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Preservation Long Island

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Legislator Steven Englebright, Zach Studenroth, Carl Safina (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Jeremy Dennis presents a 2024 Preservation Award certificate to April Gornik, Lee Skolnick, Eric Fischl for The Church in Sag Harbor, one of the Long Island sites recognized for preservation excellence. Photo by Len Marks Photography
Glenn Heidtmann, Anthony Martignetti, Tara Cubie (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Legislator Robert Trotta, Tara Cubie (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Tara Cubie, Richard Martin (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Maureen Soltren, Paul Bentel (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Jackie Powers (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Jeremy Dennis (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Caroline Zaleski, Ed Dugger, Michelle Gokey (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Elizabeth Abrams, Zack Studenroth (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Michelle Gokey (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Maura Brush, Robert Brush, Jackie Powers, Ed Dugger (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Zach Studenroth, Caroline Zaleski, Nancy Achenbach (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Glenn Heidtmann, Angela Ledgerwood, Anthony Martignetti (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Stephanie Gotard, Michelle McCarthy, Dorothy Dougherty (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Legislator Robert Trotta, Legislator Seven Englebright, John Broven (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Helen Cross, Robert Hughes, (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Jo Ann Sector, Lee Skolnick (Photo by Len Marks Photography)
Elizabeth Abrams, Andrea Hart, Lauren Brincat, Jackie Powers, Tara Cubie, Andrew Tharler (Photo by Len Marks Photography)

Awardees from Setauket, Mattituck, Sag Harbor, Fort Salonga, and Garden City recognized

Preservation Long Island hosted an awards ceremony and reception on January 25 to honor individuals and organizations who have exemplified excellence in their efforts to preserve their community’s valuable historic resources. 

Held at Preservation Long Island’s headquarters gallery in the Old Methodist Church in Cold Spring Harbor, the evening brought together honorees and guests for a celebration of preservation excellence. Attendees enjoyed live jazz music, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres while viewing historic paintings, artifacts, and antique furniture from Preservation Long Island’s permanent collection.

Preservation LI Board President Michelle Elliott Gokey welcomed guests and provided an overview of the biennial Preservation Awards that recognize extraordinary achievement in historic preservation across Long Island. 

Executive Director Jackie Powers, emphasized the significance of the awards and acknowledged the public officials in attendance, including Suffolk County Legislators Steven Englebright and Robert Trotta (both 2024 awardees), Huntington Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo, Michelle McCarthy, Chief of Staff to Huntington Town Supervisor Edmund Smyth and Kevin Stuessi, Mayor of Greenport.

Guest presenters awarded certificates to the recipients of Preservation LI’s 2024 Preservation Awards and the 2024 Howard C. Sherwood Award:

1. Project Excellence Award: The Hawkins-Elzon House Restoration: Presented by Zachary Studenroth, Architecture and Preservation Consultant

The Safina Center received recognition for restoring the Hawkins-Elzon House, which now serves as the nonprofit’s headquarters. The award was presented to Carl Safina, founder of the Safina Center, and New York State Legislator Steven Englebright, both in attendance.

2. Organizational Excellence Award: Suffolk County for the Preservation of Owl Hill: Presented by Tara Cubie, Preservation Director, Preservation LI

Suffolk County was recognized for preserving Owl Hill, a 1907 mansion and 27 acres of open space in Fort Salonga, protecting it from redevelopment. Legislator Robert Trotta accepted the award on behalf of the county and County Executive Romaine. Also in attendance was Richard Martin, Suffolk County Parks Department Director of Historic Services. Independent historian Corey Geske was acknowledged for identifying the home’s renowned architect.

3. Project Excellence Award: The Church, Sag Harbor: Presented by Jeremy Dennis, Lead Artist & President, Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio

Artists April Gornick & Eric Fischl, along with Lee Skolnick & Jo Ann Secor of Skolnick Architecture, were honored for their leadership in transforming a 19th-century Methodist church into a vibrant arts and cultural hub. The award also recognized the site’s landscape design and amphitheater by renowned landscape designer Ed Hollander, accepted on his behalf by Jackie Powers.

