Historical Photo

Beginning in the 19th century, school aged children on the Poospatuck Reservation were educated in a mission school located on the Reservation. Eventually, New York State took over the school and court cases ensued to determine whether or not the state should continue to fund the Reservation School.

The school on the Reservation did not possess facilities of the same quality as other public schools. Therefore, when the Poospatuck children went to school outside the reservation in the older grades, they were not sufficiently prepared and tended to drop out. By the 1950’s, the children from the Reservation were finishing school although it was still a struggle for them. 

~ from an interview with John Strong & Amy Wallace 14 Dec 2007

Bertram Seides was born and raised in Center Moriches. His father was a mink farmer and went on to become a chemistry teacher at Center Moriches high school.