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Three Village Historical Society

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A scene from the Three Village Historical Society's first annual Culper Spy 5k. Photo courtesy of TVHS
A scene from the Three Village Historical Society's first annual Culper Spy 5k. Photo courtesy of TVHS
A scene from the Three Village Historical Society's first annual Culper Spy 5k. Photo courtesy of TVHS
A scene from the Three Village Historical Society's first annual Culper Spy 5k. Photo courtesy of TVHS
A scene from the Three Village Historical Society's first annual Culper Spy 5k. Photo courtesy of TVHS

By Kimberly Phyfe

Three Village Historical Society launched its first annual Culper Spy 5K on Sunday, Sept. 8. It’s the first annual because there are already plans in the works to bring this wonderful community event back next year.

Margo Arceri of Tri-Spy Tours is the brainchild behind Culper Spy Day, which just celebrated its tenth year. As she stated in her welcome address, “It takes a village, sometimes three!” She remarked that “this community has truly embraced the Culper Spy Ring story that reaches all ages. I look forward to Culper Spy Weekend next September with the 5K becoming a huge part of the celebration of our rich history.”

The festivities began on the TVHS lawn with a stretch and warm up from Real Deal Fitness with bagels and coffee donated by David Prestia of Bagel Express.

As families gathered, 17 children participated in a fun run to Ridgeway Avenue and return. Back at the starting line on North Country Road, 309 racers got ready to run through the Old Setauket Historic District. The route headed north past the Setauket Neighborhood House where volunteers stationed a water stop, through Frank Melville Park, across Main Street by Patriots Rock, around Caroline Church and back to the historical society headquarters.

These sites were once farmlands, battlefields and home to Revolutionary War heroes which made the run “powerful and emotional — you really feel the deep sense of pride in our history when you’re out there,” one runner commented.

As head of the Three Village Dads Foundation, David Tracy posted that 3V Dads were “honored to be the finish line sponsor of the inaugural Culper Spy 5K hosted by the Three Village Historical Society. What a great turnout, beautiful day and awesome route. Looking forward to next year’s event!”

Mari Irizarry, director of TVHS said, “We are beyond thrilled by the incredible energy and overwhelming support we saw throughout the Three Village community for our inaugural 5K race. All proceeds from the run support The Dominick Crawford Barn Education and History Center.”

Irizarry added, “This event was made possible through the remarkable efforts of Sean Grossman, who approached us with this idea at just 14 years old. Sean, now 15, brought together a dedicated committee, secured the expertise of the Strong Island Running Club and led every meeting with maturity and focus. We are incredibly proud of Sean and his commitment to both our organization and the community.”

Strong Island Running Club had a giant finish line to welcome back and celebrate the racers, also capture their times and images. The most senior competitor, Rolf Sternglanz won a medal at 85 years old for completing the course in 44 minutes, 35 seconds.

The top-placed runners were:

Male

1.   Blake Weaver       17:10

2.   Felipe Garcia        17:30

3.   Lucas Sweeney     18:16

Female

 6.  Jane Radke             19:49

 8.  Anjali Narayan       20:32

10. Margaret Kennedy  21:29

A full list of all placed runners and sponsors can be found at www.tvhs.org or click here.

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A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
A scene from the 10th annual Culper Spy Day. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo

By Toni-Elena Gallo

The Three Village Historical Society held its 10th annual Culper Spy Day Sept. 7, creating an event of fun and history for all who attended.

The day was cloudy and a bit rainy, but families were not deterred as they ventured out to learn about the area’s rich, revolutionary story.

The Culper Spy Ring was what was to become America’s first web of espionage. The information relayed along this tri-state route, was instrumental in George Washington’s victory during the Revolutionary War.

In front of the Three Village Historical Society headquarters, visitors could stop by the tents of George Washington and his Huntington militia, as well as the red coats.

“Here we have a cartridge box, for ammunition. It would hold paper cartridges, filled with gunpowder for the musket balls. A powder horn, carved from a cow’s, also held gunpowder in battle,” said Vinny, a member of the “Continental Army” all decked-out in authentic-styled period clothing.

At another station, a daughter and mother listened intently as a woman dressed as Anna Smith Strong — a woman notable for using her laundry line as a secret signal system, to communicate with fellow Culper spies — explained the intricacies of key players Robert Townsend, Austin Roe, Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge’s system of providing Gen. Washington with vital intel in Westchester.

