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Preservation Long Island

By Beverly C. Tyler

Along Old Post Road in East Setauket are a number of old farmhouses. One of the most interesting and best preserved is the circa 1730 Sherwood-Jayne House which is owned by Preservation Long Island. The home, first built by Matthias Jayne, and owned by a succession of his descendants, was enlarged over the years, but it retains much of its original appearance both inside and out. The house sits on a large area that retains a farm-like atmosphere with a colonial barn, ice house and a number of other structures. A carefully pruned apple orchard stands just to the west of the house along Old Post Road. To the left of the barn and behind the orchard is the entrance to the walking trail. The three-mile circular trail meanders through the wooded area where red-tailed hawks are known to nest. However, the trail is a bit difficult to follow as trail markers were not evident to me on opening day. 

A guided tour of the historic house is not to be missed. On May 31st, I was met at the front door by guides Kitty and Jill who described the house and grounds as a “central Long Island farmscape.” Matthias’ son William doubled the size of the house following the end of the Revolutionary War. Known locally as “Big Bill the Tory,” William, who lost his wife Tabitha in 1785, was responsible for the architectural details which provide a unifying appearance to the colonial structure. 

The Sherwood-Jayne farm is a part of the Town of Brookhaven’s East Setauket Historic District, one of five historic districts in the Three Village area. The farm represents the  character of the historic district with its many private historic farmhouses, dating from the end of the 17th century through the early years of the 20th century. 

The interior of the house features both original wall paintings and spectacular paneling. The paneling is believed to be from a nearby colonial house that was the birthplace of Benjamin Tallmadge, leader of the Culper spy ring. Howard Sherwood,  who purchased the house in 1908 from the third great-granddaughter of Matthias Jayne, collected the paneling and the interior furnishings.

As detailed by Preservation Long Island, “Howard Sherwood, an American decorative arts collector and Preservation Long Island founder…is responsible for the building’s current appearance as a restored colonial-era farmhouse with early twentieth-century Colonial Revival alterations…” One of the interesting records kept by Sherwood is a “Sheep Register” which details his project to use sheep on the farm. He wrote, “Along in the summer of 1932, Charlie and I bethought ourselves of sheep as a means of keeping the East field down and in shape. Accordingly, the following fall and winter, Charlie cut and set the posts to fence it and in April ‘33 I secured the necessary wire fencing, together with a stretcher to stretch it and staples to fasten it…” 

A small spiral-bound copy of his register is available for visitors to see during the house tour. Neither sheep nor any other farm animals are currently housed on the Sherwood-Jayne farm, however the tour of the two floors of the house has many surprises including wide pine floorboards salvaged from Bridgehampton’s “Old Wick’s Tavern; A beautiful pine corner cupboard from a center-hall house north of Syracuse, NY; historic coverlets; period floor covering reproductions and much more.      

Preservation Long Island offers Saturday tours of the Sherwood-Jayne Farm House (c. 1730), 55 Old Post Road, Setauket at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. through Oct. 11.  Tickets are $10 adults, $5 ages 10 to 18, free for children ages 9 and under. To reserve your spot, visit www.preservationlongisland.org/tours/.

Beverly Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket, NY 11733. Tel: 631-751-3730. www.TVHS.org 

Preservation Long Island, 161 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor will host a gallery talk,  on Saturday, May 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Join them for a lively conversation with young influential voices in the worlds of American antiques and design as they share fresh perspectives on collecting and the enduring relevance of old places and things.

Enjoy an evening of drinks and discussion with Michael Diaz-Griffith, Executive Director and CEO of the Design Leadership Network; Kyle Marshall, author and former Creative Director of Bunny Williams Home; and Lauren Brincat, Chief Curator and Director of Collections at Preservation Long Island.

United by a passion for preservation, decorative arts, and design, the speakers will explore the enduring appeal of antiques, the future of collecting, and how historic objects and interiors can reveal unexpected insights into the past. Together, they’ll consider the roles style, stewardship, and memory all play in shaping the spaces we inhabit and the stories we choose to preserve for the future. A wine and cheese reception will follow.

“Collective Interests: Preserving the Past for the Future” Event Details

Date & Time: Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Location: Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery, 161 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor
Tickets: $30 members / $35 non-members. Please register in advance.

Information and Registration: https://preservationlongisland.org/collective-interests/

About the Speakers:

Michael Diaz-Griffith is an art historian, designer, and Executive Director and CEO of the Design Leadership Network. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation and as Associate Executive Director of The Winter Show, America’s most prestigious and longest-running art and antiques fair. In 2024, he was appointed Vice Chair of the Show. His first book, The New Antiquarians: At Home with Young Collectors, was published in 2023. A second volume is in the works.

Kyle Marshall is the author and photographer of Americana: Farmhouses and Manors of Long Island—a project sparked by his preservation of an early 19th-century farmhouse and barn in Locust Valley—Kyle Marshall was formerly the Creative Director of Bunny Williams Home. Originally from Oyster Bay, New York, he holds a degree in architecture from Rhode Island School of Design and has contributed to publications including Cabana magazine and House & Garden online.

