The countdown to America’s 250th birthday brought a full house to the Manor of St. George as members of Suffolk County’s Anniversary Committee gathered at the historic estate overlooking Bellport Bay. “Our Colonial village was teeming with people interested in the Manor’s role in the founding of America,” said Manor representative John Scott Prudenti, who hosted the visit.
The committee’s tour highlighted the Manor’s early partnership with the Unkechaug Nation, its role in the American Revolution, and its ties to nearby landmarks such as the William Floyd Estate.
Unkechaug Chief Harry Wallace greeted attendees and emphasized the centuries-old relationship between the Nation and the Smith family, who founded the 127-acre Manor. “Our ancestors helped build this place—its farms, its fisheries, even its defense,” he said. “That partnership carried this whole peninsula forward, and it still guides us today.”
Wallace’s wife, master roaster Amy Wallace of Native Coffee Traders, supplied refreshments, serving her locally roasted Unkechaug coffee to the delighted crowd. “It’s more than a drink,” the Chief noted. “It’s part of who we are.”
Prudenti echoed the deep historic connection. “The success of the Smith family, and really the settling of this whole area, was only possible because of the Unkechaug skill set,” he said. He noted how Unkechaugs rescued members of the William Floyd family during the Revolution, ferrying them safely across the Sound as British troops approached.
“The Manor of St. George is yet another hidden gem in the Tri-Hamlet area,” said Legislator Jim Mazzarella. “I look forward to working cooperatively to increase programming and accessibility for our residents.”
Committee members also visited the Manor’s gunshop and trading post, where Native and Colonial artisans once worked side by side.
“The anniversary will be an excellent opportunity to highlight the Manor’s role in our nation’s history,” Prudenti said.