4. Project Excellence Award: Mattituck Creek Tide Mill: Presented by Tara Cubie

The restoration of the historic Mattituck Creek Tide Mill was celebrated, with the award presented to Anthony Martignetti, a restauranteur, author, and designer. The careful restoration, undertaken with contractor Glenn Heidtmann of Heidtmann and Sons, was conducted under guidance from the New York State Historic Preservation Office. The Old Mill is set to open as a restaurant in Spring 2025.

5. Howard Sherwood Award for Preservation Advocacy: Brian Pinnola (Posthumous): Presented by Architect Paul Bentel

The evening concluded with a special tribute to Brian Pinnola, a devoted advocate for historic preservation, former board member of Preservation Long Island, and past president of The Garden City Historical Society. Brian’s lifelong dedication left a lasting impact on the community. The award was accepted in his honor by his partner, Maureen Soltren.

Photos by Len Marks Photography

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The Church in Sag Harbor, one of the 2024 Preservation Excellence Awardees. Photo by Michael Heller

Awardees from Setauket, Mattituck, Sag Harbor, Fort Salonga and Garden City are recognized for excellence in historic preservation.

Preservation Long Island, a regional nonprofit that works with communities throughout Long Island to protect and celebrate historic places, is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2024 Preservation Awards. The awardees will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception on January 25, 2025 in Cold Spring Harbor.

The Preservation Awards are presented in alternating years to recognize individuals, organizations, and projects that demonstrate extraordinary achievement in fields related to historic preservation on Long Island. In addition, the Howard C. Sherwood Award will be presented this year. Established in 1974 in honor of Preservation Long Island’s founder, the award is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional, life-time achievement in historic preservation.

“This year’s awardees demonstrate not only excellence in historically sensitive design and rehabilitation, they also represent successful preservation efforts in a wide range of areas that include individual and community-driven leadership for the protection of historically significant sites for public space, as well as the adaptive reuse of historic buildings by local organizations and businesses,” said Jackie Powers, Preservation Long Island’s Executive Director.

“This year’s awardees highlight the remarkable geographic and architectural diversity of Long Island. What they all share is the power to demonstrate how historic buildings, when approached with vision and a deep appreciation for the past, can be transformed into landmarks that not only preserve history but actively serve and uplift the communities they are part of,” said Tara Cubie, Preservation Director at Preservation Long Island. Tara added, “We are excited to be able to return to showcasing all of our awardees at an in-person award event at our headquarters gallery.”

Preservation Long Island is honored to announce the recipients of 2024 Preservation Awards and the 2024 Howard C. Sherwood Award.

Preservation Awards for Project Excellence:

  • Safina Center, a nonprofit nature conservation and environmental advocacy organization, is being recognized for its restoration of the Hawkins-Elzon House located within the Old Setauket Historic District. Under the Safina Center’s stewardship, the Hawkins-Elzon House was meticulously restored to serve as the organization’s headquarters.
  • Anthony Martignetti, a restauranteur, author, and designer, is being recognized for the restoration of the Mattituck Creek Tide Mill. The mill constructed around 1822 by Richard Cox, exemplifies the ingenuity of tide-powered milling. Under the new ownership of Anthony Martignetti, the Old Mill has been carefully restored and will open as a restaurant in Spring 2025.
  • The Church, a public arts space in Sag Harbor, is being recognized as a remarkable example of adaptive reuse, transforming a 19th-century Methodist church into a dynamic arts and cultural hub. Renovated under the leadership of artists April Gornik and Eric Fischl, with design by architect Lee Skolnick, the project preserved the building’s historical essence while introducing modern features like a glass elevator to suit contemporary needs.

