Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums Community Funding Initiative
Serving our community for sixty-seven years
- Village Green-The Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums has owned and maintained the Village Green and kept it open and in good shape for community use, which is something that is usually done by municipalities using taxpayer-based funding. We also keep the Green active with our events and offer its use to other non-profit organizations like the Old Town Arts and Crafts Guild and the Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library.
- Six historic House Museums– After the acquisition of the Old House, the Council systematically went about moving and restoring historic structures that were important to Cutchogue’s historical narrative and to advance local historic preservation. These include the School House, the Wickham House, the Red Barn, the Carriage House, and the Village Garage. These house museums hold thousands of objects from Cutchogue and New Suffolk’s past, and we display and care for these objects to help tell the story of our area’s history.
- Cutchogue Old Burying Ground – Founded by William Wells in 1661, it is among the most ancient found on the North Fork; it serves as a living historical record of many of Cutchogue’s early settlers. We have paid to have the site maintained since 1960 and include a yearly allotment in our budget to catalog, restore, and clean the stones on the site. We also have written and received grants for this purpose. For many of those buried in the site, their stones are the only source of historic information about them, so at our expense, using a professional site survey, we have uploaded the information to the searchable database on Billiongraves.com, to aid the public in genealogical research.
A Shared Investment in Cutchogue
We openly invite you to learn more about the proposed Community Funding Initiative. Please find some key details and FAQs below, and please consider attending our informational sessions. We look forward to answering any questions you may have.
This proposal would provide annual support for Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums’ operations, educational programs, and the care of the Village Green and the 6 historic museum buildings on it, as well as that of the Cutchogue Old Burying Ground, for just $22.68 per household per year ($2.92 per month).
Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums Community Funding Initiative
As a way of saying thank you, each household in the district will also be offered a complimentary annual household membership with free access, discounts, free educational programs for Mattituck-Cutchogue School District students, and invitations to special Museum events throughout the year.
Ask questions, share your thoughts, and be part of the conversation. And, kindly consider voting “Yes” on August 25.
Membership Benefits
Each household in the district will receive:
- Annual Household Membership
- Access to tour our six house museums during our seasonal hours
- Year-round access to the Village Green
- Access to special events and exhibitions
- 10% discount at the Carriage House Gift Shop
- Eblasts and announcements
Proposition Language
The Board of Trustees of The Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums (the “Council”) located in the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, New York is hereby authorized to raise the sum of $60,000.00 for payment of operational and maintenance expenses on behalf of The Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and annually thereafter.
Key Dates
- First Dessert & Discussion: Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Community Room, Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free Library - Second Dessert & Discussion: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Community Room, Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free Library - Budget Vote: Tuesday, August 25, 2026, from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
District’s Administration Building (Formerly known as West Cutchogue School) at 385 Depot Lane, Cutchogue, NY
Frequently Asked Questions
What am I voting on?
A stable, annual funding initiative totaling $60,000.00 to support Museum operations, preservation of historic structures and objects, and public programming.
How much will this cost me?
This annual request for money will cost the average resident of Cutchogue and New Suffolk an additional $21.52. This is based on the fact that there are approximately 2,788 taxable properties in these hamlets with an assessed value of $18,258,575 or $3.29 per $1000.
Who is included?
All residents within the Cutchogue and New Suffolk (ZIP codes 11935 and 11956).
What is the Annual Household Membership?
Every household receives complimentary membership with full access, benefits, discounts, and events—bringing the entire community into the Museum.
What happens to current members?
Existing memberships will transition into the new community-wide model if the proposition passes, ensuring continued benefits while expanding access to all residents.
When and where do I vote?
Tuesday, August 25, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at District’s Administration Building (Formerly known as West Cutchogue School) at 385 Depot Lane, Cutchogue, NY
What will this funding be used for?
