1 Photo
The 1927 Southampton boys basketball team included at top, from left; Foster Corwith, assistant coach MacLoughtin, Lawrence Godbey, Lua Mansberger, “McGurn”, “Buckeit,” and head coach Richard “Dick” Smith. Bottom row, from left, Boo White, Harry Lilliwhite, Chet Buttenneal, Paul Topping and Butch McGurn.
Frank Rotunno has a piece of Southampton Village history he’d like to share with the community.
The Cameron Street resident recalled that his cousin, Frank Cennamo, bought the house next door to him about 25 years or so ago, which used to be owned by Elizabeth Korte, a well known fifth-grade teacher.
When Mr. Cennamo was cleaning out the house he came across an untouched, clear-as-day photo of the 1927 Southampton High School boys basketball team. Ms. Korte was apparently the sister of one of the players, Lua Mansburger, which is why she had the photo.
Many of the players in the photo have been identified — Foster Corwith, Lawrence Godbey, Lua Mansburger, Butch McGurn, Boo White, Harry Lilliwhite, Chet Butteneal, Paul Topping — as has the team’s head coach, Richard “Dick” Smith, who was a prominent coach from that era.
Rotunno would like to find the photo a new home — where it would be appreciated.
“I grew up here in Southampton, I know half those names, they’re all big, old Southampton names. The photo is almost 100 years old, I think local people would want to see it,” he said. “Butch McGurn, who is in that photo, his daughter’s family is friendly with mine and I showed it to them and she just got a real kick seeing her father in a photo like that. I just think a lot of other people in this village would probably appreciate it just as much.
“And if it wasn’t for my cousin’s widow cleaning out the house, it could have been in the trash.”
Photos of the 1927 team aren’t widely available, but Mary Cummings, the research center manager of the Southampton History Museum, said the museum is in possession of another photo of that team, where it looks like the same team is at the train station and about to board a train. Cummings said the museum always accepts donations and would be willing to take the photo if Rotunno decided he wanted to donate it.
Southampton Athletic Director Darren Phillips said that the school has photos and other pieces of memorabilia that date back as early as 1917.
On Sunday, Rotunno said he was more apt to give it to the school than the museum, where it could possibly be on display in one of the halls that runs alongside the gym. Phillips said he’d gladly take it.
“It’s really an incredible piece of history,” he said. “It’s a who’s who of Southampton from that time frame.”
