Ketcham Inn

Shirley Porter speaks about her involvement with the Moriches Bay Historical Society and the Ketcham Inn.

THE KETCHAM INN

    * It started out as residence to a privately owned foundation
    * Bertram Seides is the President of the Ketcham Inn

  THE MILE MARKER

    * Benjamin Franklin supposedly set it.
    * It is located in front of Waldbaums shopping center.

   THE MORICHES 

    * At one time Mastic, Shirley, Moriches, Center Moriches, Manorville, East Moriches and the Brookhaven town side of Eastport were called The Moriches.

   SUNRISE HIGHWAY

    * It was built in 1962.
    * The Southaven Church was moved because of the Sunrise Highway.

   SOUTHAVEN CHURCH 

    * It is the first church in the area.

  “OLD PRESPRETIRIAN” CEMETERY

    * It is located in Manorville.
    * It is the first Cemetery in the area.

   EAST MORICHES 

    * The eastern section is called “Benjamin Town” because many of the residents at one time were part of the Benjamin family.

   STONY BROOK CLINIC 

    * It used to be a meat market in the 1880’s.

The Ketcham Inn dates back to 1693. Throughout the 1700's it was a place to stop when you were traveling from Brooklyn to Sag Harbor. Many famous people stayed at the Inn. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison stayed there during the American Revolution. Then stagecoaches would bring tourists right to the Ketcham Inn and local boarding houses. In the 1940's the Inn had a gift shop and tea room. In the 1960's the Inn became a half way house. During the 1970's it became a shelter for battered women and children. Today, the Ketcham Inn is being restored and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

~ From an Interview with Virgina Mastrangelo

~Written by Krista L.