Public Schools Established

At a meeting of the town trustees held 4 Jan. 1802, there was a petition presented by John Rose, Esq. and “signed by sd. John Rose, James Greenfield, Nathaniel Woodruff, Phineas Rose, Nathan Rose, Timothy Rose, Jonathan Howell &c. Praying or petitioning sd Trustee for the privilege of building a School house on the Highway between the House of the late Scudder Ketcham, dec’d (now Mr. Valentine’s place) and the lot of land owned by John Turner, so as not to interfere with the Road but to leave it four Rods wide on the east side of the School House, taking two Rods wide and four Rods long for sd privilege beginning Ten feet North of the School House — sd. Trustee do hereby grand the liberty to the Petitioners to set a School House in sd Place so as not to incumber the Road”.  This quotation, from the Town records, gives the first mention of a school house in Fire Place Neck.  As the school was not built until the following year — 1803, it would be 130 years ago that the first school was established here.  When the Town was divided into School Districts on 3 Nov. 1813, we find that District “No. 18 is to Embrace the Inhabitants West of fire place Mills as far West as Jeffrey Brewsters”.  In other words to begin at Connecticut River in South Haven and end at Osborn’s Brook.  On 12 May 1815, the district was divided and the South Haven district formed:  Fire Place being numbered 26.  On 24 Oct. 1842, it was renumbered, No. 29  In 1855, the district was divided when all lying west of Beaver Dam Creek to Osborn’s Brook was made into a new district and numbered 38.  Later on the number 38 was changed to 25.  On 28 Sept. 1874, Dist. No. 25 was abolished, a small slice given to Bellport and the greater part of it was given back to Dist. 29, the dividing line being Arter’s on the Hollow Road on the west, now known as “Belhaven Rd.”

The following excerpts taken from the old school clerk’s book are worth quoting regarding the school meeting held the third Tuesday in October 1815 in the school house “at Early Candle light”.  The meeting voted to raise by tax “One Hundred and seventy-five Dollars for to build a School House”.  In 1816, it was voted to “raise one Hundred and fifteen Dollars for to finish the school House” and that the school master should collect from each non resident pupil “25 Cents pr Quarter ———– to be paid before the Pupil enters the School”.  In 1855, a new location was bought “4 Rods on the road & running 5 Rods back for the sum of fifty dollars”.  This is the present site.  Also that year “a new schoolhouse 16 feet by 24 feet and 100 foot Posts” was voted to be built and to raise $350. for the building and for a suitable fence on the south and east of the lot.  The old school was sold at auction and brought $44.  In 1874, the building of 1855 became so small that another was voted for that year to cost $1000.  The belfry was voted for later at a special meeting.  The building continued in use until replaced by the present one in 1927, build (sic) at a cost of $40,000.

Churches Established

The old church in South Haven supplied the needs of all the territory for more than a century as that parish dates back to 1740, though the present building wasn’t dedicated until New Year’s Day 1829.  In 1848, a small Methodist church was build (sic) just about where Mr. Floyd Carman has recently built his new house—possibly a little to the east.  In 1872, it was removed to its present site and enlarged.  Until 1870, it was supplied in connection with Coram, when it was associated with Moriches and a few years later with Bellport.  I haven’t the date when it became an independent organization, but that date was probably about 1890 while Mr. Stockdale was the minister.

The Episcopal church began with services held in the dwelling of Charles Swezey, whose house stood on the corner now the Mr. Avery place, north east of the present church.  They were first conducted by the Rev. Charles Douglas.  In 1873, the present church building was erected at a cost of about $1,500. and St. James chosen as the patronal saint.  The ground on which it stands, was given by Mr. John L. Ireland from the north-west corner of his large farm, but I understand the property must be used only for an Episcopal church to hold the title.  The first regular minister was the Rev. I.N.W. Irvine who was also in charge of St. Andrew’s in Yaphank — the two churches being served jointly and connected almost continually until within the last few years.  I might add that in later years, Mr. Irvine left the Episcopal denomination and became a priest of the Russian Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church in America.

I thank you for bearing with me so long and patiently in presenting this article regarding your village, which only sketches an outline of the interesting history and it is my hope that someone can use the outline to build upon it so that a ral history of the place can be preserved to posterity.