Local Group Working To Save Historic Commack Farm

COMMACK, NY - A local non-profit is working to save a piece of Commack history.

The group is trying to purchase the 159-year-old Marion Carll Farm, which is located on 61 Commack Road in order to bring it back to its former glory.

Following the death of Marion Carll in 1968, the nearly 9-acre property was left to the Commack school district with the condition that it become an agricultural/historical/educational farm museum for the community and surrounding residents.

Currently, the district is considering two possible proposals to sell the property. According to the Marion Carll Preserve group, Long Island University is looking to possibly build a veterinary school on the property and a construction firm is also looking to possibly build a small municipal styled park and a "general store" in the area.

However, the group is hoping to form a 501 C3 to acquire, restore and sustainably run the farm "in accordance with Ms. Carll's wishes."

The non-profit event started a GoFundMe page to try and raise $250,000 for their efforts to purchase the property.

"Because of it's rarity as an intact multi-generational farm of a single family, it qualifies for virtually all major grants in this genre, but we must secure a lease with first right to purchase from the school district for whom showing up-front monies is mandatory; rather than allowing us an application period of startup," a message on the page reads. "We are a team of passionate career historic preservationists in either architecture, archiving or restoration/conservation who've formed a multi-faceted solution that will fund much of the restoration after startup...and sustain beyond."

So far the fundraiser has collected a total of $389 in donations.

A community meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposals for the farm.

Cynthia Clark, a member of the group, told Patch she is concerned about the "misinformation" being spread that saving the farm would cost the taxpayer money -- which she says it will not.

"Our organization would restore it via the many grants it qualifies for plus private donations, but we must have a vested interest in the property to do so," she wrote in an email. "That's how non-profits work."