Town Historian Rediscovers Past, Sets Goals for Future

Islip residents have been very fortunate to have had town historians that were not only passionate about what they do, but quite good at it as well. George L. Weeks and Carl Starache were great at creating awareness of how Islip came to be. Robert Finnegan, the current Islip Town Historian, seeks to continue in this grand tradition and possibly create a spot in history for himself.

"I have loved history my entire life, since I went to Gettysburg just after the 100th anniversary of the Civil War in 1962," Finnegan said.  "I have been a history buff ever since. I love ethnic history, urban history and labor history."

Finnegan, who also serves as the Town's Director of Labor Relations and Personnel, became the town's historian in May 2007.  He and his wife of 30 years, Elizabeth, and their two sons, Brian, 26, and Timothy, 22,  all live in Islip.   

"This town has a lot to offer," he said.  "Sailing, the shellfish industry, the history and the way this town has grown is incredible.  In 1776, only 276 people lived here. Now, it has 340,000 residents."

Finnegan grew up in Hicksville and graduated from Holy Trinity High School. He then went on to attend the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University.  He has had a 35-year career in labor but history still remained a great passion of his.

"I am working hard to get historic markers not just in West Islip, but town wide," he said.  "I am working closely with the historical societies throughout Islip to try to restore a lot of the old buildings which are being lost due to neglect, urban decay, the elements or a combination of all three."

Currently, Finnegan has kept himself very busy and is working on multiple projects; such as the Ockers House in Oakdale, the Islip Grange in Sayville and Brookwood Hall in Islip.   In addition, he recently gave a presentation entitled "Raising Historical Awareness in Your Community" to Region 2 members of the Association of Public Historians of New York State. 

But one of the most important  projects he is involved in is the preservation of old cemeteries.  "I want to start an "Adopt a Cemetery" program throughout Islip Town," he said.  "There are so many that have been forgotten."

He has been very helpful to the West Islip's Historical Society's efforts to restore the Weeks-Muncy Cemetery on Boulevard Avenue.

"He has been very supportive," society president Carol Agenjo said.  "He had a fence installed and he is working on getting a sign put up.  He also attended our Memorial Day ceremony there, and he came dressed in full colonial garb."

There is another old cemetery in West Islip that both she and Finnegan are planning to work on next. It is located in the vicinity of Westbrook Elementary School and Finnegan is very excited about what history is revealed there. "Who know what we are going to find there, what it will tell us about the town's history," he said.

Whatever is discovered at that cemetery, Finnegan will make sure it is given its rightful place in history.