According to “Strong,” Townsend would create messages in invisible ink, to be distributed in his Manhattan shop, which would, then, be picked up by Setauket tavern owner, Austin Roe. Setauket farmer, Abraham Woodhull, would correspond with Roe, and from there, Brewster would take the information across the Sound, into Connecticut. Lastly, Tallmadge, the ringleader, would ride on horseback to wherever Washington was stationed — whether it was upstate New York or New Jersey.

Throughout the festival, historical meals, such as succotash, which is a type of stew, originated by Native Americans and added onto by colonial settlers, were available to be sampled. But, for those in the mood for some modern-day treats, those were on hand, as well.

For more information on how to tour the trails of the Culper Spy Ring, visit www.tvhs.org.

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Reenactors on the grounds of the Three Village Historical Society during Culper Spy Day on Sept. 10. Photo by Joseph Cali

By Heidi Sutton

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Three Village Historical Society and Tri-Spy Tours will host a Revolutionary event — Culper Spy Day. Made possible by title sponsor Heritage Spy Ring Golf Club, it’s the event that every history buff looks forward to.

Now in its 10th year, the annual event is the brainchild of Margo Arceri, who first heard about Washington’s Setauket spies (including her favorite spy Anna Smith Strong) from her Strong’s Neck neighbor and local historian, Kate W. Strong, in the early 1970s. 

Meet Big Bill the Tory at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm on Sept. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Preservation Long Island

“My love of history grew from there,” said Arceri who today runs Tri-Spy Tours offering walking, bike and kayak tours of the Setauket area. “Everywhere you turn in the Three Villages you are looking at an artifact, and as the historical society believes, the community is our museum and I would really love to put that on the forefront of people’s minds. History is constantly evolving and new information is being discovered everyday. We don’t know what is waiting to be unearthed next and that fills me with excitement.”

The day of spy-related tours and activities was named for the Culper Spy Ring founded by Benjamin Tallmadge of Setauket, which provided General George Washington the information he needed to turn the tide of the American Revolution.

On Culper Spy Day, you will have the chance to visit the places where history was made and visit with area groups to learn about the patriots who risked their lives. 

Visitors can enjoy docent-led tours of historic homes, churches and cemeteries; Colonial cooking demonstrations; Anna Smith Strong’s famed clothesline; and a Revolutionary War encampment and musket firing drills by several militia groups.

There are plenty of children’s activities too including a children’s story hour, a potato sack race, an epic scavenger hunt, invisible ink demonstrations decoding spy names, sending wax sealed letters, making colonial crafts, and building a scale model timber frame house alongside Abraham Woodhull. 

In addition, Revolutionary War artifacts, including George Washington’s original letters to members of his spy ring will be on display in the Stony Brook University Library Special Collections. View a rare surviving letter dated November 8, 1779, between Benjamin Tallmadge and Robert Townsend at the Long Island Museum and explore their  world-famous carriage collection, with ties to Long Island’s Revolutionary War history 

Visitors will have a chance to meet Abraham Woodhull, Big Bill the Tory and Anna Smith Strong as well. 

See history come to life with this self-guided interactive tour spanning the Three Villages and beyond! Start your adventure at the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket and then visit participating locations including the Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum, The Long Island Museum, Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, Caroline Episcopal Church, Setauket Presbyterian Church, Setauket Neighborhood House, Patriots Rock, and Stony Brook University. The Setauket Elementary School’s auditorium will also be open for a special viewing of the Vance Locke murals depicting the founding of the Town of Brookhaven. 

All events are free with the exception of the Sherwood-Jayne Farm house tour ($5 adults, free for ages 17 and under) and the award-winning Spies! exhibit at the Three Village Historical Society. Build your own Revolutionary War story and see history come to life at this fun-filled event. For more information, call 631-751-3730 or visit www.tvhs.org for a full schedule of events.

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*New this year will be a Culper  5K Race/Walk on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 9 a.m. Presented by Strong Island Running Club and sponsored by the Three Village Dads Foundation, the event will support the Dominick-Crawford Barn History & Education Center. Racers can trace the footsteps of the spies starting at the TVHS Headquarters, through the Old Setauket Historic District, up through battle fields and farmlands, around the churches, past pre-Revolutionary homes, and back to the Museum. Tickets are $30 adults, $10 kids fun run. Sign up at tvhs.org/5k.

