By Mari Irizarry
The Three Village Historical Society and Museum (TVHS) hosted an intimate event on Monday, Oct. 14, to unveil the new National Register of Historic Places plaque at the Old Bethel AME Cemetery, located at the corner of Woodfield Road and Christian Avenue. The ceremony honored the tireless efforts of Vivian Nicholson-Mueller and Simira Tobias, who in 2017 successfully placed the Old Bethel Cemetery on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
TVHS has had the honor of working closely under the direction of Vivian and Simira, most recently in Oct. 2023, to restore and clean the historic cemetery. Their combined efforts culminated in securing grant funding for the installation of the National Register marker, generously provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
The Old Bethel Cemetery, dating back to at least 1848, marks the site of the first Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the region. A line of stones at the cemetery is believed to mark the foundation of the original church. Among the headstones are memorials to some of the African and Indigenous American founding families of the Three Village community, including Civil War veterans.
Forty-five guests attended the event, which began with an opening prayer by Reverend Lisa Williams of Bethel AME Church. A message from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation was shared and co-chairs of the Setalcott Nation, Helen Sells and Bob Thompson, were introduced to the event’s participants. The guest of honor, Vivian Nicholson-Mueller, shared heartfelt remarks, followed by words from Suffolk County Legislature member Steve Englebright, joined by local representatives Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Valerie Cartright and a representative from Ed Flood’s office.
The plaque unveiling was met with enthusiasm from all in attendance, and the event concluded with a closing prayer by Cheetra Wells of the Setalcott Nation.
For more information about this marker and the grant funder, please visit pomeroyfoundation.org.
Mari Irizarry is the director of the Three Village Historical Society and Museum.