Preservation Award for Organizational Excellence:

Preservation Long Island recognizes Suffolk County for the preservation of Owl Hill, located in Fort Salonga. This effort has protected the 1907 Owl Hill mansion and 27 acres of open space from redevelopment into a residential subdivision. The preservation of Owl Hill was accomplished through the collaborative efforts of Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta, Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, the Suffolk County Parks Department, Preservation Long Island and community advocates.

The Howard C. Sherwood Award:

This year, Preservation Long Island proudly gives the Howard C. Sherwood Award posthumously to Brian Pinnola to recognize his extraordinary lifetime achievements in historic preservation. Brian sadly passed away in January of 2024. Brian was a passionate advocate for historic preservation, serving as an active and deeply involved member of Preservation Long Island’s board. His work extended across multiple projects, showcasing his unwavering commitment to preserving Long Island’s historic and cultural treasures. As a longstanding board member and past president of The Garden City Historical Society, he spearheaded the transformation of the 1872 Apostle House into The Garden City Historical Society Museum. Brian’s vision and tireless work left an indelible mark on the community.

Visit the 2024 Preservation Awards page on our website to learn more about the outstanding achievements of this year’s awardees and for information about upcoming awards-related events and programming.

Preservation Long Island’s biennial Preservation Awards are made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

About Preservation Long Island

Preservation Long Island is the not-for-profit regional advocate for historic preservation on Long Island. Our mission is to celebrate and preserve Long Island’s diverse cultural and architectural heritage through advocacy, education, and stewardship of historic sites and collections. http://preservationlongisland.org

Working to raise awareness, appreciation, and support for the protection of a shared past, our program areas include: interpreting historic sites; collecting art and material culture pertaining to Long Island history; creating publications and exhibits; and providing direct support and technical assistance to individuals and groups engaged in local preservation efforts.

Preservation Long Island’s preservation advocacy services support the work of individuals and our local partners in communities across the region. We offer consultation and strategic guidance for those seeking help with local preservation projects, including historic resource surveys, local landmark designation, National Register listing, and restoration or adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

Preservation Long Island also maintains and interprets four historic sites, including the collections housed within each:

Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor

Custom House, Sag Harbor

Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Setauket

Old Methodist Church and Exhibition Gallery, Cold Spring Harbor

For more information, call 631-692-4664.

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Jackie Powers

Preservation Long Island, the Cold Spring Harbor-based regional historic preservation advocacy nonprofit, is pleased to announce the appointment of JackiePowers as its new executive director, effective December 2, 2024. Powers, a resident of Glen Cove and former senior advisor with the American Museum of Natural History, will bring her extensive experience in museum and educational leadership to Long Island’s only regional not-for-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation.

“Jackie brings a wealth of professional experience from her two decades in senior roles at the American Museum of Natural History,” said Michelle Elliott Gokey, president of Preservation Long Island’s board of trustees. “We are excited about Jackie’s passion for our mission and look forward to working closely with her, along with our members and partners, to advance historic preservation throughout the region. As our 76-year-old organization embarks on a new phase of growth, Jackie’s leadership will be key to enhancing our impact.”

Powers expressed her enthusiasm for joining the organization, saying, “Preserving Long Island’s architectural history and cultural heritage—through stewardship, education, and advocacy—is a mission that resonates deeply with me. My career at the American Museum of Natural History has focused on similar educational goals: interpreting and sharing knowledge about human cultures and the natural world.” She added, “This opportunity is especially meaningful, as I spent much of my youth on both the North Shore, where I now live, and the South Shore, as well as in Brooklyn. Long Island’s architectural history is a vibrant mosaic of communities from around the world. Engaging with these diverse cultures will be essential to expanding Preservation Long Island’s reach and relevance for future generations.”

Powers succeeds Alexandra Parsons Wolfe, who retired last June, becoming the eighth executive director to lead Preservation Long Island, formerly known as the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities.

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Preservation Long Island invites the community to a Community Conversation on the historic murals at Kings Park Psychiatric Center at the Mills Pond Gallery, 176 Mills Pond Road, St. James on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 7 to 8 p.m.  