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Volunteer applies the D/2 biodegradable, cleaning chemical to a gravestone at Setauket United Methodist Church graveyard. Photo by TVHS
Volunteer applies the D/2 biodegradable, cleaning chemical to a gravestone at Setauket United Methodist Church graveyard. Photo by TVHS
Volunteers fix a gravestone at Setauket United Methodist Church graveyard. Photo by TVHS
A volunteer cleans a gravestone at Setauket United Methodist Church graveyard. Photo by TVHS

By Scott Ferrara

Three Village Historical Society partnered with the Setauket United Methodist Church in East Setauket June 22 for the latest cemetery cleanup event.

The historical society has recently reformed its Cemetery Committee to address the conditions of the 20 cemeteries in the area. These committee projects invite community members to help in the organized cleaning of cemetery grounds, correcting leaning or fallen gravestones, and using professional methods and materials to clean gravestones.

Participants in the program previously attended the Cemeteries 101 workshop at TVHS headquarters to learn the basics of Long Island cemetery history. They received hands-on lessons in the proper application of D/2, a biodegradable and eco-friendly chemical compound that removes stains caused by mold, algae, lichens and air pollutants. Participants, additionally, learned the do’s and don’ts of working with different types of headstones, and what kinds of permissions are needed to organize a gravestone cleaning project.

The Cemetery Committee has taken on varying duties over the past four decades, including the mapping and recording of headstones, cemetery cleanings and the organizing of numerous Eagle Scout cemetery restoration service projects. The current goals of the committee are focused on addressing the many headstones in need of cleaning and repair to preserve these cultural resources, and to create an updated database to aid local history and genealogical researchers.

The most recent project invited workshop attendees to participate in the organized cleaning of the Setauket United Methodist Church graveyard. The graveyard dates to the mid-19th century, and includes gravestones of many notable families in Three Village history such as the Terrells, Van Brunts, Darlings and Bryants — all of whom were early founders and patrons of the church. 

Volunteers and guests at the cleanup day included current residents of historic homes and communities once lived in by people buried at this cemetery.

Cemetery Committee chair, Robert Von Bernewitz, remarked that the D/2 cleaning solution applied to the gravestones will continue working over the next few months, slowly breaking down stains and growths.

Those who wish to participate in future cemetery cleaning projects should contact TVHS, and follow its social media and newsletters for future announcements. The website is: www.threevillagehistoricalsociety.org. 

Scott Ferrara is exhibits & collections coordinator at Three Village Historical Society.

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Scenes from Museum Day 2023 at the Middle Country Public Library. Photos courtesy of MCPL
Scene from Museum Day 2023 at the Middle Country Public Library. Photo courtesy of MCPL
Scenes from Museum Day 2023 at the Middle Country Public Library. Photos courtesy of MCPL
Scenes from Museum Day 2023 at the Middle Country Public Library. Photos courtesy of MCPL
Scenes from Museum Day 2023 at the Middle Country Public Library. Photos courtesy of MCPL
Scenes from Museum Day 2023 at the Middle Country Public Library. Photos courtesy of MCPL
Scenes from Museum Day 2023 at the Middle Country Public Library. Photos courtesy of MCPL

By Tara Mae

Like separate entries in an anthology, different community organizations offer rich options for diverse cultural endeavors that form a cohesive collection of experiences to encourage understanding and appreciation.

In this spirit, Middle Country Public Library’s Centereach branch at 101 Eastwood Blvd. will host Museum Day on Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. The event is free and no registration is required. 

This year 30 local institutions are participating, including the Long Island Museum of American History, Art and Carriages (LIM) in Stony Brook, Three Village Historical Society (TVHS) in Setauket, Whaling Museum and Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor, Railroad Museum of Long Island in Riverhead, and Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown.  

“The purpose [of Museum Day] is to provide a forum for community members to interact with representatives from local museums, historical societies, science and nature centers that participate to share information regarding their collections, programs, and exhibits in a festival type setting,” said Deborah Hempe, Middle Country Public Library’s Coordinator for Outreach Services and Museum Corner.

Held at the Museum Corner section of the library, which is part of the Youth Services Department, Museum Day is geared towards children and their families. Interactive elements across multiple mediums include science experiments, arts and crafts, live animal visits, and interaction with museum displays and artifacts. 

