Longtime Bellport summer and later on all year round residents, I know that at least one of the Sperrys were known to the Knapps. That would be aviator / inventor Lawrence B. Sperry who is standing behind his father Elmer in this 1911 photo. "Gyro" as Lawrence was known took Tom Dixon on a record setting Loop to Loop in a hydro aeroplane at the Knapp sea plane base in October of 1917. Ernie Maler speaks in his interview about seeing Gyro taxi up to the golf course in that same seaplane when Ernie was caddying there. The Sperrys here are seated: Elmer Sr. inventor of the Sperry Gyroscope, oldest son Ed, Mrs. Zula Sperry , Rear: Lawrence, Elmer Jr. aka "Kiddo" and Helen. Helen Sperry Lea lived out her long life in Bellport and this past summer I had the pleasure of speaking on the phone with her son Sperry Lea of Washington, DC. The Bellport Sperry estate which is near the old golf course, was put on the market this past summer. The 1920's motor yacht Zula is reputed to still be in a boatyard on Beaver Dam Creek.
