Manor Races Storm to Welcome Students

The Manor of St. George welcomed William Floyd High School students Monday, completing a quick turnaround after the weekend nor’easter knocked out power and brought down trees across the historic Mastic property.

Staff worked throughout the weekend to get the estate ready for the previously planned visit, clearing storm debris and dealing with the power outage before electricity was restored in time for Monday’s tour.

John Scott Prudenti, who oversees the historic property, credited PSEG Long Island for helping get the manor back up and running.

“We were able to accommodate this group once we made sure that the property was reopened and the power was back on,” Prudenti reported.

The visiting William Floyd Honors and Advanced Placement students received a guided tour of the ancestral home from docent Christina DeVito, who was dressed in period costume.

Prudenti then led the students around the grounds, including the Tangier Smith family cemetery, blacksmith shop, cattle barn, ice house, smokehouse, gunnery and the collection of historic buildings known as “Georgetown.” The students also saw the newly refurbished meeting room and general store.

The storm provided another test for recent work designed to protect the 17th-century estate from erosion and flooding.

A natural swale constructed from tree branches, limbs, brush and other vegetation held up during the heavy rain, Prudenti said, helping channel water and protect the historic family cemetery from further erosion.

The swale was planted with native species, with plans to add beach plum as improvements continue.

The 127-acre Manor of St. George overlooking Moriches Bay traces its history to Col. William “Tangier” Smith and played a prominent role during the Revolutionary War, when British troops occupied the property as Fort St. George before it was captured by American forces in 1780.