Then & Now

Then & Now: Mount Sinai Congregational Church
233 N Country Rd, Mount Sinai, LI

Founded in 1789, the same year George Washington was inaugurated as President. On April 6, 1807, under the leadership of Rev. Noah Hallock, the members met and voted to build a new meeting house because the old one was in a state of disrepair. They authorized that a subscription paper be circulated throughout the parish to secure funds for this project. It was a great success, within 9 days the necessary amount had been subscribed, $1400. Construction by Thomas Bayles began on April 30, and the first service was held on December 3, 1807. The steeple, narthex, and front porch were added in1851.

Today, the Church is still a vibrant part of the community and the Historical Society is grateful to members for allowing meetings to take place there.

Then & Now: Miller Place Academy
197 North Country Rd. Miller Place, LI

The Academy was a private school established in 1834 to provide education for those willing to pay extra so their children could receive more than the basics provided by the local public school. One hundred shares were sold to members of the community. Students came from the local area and other parts of LI. As the shareholders were from the Congregational Church, they sought teachers from Yale University, a Congregational school at the time.

The Academy lasted until the 1860s. It has since been used as a public school, meeting place, polling place and library. It still owned by descendants of the original shareholders.

Then & Now: Hawkins House
111 North Country Rd, Miller Place, NY

In1810 Daniel Hawkins came from Setauket, where his descendants owned the house until the 1930s when it was sold to the McCaddin family of Brooklyn. In 1998, Linda and Arthur Calace purchased the house and generously donated this historic gem to the Historical Society. The Society has undertaken a major fund drive to finance the restoration of this historically significant building.

The Daniel Hawkins House will be used as an archival library and exhibition space, allowing the Society to use the William Miller house as a living museum.