Stony Brook Village Center facts for kids
Stony Brook Village Center is a special shopping area in Stony Brook, New York. It's not just a regular mall! A kind person named Ward Melville created it to look like an old-fashioned New England village. He wanted it to feel like a "living Colonial Williamsburg", with charming clapboard buildings and shops. It opened in 1941 and is now looked after by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization, which is a non-profit group.
The Stony Brook Post Office, centerpiece of the main crescent of shops
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| Location | Stony Brook, New York |
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| Coordinates | 40°55′2″N 73°08′45″W / 40.91722°N 73.14583°W |
| Address | 111 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY |
| Opening date | 1941 |
| Owner | Ward Melville Heritage Organization |
Contents
How Stony Brook Village Was Created
Ward Melville started his plan in 1939. He used his money to change the small town of Stony Brook. He wanted it to become his dream village. This dream village would have white wooden buildings and cute stores. The main part of the village now has a green park area. It also has a curved street with shops. Stone paths and pretty gardens make it even nicer.
To build the village, Melville moved many existing shops. He put them together in a crescent shape. He also changed how they looked so they would all match. This design was like the famous Colonial Williamsburg.
The Famous Post Office
At the center of the crescent, Melville built the Stony Brook Post Office. This building is special because it has a large eagle on top. The eagle flaps its wings every hour! The whole village center was finished in 1941.
From Old Shops to New Stores
The village was first planned to be a "living Williamsburg." This meant it would have real, working shops. There used to be a butcher, a baker, and a hardware store. But over time, most of these original shops have changed. Now, you'll mostly find fancy boutique stores. These shops sell special items, often for people with more money.
Who Runs Stony Brook Village?
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization is a private group. It's a non-profit, which means it uses its money to help the community. This group was started in 1939. Its job is to manage the Stony Brook Village Center. It also takes care of other historic places nearby.
Some people in the area have different ideas about how the village should be run. They feel that the organization has changed the village's original purpose. They think it was meant to be a lively village with all kinds of shops. But now, it mainly has high-end boutique stores. They also feel it's not as busy after late afternoon.