Lauren Brincat is the Chief Curator and Director of Collections at Preservation Long Island, where she organizes exhibitions and research initiatives focused on regional history and culture, including the award-winning Jupiter Hammon Project and the Art of Edward Lange Project. She is also a co-editor and author Promoting Long Island: The Art of Edward Lange, 1870–1889. Brincat has degree in American material culture from the Winterthur Program and is the co-president of the Long Island Museum Association.

About Preservation Long Island

Preservation Long Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate and preserve Long Island’s diverse cultural and architectural heritage through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections. http://preservationlongisland.org

A recent photo of Owl Hill. Photo from Leg. Trotta's office

Since 2016, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta has worked tirelessly to preserve Smithtown’s unique Owl Hill estate and its 27 acres from being developed into multiple housing units. His efforts prevailed as Suffolk County purchased the entire parcel from the developer for $8.3million using money from the Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Fund.

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta accepts the award for “Organization Excellence”
from Preservation Long Island’s Director Tara Cubie. Photo courtesy of PLI

The sprawling property is home to the 117-year-old, 6,500 square foot mansion designed by world-renowned American architect Henry Killam Murphy. Noted first patent attorney, Edmund Wetmore, commissioned Murphy to design it. Inside the mansion, there is an impressive mahogany staircase, mahogany floors and paneling; library; wood paneled dining room; eight bedrooms; music/living room; five bathrooms; kitchen; several fireplaces; basement, and much more. The dining room has an “owl” motif on the chairs, as well as the matching buffet. The grounds include stunning plants and mature trees, along with a garage and outer building.

On January 25, 2025, at its biennial awards ceremony, Preservation Long Island (PLI) awarded Legislator Trotta and Suffolk County with its biennial Preservation Award for “Organizational Excellence” for their efforts to preserve Owl Hill as a valuable resource in the community. Trotta is very committed to preserving the storied historic estate and adapting it for continued cultural and civic programs.

The public is invited to attend an “Open House” to see the property and “Owl Hill” on Saturday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Owl Hill is located at 99 Sunken Meadow Road, Fort Salonga. For more information or questions, please call Legislator Trotta’s district office at 631-854-3900.

 

Joseph Lloyd Manor garden. Courtesy of Preservation Long Island.

The Caribbean American Poetry Association (CAPA) and Preservation Long Island (PLI) invite students in Grades 6-12 across Long Island to share original poems as part of the 2025 Caribbean American Heritage Month/ Juneteenth Poetry Celebration on Thursday, June 19 in Lloyd Harbor. This event will pay homage to Jupiter Hammon (1711–c. 1806), recognized as the first published Black American poet. The event will take place at Joseph Lloyd Manor where Hammon authored his most significant works about the moral conflicts of slavery and freedom in the early United States while enslaved on Long Island.

In honor of Hammon’s legacy, CAPA and PLI invite students to submit their original poetry for the open-mic segment of the Juneteenth event. Students are encouraged to share verses on themes of liberty, resistance, and the power of writing, all of which resonate deeply with Hammon’s work. Entries will be accepted from students in Grades 6 through 12. Those who wish to participate must submit their original poetry on or before June 1, 2025. Poems should be no more than 40 lines long. Click HERE for details and guidelines for teachers and students. Poetry submissions are due by June 1, 2025.

The student open-mic will follow performances by featured poets, Dr. Lindamichelle Baron, Keisha-Gay Anderson, and Yasmin Morais. The program will begin with tours of Joseph Lloyd Manor and live Caribbean music. It will also include a dramatic historical hip-hopera by award-winning playwright, author, and poet Marsha M. Nelson, and a Taste of the Caribbean Table featuring signature dishes donated by local Caribbean eateries. The event is free; however, guests are encouraged to RSVP.

Support

The Juneteenth Poetic Tribute to Jupiter Hammon is funded in part by Poets & Writers with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or to participate in The Taste of the Caribbean Table, please contact CAPA at: [email protected].

About CAPA

The Caribbean American Poetry Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Caribbean poetry in the United States, promoting the work of Caribbean American poets, and bringing Caribbean American poetry to the widest possible audiences.

About Preservation Long Island

Preservation Long Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate and preserve Long Island’s diverse cultural and architectural heritage through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections. http://preservationlongisland.org

About Joseph Lloyd Manor

Located in the Town of Huntington, Joseph Lloyd Manor (c.1767) is one of Preservation Long Island’s historic houses and a site that enslaved generations of people of African descent. The house was designated as a National Literary Landmark™ in 2020 by the United for Libraries and Empire State Center for the Book in honor of writer Jupiter Hammon’s literary achievements. https://preservationlongisland.org/joseph-lloyd-manor/

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

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.

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.

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/

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.”