Preservation Long Island works with communities throughout our region to protect and celebrate historic places, encouraging excellence in stewardship and advocacy. Our Preservation Awards, presented every other year, recognize individuals, organizations, and projects that demonstrate extraordinary achievement in fields related to historic preservation on Long Island. Congratulations to this year’s honorees!
Howard Sherwood Award: Brian Pinnola
This year, Preservation Long Island proudly gives the Howard C. Sherwood Award posthumously to Brian Pinnola, recognizing his extraordinary lifetime achievements in historic preservation. Established in 1974 in honor of our founder, this prestigious award celebrates individuals whose dedication and contributions ensure the protection and celebration of Long Island’s historic and cultural heritage. Brian sadly passed away in January of last year.
Brian Pinnola was a passionate advocate for historic preservation, serving as an active and deeply involved member of Preservation Long Island’s board. His work extended across multiple projects, showcasing his unwavering commitment to preserving Long Island’s historic and cultural treasures.
As a longstanding board member and past president of The Garden City Historical Society, Brian’s vision and tireless work left an indelible mark on the community. He spearheaded the transformation of the 1872 Apostle House into The Garden City Historical Society Museum, creating a modern-day house museum that continues to educate and inspire visitors.
Brian’s efforts extended far beyond the Museum’s walls. He championed projects like the restoration of the historic herringbone brick pattern at the Nassau Boulevard LIRR station parking lot and also revitalized the Society’s archives, expanding and cataloging its collection to ensure future generations could access and learn from the artifacts.
From organizing historic tours and community events to safeguarding artifacts and advocating for the preservation of St. Paul’s School, Brian exemplified selfless service. His dedication went beyond advocacy—he personally transported donations, coordinated repairs, and ensured every project ran smoothly. His commitment to Garden City’s history was inspiring, and continues to motivate current efforts to save the historic landmark.
Brian Pinnola’s unwavering devotion to historic preservation, his kindness, and his vision are dearly missed. Preservation Long Island is honored to recognize his exceptional contributions with the Howard C. Sherwood Award.
Project Excellence: The Safina Center
The Safina Center is being recognized for its restoration of the Hawkins-Elzon House. The structure is located within the Old Setauket Historic District, which is notable for its high level of integrity, preserved settings, and associations with significant events, owners, and occupants dating back to the mid-17th century settlement period. The Hawkins Family was one of the first and most prominent families in Setauket history.
The Hawkins-Elzon House features a small, timber-framed pre-Revolutionary structure that was later enlarged with a Cape Cod addition, dating from the late 18th or early 19th century. Originally purchased by Preservation Long Island (then the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities) in the 1970s, the house was sold with a protective covenant ensuring its long-term preservation, a covenant that Preservation Long Island still oversees.
In 2015, The Safina Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit nature conservation and environmental advocacy organization, acquired the property with support from New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright. Englebright’s dedication to safeguarding Long Island’s natural and historic resources played a pivotal role in securing a historic preservation grant for the house’s purchase. The Safina Center’s acquisition fulfilled Englebright’s vision of preserving one of Setauket’s earliest historical dwellings while finding a meaningful long-term use for it.
Under The Safina Center’s stewardship, the Hawkins-Elzon House was meticulously restored to serve as the organization’s headquarters. Guided by a comprehensive Historic Structures Report completed by Zachary Studenroth in February 2023, the restoration work was expertly executed by the Wild Boar Restoration team, led by Jeremiah McGiff.
Carl Safina, founder and director of The Safina Center, reflected on the importance of the Alexander Hawkins House in the organization’s Annual Report: “Since 2015, The Safina Center has been the proud owner of the historic Alexander Hawkins House—constructed in 1730—now our headquarters, an integral part of the Safina Center family in a historic district of Long Island 50 miles east of Manhattan. After our state assemblyman, Steven Englebright, began the process of saving the house by means of a historic preservation grant, Robert Reuter, now our Board Treasurer, provided the pivotal bridge loan that allowed us to buy it while we waited for the historic preservation grant to reimburse us. Under this deal, we agreed that if we ever vacate, we will gift it to another not-for-profit—a win for us and potentially for some future organization. As you can imagine, a three-century-old building is “This Old House” on steroids. Within the last year the house needed extensive restoration to prevent structural failure. Another historic preservation grant allowed us to hire a team of historical restoration experts. After a full year of major work, we once again have a home to return to after our voyages.”
