Comment: In 1946, South Haven was dominated by the Robinson duck farm (Ref. ID SH04). This aerial view is looking south. The Carman's River is in the upper left corner. The Long Island Rail Road crosses east to west at the south of the farm, and there was a siding for shipping the ducks. The duck runs are at the left. South of the rail road was the Wertheim property, which was to become the initial parcel in the Wildlife Refuge in 1948 (Ref. ID SH01A). They also owned the narrow strip of land east (left) of the duck runs to the river.

The historic South Haven Presbyterian Church (Ref. ID 09A) which faces Montauk Highway was nearly surrounded by the farm. I'm told that the smell of the farm was nearly unbearable during much of the year, and that was one of the reasons which lead to the church being relocated a few miles west to a new setting in Brookhaven Hamlet. Fortunately, the congregation had acquired an alternate meeting house in the old Methodist Church in Brookhaven (Ref. ID Br29C) in the early 1940's, when the Methodists and Presbyterians consolidate their congregations and structures.

In April 1991 the site, including the core barns and out buildings, were acquired by Suffolk County via the Trust for Public Land.

Comment: This image uses Google Earth to get a satellite "perspective" view close to the 1946 aerial image above.

Many of the farm buildings are gone. The South Haven Church has been moved to Brookhaven Hamlet (a faint outline of the original footprint is still visible). While the tree line east of the duck runs has pushed west, the line of the original duck runs boundary is still visible. Overall, the site appears less wooded than in 1946.

Note that the satellite views were originally "plan" (i.e., essentially straight down) images; Google Earth uses interpolation techniques to simulate the perspective view, which leads to some distortion (but is remarkable, none the less).

Comment: This picture shows the South Haven Presbyterian Church and an adjacent dwelling in South Haven probably early 20th century. The dwelling is the Robinson-Miller House (Ref. ID SH05)

See Br09A for more pictures of the church building.

Comment: Montauk Highway (South Country Road) goes west--southwest at the top center of the picture. To the right is the original terminus of Horseblock Road before the construction of Sunrise Highway. The house in the upper right has been identified as the old Carman family homestead, inn and store. The larger 2-story section (east section) was torn down about 1936. The smaller 1 1/2-story section (west section) was eventually moved to Brookhaven Hamlet about 1950 and is now the Stirling-Clevidence House (Br37.01-S)

The Robinson farm is on the left side of Montauk Highway. Just out of the picture in the foreground would have been the location of the Carman's Mills. Most of the mill structures remained until the construction of the Sunrise Highway extension about 1958. What appears to be a cleared right-of-way from Montauk Highway south likely lead to the Mill dam and Mill.

Comment: At the upper right is the Carman's mill dam. The house in the foreground is likely the old Carman's homestead, inn and store.

Comment: South Country Road in South Haven, probably looking east and approximately at the location of the South Haven School (now called the South Haven Academy).

The Charles Carman noted on the post card is likely the Charles (1830-aft 1900) who was one of Samual Carman, Jr.'s sons. An 1873 map shows a C. Carman on the north side of South Country Rd., a short distance east of its intersection with Horse Block Rd. Charles Carman is recorded in the 1900 census and therefore still living at that time. The post card is dated 1905. Charles has not been found in the 1910 Census.

Comment: After carefully comparing this photograph with others, principally early photographs of the Carman homestead, inn and store in South Haven, I and others now believe that this photograph shows the South Country Rd. in South Haven looking east, probably early 20th century but after the advent of motorized vehicles.

The house to the left is likely the Carman homestead (SH02). The road to the left is likely Gerard Rd. leading north to Yaphank.

Comment: In this photograph, Montauk Highway is in the foreground and the Carman's River is to the left (east). The Gilbert Miller house is left of center (SH05). Slightly right of center is the Robinson House, moved to this location in 1958 from across Montauk Highway. This house is of relatively modern vintage, probably built in the 1940s-1950s. The barns are of the old Hard Estate, now owned by Ron Bush. The large barn now houses an excellent collection old farm implements and tools. The road at left leads to the former Robinson Duck Farm, now owned by Suffolk County.