This discussion will revolve around a mural from King’s Park Psychiatric Center (KPPC) Building 93, attributed to author and cartoonist Percy Lee Crosby, who lived at KPPC from 1949 until his death in 1964 and how the mural interprets the experience of being a resident at KPPC, art as a form of therapy, and the mural as a historic artifact.

The event will take place at the Mills Pond House which a Greek Revival home built for William Wickham Mills in 1838–40. It is a rare surviving example of the small agricultural communities that once thrived on Long Island. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house now serves as the Smithtown Township Arts Council’s Mills Pond Gallery, which offers a space for creative expression and the exploration of contemporary art. Be sure to visit the gallery’s current art exhibition Our Relationship with the Land open one hour before the Community Conversation.

This event is  free and open to all —community members, students, educators, activists, and anyone interested in how these artworks capture human experiences and reflect the community of KPPC. 

To reserve your space, visit www.millspondgallery.org/events For more information, call 631-862-6575.

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Edward Lange, [Northport, Lower Main Street], 1880. Watercolor, gouache, and lead pencil on paper, 15.375 x 21.625. Collection of Preservation Long Island, 2011.2

Preservation Long Island presents Promoting Long Island: The Art of Edward Lange, 1870–1889, a new exhibition focusing on the life, work, and career of one of Long Island’s most prolific artists of the late nineteenth century. On view August 16 – December 1 2024 at the Preservation Long Island Gallery, 161 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, this exhibition of watercolors, photographs, and historical objects from the collection of Preservation Long Island and on loan from collections across Long Island, is inspired by the upcoming release of Preservation Long Island’s latest publication of the same name, arriving September 2024.

Edward Lange grew up in a German family of prominent artists and publishers and arrived on Long Island during one of its most critical moments. For nearly two decades, he watched new industry creep into an older agricultural landscape and used his artwork to record the region’s transformation. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Lange inserted himself into Long Island’s booming economy and created detailed images of main streets, factories, railroad depots, and hotels that resonated with local residents and tourists alike.

“Lange’s artwork represents a tangible connection to a period of Long Island’s history when its people, culture, and landscape were undergoing rapid change,” said Elizabeth Abrams, Preservation Long Island Interim Executive Director.  “The artist’s views of Long Island towns, villages, landscapes, and waterscapes have endeared themselves to Long Islanders and visitors for over 135 years.”

“Artists like Lange played a significant role in a promoting Long Island’s scenery to the larger public during the nineteenth century,” noted Preservation Long Island Chief Curator & Director of Collections, Lauren Brincat. “Not only was Lange’s artwork reflective of a resulting new age of booming tourism on Long Island, but it was instrumental in the region’s growth by advertising hotels, resorts, and experiences to a greater public.”

Peter Fedoryk, exhibition guest curator added, “In the late nineteenth century, Lange’s artwork had immense visual influence in the New York metropolitan area. Today, the artist’s paintings, drawings, prints, and photographic reproductions are celebrated as snapshots of a world before suburbanization permanently reshaped Long Island’s built environment.”

Programming

Exhibition related programs and events will take place throughout the show’s run and include:

Curator Exhibition Tour: September 28, 2024

Northport Walking Tour: October 6, 2024

Authors Panel Discussion & Book Signing: November 16, 2024

Call or visit Preservation Long Island’s  website for more information about the exhibition and related programs and events.

631.692.4664

https://preservationlongisland.org/lange-exhibition/

Lenders to the Exhibition

Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History; Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association; Heckscher Museum of Art; Huntington Historical Society; Incorporated Village of Northport; The Long Island Museum; Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, & Museums; Oyster Bay Historical Society; Raynham Hall Museum, Smithtown Historical Society; Veronica Mollica; Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor.