“For many children, looking and listening isn’t enough to activate the desire to learn. At events like this, children are presented with opportunities to also create, explore objects for themselves, and feel a connection that is personal,” said Lisa Unander, Director of Education at the Long Island Museum. “That feeling can be a catalyst to spark wonder and a lifelong love of art and history.”

The LIM will have a collage project inspired by the art of Reynold Ruffins, whose work is featuring in one of its current exhibits, Painting Partnership: Reynold and Joan Ruffins. The activity will concentrate on how using color and geometric shapes can create art. 

TVHS will set up a mini-exhibit and teach hands-on crafts, like making colonial whirligigs. Sweetbriar Nature Center will attend with two of its ambassador animals; traditionally, a resident owl and snake come as its guests. The Railroad Museum of Long Island will set up a train display. 

“I enjoy seeing the families who attend Museum Day and [engaging] with the children on hands-on learning activities we offer during the event,” said Education Coordinator of TVHS Lindsey Steward-Goldberg.

These offerings are made to energize minds and excite imaginations. 

“Museums can be places that introduce new ideas, unique perspectives and often challenge people’s ways of looking and thinking. Giving children a chance expand their way of thinking and encouragement to be creative in unexpected ways is often a goal of museum educators,” Unander said. 

For 35 years, Middle Country Public Library has organized the gathering in conjunction with International Museum Day, which falls on or around May 18. In 2023, more than 37,000 museums in about 158 countries and territories took part in the celebration.

Coordinated by the International Council of Museums, International Museum Day has a distinctive theme every year; 2024’s focus is Museums for Education and Research.

Although the motif changes, primary objectives of the official occasion and the library’s exhibition remain consistent: to alert people to the role museums play in the advancement of society and fortify the cooperation between neighboring operations.

“The public is able to learn about what these local organizations have to offer in a fun and interactive setting…Additionally, it provides a nice way for the organizations to do a bit of networking with each other,” Hempe said.  

A welcome chance to fortify interdisciplinary dynamics for the attending entities while engaging with a new audience and enchanting existing patrons, Museum Day is both a synopsis and preview of the organizations’ services. Many vendors return annually to maximize and solidify their exposure.

“Each year we meet many patrons who know our museum, and also many who have not ever visited the LIM. It is a wonderful way to showcase what the LIM has to offer and to extend a personal invitation to these families to visit for the first time or to come back and see what is new since their last visit,” Unander said. 

Through nurturing partnerships of longevity and consistency, Museum Day invigorates  lifelong interest in learning as well as sustained support for assemblages dedicated to historical preservation and intellectual enrichment. 

“I look forward to further cultivating those relationships, interacting with the staff and volunteers of participating organizations, and seeing the event attendees interacting with them as well…all are welcome,” Hempe said.

Participating organizations include:

American Airpower Museum

Bayard Cutting Arboretum

Bethel Hobbs Community Farm

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Community Education

Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society

Fire Island National Seashore

Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council

Hallockville Museum Farm

Hofstra University Museum of Art

Long Island Explorium

Long Island Maritime Museum

Long Island Museum

Long Island Telephone Museum

LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum

Montauk Historical Society/Lighthouse

NY Marine Rescue Center

Old Westbury Gardens

Patchogue Arts Council

Railroad Museum of Long Island

Sagtikos Manor

Smithtown Historical Society

Southampton History Museum

South Fork Natural History Museum

Sweetbriar Nature Center

Three Village Historical Society

Town of Brookhaven Historian

Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium

Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor

Water Mill Museum

To learn more about Museum Day, call 631-585-9393 or visit www.mcplibrary.org.

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METRO photo
Looking to unleash the treasures gathering dust in your attic? Dive into the excitement of the Three Village Historical Society Annual Community Wide Yard & Antiques Sale! Get ready for a day of epic bargains and community vibes as the grounds of the Three Village Historical Society are transformed into a bustling marketplace.
Join the Society on Saturday, May 18th, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 93 N. Country Road in East Setauket, where the Three Village community will come alive with sellers offering everything from vintage gems to household treasures.
Grab a spot to showcase your goods – whether it’s that quirky lamp you’ve been meaning to part with or a collection of antique knick-knacks. Each 10 x 10 space is up for grabs at just $35 for TVHS members or $50 for non-members.
But wait, there’s more! As a vendor, you’re the star of the show, responsible for your own setup, sales, and cleanup. It’s your chance to shine and make some extra cash while clearing out your clutter. Ready to join the fun? Reserve your spot now at https://www.tvhs.org/yardsale and let the treasure hunt begin!