These funds are dedicated to the continued preservation, maintenance, and professional care of our collections and historic structures, the care and maintenance of the Village Green, and Cutchogue Old Burying Ground. Every dollar raised is used in direct pursuit of the Council’s mission: to preserve and interpret the history of Cutchogue and New Suffolk, and educate and inform residents about that history, To maintain the Cutchogue Village Green and Old Burying Ground as a living memorial to the past inhabitants of the Cutchogue and New Suffolk area.
How do I receive my free membership to the Museum?
In appreciation, we wish to offer complimentary Annual Household Memberships to every home in the district (11935 and 11956) as a way of saying thank you for bringing our community closer together. Upon approval of this initiative, these memberships will be available to all residents beginning in 2027. Simply visit the Council or present your driver’s license and provide your email address to activate your membership benefits. By opening our doors to every family investing in our history, we aim to make the Museum a place you are truly proud to call home.
Our Commitment
We are committed to transparency and community engagement. Through public events, open dialogue, and direct outreach, we welcome every question and conversation.
Supporting the The Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums is an investment in preserving our shared heritage and strengthening the future of our community. Together, we ensure that Cutchogue and New Suffolk’s stories continue to be told, experienced, and celebrated.
Legal Details
The following is the legal ad that ran in the Suffolk Times and may provide more instruction and information directly from the District Clerk and the Board of Elections on matters such as absentee ballots, registration, etc. :
HISTORICAL COUNCIL & MUSEUMS PROPOSITION
RESOLVED: The Board of Trustees The Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums (the “Council”) located in the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, New York is hereby authorized to raise the sum of $60,000.00 for payment of operational and maintenance expenses on behalf of The Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and annually thereafter and to levy the necessary tax, therefore?
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law and a prior resolution by the Board of Education of the School District, personal registration of voters will be held. A person shall not be entitled to vote at said meeting whose name does not appear on the register of said School District, or who is not currently registered from a residence address within the Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library District (which lies within the boundaries of said School District) for general election purposes, on the registration list provided by the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Registration for this meeting will be held in the Business Office of the School District, located in the Central Administration Offices, 385 Depot Lane, Cutchogue, New York, between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 4:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time), Monday through Friday on any business day until five (5) days preceding the Special District Meeting. Any person shall be entitled to have his name placed upon such register provided that he is known or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at said Special District Meeting for which such register is prepared. All persons residing in the Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library District (which lies within the boundaries of said School District) who have previously registered for any annual or special meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special meeting or election at any time within the four (4) calendar years prior to the year in which the registration is being prepared, shall be entitled to vote. In addition, any qualified voter of the School District who resides in the Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library District (which lies within the boundaries of said School District), whose name appears on the Suffolk County voter registration lists as transmitted to the School District by the Suffolk County Board of Elections will also be entitled to vote. Said register will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District located at the Business Office of the School District, in the Central Administration Offices, 385 Depot Lane, Cutchogue, New York, where said register will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library District (which lies within the boundaries of said School District) between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 4:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time), on each of the five (5) days prior to the date set for said special district vote, except Sunday.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that early mail and absentee ballots shall be made available in accordance with the provisions of Section 2018-e and Section 2018-a, respectively, of the Education Law. Applications for such early mail and absentee ballots may be obtained at the office of the School District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the vote. The District Clerk must receive the early mail or absentee ballot application at least seven (7) days before the date of the vote, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the vote, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. A list of all persons to whom early mail and absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the said office of the Clerk between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 4:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time), Monday through Friday on any business day up to and including the day set for the vote.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district and the Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library District. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district and the Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library District may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on July 31, 2026. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the Office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election. Only qualified voters who are duly registered will be permitted to vote. Any questions regarding the Special District Meeting to be held on August 25, 2026, should contact the District Clerk of the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District at (631) 298-4242 x.3101 or email lbieber@mufsd.com.
BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Lisa M. Bieber, District Clerk
Mattituck-Cutchogue UFSD
Suffolk County, New York
Dated: May 12, 2026
Publish: 7/9, 7/23, 8/6, 8/20/2026
More Info:
Contact: Mark MacNish
Cutchoguehistory@gmail.com