Publication

The exhibition accompanies the release of Preservation Long Island’s latest publication, Promoting Long Island: The Art of Edward Lange, 1870–1889 which presents over two years of new research into Edward Lange’s life and work. The new hardcover publication, arriving September 2024, features over 100 full-color images. Edited and authored by Preservation Long Island’s Chief Curator & Director of Collections, Lauren Brincat, and former curatorial fellow, Peter Fedoryk, the book also includes essays by Jennifer L. Anderson, Thomas Busciglio-Ritter, and Joshua M. Ruff.

https://preservationlongisland.org/pre-order-our-latest-publication/

Generous funding in support of this publication has been provided by The Gerry Charitable Trust and The Decorative Arts Trust

About Preservation Long Island

Preservation Long Island is a not-for-profit organization that works with Long Islanders to raise awareness, appreciation, and support for the protection of our shared past through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections.

http://preservationlongisland.org

Preservation Long Island maintains and interprets historic sites and collections that embody various aspects of Long Island’s history including:

Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/joseph-lloyd-manor/

Custom House, Sag Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/custom-house/

Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Setauket http://preservationlongisland.org/sherwood-jayne-farm/

Old Methodist Church and Exhibition Gallery http://preservationlongisland.org/methodist-church/

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The pony Snowball once kept at Sherwood-Jayne Farm. Photo courtesy Mallie Jane Kim
Preservation Long Island is exploring other ways to run a working farm

By Mallie Jane Kim

The bucolic farm scene on East Setauket’s historic Sherwood-Jayne Farm no longer includes grazing animals, as the elderly pony and four sheep who lived there were recently moved to new homes. According to farm owner Preservation Long Island, they are settling in well, and the organization is looking forward to the future of the farm. 

“It’s a new beginning, and it’s a nice place,” said PLI executive director Alexandra Wolfe.

The pony Snowball. Photo courtesy Mallie Jane Kim

According to Wolfe, the sheep have gone to Berkshire Farm Sanctuary in Massachusetts, and the pony, Snowball, has moved to a private family property on Long Island, with people who are familiar with caring for elderly ponies. Wolfe said PLI moved Snowball first so she wouldn’t be left alone on the farm, after a vet deemed her safe for transport and “very sound” for a pony her age — some 40 years old.

Wolfe said her contact at the farm sanctuary told her this week that the sheep are adapting well and getting ready to join a new flock. “It looks like heaven up there, as far as I’m concerned,” Wolfe said of Berkshire. “If I was an animal, I’d want to go retire there.”

It was a calm end to a contentious chapter on the farm. After hearing of plans to rehome the animals last summer, some area residents protested in an attempt to get PLI to change its plans — people were attached to the animals and enjoyed having that picture of historic farm life on Old Post Road. A petition to that effect garnered more than 3,500 signatures.

Surprised by the community response, PLI paused plans for a time but ultimately arrived on a November morning to move the animals, with short notice to the animals’ longtime caretaker Susanna Gatz. Friends of Gatz and other concerned neighbors formed an impromptu protest. Tensions ran high, but in the end the organization tasked with transportation decided the animals were too spooked to force into a vehicle.

Despite the protests, PLI maintained that animal care was not central to their mission, which is to celebrate and preserve the cultural and architectural heritage of the region. Also, Wolfe explained, the organization’s board didn’t feel it could meet best practices related to maintaining livestock at historic sites, pointing to a document that lays out details to consider, including fencing type, feed storage, security measures and many other factors. 

“Preservation Long Island doesn’t have the capacity or resources to implement a viable interpretation of 19th-century livestock farming.” Wolfe explained. “The primary motivator for Preservation Long Island is best practices.”

So PLI opted to give Gatz official notice to move out of her on-site apartment, and they waited until she had moved and the freezing weather passed before rehoming the animals.

Still, some residents are sad to see the farm quiet, without its grazers. The school bus that drives by every afternoon will no longer slow down for the kids to wave at Snowball and the small flock of sheep. 

“It’s a bit lifeless now,” said Tony Lopez of East Setauket. “It was always nice when you drove by and saw someone stopped there looking at the animals — it was a gem.”