This extensive restoration, completed in 2023, addressed critical structural issues, ensuring the building’s stability while honoring its historical integrity. The Safina Center’s headquarters now stands as a testament to the organization’s commitment to conservation and preservation.
Project Excellence: Anthony Martignetti
Anthony Martignetti is being recognized for the renovation of the Mattituck Creek Tide Mill. The mill constructed around 1822 by Richard Cox, exemplifies the ingenuity of tide-powered milling. These mills harness tidal flows to drive water wheels, grinding grain for bread and livestock food. Unlike mills powered by steady water sources, tide mills required operators to adapt to the natural ebb and flow of the tides. The Cox family managed the mill until 1846, after which Joshua Terry, a former whaler, operated it alongside his private farm until 1902. Despite its eventual decline in profitability, the mill remains a rare example of this engineering type, retaining its characteristic timber framing, form, and placement over water.
By 1902, Yetter and Moore had converted the mill into a restaurant and tavern, removing its tide gates. It quickly became a hub for tourism and social gatherings. The Old Mill, as it became known, thrived under Adolph and Otto Magdefrau, who added distinctive features such as a chimney, bar, and dining room. Prohibition further enhanced its mystique, with rumors of rum-running exploits adding to its colorful history. Though ownership changed hands several times, the Old Mill remained a beloved venue for dining, dancing, and celebrations throughout the 20th century.
Under the new ownership of Anthony Martignetti, a restauranteur, author, and designer, the Old Mill has been carefully restored and will open as a restaurant in Spring 2025. The restoration was conducted with guidance from the New York State Historic Preservation Office.
Anthony Martignetti shares his journey and vision for restoring the Old Mill
“The Old Mill has changed my life immeasurably. In 2018, as I kept driving by and seeing it closed and for sale, I kept thinking what a shame it would be if this wonderful structure, which has lived so many lives, were to fall into the water after 200 years. I knew the building needed to be lifted and that the process would take years and millions more than I had in the bank. Nonetheless, I made an offer and next thing you know I owned The Old Mill Inn.
The Old Mill saved me the summer of 2020 — with my restaurants in Manhattan closed, and then barely open, the future looked quite bleak and I threw myself into the Old Mill restoration wholeheartedly. My then-girlfriend, now my wife, would come out and help, and we had the most wonderful socially distant summer camping out in the grain tower and cooking on the dock. Five years later, we are married, the town of Mattituck is our full-time home, and we have a 10-month-old son who will be raised here. I highly doubt our life would have played out like this if it weren’t for the dream of restoring The Old Mill Inn.
The process was even longer and more expensive than I could have imagined in the winter of 2019. It took three years to get through permitting. As a historic landmark, fully above the water, on a non-conforming lot, in an environmentally sensitive tidal inlet, with no modern septic, tainted well water, and insufficient electricity, there was a maze of red tape I had to find my way through. On top of that, once permitted, we also had to lift the building 5 feet to comply with FEMA guidelines. Once we had all the permits, the restoration took another two years. We had a great team from the outset. Dawn House Movers made lifting, moving, and then putting back a 200-year-old grist mill look easy. Chesterfield Associates built us a brand-new 67-wooden pile foundation and 150’ bulkhead seawall to put the building back down on. And then Glenn Heidtmann of Heidtmann and Sons worked hand in hand with me for 18 months to return the Old Mill to her former glory. Without him, we might still be putting the cedar shingles on the roof. And lastly, my attorney Martin Finnegan, somehow with his patience intact, helped me navigate the town agencies with all their inner squabbling.
As I mentioned before, the Old Mill has meant such a great deal to me personally. But the Old Mill has meant a great deal to many generations of North Forkers. I can’t begin to tell you how many people have stopped by just to introduce themselves and tell me about their connection to the Old Mill. Women in their 80s who want to come see the building where they worked as teenagers, couples who went on their first date at the Old Mill 60 years ago, people who have gotten married there, had memorials, anniversaries, and graduations there. The names on the beams go back to 1872 and read like a street map of Long Island from Tuthill to Wickham. Many of the names still legible on the bar room beams have been lost to time along with the stories they had to tell. My hopes are that the, now restored, Old Mill will be a gathering place for another generation of North Forkers and be a place where great memories continue to be made.”
