Origins of BBP's "Phantoms" Name
Local Stories
This site is dedicated to sharing the research behind the forthcoming story by journalism students in the current school year. This year (2022-2023), students are researching the origins of the "Phantoms" name. Below you will find students' original research from local papers, yearbooks, community surveys, interviews, board of education documents, and more.
Challenge: When, Where, and Why did the school mascot become "The Phantoms"?
Use the local library's databases for local history research (like in https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/), our own hardcopy yearbook collection, the digital archives of yearbooks (https://nyheritage.org/collections/bayport-yearbooks), local newspapers (like Newsday or the Gazette), a local archivist at the public library or historical society, and more to unearth the story behind this!
Copies of primary sources and some student/teacher notes can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_WCXRrFRVitFihOVAH4Yhp8ztUWyxwHf?usp=sharing
See Mrs. Eberhard or Ms. Gustafson for more info!
Folder with Some Documents:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_WCXRrFRVitFihOVAH4Yhp8ztUWyxwHf?usp=sharing
Timeline:
2020s
2022: Journalism class begins research on the origins of the "Phantoms"
2010s
- 2017 Letter from superintendent Dr. Hearney - about 1955 ghost in cupola that protects district
- 2009 Gene Horton Article
2000s
2007 School Newspaper called "The Phantom Press." (see newspapers)
spoof article in The Daemon - about elusiveness of "phantoms" (see newspapers)
1990s
1980s
1970s
1973 - Phantoms on basketball jerseys in yearbook (through 1987)
1972 - collared shirt basketball jersey (no mention of name)
1970 - February - basketball jerseys without Phantoms, without Bayport (see newspapers)
1960s
- December 1969 School Expansion (see newspapers)
1969 - January 2 - "Bayport" on wrestlers' singlets (not Phantoms) (see newspapers)
1969 - March 27 - "Phantoms" on basketball jersey (see newspapers)
1966 - Phantoms on basketball jerseys in yearbook (through 1971)
1965 - Bayport on basketball jerseys in yearbook
1962 November 5 - School Newspaper (Daemon) article about the origin of "the Phantoms" (see newspapers)
1950s
December 1958: School Newspaper Called "The Daemon" (number of newspaper front pages under newspapers)
September 23, 1957 -Section XI(11) was created
1955 - Bayport on basketball jerseys in yearbook
1953 - yearbook photo of interviewee, Robert Sheppard (see yearbooks)
1952 - Bayport on basketball jerseys in yearbook
1951 - February "Bayport Phantoms" mention in The Advance (see newspapers)
1951 - January "Bayport Phantoms" mention in The Advance (see newspapers)
1950 - - Bayport on basketball jerseys in yearbook
1940s
- 1948 - Bayport on basketball jerseys in yearbook
- 1947 article in The Advance that mentions a community basketball team called the Phantoms (see newspapers)
1947 - basketball team yearbook photo - mentioned Phantoms (see yearbooks)
1946 - Basketball team yearbook photo - no mention (see yearbooks)
1945 - Basketball team yearbook photo - no mention (see yearbooks)
1943 - "Legend has it that on a day in early winter in the year 1943, a custodian by the name of Edwin Weiss wandered in the tower on a routine tour of duty. Weiss was half the way up the stairs of the tower when he was confronted by a sinister looking man. The custodian was somewhat stunned to see the strange man in such an unsuspecting place. The gentleman then told Weiss that Bayport's basketball team would defeat Islip the next night by a score of 23-12. He then walked down the stairs and out the door. Weiss followed, but by the time he had reached the door. The man had vanished. The following evening the phantom's prophecy came true. Weiss was said to have had two more such "visions" and he could contain himself no longer. His story soon spread though many refused to believe the tale. The phantom was no longer seen however, and the yarn was never proved true or false. It was not long, nevertheless, before everyone gave us the nickname of "Phantoms.") (see rest of article in newspapers)
1930s
- March 17, 1939 article in The Patchogue Advance: team is called "The Bayport Phantoms" in this article. (Note: Manatasquot is the native American Indian name for Blue Point.) (see newspapers)
1939 - "Bayport Phantoms" in Patchogue Advance (see newspapers)
1938 - Section XI is started
- December 24, 1937 article in The Suffolk County News, says they are "known as the 'Phantoms' (see newspapers)
1937 - "known as the Phantoms" mention in Suffolk County News (see newspapers)
1935 - Huntington Phantoms team (see newspapers)
1932 - The Riverhead Phantoms team (see newspapers)
1930 - The Riverhead Phantoms team (see newspapers)
1930s - Bayport visits Riverhead for some sort of scrimmage (in BOE minutes about busing)
1920s
1929 - The Phantoms Rolls Royce new model is out (see newspapers)
1923 - New York State Public High School Athletic Association is created
1920s - a local has a boat named "the Phantom" that is in many races
1910s
1915- The Phantom plane built in Blue Point, one of the first land and sea planes