Lopez says he wishes the community and PLI could’ve worked something out to allow the animals to stay but he maintains the historic house itself is a gift to the community, and said he hopes PLI can bring back some of the festivals Sherwood-Jayne used to host.

Festivals may be a long way off, though, because of county regulations on the property that prohibit use of the pasture as a parking lot and require PLI to obtain county permission before hosting big events that include the farmland.

Those regulations came to light last fall as part of a letter from Suffolk County informing PLI the property was out of compliance with its Farmland Preservation Development Rights program. The county and the Town of Brookhaven jointly purchased development rights to the farm parcel in 2003, requiring Sherwood-Jayne to maintain a working commercial farm.

According to Wolfe, PLI is in the process of seeking out local partners, like the Peconic Land Trust, to help sort out the most fitting way to bring the property back into compliance. 

PLI’s board does not want to jump into a relationship with a farmer who would bring in large, commercial equipment, Wolfe said, so they will take their time researching and deciding. 

“It has to be in alignment with the historic character of the farm,” she said, adding that whatever they do should match PLI’s interpretive goals and the natural setting. “Our goal is also to find something that contributes to the community in some way.”

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'Voices and Votes' exhibit

‘Voices and Votes: Democracy in America’ will be on view in Cold Spring Harbor from March 22 to May 3

Preservation Long Island has been chosen to be the first venue in New York State to host the “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” exhibition which examines the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the people,” and how each generation since continues to question how to form “a more perfect union.”

This initiative is all part of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program — a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions to small town and rural cultural organizations across America. The exhibit will be on view at the Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery, 161 Main Street, in Cold Spring Harbor from March 22 to May 3 before touring eleven more communities across New York through January 2026.

“Preservation Long Island is excited to serve as the inaugural site for “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” said Alexandra Wolfe, Preservation Long Island Executive Director. “The exhibition’s focus on freedom, civic participation, and political engagement resonates strongly with our commitment to making the past relevant to the present.” 

The exhibit engages multimedia interactives with short games; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material and will include a section that incorporates art and artifacts drawn from Preservation Long Island and other local collections. 

“The objects we chose connect the broader historical narratives of Voices and Votes with Long Island people and stories—addressing themes such as the ways people make their voices heard, who is left out of the conversation, and the roles and responsibilities of citizens,” said Lauren Brincat, Preservation Long Island Curator.

Among the local highlights in the exhibition is an original essay by Jupiter Hammon (1711–ca. 1806), America’s first published African American poet, written while he was enslaved at Joseph Lloyd Manor in Lloyd Harbor shortly after the American Revolution, advocating for the citizenship of Black New Yorkers in the new nation. Other items include a bracelet and ring made from scrap sheet metal by women aircraft factory workers on Long Island as the United States fought to preserve democracy abroad during World War II, and the drawings and models for the national monument to African American civil rights leader and women’s rights activist, Mary MacLeod Bethune (1875–1855), created by Long Island artist, Robert Berks (1922–2011) in 1974. 

“‘Voices and Votes’ allows us to reflect on Cold Spring Harbor and the surrounding community history and explore what it means to be an active participant in the governance of not only the country but also this community,” said Andrew Tharler, Preservation Long Island Education and Engagement Director.

The series of local exhibition-related programming and free events include a community quilt project, curator-led exhibition and walking tours, lectures, community conversations and an oral history series. To preview the full schedule, visit preservationlongisland.org/voices-and-votes/.

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The boarded-up house on Sheep Pasture Road. Photo by Kyle Barr

By Samantha Rutt

In a triumph for local preservationists and historians, the William Tooker House on Sheep Pasture Road, Port Jefferson Station, has been safeguarded from neglect and demolition. The oldest known structure in the village faced threats of urban renewal before being included in Preservation Long Island’s Endangered Historic Places List in 2021.

