MAY 31, 2018 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A5
PERSPECTIVES
Preserving local history amid revitalization project ARTHUR GREENE JACK SMITH
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I like to see Terryville, Port Jefferson Station and the a man proud of the place in which he lives.” surrounding communities such as Echo were Our community has a lot to offer its resi- a thriving agricultural region producing dents to make us proud of where we live. crops such as cauliflower, strawberries and Affordable housing; a first-class, modern turnips. It also had several dairy farms, infire department; a great school district; and cluding Buttercup Dairy of Terryville, which a wonderful, vibrant library all enhance our was once considered one of the finest dairies lives. Medical care is abundantly available in Suffolk County. Serving this agricultural with three hospitals within a few miles of industry was the all-important E. H. Rogers each other, as well as a respected community Feed Mill, built in 1908, which still stands college and a renowned university. Our loca- today on the south side of the tracks oppotion, with its many converging roads, attracts site the railroad station. This mill complex many businesses that contribute to the local included a still-existing rail spur and the economy. A railroad station makes traveling adjacent Costigan building, which was origiinto New York City convenient. Cumsewogue nally built as a storehouse in 1922. This feed (the original spelling) means the place where and grain mill was an integral component of many paths meet. our agricultural community, providing necAnother asset we possess is our rich and essary and vital products, not just to the rediverse history. A lot of people don’t think of gion’s farmers and dairymen, but also to the our community as having much of a histori- general population. In 1925 Elwin H. Rogers cal past, but often hiding in plain sight are bought out the Hicksville Implement Co. the remnants of a past that included inven“This addition to Mr. Rogers’ already tors, innovators, entrepreneurs, important large business in farmers’ supplies gives him business owners and hardworking farmers, one of the largest organizations of its kind on dairymen and tradesmen. Long Island,” read a Dec. 24, The Finley Robertson 1925, article in The Port JefPorter automobile was manferson Echo newspaper. ufactured in Port Jefferson This purchase made Station at the Loper Brothhim a major retailer of ers factory located south and farm implements, as well west of the current railroad as feed, grain, fertilizer and station. The FRP was conhardware. In 1929 Rogers sidered “America’s foremost sold the business to Morris pleasure car” in 1915 and Remz. In partnership with was one of the most expenhis brother, the Remz Brothsive cars made in that era. It ers continued to operate, is also one of the rarest autos selling feed, grain, flour and of the pre-World War I autofarm implements, but exmobile age. In addition to panded their business with a the FRP, the ONLY (only one far-flung customer base that cylinder) was also manufacincluded almost every state tured in Port Jefferson Stain the union. A partial list BY JACK SMITH tion. This unusual auto, with of their customers obtained its massive single cylinder, from the company’s original illustrated the innovation ledgers included the U.S. and experimentation going on in the nation’s Department of Agriculture, Brookhaven Nanascent automobile manufacturing industry. tional Laboratory, Washburn-Crosby (later How many communities can boast of having General Mills), Land O’Lakes creameries and had an important automobile manufacturing Sam Walton of Walmart fame. center in their midst? It is something to be Our historical buildings are important to proud of. us, yet all are likely imperiled with demoliWhen the auto factory ceased opera- tion due to the proposed revitalization of tions in 1921, the Thomas Wilson & Com- the area around the railroad station. The pany Lace Mill began operations at the site. hub project will create construction jobs and The company started in 1839 in Manhattan add business to the local economy. However, and was considered the oldest lace house the revitalization should not come at the exin the country. The Port Jefferson Station pense of our historical buildings. Our history mill employed about 300 people, making it deserves to be preserved and certainly rethe largest employer in the community at spected. It should not be disregarded as unthat time and was the first lace company important enough to be obliterated by a bullto offer its employees a pension plan. Em- dozer. The Rogers/Remz Feed Mill and the ployee longevity was high with 90 work- adjacent Costigan building, in particular, are ers receiving awards for 30 years of service slated for demolition by the developer. These each. The company also built 30 quaint buildings, which are still structurally sound and well-built homes adjacent to the mill and built to strong standards, are potent for worker housing. symbols of our important agrarian heritage. In addition to manufacturing lace prodSuffolk County Legislator Sara Anker (Ducts, lingerie and knitted fabrics, the mill Mount Sinai) told Newsday in April “once played an important role in WWII by manu- you lose a historic structure … a valuable facturing parachutes, mosquito netting and part of history is gone forever. We need to do camouflage netting. The Thomas Wilson everything we can to preserve these historic Lace Company also played a role in the NASA homes. They are the legacy of Long Island.” space program by making the leotards used This idea also applies just as strongly to these by the astronauts to minimize vascular prob- commercial buildings. They are just as imlems during reentry. This is something else to portant as an old house and just as important be proud of in Port Jefferson Station. to the legacy of Long Island.
Your turn
Top, a photo of the E. H. Rogers Feed Mill in Port Jefferson Station circa 1910, and above, a present day view of the building, which is a law office. Sarah Kautz, preservation director for the not-for-profit Preservation Long Island, stated, “These buildings can be given new life with adaptive reuse. Rehabilitation is more productive for the community because it brings in local craftsmen to do the work, thus keeping the money local.” These buildings are not an impediment to the revitalization of the area. They can and should be an integral part of the redevelopment. In addition, they occupy a very small footprint of the entire project. Lee Koppelman, former Suffolk County planner and professor at Stony Brook University, from a letter in support of the PJS hub project stated in a June 8, 2017, story in The Port Times Record, “The overall goal sought for the corridor is to achieve improvements that will transform this core of the hamlet into a destination center with improved, coordinated architecture design; safe walkable ambience; and the preservation of historic sites.” There is no need to destroy these historical structures or any of the others nearby. They can be and should be incorporated into the master plan for the area. To do otherwise is disrespectful to the value of our community’s history and to its citizens. It also ignores the findings of a hub study in which 82 percent of the respondents said they wanted to see a historic-looking downtown area. It is not progress if we keep destroying our past. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Edward Romaine (R), in an article in the Oct. 19, 2017, edition of The Port Times Record entitled “Town trying to turn blighted
homes into renovation projects” said, “Many of the homes on our vacant and abandoned list are in good shape and with some renovation, could be made habitable again. This proposal would generate construction jobs. … It also will improve the quality of life in the neighborhood and increase property values.” This concept makes great sense and can and should be applied to the Rogers/Remz and Costigan buildings. It makes sense both economically and historically. I think it is safe to say that most of us who live here have come here from elsewhere, but that is not so for our children. They were born here. This is where their roots are. This is their history and it should be kept for their sake. It gives them a sense of place knowing that others have come before them and through hard work and ingenuity accomplished important things. We have a history in our community to be proud of and it is worthy of preservation. Mrs. Miriam Remz, the sister-in-law of Morris Remz, in a letter to the Cumsewogue Historical Society, wrote, “Hope you are successful in preserving it [the Rogers/Remz building] as a historical structure of Comsewogue.” Help us save our past. Write or call your elected officials and let them know that we are proud of our history. It is important to us and should be respected and saved for future generations. It is a worthwhile endeavor that will pay dividends far into the future. Jack Smith is president of the Cumsewogue Historical Society.