Organizational Excellence: Suffolk County
Preservation Long Island recognizes Suffolk County for the preservation of Owl Hill, located at 99 Sunken Meadow Road in Fort Salonga. This effort has protected the 1907 Owl Hill mansion and 27 acres of open space from redevelopment into a residential subdivision.
Owl Hill is significant for its architecture and cultural associations. Designed by Henry K. Murphy, an architect known for his eclectic early designs and later work in China, the mansion combines Colonial Revival, Free Classic Queen Anne, and Arts and Crafts styles. It also holds importance for its association with Edmund Wetmore, a prominent patent attorney whose career included landmark cases involving incandescent lighting, wireless telegraphy, and the Wright brothers’ “flying machine.” Owl Hill is the only extant property connected to Wetmore’s distinguished career.
In 2021, research by Smithtown Historian Corey Geske, with the support of Preservation Long Island, resulted in Owl Hill being determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This designation underscored its architectural and historical significance.
The preservation of Owl Hill was accomplished through the collaborative efforts of Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta, Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, the Suffolk County Parks Department, Preservation Long Island, and community advocates. Legislator Trotta secured county support to ensure the property’s protection.
The Owl Hill estate includes a designed landscape, the historic mansion, and a contributing outbuilding. While some surrounding features have changed, the property retains its historic character, including original interior details such as Arts and Crafts paneling, built-in libraries, and tiled fireplaces.
Preservation Long Island acknowledges and celebrates the collaborative efforts that have ensured the protection of this historically significant property and its open space. We are excited to see how Owl Hill will be used in the future, ensuring its importance to the surrounding community.
Project Excellence: The Church in Sag Harbor
The Church in Sag Harbor is a remarkable example of adaptive reuse, transforming a 19th-century Methodist church into a dynamic arts and cultural hub. Renovated under the leadership of artists April Gornik and Eric Fischl, with design by architect Lee Skolnick, the project preserved the building’s historical essence while introducing modern features like a glass elevator to suit contemporary needs.
“Our renovation of the building was guided by the beauty of the history held in The Church’s old timbers and its stone foundation,” explained April Gornik. “We decided to reanimate it in a way that saved its architectural structure as a center for art, creativity, and community in the Village. From its inception, establishing The Church has been motivated by Eric’s and my respect for the unique history of the East End, and Sag Harbor in particular, and we are deeply grateful to have it be acknowledged by Preservation Long Island, which has been such a critically valuable part of the fabric of our culture here.”
Before its current iteration, the building passed through several owners between 2007 and 2017, with plans ranging from condominiums to a private residence. By the time Gornik and Fischl acquired it, many original elements, including stained glass windows, were missing.
Skolnick’s design approach prioritized harmony between the historic structure and modern adaptations. Reclaimed wood lath from earlier builders was repurposed for office and storage spaces, and the original 300-year-old wood proved unexpectedly resonant, enhancing the acoustics. Hidden details, such as 19th-century builders’ initials and a Masonic symbol, were also uncovered during the renovation.
Sheri Pasquarella, Executive Director of The Church, described the outcome: “The amazing renovation of 48 Madison Street, led by April and Eric’s beautiful vision, Skolnick’s great experience, and builder Moises Cerdas’s immaculate execution, is the gift that keeps on giving to those of us lucky enough to work here. Our expansive exhibition and programmatic offerings are enabled by the enormous flexibility of the spatial design. The renovation left us with a building that is essentially a shell, allowing us to transform the usage of the public areas in surprising and generative ways. It has allowed artists and curators to take great creative risks and provides space for creativity and art making on all three levels, sometimes with multiple iterations occurring in a single day. While we preserve the original intention of the building as a site for community gathering, it is a completely contemporary building in its nimbleness, adaptability, and efficiency.”
Today, The Church stands as a powerful example of the adaptive reuse of a historic space to foster creativity and cultural engagement.
Learn more about its history here
