Stony Brook Southampton Windmill Reopens to Fanfare and a Special Dedication

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y., June 15, 2009 – Yesterday, Stony Brook Southampton's iconic windmill reopened with a special celebration and dedication. 

The main room in the windmill was named the Glanz-Marmion Room in honor of the late Edward C. Glanz, the founding provost of LIU-Southampton, 1963-1972; and the late Harry Marmion, former president of LIU-Southampton, 1972-80. Both Glanz and Marmion families were in attendance for the event, along with Class of 1968 LIU-Southampton alumnus Bob Martin, Chair of Stony Brook Southampton's new Dean’s Council, and numerous other alumni.

Speakers included Stony Brook University President Shirley Strum Kenny, Stony Brook Southampton Dean and Vice President Mary C. Pearl, Congressman Tim Bishop and Assemblyman Fred Thiele. The former manager of the restoration, Lou Spero, who passed away earlier this year in an auto accident, was also remembered. More than 100 people attended.

With a campus focus on environmental sustainability, the windmill – constructed in the early 1700s and moved from Southampton Village to its present location in 1890 as part of the former Claflin estate – is an important symbol of preservation and renewable energy. Recently, new blades were installed and the inside restored. The building, featuring ornate woodwork and two hearths, is now available for meetings and special events.

This famous windmill even hosted Tennessee Williams at one point, where he wrote one of this plays. It is also featured on the cover of the book "Haunted Long Island."

For the event, Stony Brook Southampton re-published the 1969 brochure "The Story of the College Windmill (An Affectionate History)" by then-President Glanz with a forward by Jeanette Edwards Rattray for distribution. Stony Brook University acquired the 82-acre Southampton property from LIU in 2006 with a full schedule of classes having begun in Fall 2007.

View the complete photo gallery.

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Photo captions: (l-r, posed) Patricia Marmion, Stony Brook University President Shirley Strum Kenny and Shirley Glanz; (ribbon-cutting, front to rear), Patricia Marmion and Shirley Glanz with Bob Martin looking on.