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Welcoming Our Newest Artifact

6/16/2026

Glass Half Full: A Rare 1930s OHEKA Dairy Bottle Joins the Collection

The Whaling Museum is delighted to welcome an exciting new addition to our collection: a rare half-pint OHEKA Dairy bottle, locally discovered right in Huntington in 2026.

This little glass treasure serves as a wonderful window into the daily operations of one of New York's most famous properties. Like many of Long Island’s great Gold Coast estates, OHEKA maintained its own herd of cows and bottled milk on the property. OHEKA Dairy operated from about 1935 through 1940, making surviving bottles an increasingly scarce reminder of this unique, agricultural chapter in our area's local history.

After finding the bottle partially buried not too far from OHEKA grounds, collector Angelo Salerno of Bellmore shared photos of the discovery on Facebook. Recognizing its historical value, Angelo generously chose to donate the bottle to the Museum's permanent collection with the goal of preserving Long Island's rich heritage. Remarkably, the glass bottle is in near-pristine condition.

We are very grateful for Angelo’s gift, which helps share the rich history of our region with future generations! Stay tuned for updates on when this piece will make its public debut in our exhibit space.