E. EDWARDS HOUSE

Longwood Public Library, Thomas R. Bayles Collection

The Edwin Edwards farm is located on the east side of Coram-Swezeytown Road. The first record of a home on this property is found on the 1797 Hulse map of Brookhaven Town. The home is on top of a hill overlooking a pond. The original home burned down in 1945 and was rebuilt by family members. The pond in front was used as a swimming hole in the summer and as an ice -skating rink in the winter.

The farm had been owned by the Edwards for over 150 years. Several generations of Edwards lived and worked on the farm. The farm was operated as a dairy farm with crops of hay and corn to feed the cows.

Part of the farm was known as "Chestnut Pound". Chestnut Pound got its name from the forest of chestnut trees that grew there before a disease killed all the chestnut trees on Long Island. The wood from chestnut trees was in great demand. It was used for telephone poles and railroad ties. This work was important for farmers to tide them over in the winter months when money was scarce.

In 1965 Edwin Edwards turned his farm over to his daughter, Martine, and her husband, Leon Kempster. The Kempsters tried to repurchase some of the lands that had been sold from the original parcel. One parcel that could not be repurchased was part of the old Chestnut Pound; the West Middle Island Elementary School was built on this site. The Kempsters fixed up the barns, restoring the farm to its former glory. They worked the farm until they retired to Arizona. The farm was leased for a number of years until its recent sale.

David Edwards

Jonathon Edwards

Daniel Edwards

Orlando Edwards

George N. Edwards

Edwin Edwards

Martine (Edwards) Kempster