Mary E. Bell House
Here’s a comprehensive history of the Mary E. Bell House in Center Moriches, Long Island:
🏡 Origins and Construction
Built around 1872 by Selah W. Smith, a farmhand from Huntington, NY, on land he purchased. He and his wife Mary Ann (a laundress) lived there with their five daughters: Alice, Ada, Ida, Mary E., and Hannah
The home is located at 66 Railroad Avenue, just south of the Long Island Rail Road
Family Life & Expansion
By 1880, the house saw expansion—likely to support Mary E.’s growing laundry business—and included a garden to the north
Role in African‑American Community
Located near the AME Church, the Smiths walked down the block to worship. After the church’s pastor Abraham Perdue died in 1888, Mary E. Smith (later Mary E. Bell) and Annie Arch helped sustain the congregation
In 1895, Mary E. married Ernest Bell of North Carolina; by 1900, the Bells and their children—Ethel, Alice, and Lillian—were the primary residents
Women’s Leadership & Church Evolution
Mary E. Bell became active in the Varick Christian Endeavor Society, part of the AME Zion denomination founded in 1896. This group promoted youth education, social activism, and allowed leadership roles for women
In 1897, the local AME congregation officially became African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ), embracing women’s ordination and leadership
Mary E. hosted prayer meetings at her home and led youth activities. After her death on February 17, 1923, the congregation renamed itself the Bell AMEZ Church in her honor
Later History & Preservation
The house remained in the Bell family until the 1990s; upon the death of daughter Alice in 1996, the property changed hands and faced possible demolition in 2009
Brookhaven Town purchased and protected it. It was designated a local landmark in 2015
Restoration & Recognition
In 2013, the Ketcham Inn Foundation began stewarding the property
By May 22, 2019, they hosted a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony
It received a New York State Register designation on October 23, 2020, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 2020
On December 30, 2020, it earned the NY State Historic Preservation Award
In 2021, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation installed a National Register plaque
Community Engagement & Legacy
Since restoration, the house serves as a museum, hosting annual Juneteenth events each June (2019–2025) and other cultural activities
It continues to highlight local Black history: featured in News 12’s “Long Island’s Hidden Past” series and honored among Newsday’s 10 Historic Sites to Visit in February 2023
The Mary E. Bell House not only represents a 19th-century African-American family's resilience and entrepreneurship but also reflects the vital role of women in religious leadership and community formation. Its preservation serves as a testament to local and national efforts to honor this legacy.
