Sandminers Statue Unveiling at the Library

Replica of the Sandminers Monument to Be Presented to the Library

The public is invited to attend the unveiling of a replica of the Sandminers Monument on Friday, November 30, at 7:30 pm in the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Reading Room of the Port Washington Public Library.  This replica is being presented to the library as the gift of a private donor as thanks for the work of the Local History Center and its director Elly Shodell in preserving the history of Port Washington in general and of the sand mines in particular.  The monument will be on permanent display in the library.  The original, a life size bronze sculpture created by noted sculptor Edward Jonas, is located on West Shore Road near the last remaining tunnel used by the sand mining companies in the Hempstead Harbor area. It has been estimated that over 140 million yards of sand were delivered from Port Washington to New York City--enough sand to cover the Empire State Building with sand extending from the East River to the Hudson River and from 14th Street to 59th Street. It is estimated that 90 percent of the concrete used in the city was from Port Washington sand. The last sand mining company that operated these sandbanks ceased operation in 1989.