A episode of “Talking History with the Town Clerk” was recorded March 16 at the Bellport Brookhaven Historical Museum, highlighting local heritage and preservation efforts in the Town of Brookhaven.
Town Clerk Kevin LaValle visited the museum alongside Town Historian Barbara Russell and museum director Trish Foley to film the segment, which will air on Channel 18, the town website, and social media platforms.
During the visit, LaValle toured the Barn Museum, a former turn-of-the-century livery stable that has been transformed into a two-story exhibit space. The building houses artifacts that illustrate centuries of life along Bellport Bay, including a rare 1696 whaling ledger, ship models, and handcrafted tools reflecting everyday life in earlier eras.
LaValle praised the site’s preservation efforts, noting that the museum offers residents and visitors a meaningful connection to the past through its wide range of exhibits.
The Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society, which operates the museum, was founded in 1958 as a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of Bellport, Brookhaven, and East Patchogue. Governed by a board of trustees and supported by more than 300 members, the organization maintains a campus of historic structures in the heart of Bellport.
The museum complex includes the Post-Crowell House, Boathouse, Blacksmith Shop, and Barn Museum, all located within a historically significant area. Parts of Brookhaven Hamlet are designated historic districts, and more than 80 Bellport Village homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Through exhibits, educational programs, and community outreach, the society continues to promote awareness of the region’s cultural heritage while encouraging preservation efforts.
Founded on land originally purchased from the Unkechaug Indians in 1664, the surrounding communities date back centuries, with Brookhaven Hamlet settled in 1681 and Bellport Village emerging in the early 1800s, underscoring the area's deep historical roots. The museum welcomes visitors year round.