Talk:Bonackers

Please note that before creating this page I tried unsuccessfully to contact the "deleting administrator" MZMcBride. (Per notice saying he had deleted the original talk page). His user page is arcane and all but empty, and there is also no record on his contribs tab of a deletion at 05:05, 30 April 2008 (though there are many shown at other times that day). I also noticed hints of past problems with this person such as having been blocked at some point by higher level admins.

I wanted to contact the author regarding other information I've encountered on the topic, hoping to determine if it's genuine or purely anecdotal. However, as I write this there is no History tab showing, making authorship doubly unclear, so I'll leave my info here for the record.

In September 1979 I had a conversation with a tall, big-boned, larger-than-life character in a Sag Harbor bar who identified herself as a life-long area resident and a Bonacker. Estimated age mid-50s, so born 1930 or earlier. She explained that they were a distinct ethnicity of Portuguese origin, harking back to a time (conceivably 300 years ago, give or take) when vessels from Portuguese ports fished the Grand Banks and continental shelf of North America. According to her, they established seasonal fish stores and salting racks on eastern Long Island, which eventually became a permanent community (she thought the men had sent for their wives or interbred with local Montauk tribeswomen). She also claimed that the Bonacker moniker was the origin of the word "bonkers," the implication being that they were quite wild by reputation. I haven't seen her claim supported elsewhere but it seemed marvelously apt given her "in your face" presence and style. Sure, maybe just another garden-variety professional alcoholic -- but I'll leave that for the next person to sort out. Good luck, whoever you are! Cliffewiki (talk) 23:49, 7 April 2015 (UTC)

References

This is an admirably thorough article, but it has no references or citations despite many historical claims. ("Springs" vs. "the Springs" for example -- I've heard plenty of multigenerational Springs residents say "the Springs", and William Mulvihill in his book South Fork Place Names lists both as accepted. 67.82.250.131 (talk) 17:44, 19 August 2022 (UTC)

No self respecting locals from Springs call it "The Springs"... my family has lived there for 13 generations, 300+ yrs, and I've only ever heard 'the springs' spoken by implants and real estate brokers. Also, the lady from sag harbor... its absolutely true there were a lot of Portuguese immigrants back then, my great great grandmother was married into the Pierson family and was from Azores Portugal BUT her insight on bonackers being bonkers, that's absurd, it comes from the word Accabonac, a native word referring to Springs and the surrounding Accabonac harbor. Careful of those bubby alcoholics, they're sh*t talkers. Believe me, I know. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.47.248.12 (talk) 01:40, 26 January 2024 (UTC)