History of a remarkable neighborhood in South Setauket moves toward further designation

A nonprofit preservation organization has taken the first step toward having a South Setauket community deeply rooted in African-American and Native American history designated as a New York State and eventually a national historic site.

The Higher Ground Inter-Cultural & Heritage Association last Thursday was awarded a $7,000 grant from the Preservation League of New York State to conduct a survey to determine if the designation is warranted.

"There aren't a lot of black communities on Long Island that have more than 200 years of history," said Robert Lewis, president of the association, in explaining why the designation is deserving.

The community has its roots in the 18th century when American Indians, dispossessed of other lands on Long Island, settled there.

They were followed by free African-Americans who lived around the Bethel AME Church and cemetery. Houses were built and community gardens started to provide food for families.

"As long as we're here, we're going to keep fighting. It has a lot of cultural history. A lot of early ancestors were slaves," Lewis said.

The historic district under study is about a half-mile long and is bound by Main Street and Mud Road. Archaeologists from Hofstra University have done digs at the site to help authenticate its past. They have found a range of artifacts, from fragments of dishes to buttons and pieces of Indian pipes.

SEE PHOTOS50 historic Long Island sites

Descendants of some of the first African-American families stayed in the area well into the 20th century.

This area in South Setauket was designated as a Brookhaven Town historical preservation site in June 2005.

The resource survey will consist of researching the history of the people who lived in the community, African-American and Native American, and will look at census data, genealogy, archival records and property titles to further flesh out the history, Lewis said.

The survey is a perquisite to the state designation and, eventually, the national designation.

"It would be a new beginning that would help to create the permanency of this historic district. It would mark a turning point," said Lewis, who has worked for more than 20 years to have the area recognized for its historic nature.

A Fulton, New York-based consulting firm will hire researchers to conduct the survey, which is expected to be completed by September of next year. The survey will then be submitted to the preservation league, which will make the final determination.

In Brookhaven, the history of the community has long been a source of pride.

"The Setauket community is the heart of Brookhaven. It's historically significant for a number of reasons," Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartright said.

Gregory Leonard, pastor of Bethel AME, which was established in October 1848, said the area has a history dating back to the pre-Revolutionary War period. He said Native Americans, African-Americans and European settlers who arrived in the 1600s worked together to survive and built relationships.

That history makes this community remarkable on Long Island where suburban growth has erased so much of the past.

Assemb. Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) said the area is "an extraordinary part of our heritage." He said all efforts should be made to ensure the rich history doesn't vanish.

Preservation officials said the grant was one of 14 awarded this year.