Research

Long Island State Park Commission Caleb Smith State Park Preserve Case Files


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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series consists of individual case files documenting the acquisition and appropriation of land by New York State and the Long Island State Park Commission for the creation of the Caleb Smith State Park Preserve.
Creator:
Title:
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve case files
Quantity:

28.4 gigabyte(s)

Quantity:

499 digital file(s)

Inclusive Dates:
1848-1933
Bulk Dates:
1870-1900
Series Number:
B2875
Sponsor:
The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation funded the three-year "Robert Moses Collection Project" at Long Island University. Additional funding was provided by the Natural Heritage Trust.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by surname, corporate name, or geographical location.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of individual case files documenting the acquisition and appropriation of land by New York State and the Long Island State Park Commission for the creation of the Caleb Smith State Park Preserve. The preserve is located in the town of Smithtown in Suffolk County. Established primarily on private land once known as the Wyandanch Preserve, Robert Moses began negotiations to acquire the property in 1962 and the purchase was completed by the commission in 1963.

These records include correspondence, memorandums, deeds, mortgages, land appraisals, contracts and agreements, title searches and reports, property descriptions, tax assessments and bills, property surveys, and press releases. Items of note include records related to Nissequogue River State Park (the prior name of Caleb Smith State Park Preserve), as well as original Wyandanch Club and Brooklyn Gub Club deeds dating from 1819.

Location of Originals

Original copies of these records are held by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation's Long Island Parks Regional Archives facility in Oyster Bay, New York.

Acquisition Information

Only Folders 1 and 15-19 out of 19 folders in Box 1 and Folders 1-6 out of 11 folders in Box 2 were digitized and included in this series.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Access Terms

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