Old Huntington Green

Here’s a detailed history of Old Huntington Green on Long Island, tracing its evolution from a 17th-century town common to the carefully preserved historic district it is today.

🌳 Origins and Early History (1653–1739)

• Town Common Designation: Huntington's “Town Green” was set aside as communal land shortly after the settlement of the town in 1653, serving as a central gathering space for residents. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

• Encroachment Issues: By the 1730s, neighboring landowners had encroached on the Green. In 1739, Thomas Wickes Jr. deeded back his parcel—partly reclaimed after initially occupying it—thus restoring the rectangular piece along Park Avenue. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

🏛️ Historic District and Settlement Architecture

• Core Settlement Period Buildings: The district includes seven of eight dwellings dating to the original settlement period, built between 1653 and the mid-19th century. [en.wikipedia.org], [livingplaces.com]

• National Register Recognition: In 1985, the area was entered into the National Register of Historic Places as the Old Town Green Historic District, covering about 14 acres along Park Avenue (between New York Ave and Woodhull Road). [en.wikipedia.org], [heritageindex.org]

🛠️ Decline and Early 20th-Century Encroachments

• Neglect in the 1920s: By 1924, the Green had become swampy and littered—referred to as "an unhealthy looking, swampy, mosquito breeding marsh" with broken-down trees and even a discarded Ford car. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

🏛️ 1930s Revival & Civic Engagement

• Florence Baker’s Leadership: At the dawn of the Great Depression, Florence Baker, chair of the Huntington Roadside Committee, rallied prominent residents (including Marshall Field, Henry Cannon, and others) to revitalize and beautify the Green. Their efforts included litter removal, clearing brush, and removing illegal signage. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

• Forming the Committee on the Preservation of Old Huntington: This group petitioned for cleanup, created jobs, and reclaimed the Town Common, fighting further encroachment. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

🔍 Land Acquisition and Green Expansion (1930s–1950s)

• North Meadow Addition: In 1932, Henry Cannon’s widow donated her late husband’s former tract (later known as the North Meadow) to the town as a permanently protected park. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

• Concealed Property Purchases: Between 1938 and 1954, the Old Huntington Green Association quietly acquired several private lots—including those on Sabbath Day Path—through intermediaries and bank channels. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

  • 1938: Stratford lots purchased from Frank Patterson and Alice Gardiner.

  • 1941: Acquired William Jenkins’s property via tax lien.

  • 1952–1954: Final lot secured from Mrs. Ingersoll. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

• Public Gift to Town: In 1957, roughly 1.62 acres of combined property were gifted to Huntington for use as public parkland. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

🏛️ Demolition, Restoration & Public Planning

• Removing Intrusive Homes: The Association acquired and demolished several homes on Sabbath Day Path between the 1950s and the 1970s, eventually transferring vacant lots to the town. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

• Historic Structure Mapping: In 1937, a survey identified 32 historic houses in the valley from the Green to the harbor. Architect Lester B. Pope (Pratt Institute) commented it was “one of the most unique historic areas… on Long Island”. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

• Master Landscape Plan: In 1939, a master plan by landscape architect Armistead F. Brinkerhoff was proposed—envisioning a Colonial Williamsburg–style historic corridor, though cost estimates (~$1 million) limited its full realization. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

🏺 Continued Preservation & Expansion

• Landmark District Creation: In 1980, the Huntington Town Board formally designated the Old Huntington Green Historic District to protect its historic architecture. [huntington...istory.com], [en.wikipedia.org]

• Heritage Trail & Open Space Protections: In 2001, residents rallied to prevent development of steep woodlands south of Park Avenue, leading to acquisition of these lands under the town’s Environmental Open Space and Park Fund and creating the Huntington Heritage Trail. [huntington...istory.com]

• Park Avenue Dairy Acquisition: A key 7.2-acre parcel, including historic structures from the 17th–20th centuries and a 1915 dairy barn and silo, was secured by the town in the early 2010s. [huntington...istory.com]

• Relocation of Historic Homes: E.g., the 1790 Chichester House was moved to Sunny Pond Farm alongside other period structures to create a preserved office campus near the Green. [huntington...istory.com]

🪧 Markers & Public Recognition

• Historical Marker: A sign at Park and New York Aves notes the Green’s origin as “Town Spot” founded in 1653; erected in 1980. [hmdb.org]

• Commemorative Fountain: Built in the mid-1960s near the Green, this memorial fountain incorporates original mill stones and honors Raymond Ingersoll. [huntington...ociety.org], [huntington...istory.com]

✅ Legacy & Community Impact Today

Old Huntington Green stands as a living testament to grassroots preservation—shaped by early civic engagement, strategic land acquisition, and thoughtful vision. From early settler buildings to Depression-era cleanups and historic landmark policies, the Green reflects more than 350 years of community stewardship and architectural heritage on Long Island.