by Janine Logan

Members of the Babylon Village Youth Project recounted Babylon’s golden days of plush hotels and wealthy vacationers at their annual Fourth of July Pageant held Independence Day on the Conklin House Green in the Village. Babylon Village Youth Project president and pageant narrator Theresa Santmann told about the entry of the railroad to Babylon, which enabled the Village to become a vacation paradise with a dozen hotels in the area. One hotel—the Argyle—is famous not only for its splendor and service, but also for the origin of America’s first professional black baseball team.

"This pageant is the way Babylon Village celebrates the Fourth of July," said Bob Pasch, pageant script writer and one of the originators of this event that has become an annual tradition for the Village. "This is a pageant by and for kids. Fourth of July is kid’s day in the Village, and they are very responsible about it," he said.

Eighteen members of the Youth Project starred in this 14th pageant, and their hard work showed, as the pageant progressed effortlessly, despite the drizzling rain. The pageant began with a procession from Village Hall to the Conklin Green.

The pageant paid proper tribute to the members of that first professional black baseball team, as narrator Theresa Santmann announced the roster. Two performers held roster signs for all audience members to see while the names were read. The team, which became known as the Cuban Giants, won championships in 1887 and 1888.

Argyle Hotel head waiter Frank Thompson organized and led the team. With no player contracts or perks and a pay of about $15 a week per player, the team was virtually unbeatable. "We played just for fun," said one actor who portrayed a team member.

This was the ninth pageant script written by Bob Pasch. The plan is to write one more and compile them into a book for future Youth Project members to pick and choose from, explained Pasch.

The Babylon Village Youth Project is located on Park Avenue in the Santmann House. Its members range in age from 11 years to 24 years old. Eric Price, who became director of the Youth Project in January after Darrel Ford announced his retirement, continued the tradition of directing the kids in the pageant.

Price is the project’s "homegrown" director, since he himself was involved with the project for 12 years first as a member then as a board member. For the past five years, Price has worked in youth drug prevention and advocacy. When the opportunity to head the Youth Project presented itself, Price said he jumped on it.

Said 10-year Youth Project member Agnes Martino, "I like meeting other kids and teaching people about our culture and history of the village [through an event like the Fourth of July Pageant]."