DIX HILLS
Putting A Stake In History
By Danny Schrafel/ dschrafel@longislandernews.com

Leaders of the Lower Half Hollow Historic Association urged the town board Dec. 13 to make a one-room schoolhouse built in 1894 a town historic landmark.

The Huntington Historic Preservation Commission recommended in an Oct. 19 memo that the Old Half Hollow Schoolhouse, located at 5 Seaman Neck Road in Dix Hills, be designated a town historic landmark. Charlotte Muchnik, president of the Lower Half Hollow Historic Association, urged the town council to make that decision a reality.

“The Lower Half Hollow Schoolhouse… is a picture of education from more than 100 years ago,” she said. “Maintaining the schoolhouse is an essential part of the association. It represents an uncomplicated time in our town’s history and remains one of the last of its kind in Huntington.”

The 107-year-old building, which currently headquarters the Half Hollow Historical Association, was recognized with the placement a historic marker in late June. However, that gesture carries no weight in terms of preservation. Making the building a town historic site would also put stricter covenants on altering the building.

“[If it is named a historic site], it could not be demolished, and any exterior changes would need to be approved by the town board acting on a recommendation by the preservation commission,” town historian Robert Hughes said. “Other than just going in and applying for building and demolition permits and getting it right away, there would be some review. The main thing is that it would keep it from being demolished.”

The Lower Half Hollow Schoolhouse, which served the community through 1931, was built in 1894, according to the Historic Preservation memo. In the 1931 school year, the district doubled its capacity when they phased out Upper and Lower Half Hollow in favor of the four-room Hills School, which was built about 2 miles from the Lower Half Hollow School.

In 1952, an extension was added to the schoolhouse, and Lower Half Hollow was converted to a private residence. It became the Half Hollow Historical Association headquarters in 2003 when Marjorie Blachly bought the home and launched the civic group. Marjorie died in 2009 at age 77. While she had intended to give the building to the Historical Association, Hughes said, there were no provisions in her will to do so.
“Marjorie, whose ancestor was Moses Blachly of Dix Hills, the first postmaster of Huntington, felt it was important to keep the history of our area alive,” Muchnik said. “By establishing the Half Hollow Historical Association and hosting their meetings and events in the lower schoolhouse, she felt certain that the history of Half Hollow Hills and the schoolhouse would live on.”