Ward Melville was a complex man. Every day, we learn something new that he was a part of, or projects and actions he led. Among his projects were education, arts, historic preservation, housing developments, downtown redevelopment. Quality of life events, religious contributions, community involvement, and environmental issues were also his passion. To sum up all of his accomplishments and contributions in a paragraph is simply impossible. For a full list of his activity in the Three Village area, please see the attached document. Gloria Rocchio, shown above, is the current president of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization and continues his legacy. WARD MELVILLE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS EDUCATION Created Three Village Central School District Designed Main Street School, Mount School, Robert Cushman Murphy and Paul J. Gelinas Junior High Schools, and Ward Melville High School. He also donated the land to build schools. Lobbied New York State to move Teachers College University from its campus in Oyster Bay to Stony Brook, donating 600 acres between 1956-1958. This expansion enabled the transformation from Stony Brook as a college to the world-class research university we know today. In 1939, he created a 501 c 3 non-profit organization, the Stony Brook Community Fund (now the Ward Melville Heritage Organization) for protecting, preserving and interpreting historic and environmental properties to inspire interest in the arts and sciences. ARTS Mrs. Dorothy Melville was the leading force in the creation of the Long Island Museum. (Ward and Dorothy donated the Carriage Collection and William Sydney Mount Art Collection to the Museum). Renovated buildings to create the Long Island Museum. Created Dogwood Hollow an outdoor 2000 seat amphitheater behind Stony Brook Village Center. This summer concert series included such greats as Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Liberace and lasted eight (8) years. Donors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art including a collection of authentic Chinese textiles. HISTORIC PRESERVATION (Purchased all buildings related to the American Revolution) Restored Caroline Church, Setauket Restored Stony Brook Grist Mill ( c.1751)* Restored Brewster House, Setauket ( c.1665), oldest house in the Town of Brookhaven* Restored Thompson House, Setauket( c.1709)* Purchased and moved Austin Roe Tavern to save the house because of possible widening of Route 25A at the time, today known as the Washington Spy Trail (today the house is a private residence). Purchased and moved the Old Shinglesides, Setauket to save the house (now a private residence) Purchased and restored William Sydney Mount House (c. 1725)* *Indicates properties that are now owned by Ward Melville Heritage Organization 1 QUALITY OF LIFE FEATURES In 1902 Frank Melville created Old Field Improvement Association which went on to become the Suffolk Improvement Company which funded the development of a plan for roads, houses, parks, and open spaces in Old Field South and Stony Brook. The company also funded the creation of the Old Field Club in 1929. Both Frank and Ward’s housing development projects of Old Field South, Setauket and Stony Brook are credited for the careful adherence to standards of ambience, aesthetics, and tradition by later company’s building designs in Stony Brook and Setauket. Ward Melville created and owned North Shore Horse Show Grounds until his death. He bequeathed it to the Ward Melville Heritage Organization in trust for the Long Island Museum. It was sold to Hugh Cassidy to continue as Horse Show grounds. Upon Mr. Cassidy’s death at 33 years of age, it was sold to the County of Suffolk. It is now known as Old Field Farm. Created, owned and left the Frank Melville Memorial Park to the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. Ward Melville Heritage Organization created a separate not-for-profit corporation and now is a separate entity. WMHO and its subsidiary organization now owns, maintains and preserves 42 properties. He owned and maintained Stony Brook Mill Pond (11 acres) and Upper Pond two (2) acres. Deeded them to the Ward Melville Heritage Organization in 1947. HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS (Ward Melville owned some 3,000 acres in this area). Built the following housing developments: 1. Hawkins Hill - Hawkins Road off Main Street, Stony Brook. 2. Long Hill - next to Stony Brook University on Stony Brook Road 3. Stony Brook Shores – Woodfield Road, Stony Brook DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT Rehabilitated downtown Stony Brook; moved or razed 35 buildings, many were moved several miles. This project is considered the first planned business community in the United States. Moved one million cubic yards of dirt to accomplish this feat. Moved shopkeepers from old village to new center. Last tenant opened on December 7, 1941. Stony Brook Village Center expanded twice. Inner court was created in 1986; and the Educational and Cultural Center was constructed in 2002. 2 RELIGIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS Ward & Dorothy Melville were long time supporters of Bethel AME Church. They made yearly financial contributions to the church between the 1940’s until Ward’s death in 1977. The Melville’s also made a major donation to help the church complete its expansion in the 1960’s. Having strong ties to Reverend Joseph McKenzie, Ward and Dorothy attended church services. A picture of Ward Melville hangs inside the church boardroom until this day. When a temple burned in Setauket he built or helped the congregation get re-established Gave parcels of land to each religious organization on Nicolls Road with covenants with strict guidelines that state they were to be used solely for religious purposes, otherwise parcels revert to WMHO. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT A lifetime member and was President of Saint Andrew’s Society in Manhattan 1948-1949, a non- profit whose mission is to help Scots in New York communities. Mr. Melville was a long-time supporter of Boy Scouts of America. Among his contributions to BSA included providing the BSA’s Suffolk County Council their original meeting space and headquarters on the 2nd floor of WMHO’s office building. In addition, Mr. Melville donated use of the North Shore Horse Show grounds, now known as Old Field Farm, for their annual jamboree. Melville’s commitment to BSA was recognized with the 1970 The Silver Antelope Award and the 1965 Distinguished Citizens Award. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Supported the Environmental Defense Fund when it began in 1967 and gave them free office space above the Stony Brook Post Office for two years. In 1960, there were plans by the Town of Brookhaven to dredge West Meadow Creek to create a marina. Ward Melville heeded the calls made by marine scientist, Doctor Erwin Ernst and ornithologist, Robert Cushman Murphy to put a stop to this. Melville bought all wetland parcels from private individuals (80+ acres) and created the West Meadow Creek Preserve. In addition, Melville moved a building there with classrooms for the purpose of marine science education. Upon his death the preserve was given to Ward Melville Heritage Organization. This is now the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Ernst Marine Conservation Center. SOCIAL ACTIVISM 3 Ward Melville is recorded to have supported the Women’s Suffrage Movement. According to the 2017 book on the subject, The Suffragents: How Women Used Men to Get the Vote, Ward Melville, said the following: We feel the vote is a right…that no man has a right to set himself upon a pinnacle….Who has said to him that he is by nature the superior and the governor of his mate? Melville would end up riding to Washington, D.C. for a rally to support the vote. 4 .