Stewards push to preserve Walter S. Commerdinger Jr. house in Nesconset

Stewards of a 19th century Nesconset homestead on Suffolk park property say the county has let the home fall into disrepair since purchasing it nearly two decades ago.

The history of the Edgewood Avenue home dates back to the early 1800s. The structure, built in 1810, was originally owned by Isaac Smith and his family before it was passed on to Jacob Newton in 1816. The home had several owners through the years, including families such as the Hallocks, Blydenburghs and McCormicks, according to the preservation society that helps manage it. The homestead was later sold to Walter S. Commerdinger Jr. and his wife, Elva, in 1953.

A second-generation Nesconset resident, Commerdinger was prominent in local affairs, according to the county parks department's website. The home is in W.S. Commerdinger Jr. County Park. The county purchased the homestead in 2006.

Today, the house is in shambles. It is boarded up, and graffiti is sprayed across the front and back. It was recently vandalized, members of the W.S. Commerdinger Jr. County Park Preservation Society said. The inside also is in disrepair, with photos showing furniture knocked over and damage to the kitchen.

Standing near the home, Marie Gruick, a society member, said it's difficult to understand how the house was allowed to fall into such disrepair. Over the past several years, the society has sought county help, but to no avail, she said in an interview. 

“We thought [the county] would take care of it," Gruick said. “We wanted to use the house as a museum so the residents of the neighborhood could use it." 

Funding denied

On June 3, the Suffolk County Legislature rejected a request to borrow $400,000 to renovate the homestead. The funding would have fortified the roof, replaced windows, repaired the chimney and covered electrical upgrades and other improvements. The vote failed, with some legislators questioning the wisdom of funding a building with structural integrity issues.

Charles Bartha, Suffolk's commissioner of public works, said the building is beyond repair. He told legislators that the walls were too low, and bowing, and suggested razing the homestead and building a new one in its place.

“We do not believe it's structurally sound," Bartha said during the meeting.

After Legis. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) asked how much it would cost to tear down, Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) quipped, according to the meeting transcript: "I think the next big wind may take care of that."

Bartha said county employees did not go inside during a recent inspection because of "the compromised nature of the building." Contractors have expressed worries about mold, he said.

'History worth saving'

The home was part of an earlier proposal to preserve historic county properties. In December 2011, the Suffolk Legislature launched the Historic Structure Restoration Pilot Program to spur private investment that would help save and maintain run-down properties.

Michael Martino, a county spokesman, said in a statement that Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine "has always believed in preserving the history of Suffolk County, especially landmarks and other noteworthy buildings."

But, he said, "after an extensive inspection of the Commerdinger home, the county’s [department of public works] has determined that the structure cannot be repaired to any level where it would serve the community."

Society members have urged the county to reconsider its stance.

The homestead “can take on a multi-dynamic role, and get the community involved and get kids outdoors ... learning about Native Americans and the people that helped make Long Island what it is today, and it’s all in one spot," said Ed Quaranta, the society’s co-president. According to local legend, Native American tribes would meet at or near the property and discuss fishing rights to nearby Lake Ronkonkoma and other key affairs, Quaranta said. 

Gruick and Quaranta said they are still fighting to preserve the home.

“There’s so much history here, history that people don’t understand," Gruick said. “And if you erase history, you have nothing for the next generation."