By Laura Lane
As the chief of interpretation at Sagamore Hill, Theodore Roosevelt's home from 1887 until his death in 1919, Markis has never had the question answered quite as enthusiastically as Adam Sackowitz did.
"He's a gung-ho kid who is very interested in history and Theodore Roosevelt - the type of volunteer we're looking for," Markis said. "You tend to answer the same questions here, so it's important that the volunteers be interested and enthusiastic about the subject matter. Adam is a really good kid."
Sackowitz, 16, a Clarke High School sophomore, volunteers at the Old Orchard Museum, which is within walking distance of Sagamore Hill, each Saturday for four hours. A lifelong Salisbury resident, he has always loved history. Volunteering at the museum, he says, is a dream come true.
"I've always been interested in historic sites, and I had gone to the museum often before I started working there," Sackowitz said. "What I like about working there is that I can give back something bigger than myself and help in preserving the landmark for Nassau County by providing public awareness and information."
The Old Orchard Museum contains displays and artifacts that tell the story of Roosevelt's life. The items on display include a silver tea set that belonged to Roosevelt's mother, the top hat Roosevelt wore to the funeral of President William McKinley and a life-size mannequin of the president wearing the famed Rough Rider uniform.
Most people who visit the museum are from out of town - and sometimes they're famous. "Newt Gingrich was here once to tour the place - you just never know who you'll run into," Sackowitz said with a smile. "Once, a group of people from South America came and told me that when Teddy Roosevelt was in their country during an expedition, their relatives met him. That was really interesting."
Markis said that Sackowitz not only came to the job knowing a great deal about Roosevelt, but also voluntarily read additional information to be a more effective volunteer.
"To sit at a desk like Adam does and greet people, you're on the spot," Markis said. "And we have to maintain security here, so that's also part of Adam's job too. What a kid gets out of being here is to learn how to deal with the public, and also to be able to get up and do an oral presentation in class."
Sackowitz believes that volunteering has not only improved his communication skills but also made him a better listener. He hopes to keep working at the museum indefinitely.
"Working here has opened my mind up to conservation and historic preservation," he said. "I knew about it before, but now I'm more aware of how important it is to preserve these scenic and historic places throughout the United States."
Sackowitz said he would like to work for the National Park Service at a Civil War battlefield someday. In the meantime, he is committed to learning as much as he can about Teddy Roosevelt. "If you read into something more, you discover more, which is what I'm doing here when I'm helping people to understand what they're seeing," he said.
Comments about this story? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
