This Day in History - April 30, 1917

The Anniversary of the Passing of Samuel Ballton “The Pickle King”

On this day, 103 years ago, Samuel Ballton, passed away after an incredible life. Born a slave on a

Virginia plantation in 1838, Ballton and a group of his fellow slaves successfully escaped and joined the Union Army during the early outbreak of the Civil War. Before long, he returned to the plantation to help his wife and family escape to freedom as well. Ballton would eventually settle in Greenlawn in 1873 where he earned his famous moniker. He got the name in 1899 when he purportedly raised over 1.5 million pickles in one season. But Ballton was far more than just a farmer, he also owned properties in the area, built many homes that still stand today, and contributed greatly to the growth of Greenlawn and the surrounding area.

It was recently announced that Boulevard Avenue will be renamed Ballton Way in recognition of his incredible accomplishments.

You can learn more about the remarkable Samuel Ballton below:

(1917, May 4) The Pickle King is Dead. The Long Islander, p5. Retrieved from: https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83031119/1917-05-04/ed-1/seq-5/

Wallace, George. (2005, October 6) Remembering Samuel Ballton, The Pickle King. Northport Journal, p1.
Retrieved from: https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031180/2005-10-06/ed-1/seq-1/

Morris, Deborah (2020, April 20) Street Renaming to Honor ‘Pickle King’ Ballton. Newsday. p20. Retrieved from: https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/pickles-slavery-renaming-samuel-ballton-1.43932379

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