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Captain Edward R. Rhodes installs the first Three Village Historical Society historic house marker in 1964. Photo courtesy of TVHS

By Kimberly Phyfe

As you travel throughout the Three Village area, you might notice houses quietly boasting white signs with blue writing on them. These markers are adorned with Setauket-built sloop The Daisy and perhaps the names of original home owners. They are an indication that something special is happening here, and it’s about to get even better!

Sixty years ago, one of the first projects the Three Village Historical Society (TVHS) took on was marking the homes of ship captains and ship builders in the Three Village area. To commemorate their 60th anniversary, they are embarking on a new leg of that journey with the re-imagined Historic House Marker program — and everyone is invited!

A historical marker was presented for the Nehemiah Hand House on Bayview Avenue in East Setauket. Photo from TVHS

“In honoring six decades of dedication, reflection, and growth, we commence an initiative close to our hearts: ’60 for 60.’  This updated version serves as a revival of our esteemed Historical House Markers program, a pioneering endeavor initiated by Captain Rhodes, a founding member of our Society,” says TVHS Director Mari Irizarry. “The Historical House Markers program pays tribute to the cherished residences, remarkable individuals, and pivotal events that have shaped the very fabric of our community over centuries.  Each marker unveiled becomes a beacon of remembrance, a testament to the resilience and spirit of those who came before us.”

This is not only the first project undertaken by the Three Village Historical Society back in 1964, but it reflects what the Society considers one of its most important ideas, that “it regards the entire Three Village area as its museum; the homes, the people and the natural environment as its collection; and the homeowners as its curators.” (Three Village Guidebook, 1986)

The new TVHS house marker mock up.

Scott Ferrara, Exhibits & Collections Coordinator at TVHS, is leading the committee on the revamping of the Historic House Marker program. He noted that “if you drive around the Three Village area, you see a lot of historic homes. However, only some are marked with the iconic white historic house marker, but even those are sun-faded, have cracked paint, and are well worn. They need to be updated and replaced. It’s about time this program is revived. This committee has been formed to bring back this program and offer updated information and materials to the stewards of historical homes in the area.” 

Ferrara says that the program will also include research packets about each of the homes, digital and printed copies of the findings, and photographs, deeds, or documents pertaining to the property found in the TVHS archives. The Society is also happy to teach willing home owners how to do research on their own, and what resources are available to them to find out more about the historic houses they live in.

Why empower home owners to do their own digging? TVHS Historian Beverly C. Tyler believes “many homeowners in the Three Village community are ready to embrace the idea that they are — together with many others — the curators of their homes, and that they wish to understand everything that gives their home its special significance.”

TVHS Education Coordinator Lindsey Steward-Goldberg “hopes this new version of the program will continue to inspire owners of historic houses to learn more about not only the history of their house but also how that history of the house fits into the historic narrative of Three Village as a whole.”

A house marker presented for 40 Main Street in Stony Brook in 1997. Photo from TVHS

Perhaps best known as the birthplace of the Culper Spy Ring and the heart of the Washington Spy Trail, the Three Villages are a popular destination both for tourists and local Long Islanders looking to connect to their roots. Margo Arceri of Tri-Spy Tours uses the homes with historic markers as a reference point on her walking, biking, and kayak tours throughout the area. Arceri loves the fact that “since our town was founded in 1655, there was at last count over 75 pre-Revolutionary homes still in existence in the Three Village area. That’s an incredibly special part of our story that not many other places can say. Our community is full of homes belonging to spies, ship builders, philanthropists, educators, and business owners — those are the true artifacts of our living museum!”

So why is the Society bringing back the Historic House Marker program now? Tyler is determined that “while celebrating the Society’s 60th anniversary, there is no better time to work within the community to emphasize the importance of maintaining and celebrating the homes in the Three Village area which make a significant contribution to the quality of life here.”

There are a few simple qualifications such as: the house must be at least 60 years old and be connected to an historic event or an individual, or have architectural significance. Starting April 1, home owners can see if their houses are eligible with a quick screening on the Society’s website: www.tvhs.org

Irizarry hopes to get at least 60 historic homes to qualify for the markers this year. “As we embark on this journey of reflection and celebration, we invite our community to join us in commemorating this significant milestone. Together, let us honor our past, celebrate our present, and pave the way for a future rich in history and heritage.”

