Terry House, School House Get Clean Up

On the heels of a successful clean up of the Farmingville Hills County Park, volunteers gathered once again this Saturday to do a clean up of the Terry House and the Bald Hills Historic School House.

About 10 people showed up to help out, including Suffolk County Leg. Tom Muratore, who does his part in cleaning up Suffolk County by helping out in various clean ups around the county.

"I do a Portion Road clean up the first Saturday of every month," he said. "I also do a clean up on Boyle Road near Independence Plaza (in Selden), it keeps me busy every Saturday." 

Jennifer Ross, who ran the event, said their hope is for the Terry House to turn it into an art gallery or an old fashioned candy shop one day.

"I hope that in the future we can turn this space into something more," she said.

BJ Intini, the President of the Farmingville Historical Society, was also present on Saturday providing direction and assisting. She explained that Elijah Terry was the first schoolmaster in Farmingville. His house, which was originally located on the corner of Portion and College Roads, was moved to its present location when Portion Road was narrowed. The house has been reconstructed since then because it was burned down by vandals.

"Due to the relocation and reconstruction of the house, the Terry House can't be placed on national register, the schoolhouse, however, is," said Intini. "The current restoration of the house in preparation to have it open to the public is on hold until engineers decide how to bring the house up to code."

Looking to the future, Intini explained that the front room of the house will be used for changing exhibits; whether it be an art show, or a showing of a Civil War Collection or antique dolls.

The room that was formerly the kitchen will be restored to an 1820's kitchen. The house will also include a small gift shop, a handicap accessible public bathroom and meeting space for the Farmingville Historical Society with temporary furnishings so that they may be taken away to move room for any possible functions.

The schoolhouse was built in 1850 and still sits on its original foundation. The building is done in the style of Greek Revival. This is because education was considered to be a luxury at the time. The schoolhouse closed in 1929 when Waverly Avenue School was opened.

Intini added that a former teacher of the schoolhouse saved it by purchasing the building and then selling the shares to the families of former students. Since then, every year an annual picnic is held on the grounds and still continues today.

"We have pictures from many of these picnics and we hope to put them on display one day," she added.

She also said that they are currently in talks with Lynwood Avenue Elementary School to have the third or fourth graders come in and spend a day in school at the schoolhouse in the future. The schoolhouse will also be open on Community Day to the public for short tours.