Frank Melville Park

A Brief History: Frank Melville Jr. and his wife Jennie Melville started a small humble business in 1892 called Melville shoes. After a few years and gaining much success they were able to continue their successes into Melville Shoe Company and with over 5,000 stores they eventually opened up more chain stores such as Thom McAn, CVS, and Marshalls. The Melville family often vacationed to Stony Brook and they ultimately built a home in Old field, called Sunwood.

            In 1937, Jennie Melville donated Frank Melville Memorial Park, built by her philanthropist son, Ward Melville.  Within the park, you can step back in history as you will see a Greek revival post office, a 20th century barn, Bates house (meeting house), a simulated gristmill, and the cottage of the last working miller. Surrounding the historical park is a collection old 17th, 18th, and 19th century homes, historic Caroline Church and Setauket Presbyterian church as well as Setauket Village Green. Located right across from the park is Patriots rock. The park was designed with the existing ponds filled with turtles, ducks, Geese, and fish. Native plants and trees surround the ponds in the park.

The 26-acre park has shared property with Abraham Woodhulls (Samuel Culper) potato farm. The patriots of the Culper spy ring would often give an exchange of information right in conscious bay located with in the outskirts of the nature trails of the park. Frank Melville Memorial Park was added to the National Register of Historic places on July 19, 2010. It is open year round to the public for nature walks, relaxation or just to step back in time for a while.

Haunted History: There have been claims of people hearing whispering when no one else is around.  There have also been claims to have seen a small sinister entity going back and forth down the trails in the woods.  We have personal encounters of seeing a gray figure of a man walk past the mill across the pathway into the bushes and vanish.  We have also captured multiple EVPs from this location.