Author Kimberly Phyfe is the Communications Engagement Manager at the Three Village Historical Society.

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Chocology’s Linda Johnson shares insights on savoring chocolate akin to tasting wine. Chocology’s Linda Johnson shares insights on savoring chocolate akin to tasting wine. Photo by Rob Pellegrino

By Mallie Jane Kim

Do you scarf chocolate or savor it? According to chocolatier Linda Johnson, tasting chocolate is akin to tasting wine: Take small bites and let the flavor develop in your mouth. 

“That started for me 10 years ago when I would see people just pack chocolate into their mouth and swallow it and say, ‘Oh, that was good,’” Johnson told the 30 attendees at a Three Village Historical Society tea hosted by the Reboli Center for Art and History in Stony Brook on March 11. “I was like, ‘Wait a minute, it took me two days to make that.’”

Linda Johnson, owner of Chocology in Stony Brook. Photo courtesy Three Village Historical Society

In the sunlit art-lined Reboli Center, Johnson, who owns Chocology in Stony Brook, shared that her appreciation of chocolate springs from her knowledge of cacao’s rich history, from its position as a sacred tree and a currency among the Mayan and Aztec people through its evolution as a sweetened treat in Europe and to the “bean to bar” movement toward quality ingredients and good, child-labor-free processing today. She punctuated her presentation with delicious tastes of various high-quality chocolates from around the world.

Tea with a Spot of History has traditionally been held in the historical society’s cozy circa 1805 homestead on North Country Road in East Setauket, but according to TVHS community engagement manager Kimberly Phyfe, taking the event on the road allows for more attendees and solidifies partnerships among aligned organizations around the Three Village area. 

“Going on the road is a win-win-win,” Phyfe said. “It’s a win for us as the historical society, for our community partners and also for our presenters.”

Phyfe pointed out that several attendees were hearing about Johnson’s shop for the first time, and also that many people were browsing and making purchases from the Reboli Center gift shop. 

“Everybody wins, and that’s what we’re about,” Phyfe said. “We look at the whole community as our living museum.”

The Reboli Center hosted the Tea with a Spot of History on March 11. Photo courtesy Three Village Historical Society

For its next on-the-road installment, Tea with a Spot of History will visit The Long Island Museum on April 5 to celebrate the history of quilting with the Smithtown Stitchers, and Phyfe said she is in talks with other area venues to secure two other teas to round out the spring.

The tea events, in contrast with the more formal lecture series THVS holds at The Setauket Neighborhood House, are a chance for people to sit elbow to elbow, learn a bit of history interactively — and with some tasty treats. Phyfe said the teas used to draw mainly retirees, but have started to also attract others looking for “bite-sized infotainment” during a weekday, from stay-at-home parents to remote workers to those who are able to take a long lunch.

One attendee, Bianca Dresch of Stony Brook, volunteers for TVHS with her husband Dan, but can’t usually attend weekday activities due to work. Both found this event irresistible. “I try to attend whenever something grabs our attention — I saw this combination with the chocolate and Reboli, and I thought, ‘Oh, we’ve got to do this,’” she said. 

Teagoer Bonnie Dunbar of East Setauket does usually attend the teas and found the new venue refreshing: “It’s a nice way to get to know what’s around the neighborhood.”

Dunbar said the event piqued her interest in the history of chocolate, and she would have preferred to focus even more on that history. As for the tasters? Those left her satisfied. 

“I like the idea of putting the chocolate on your tongue and letting it melt, instead of gobbling it down like I usually do when I eat chocolate,” she said.

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Greg Philipps

Last week, the Three Village Historical Society (TVHS) celebrated the inauguration of its 2024 board of trustees with a swearing-in ceremony. The event, held on Tuesday, February 13th, marked the official introduction of the newly appointed leadership team.

Bob Lauto

Greg Philipps, assuming the role of president, and Bob Lauto, taking on the position of vice president, were both sworn in during the ceremony. The honor of administering the oath fell to Fred Bryant, a respected longtime member and former trustee of the Society.

Mari Irizarry, Director of the society, expressed enthusiasm for the new trustees, citing their diverse backgrounds and wealth of experience. She underscored their capacity to provide strong leadership and varied perspectives crucial for addressing the significant challenges and opportunities facing the organization in the coming year.

