Preservation L.I: ‘Arch Andrew Geller, Deconstructed’ w/ Jake Gorst, 8.13th | Artist Church | Early L.I. Furniture ….

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From left to right: Genevieve Barbee (2025 Gardiner Young Scholar and Historic Preservation Intern), Steve Baltsas (Peggy N. Gerry Curatorial Fellow), and Sarah Eagan (Graduate Curatorial Intern) visiting our historic Custom House in Sag Harbor; Friends Academy High School interns: Sydney Wang, Lizzy Gokey and Tommy Kurita; and College Curatorial Intern Sarah Tores.

Dear Friends,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable July! At Preservation Long Island, our headquarters and historic properties have been bustling with the activities of six interns who have joined the PLI team for the summer, and our Peggy N. Gerry Curatorial Fellow, who started in June and will be with us through 2027.

From collections and preservation research projects to fieldwork at our historic houses, every day brings something new. Their contributions are a tremendous help to us, and we hope their varied assignments provide them with a deeper understanding of Long Island’s rich history and an appreciation for the work and rewards of stewarding historic sites and collections.

Click HERE for their bios and an overview of some of the projects they have been working on.

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ANDREW GELLER: DECONSTRUCTED

I am thrilled to announce the second event in our Margaret Sullivan Speaker Series, which is a new initiative offering lectures and engaging programs designed to deepen our understanding of Long Island’s architectural history and cultural heritage. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Margaret Sullivan Fund for their generous support in bringing this project to life. Here are the details of our next event:

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ANDREW GELLER: DECONSTRUCTED

Lecture and Book Signing

Wednesday, August 13 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

— Join Preservation Long Island at our Headquarters Gallery for a special lecture and book signing with Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker and author Jake Gorst, who will discuss the remarkable life and work of his grandfather, architect Andrew Geller.Geller’s architectural legacy is particularly prominent on Long Island, where his sculptural beach houses—such as the Pearlroth House in Westhampton Beach and the Hunt House on Fire Island—stand as enduring symbols of mid-century modernism. He also contributed to the design of the Leisurama houses in Montauk, a series of affordable prefabricated houses marketed through Macy’s in the 1960s.

Click HERE for tickets. $20 General Admission/ $15 Members/Young Preservationists.

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Events this Fall
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MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF:

THE LIFE AND ART OF F. EDWIN CHURCH

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We are planning an incredible line-up of fall programs, including an Exhibition opening in September which focuses on the life and work of F. Edwin Church, a celebrated twentieth-century portrait painter with strong ties to Long Island’s North Shore.

We also have a day of Discovering Early Long Island Furniture through hands-on workshops and lectures with experts in the field of craftsmanship and care of historic furniture collections.

Be sure to check our website and social media pages regularly for fall season programming updates, event descriptions, and registration links.

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Call for Nominations: Endangered Historic Places

Nomination Deadline Extended to August 12, 2025

Do you know of a historically, culturally, or architecturally significant site in your Long Island community that is threatened by adverse conditions such as neglect, redevelopment, planned demolition, or lack of sustainable long-term stewardship plans?

Preservation Long Island’s Endangered Historic Places Program offers an opportunity to advocate for preservation priorities in Long Island communities while learning how to use tools like landmark designation, tax incentives, and public outreach.

Nominations for our 2025 Endangered Historic Places Program are open to the public. Click HERE to review the eligibility criteria, submission instructions, and nomination checklist. Nominations must be submitted by August 12, 2025.

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Summer Intern Research Article

We are pleased to share an article written by Tommy Kurita, one of our high school collections interns, who shares his summer research on a pair of bone napkin rings carved by Civil War veteran, Obadiah Jackson Downing (1835–1925), during his captivity at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. Click HERE to read the article.

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I look forward to seeing many of you at our next lecture on August 13th. And remember our three historic houses are open for tours throughout the summer!

Cheers,
Jackie Powers
Executive Director