Constructed before 1750, the William Tooker House holds immense historical significance. It was once the residence of William Tooker, a descendant of early Long Island colonists, whose family played a pivotal role in the region’s colonial history. The house itself is a testament to the area’s heritage, retaining a colonial Cape Cod-style timber frame on intact fieldstone foundations.

A significant milestone was reached on Oct. 3, 2022, when the Village of Port Jefferson agreed to purchase the property from its current owners using a grant applied for by Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) during his time in the state Assembly. Through the State and Municipal Facilities Program, the Village of Port Jefferson was granted $500,000 to be associated with purchase and restoration of the property.

Since 2022, local officials have worked to decide the future of the property, mentioning using the house as a central museum to pay tribute to the village’s history.

“The mayor seems very focused on the significance of the site, wanting to operate within the parameters of the grant,” now-county Legislator Englebright said of Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow’s plan for the property. “The grant will more or less include the acquisition cost as well as a phase one restoration.”

Englebright described a phase one restoration project as stabilizing the existing structure, returning it to as much of the original structure as possible and using whatever may be left over from the grant to refurbish the interior and possibly add or update the existing heating and cooling units.

The village has not yet finalized the acquisition but is actively in contract to do so, Englebright explained. Despite its historical importance, the William Tooker House has been endangered by neglect, demolition threats and insensitive alterations over the years. However, with the village’s eventual acquisition of the property, a new chapter in its preservation is soon to begin.

Preservation Long Island, along with local community members and organizations such as the Greater Port Jefferson Historical Society and Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce, have advocated for the preservation of this piece of Port Jefferson’s history. Their efforts have culminated in the village’s commitment to acquire and preserve the property in collaboration with community stakeholders and nonprofit stewardship partners.

To further ensure the preservation of Port Jefferson’s historic resources, including the William Tooker House, Preservation Long Island and local advocates have outlined a series of actions for village officials to undertake. These include conducting a survey to identify and designate all historic resources and districts, leveraging public funding with private donations for rehabilitation work and incorporating historic preservation into downtown revitalization plans.

In addition, the New York State Historic Preservation Office recognized the property’s importance by determining its eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. With the village assuming ownership, it can proceed with the application for this designation. If successful, the designation will not only honor the house’s historical significance but also make the village eligible for tax credits, financial incentives and technical assistance for rehabilitation work.

With the William Tooker House now under the village’s stewardship, there is renewed optimism for its preservation and future as a cherished landmark in Port Jefferson. As efforts continue to unfold, residents and historians alike look forward to seeing this iconic structure restored to its former glory.

“Restoring the property will help to develop a sense of place,” Englebright said. “Place is hard to measure but important in developing community identity and pride. The restoration will help to carry and pass on a baton of knowledge for generations to come.”

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Kings Park Psychiatric Center. Photo courtesy of Preserve KPPC

Properties in Brentwood, Huntington, Kings Park, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Riverhead, and Smithtown are included in Preservation Long Island’s biennial list of Endangered Historic Places.

Preservation Long Island’s 2023 Endangered Historic Places List features seven nominated sites that span Long Island from a lighthouse on the Sound off Kings Point, to an early power plant in Riverhead. From historic homesteads to an expansive former mental health campus, the latest list highlights the historical richness of the region.

The Preservation Long Island (PLI) Endangered Historic Places Program (EHPP) is designed to identify, highlight, and address the imminent threats faced by significant historical sites and structures across Long Island. Properties are nominated to the list by concerned citizens and groups on Long Island. The program aims to raise public awareness about the endangered status of these historical places. PLI engages in advocacy efforts to garner support from the local community and beyond, emphasizing the importance of preserving these sites for future generations.

“The program offers Long Islanders an opportunity to advocate for preservation in their communities while learning how to use tools like landmark designation, tax incentives, and public outreach,” said Alexandra Wolfe, Preservation Long Island’s Executive Director. “Our program partners receive priority technical assistance from our professional staff and their listings are featured on our website and social media.”