“As we welcome Greg Philipps and Bob Lauto to their respective roles, we are invigorated by the fresh energy and expertise they bring to our board,” remarked Irizarry. “Their appointment enhances our ability to navigate the complex landscape ahead, ensuring that we uphold our commitment to excellence in education and community-based programming.”

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A sign on the TVHS property shows a rendering of the exhibit and education center. Photo by Raymond Janis

By Mallie Jane Kim

Setauket’s historic district shouldn’t be marked by a bright-blue-wrapped, half-finished barn for much longer, as the Three Village Historical Society plans to start working in earnest on the Dominick-Crawford Barn Education and History Center just as soon as the weather thaws and their supply orders come in. 

“You’re going to see a lot going on in the spring,” said Steve Hintze, who has been on the TVHS barn committee since its inception. “We ran into roadblocks, which seems to be par for the course, but now we’re ready and have everything set to really start moving.”

The society raised the barn exterior quickly last year, only to stall in the fall due to design changes that needed assessment by the Historic District Advisory Committee, a citizen group appointed by Brookhaven Town Board to advise the planning commissioner on changes in historical districts. 

The committee recommended adjustments to the society’s altered plans, including to the spacing of seams on the metal roof as well as to the color of the exterior, according to Hintze, who was TVHS president when the society began the barn process in 2014. Hintze added that some of the proposed changes were due to cost increases after the COVID-19 pandemic. The society moved toward less expensive but still historically-accurate materials, and away from a pricey cedar roof and particular windows that had shot up in cost. 

“We had enough money to get everything done before the pandemic,” he said. “Due to the pandemic, the cost doubled — flat out doubled.”

This start-and-stop rhythm has been nothing new to the TVHS barn project, which ran into roadblocks from the beginning. The society took down the original 1840s barn from its location in Old Field in 2014, with plans to use the wood to reconstruct a historic barn structure within a commercial shell that could host exhibits and events. According to Hintze, in the process of seeking permits with the Town of Brookhaven, the society learned their building lacked an appropriate Certificate of Occupancy, an issue he said was left over from the previous owner, and there were several past clerical errors that needed ironing out. 

“So once we started the project, we immediately started moving forward and then had to slow down,” Hintze said. “Then we move forward and then slow down. So that was the beginning of the barn taking a while to get accomplished.”

Then in 2022, someone cut and stole some key pieces of the original barn wood — including the longest piece. To solve that, the society has additional same-period wood coming from other places locally and from around New York state. 

One design sticking point is whether the society can use the high-density engineered wood LP SmartSide siding on the outside structure, which requires less labor and comes with a 50-year guarantee, or whether they need to use historically-accurate siding material like cedar or pine. Hintze said the society would like to consider long-term costs in maintaining the barn, with a material he said is indistinguishable in appearance from classic wood and far more resistant to bad weather, woodpeckers and other wood-destroying creatures. 

But some TVHS board members and members of the HDAC have been hesitant, if not against using the material. Town councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook), who is familiar with the arguments for and against LP siding on the barn, explained the hesitancy comes from those concerned about historical accuracy — much like a Model T car club using modern materials to restore historic vehicles. 

“If you get leaders in who say, ‘Hey, what if we put a Honda engine in the Model T, or fiberglass siding, or maybe air conditioning to be more comfortable,’ at some point, you’re not the Model T car club anymore,” the councilmember said.

Kornreich added that a decision about siding material is a big deal because Setauket’s historic district is one of the strictest in Suffolk County. If LP is allowed there, the door opens for it to be used in other historical applications.

But that reason is one TVHS leaders see as a possible plus, opening the door for forward-looking materials in historical contexts. “There’s something to be said about the historical society being able to set a standard, if we’re using these other materials, let’s use the very best of it,” explained society director Mari Irizarry. “Solar panels weren’t approved in the historic district for years, and now they are.”

Hintze said any debate surrounding LP siding shouldn’t slow down the barn building, and added that they are open to cedar if that will get the barn project finished. “It’s not structural — it’s the last thing that goes up,” Hintze said. “It really is something that can come down to the wire.”

In the meantime, the $300,000 JumpSMART grant the society recently received from Suffolk County will help move construction forward, and TVHS community engagement manager Kimberly Phyfe is planning to ramp up fundraising efforts in coming months. “We still have a little ways to go in terms of fundraising and grant writing,” she said, adding that she is hoping the barn will be ready to host visitors by the society’s annual Candlelight House Tour this December.

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