78 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2018
PRESS BUZZ: DESTINATIONS STONY BROOK:
BY BRENDAN MANLEY
Stony Brook, as well as the broader
area known as the Three Villages —
Stony Brook, Setauket and Old Field
— is a Long Island region deeply entrenched
in local history with a commitment
to preservation, boasting
a rich array of cultural attractions,
parks and event spaces, in a picturesque
setting that retains much of its
old-world colonial charm. Whether
your idea of a rewarding travel
excursion entails perusing museum
exhibits, enjoying the outdoors or experiencing
a great meal, Stony Brook
consistently delivers on all fronts,
while seemingly whisking you away
from the LI hustle and bustle.
First settled in the late 17th century,
Stony Brook and the Three Villages
have a long history associated with LI
agriculture and oceangoing life, later
playing a notable role in the American
Revolution, with spies from
George Washington’s Culper Ring
based in the area. Centuries later, local
business magnate Ward Melville
began transforming the Stony Brook
hamlet into his idea of an idyllic New
England community, starting in 1939
with the creation of his Stony Brook
Community Fund, which established
the white clapboard buildings and
quaint shops that still give downtown
much of its charm today.
PAST APPRECIATION
Start your journey into Stony
Brook’s rich cultural and historical
offerings with a trip to The Long
Island Museum (1200 Route 25A,
631-751-0066, longislandmuseum.
org), home of a vast collection of
American art, historical relics and LI
wildfowl decoy hunting memorabilia,
plus an unmatched trove of antique
carriages in its 40,000-square-foot
Carriage Museum. Just walking
around the museum’s sprawling
9-acre campus—beginning with the
Visitors Center/History Museum
located on the former site of the 19th
century Bayles Lumber Mill—will
transport you back in time. There
are three modern exhibition halls
and five historic buildings to explore,
including a one-room schoolhouse
and a blacksmith shop.
For more Stony Brook area
history, continue on to the Three
Village Historical Society (93 N.
Country Rd., Setauket, 631-751-3730,
threevillagehistoricalsociety.org),
which presents a range of public exhibits
at the society’s headquarters,
including displays pertaining to the
American Revolution and the Three
Villages’ special role in Washington’s
Culper Ring. Don’t miss the current
exhibition on nearby Chicken Hill,
a 19th century community of Native
Americans, African Americans and
European immigrants who worked in
the piano and rubber factories on the
hill. From the headquarters you can
also depart on some of the numerous
popular historical walking tours run
by the society.
Ward Melville’s impact on Stony
Brook’s cultural landscape can also
be appreciated at the WMHO Educational
and Cultural Center (97
Main St., Suite P, 631-689-5888, wmho.
org/education-cultural-center), an
8,800-square-foot multiuser facility
run by the Ward Melville Heritage
Organization that offers a wide variety
of events, exhibits and workshops
throughout the year. Annual summer
exhibits include “Celebrating Coney
The shops at Stony Brook Village Center have a New England vibe.
For a fantastic trip into the Island’s past,
paired with vibrant and dynamic modern-day
offerings, here are some must-do
Stony Brook area suggestions