By Danny McCarthy
There just-happened to be a Southold New York resident who became honestly renown. - You see folks - Her name is JEAN COCHRAN - -&- - JEAN COCHRAN gets featured here with "my-take." - I SALUTE you JEAN COCHRAN. -
This focus is on Southold Elected Supervisor Jean W. Cochran, whose term was from 1996-2001.
Raising Awareness That Assistance Is Needed
The February 8, 1951 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman carried the fact that Mrs. Jean Cochran was selected to be a canvasser to assist in contacting residents in possibly obtaining funds for Boy Scouts for the then forthcoming Boy Scout Drive “comprising Southold and Shelter Island Towns”.
No Kid-ding!
The October 21, 1965 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman stated that Jean Cochran was a participant with the Southold P. T. A. Youth Activities {Committee} who then served as “vice president in charge of Youth Activities.”
Let’s Keep This Classified!
The December 29, 1966 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman carried a classified ad: “”FINE COSMETICS Beauty Counselors, Inc. Jean Cochran, Representative.”
Let’s Hear It! ~ She’s Awarded!
The January 19, 1967 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman carried quite the celebration: “The Rotary Club of Southold held its Annual Awards Night on January 10th {1967} at Mitchell’s Restaurant in Greenport. Over eighty-five persons were in attendance including a number of honored guests who were feted for their service to the community and its youth.” We got reminded that the “Southold Youth Activities Program {had} its inception over eight years ago.” BY THE WAY: Mrs. Carlisle Cochran was honored at that dinner as one of the awarded recipients for being one of “the persons who volunteered his or her services in an adult capacity {to assist the youth in the Southold community!}”
Now Here’s Something Right Up Her Alley!
The February 19, 1970 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman captured discussion of a true happening: “Mrs. Carlisle Cochran is serving as this year’s chairman of the annual Long Island Bowler’s Benefit. In this 100% handicap tournament, bowlers contribute $1.00 and use league scores. From each dollar collected 66 cents goes to Nassau and Suffolk organizations serving hospitalized veterans, the aged and children. All funds are granted for specific purchase of therapeutic or recreational equipment, with the exception of $2,000 grants to the National Bowlers Victory League and the Northport Veterans Administration Hospital. This year the tournament will be conducted from March 2 through March 8. Last year’s tournament, the 16th, raised over $48,000. Mrs. Carlisle Cochran is looking forward to 1970 being the biggest year ever.”
Something Learned
The Southold column by Adele Payne that was published in the December 10, 1970 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman was honoring something. The column included this paragraph: “A most reliable source has informed me that work has begun on the Second annual production of Founder’s Follies to be held early in the spring. ‘Founder’s Follies,” under the direction of Mrs. Jean Cochran and Miss Betty Ann Hagerman, was such a tremendous success last year we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us this year.”
Here’s Some Clarification
The fact remains in my research about the Founder’s Follies that I came across several clippings announcing related information on the topic. Here’s two related quotations from particular articles carrying specificity of just what the event{s} meant to the community.:
The April 4, 1974 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman said that: “Founder’s Follies has been playing to sell-out crowds since its first appearance on the SHS {Southold High School} stage five years ago with ‘Vaudeville At It’s Best,’ the first Annual Founder’s Follies. Since the 3rd Annual Founder’s Follies ‘Under the Big Top’ all proceeds from the follies shows have been used to maintain the PTA scholarship fund. PTA presents each year to a graduating student intending to further his or her education a $500 scholarship {which comes from the proceeds from the follies}. Recipients to date {were} 1971, Sandy Brush; 1972, Karen Horne; and 1973, Joan Goubeaud.”
The April 22, 1976 The Long Island Traveler-Watchman included discussion about the Follies: “Producer Jean Cochran is much in evidence urging the stage crew on their efforts towards enlarging the present stage and constructing the elaborate set.”
That article continues: “Proceeds of the Follies will be used to support the PTA Scholarship Program. {The program} has aided six SHS {Southold High School} graduating seniors in pursuing additional education.”
She Obtained Laurels For This!
According to the June 15, 1972 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman, an ad appeared on page three in that issue stating that at that time, Jean Cochran was the Proprietor of the Southold Wharf House located on Founders Landing in Southold. The building was to open Saturday, June 17 {1972} and would be open 9:30 A.M. – 9:30 P.M. Among some of the items served were “Morning Coffee – Hearty Sandwiches – Homemade Clam Chowder – Home Made Pies – Ice Cream Cones – {as well as a} Penny Candy Counter.”
The Southold column by Adele Payne the June 22, 1972 The Long Island Mattituck-Traveler Watchman proudly stated: “Jean Cochran (Mrs. Carlisle Cochran, Jr) is managing the Wharf House at Founders Landing this summer. Jean had worked most successfully with young people and we feel certain that she will do much to make the summer interesting and pleasant at the Landing not only for the young people but for all. We tried lunch at the Wharf House on opening day and we plan to return soon.”
Holding Rank
The June 27, 1974 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman reported that Jean Cochran was an officer of the Southold Legion Cadet Corps as Chairperson. “The Southold American Legion Cadet Corps was formed in November 1973 with members ranging from 6 – 17 years. After seven months of enthusiastic study on the part of the participating youth, they made {their} debut at the Mattituck Memorial Day parade. … Since then the parents felt the desire to assist the Legion and their fledglings. A parents organization {was} formed with the first meeting held June 17 at the Wharf House, Southold.”
Just To Verify ~ Alley Oop!
The November 21, 1974 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman reported all about the North Fork’s various Bowling Leagues. Jean Cochran was a member of the Southold Monday Morning Ladies League. For that newspaper edition, Jean Cochran earned a High Individual Series {Score}, a High Individual Game, plus High Game of the Week.
The Picnic of a Lifetime!
The April 15, 1976 The Long Island Traveler-Watchman was certain to share this: “The Bicentennial picnic was originally planned for Brecknock, but the facilities there turned out to be inadequate for the expected throng. Application has been made for the 30 acres surrounding the Southold High School which the committee considers ideal. At any rate, there {was} a picnic [!}”
The June 17, 1976 The Long Island Traveler-Watchman announced that Jean Cochran was one of the chairmen {along with Bill Wurtz} of the “Bicentennial gala scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. on July 4 {1976!} at the Southold High School grounds. {There will be} Thirty-eight acres of space teeming with enough excitement and high-jinx to spark the fun-and-games spirit of everyone.”
Bicentennial Committee chairman Arthur Avedon was proud to state that “the picnic-to-end-all picnics” must be attributed from “the excellent work of Jean and Bill and all the committee workers. They’ve even set up a first aid station. Pass on their word that the picnic site is so vast there’s room for everybody to spread out, gambol {run or jump about playfully} on the green, enter the competitions, and {there will be} ample, directed parking for everyone in the ten acres of space provided.”
Another Eminent Position
According to the April 27, 1978 The Suffolk County News, Jean Cochran was listed as being the Suffolk County Girl Scout Council President at that time.
Historically Speaking Even More So …
In Old Southold Town's Tercentenary (1940) by Ann Hallock-Currie Bell, she writes:
“One of the very early houses of the first settler period, Mathias Corwin’s, having undergone various removals from its home site, reached its Boisseau Avenue and Main Street location and became the old family home of Carlisle Cochran.”
Jean Cochran was born in 1932 and died February 16, 2017. Here’s a link from the findagrave website:
https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=176613035