Howard Klein
Published: 2003-05
Total Pages: 0
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This guidebook has been published by the Three Village Historical Society as an introduction to the historic communities of Setauket, East Setauket and Stony Brook including the incorporated villages of Old Field and Poquott. The Three Village area is rich in history and fortunate to have much of its history intact. It includes four Town of Brookhaven Historic Districts, a long natural shoreline, a number of wetland areas, a few remaining farms, scattered woodlands and a section of the Long Island Pine Barrens. The homes reflect every period from the 1600's to the present; the new houses blending with their saltbox and Victorian counterparts. The Society does not maintain an historic house or an artifact collection to display and interpret to the general public. Instead, 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. To understand and appreciate the community setting involves somewhat the same attitude as it needed to fully enjoy fine paintings and art objects; artifacts in a history museum; or specimens in a natural science museum. The natural setting of the community has the advantage of being a living, constantly changing display. Each structure in the community has its own identity and history as well. Each style tells us something about a specific era. Rooflines, windows, porches, and many other details make each building unique and give diversity and interest to each area. Take a moment to look at details closely. Part of the appeal of our museum is the setting of each building. Fences, walks, barns, rock walls, bridges and the location of a house on its property are the man-made features that add to the setting. Trees, bushes, gardens and landscape features are the natural additions that help to unify an area. Woods, fields, streams, ponds, wetlands, hills and valleys are the environmental features that form an essential part of the historic fabric of the community. We hope you enjoy this guide to our historic Three Village area and that you will use it again as you explore the Three Village Museum.