Properties Owned by WMHO
WMHO owns and manages a diverse portfolio of historic landmarks, cultural institutions, and environmentally sensitive properties, including:

• Brewster House (c. 1665) – State & National Registers of Historic Places
• Thompson House (c. 1710) – State & National Registers of Historic Places
• Stony Brook Grist Mill (c. 1751) – State & National Registers of Historic Places
• Hercules (c. 1820)
• The Polaris Whaleboat
• The Stony Brook Village Eagle
• Jennie Melville Memorial Green
• Ernst Marine Conservation Center & 88-Acre Wetlands Preserve
• T. Bayles Minuse Mill Pond Park (11 acres) and Upper Pond (2 acres)

Properties owned but not operated by The WMHO:

(Owned by The WMHO and leased for $1 per year in support of public benefit and programming)

• Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame
• The Jazz Loft
• Three Village Society for Lending Aids to the Sick
• The Long Island Museum Grounds and Buildings including Hawkins-Mount House (c. 1725)

Who Was Ward Melville?

Ward Melville’s lifelong commitment to preservation, planning, and community began with his parents, Frank and Jennie Melville, who discovered Stony Brook by chance. Falling in love with the town’s character, the Melvilles became deeply involved in local civic life and conservation efforts during the Great Depression.

Succeeding his father as president of the Melville Shoe Corporation (The third largest retail company in the United States), Ward joined in his parents’ passion for history, conservation and economic development. Inspired by his parents’ vision, Ward Melville—alongside his wife Dorothy—set out to transform the area through thoughtful planning and preservation. In 1939, Ward began restoring historic buildings and renamed the Old Hallock Homestead the Three Village Inn. Dorothy co-founded the Suffolk Museum, now known as The Long Island Museum.  Realizing the scale of their goal to preserve and maintain historic Stony Brook, Ward created a not-for-profit corporation, the Stony Brook Community Fund in 1939, now known as The Ward Melville Heritage Organization.

Ward Melville’s dream was to create a “living Williamsburg”. He envisioned a colonial-style village that would breathe new life into the area. Seeking community cooperation, Ward hosted a dinner at the Three Village Inn on January 19, 1940. He presented his plans, designed by close friend and architect Richard Haviland Smythe, which included rehabilitating Stony Brook and building a crescent-shaped Village Center with connected shops grouped around a federalist-style post office.

With a majority approval by the local people, the venture began at Ward Melville’s own personal expense. He relocated, demolished, or modified some thirty-five buildings in the downtown area.

On July 4th,1941, Melville held a dedication for Stony Brook Village Center. It was recognized as the first planned shopping center in the United States. The rest of the rehabilitation of Stony Brook took five years.

Ward and Dorothy’s philanthropy continued throughout their lives, leaving a lasting impact on Long Island’s cultural, historic, and environmental landscape.

WMHO Today

Today, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization continues the Melvilles’ vision through preservation and educational programming.

WMHO enhances and interprets its properties by creating educational and cultural experiences that connect history with art, music, science, and technology. The organization offers year-round programming, including:

• Free public events and festivals
• WMHO Youth Corps initiatives
• Educational programming in history and the environment
• Lifelong learning opportunities

Through innovative distance-learning technology, WMHO programs reach audiences well beyond Long Island, connecting museums, schools, and cultural institutions around the world.

Eagle Realty Holdings, Inc.

In 1991, the Stony Brook Community Fund restructured its operations to better manage its growing scope and responsibilities. As part of this effort, Eagle Realty Holdings, Inc. was established to own and maintain income-producing and taxable properties, including Stony Brook Village Center, ensuring long-term sustainability while supporting WMHO’s nonprofit mission.

Is the Ward Melville Heritage Organization a government entity?

No. WMHO is a private not-for-profit organization and is not a government entity. For municipal matters, please contact your local government.