Hamlet History Club Wins Cemetery Court Case

On August 20, 2010, New York State Supreme Court Justice Melvyn Tanenbaum issued a decision in the Fire Place History Club's lawsuit against the Town of Brookhaven. His decision required the Town to maintain nine of the ten cemeteries in the Club's July 2009 petition. The 10th cemetery—the "Miller Cemetery"—he judged to still be "privately" owned.

Specifically he:
"ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the petition seeking a writ of mandamus is granted. Respondent [the Town of Brookhaven] is directed to provide the assets necessary to comply with the requirements of Town Law Section 291 for such nine cemeteries* within 90 days of service of a copy of this Judgment with notice of entry."

* Rose Family Cemetery, David Hawkins Cemetery, Nathaniel Hawkins Cemetery, South Haven Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Carman Family Cemetery, Hulse Cemetery, Corwin Family Cemetery, Azel Hawkins Cemetery, and Barteau Cemetery.

The full decision may be found here.

The members of the Fire Place History Club are meeting to determine their next steps.

Bellport High School Students Visit Wertheim Refuge and Robinson Farm

On Tuesday, March 31, 2009, students from the Bellport High School, accompanied by their teachers/advisors Andrew Budris and Dennis Pluth, were led on a "historical" tour of the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge and the Robinson Farm (now owned by Suffolk County).  The tour was let by Marty Van Lith, Brookhaven Village Association historian and Fire Place History Club convenor.  He was assisted by Jen Clements.

They first visited the  David Hawkins family burying ground off Old Barto Road on the old Hawkins farm.  They then continued hiking south on the Old Barto Road [picture], across the Long Island Railroad tracks to a Refuge road along the south side of the tracks to the old Homan farm road, then back north across the tracks to a trail east to the southeast field of the Robinson farm.  

After crossing the field, they visited the Carman/Miller family burying ground where Samual Carman, Sr. and family members are interred [picture].  

Afterwards they visited the old South Haven Presbyterian Church cemetery where John Deitz, and elder of the church and a member of the Fire Place History Club, talked of some of the people buried there [picture].

They then finished the tour at the former Hard estate/Robinson barn, where the current owner, Ron Bush, gave a tour of his extensive collection of old farm equipment [picture].