“Operating on two levels, the program seeks to educate and mobilize new preservation advocates while identifying endangered historic places,” said Tara Cubie, Preservation Long Island’s Director of Preservation and Advocacy. “The relationships fostered by becoming an EHPP listing site are long term. The goal is for communities to develop sustainable comprehensive strategies for the protection and preservation of their historic resources.”

A panel of Preservation Long Island staff and trustees, as well as experts in architecture, historic preservation, and other related fields selected the properties based on three key criteria: overall historic significance, severity of the threat and impact the EHPP listing will have on efforts to protect the nominated site.

In-person events are planned for the Spring of 2024 that include site tours, and panel discussions open to the public. Visit the EHPP page on our website to learn more about each of the selected sites and browse the schedule of upcoming events.

Preservation Long Island invites all Long Islanders to join us in celebrating and supporting the important sites on Long Island’s List of Endangered Historic Places for 2023:

Eliphalet Whitman House (c. 1736), Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown (part of Caleb Smith State Park). Listed on the National Register as a contributing structure to the Wyandanch Club Historic District, the house does not appear to be maintained and is showing significant signs of neglect and deterioration.

Perkins Electric Generating Plant (Riverhead Electric Co), West Main Street, Riverhead. Constructed in 1897, it was one of the earliest electric plants on Long Island. The building is vacant and deteriorating.

Steppingstone Lighthouse, Long Island Sound, off Kings Point and South of City Island (owned by Town of North Hempstead). Completed in 1877, it is one of the last offshore lighthouses in the Upper Mid-Atlantic to be built of brick and stone.  The site is threatened by deterioration and neglect.

King’s Park Psychiatric Center, Nissequogue River State Park, Kings Park. A former mental health facility established in 1884, with the oldest extant buildings dating from 1890, the complex is significant for its architecture and as a cultural historic landscape. The Master Plan for the park finalized in August 2023, proposes demolition of Kings Park Boulevard.

Coindre Hall Boathouse, Town of Huntington. Located directly behind Coindre Hall (c.1912), the boat house is a miniature replica of the mansion. No longer safe for use, the structure has been fenced in for safety purposes, and is in bad condition. Although there has been stabilization work completed, there is debate regarding whether the building should be restored or the waterfront should be turned into a nature reserve.

Shutt House, Town of Islip. The house is one of the original homes in Modern Times (1851-1864), Long Island’s utopian community (which evolved into today’s Brentwood). The structure is threatened by proposed demolition and development by the current owner.

Mill Pond House, Town of Oyster Bay. Built before 1720, the Mill Pond House is one of the oldest surviving dwellings in Oyster Bay. The building has been vacant since 2008 and continues to deteriorate.

Preservation Long Island’s Endangered Historic Places Program is made possible in part by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

About Preservation Long Island

Preservation Long Island is a not-for-profit organization that works with Long Islanders to raise awareness, appreciation, and support for the protection of our shared past through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections.

Preservation Long Island’s preservation advocacy services support the work of our local partners in communities across the region. We offer consultation and strategic guidance for Long Islanders seeking help with local preservation projects, including historic resource surveys, local landmark designation, National Register listing, and restoration or adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

Preservation Long Island also maintains and interprets historic sites and collections that embody various aspects of Long Island’s history including:

Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor

Custom House, Sag Harbor

Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Setauket

Old Methodist Church and Exhibition Gallery

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Embark on a journey with our reporter to Sherwood-Jayne Farm in East Setauket, capturing the intensity of protesters rallying against Preservation Long Island’s plan to remove its farm animals. Then, delve into municipal land-use policy as we dissect the Brookhaven Town Board’s consideration of a zone change for the Jefferson Plaza shopping center in Port Jefferson Station.

But that’s not all — dive into the excitement of Ward Melville and Earl L. Vandermeulen high schools’ postseason volleyball runs with our sportswriter. Then, join us in reflecting on the crucial role of local election inspectors and the urgent need for more volunteers to uphold our democratic process.

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