in 1878 Brought Many to
Coram
By Thomas
R. Bayles

Davis House in Coram.
The Advance for April
6, 1878 carries the following account of the annual town meeting
held at Coram.
“On Tuesday last, Brookhaven held
her annual town meeting at Coram. The attendance and the interest
shown in the election of officers for the coming year were both
important and significant of the increasing population, as from
early dawn until the sun had sunk below the western horizon, wagons
of every description came pouring in, filled with occupants eager to
play a part in the election of good and true men for the government
of the town. Besides this, machinery, cattle, poultry etc. were on
exhibition.
“For more than a week past the
party horn has sounded along the Bald Hills and even from sound to
bay, calling on the clans to rally round their chieftains on the
day, and true to that patriotic principle uppermost in the hearts of
true American citizens, they rallied in even greater numbers than
was ever dreamt of in the history of Brookhaven, and there were
1,699 votes cast. For the office of Supervisor, Mr. John S. Havens
was the accepted candidate on the Democratic ticket, while on the
Republican ticket was the name of George F. Carmen of Patchogue. In
spite of every effort made by the Republicans, Mr. John S. Havens
was declared elected supervisor of Brookhaven town by 16 majority.
The counting of the vote was an important and arduous undertaking,
but by six o’clock Wednesday morning the count was completed.
“During the day fights and baseball
games were in order but in no case was any severe damage done, and
by dark the town capitol at Coram was deserted save by those
interested in counting the vote.
“A number of the boys undertook to
relieve Mr. Lester H. Davis’ hen house of some eggs, and having
filled their pockets with the desired articles fled to distant
fields, and there practiced with them at each others' heads.”
The diary of my father, Richard M.
Bayles, carries the following item for Tuesday April 2, 1878: “Went
to town meeting at Coram this afternoon. Very large turnout. There
were 1,699 votes cast. Several candidates of the Republican ticket
are elected. It took the board all night to canvass the votes.”