PHOTOS: Meet the Long Islanders who bring the Colonial era to life
Most weekdays, Joe Benty is a strategic growth officer for a New York City law firm. On weekends, he becomes Judge Isaac Thompson, lord of Sagtikos Manor and the first supervisor of the Town of Islip, whose home once hosted George Washington.
Benty is one of Long Island’s historical reenactors — ordinary people who don period clothing for parades, museum programs and special events to bring the past to life. Most volunteer their time, with some spending thousands of dollars on historically accurate attire.
Benty, of Massapequa, said his family emigrated from Sicily in the 1920s, leaving him with few records of his ancestors. Studying and portraying Colonial-era history, he said, helps him forge a connection to the past.
“It’s important to know what was here before we showed up,” he said.
Over several months, Newsday photographer Alejandra Villa Loarca spent time with Benty and members of the Third New York Regiment, the Rocky Point Historical Society and the Huntington Militia, documenting their dedication to preserving Long Island’s history in light of America's semiquincentennial. Her photographs of these reenactors bringing the past to life appear here.
-Vera Chinese, LI Life editor
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Joseph Benty, of Massapequa, portray Judge Isaac Thompson, at the Sagtikos Manor House in Bay Shore on June 1. Thompson was the lord of the manor and the first supervisor of Islip Town.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Members of the 3rd New York Regiment demonstrate a battle drill.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Antonio Roldan, of the 3rd New York Regiment, takes a lunch break during an encampment at the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum on May 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Members of the 3rd New York Regiment demonstrate a battle drill.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Andrew Freleng, Long Island Commander of the 3rd New York Regiment.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Members of the 3rd New York Regiment march in the Rocky Point St. Patrick's Day parade on March 15. Justin Costantino, from left, Antonio Roldan, Peter Dyjak, 14, Brian Howard and Andrew Freleng.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Liam Connell, of the 3rd New York Regiment living history group, during an encampment at the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum on May 23. The original regiment was called to defend the citizens, livestock and food supply on the East End of Long Island during British occupation.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Members of the Huntington Militia group during an encampment at the Henry Lloyd Manor House in Lloyd Harbor on April 26. The group performed as if it were April 26 and the militia was standing ready to defend the Huntington area from the British."We framed it as if Henry Lloyd invited the local militia to his estate to observe and see how we can protect Huntington from the British in 1776," said Huntington Militia commander Patrick Mantle, of East Meadow.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Members of the Huntington Militia group during an encampment at the Henry Lloyd Manor House in Lloyd Harbor on April 26.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Members of the Rocky Point Historical Society, from top left, standing, Janice Bambara, Pete Falcetta, Ken Krapf, Edith Mahler, Charles Bevington, Annette Falcetta, Mark Walker, Susan Bevington, and sitting from left, Suzanne Johnson and Sharon Edentsohn.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Bruce Adams, a reenactor with the Huntington Militia group, at the Henry Lloyd Manor House in Lloyd Harbor on April 26.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Diane Goldstein Fish, a reenactor with the Huntington Militia group, at the Henry Lloyd Manor House in Lloyd Harbor on April 26.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Regina Pemberton, a reenactor with the Huntington Militia group, at the Henry Lloyd Manor House in Lloyd Harbor on April 26.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Michael Goudket portrays Robert Townsend, a member of the Culper Spy Ring, with the Huntington Militia group at the Henry Lloyd Manor House in Lloyd Harbor on April 26.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Reenactor Charles Bevington of the Rocky Point Historical Society, March 23, 2026.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Mark Walker, a reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Ken Krapf, a reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Janice Bambara, a reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Pete Falcetta, a reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Annette Falcetta, a reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Sharon Edentsohn, a reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Susan Bevington, a reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Reenactor Edith Mahler, reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Sharon Edentsohn, a reenactor and member of the Rocky Point Historical Society at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Suzanne Johnson, president of the Rocky Point Historical Society, at the organization's headquarters on March 23.
