Central Islip, Long Island

Central Islip
Historic Preservation
Society

Preserving History for Future Generations

For over 20 years, the Central Islip Historic Preservation Society has been researching and preserving the rich, layered history of the Central Islip community — a story we believe deserves to be told and celebrated.

Explore Our History Support the Society
1869

Church Built

150+

Years of History

First United Methodist Church, Wheeler Road, Central Islip — the future home of the CIHPS Museum

Our Mission

"The purpose of the Central Islip Historic Preservation Society is to acquire, preserve, protect and maintain Central Islip's history, treasures and properties. Plans include educating the community by bringing history to life. We hope to preserve Central Islip history for future generations."

Who We Are

A Community Committed
to Its Own Story

The Central Islip Historic Preservation Society was organized over 20 years ago with a clear purpose: to research and preserve the rich history of the Central Islip community. We believe Central Islip has an important and interesting story to tell — both to our neighbors and to those visiting from afar.

From the founding of the Central Islip State Hospital in 1889, through the post-war population boom of the 1950s, to the vibrant, diverse community of today — our history reflects the broader American story of immigration, labor, family, and transformation.

First Methodist Church, Central Islip, 1950s
Methodist Church — 1950s
Congregation gathered inside the church — historic photograph
Historic congregation portrait

Timeline

The Story of
Central Islip

Central Islip's history stretches from mid-19th century settlement through today's evolving landscape. Ours is a story shaped by immigration, industry, healing, and community resilience.

M.E. Church, Central Islip, Long Island — historic postcard, late 1800s
M.E. Church, Central Islip, L.I. — Historic postcard, late 1800s
Mid-1800s

Settlement & Early Community

Central Islip was originally settled in the mid-1800s, beginning its evolution into the vibrant and diverse community we know today.

1869–1870

The Church Is Built

Community members pooled resources and built the First United Methodist Church — now the future home of the CIHPS Museum. It opened in 1870 and served both Methodist and Episcopal congregations.

1889

Central Islip State Hospital Founded

The founding of the Central Islip State Hospital (Psychiatric Center) fundamentally shaped the community's growth. Thousands of immigrants relocated to Central Islip seeking work, putting down roots and raising families here.

Post-WWII

The Population Boom

After World War II, Central Islip experienced the same suburban expansion sweeping Long Island. Families moved from New York City's boroughs to purchase newly constructed homes and claim their share of the American Dream.

Peak Era

The Hospital at Full Capacity

At its height, the State Hospital housed over 10,000 residents and employed several thousand staff. The institution was central to the economic and social fabric of Central Islip.

1970s–1996

Decentralization & Transformation

Decentralization policies through the late 1960s and early 1970s led to a gradual reduction in the hospital's operations, culminating in its final closure in 1996. The community adapted, and redevelopment began.

Today

A Community Reinvented

Former hospital grounds now house residential developments, shopping centers, courthouses, a law school, and the home of the Long Island Ducks baseball team. Central Islip continues to evolve, while the CIHPS works to ensure its history is never forgotten.

Also Documented

A Community of Organizations

The CIHPS documents not only the State Hospital, but the full breadth of community life: the Central Islip School District, the Central Islip Fire Department, the Central Islip–Hauppauge Volunteer Ambulance Company, local church groups, the CI Little League, and many other organizations that have shaped our hamlet.

Our Museum

A 150-Year-Old Church,
Becoming a Museum

The Central Islip Historic Preservation Society is custodian of the former First United Methodist Church on Wheeler Road — located just north of the Alfano School, itself the site of the original Central Islip school buildings dating to the 1800s.

The building is historic in its own right: constructed by community members who raised the funding themselves, work began in 1869 and the Church opened in 1870, serving both Methodist and Episcopal congregations. At over 150 years old, it is likely the oldest standing structure in Central Islip.

Our vision is to restore this building as a museum and education center — a proper home for Central Islip's story, where artifacts, photographs, and archives can be permanently exhibited and shared with the community.

Restoration Progress

Original stained glass restored (interior & side windows)
Complete roof replacement
Interior walls and ceiling demolition and full replacement
Insulation and new sheetrock installed throughout
Bell tower structural repair — the original bell is ringing again
New air conditioning unit installed
New front stoop constructed
Heating system installation (pending funding)
Restroom installation (pending funding)
Front railings restoration, floor restoration, painting
Help Fund the Restoration
The historic stained glass window survives amid the demolition debris — a symbol of what is being saved
The original stained glass stands amid renovation debris — the heart of the building preserved
New front walkway and stoop under construction at the church
New front stoop & walkway
Volunteers working on interior renovation — stained glass windows visible on both sides of the nave
Interior — community work day
Railroad Crossing at Wheeler Road and Carleton Avenue, 1922 — a steam locomotive passes through Central Islip
Railroad Crossing — Wheeler Road & Carleton Ave, 1922

Before & During

Interior demolition
Interior during demolition — original stained glass preserved amid the work
Restored interior with stained glass
Stained glass windows reinstalled in the newly drywalled interior
Exterior scaffolding during restoration
Scaffolding during active exterior restoration work

Archives & Artifacts

The Muriel Remson
Historic Collection

The centerpiece of our archives is the Muriel Remson Historic Collection — decades of dedicated recovery work by Ms. Remson and her colleagues, who retrieved irreplaceable artifacts from the Central Islip State Hospital buildings as each one closed over the years.

This collection — photographs, documents, medical equipment, personal effects, and institutional records — has been entrusted to the Society and awaits a permanent home in the restored museum.

Long Island Railroad Station, Central Islip — historic postcard

Historic Photographs

Images documenting the Central Islip State Hospital campus, staff, and residents through the decades.

Public School No. 13, Central Islip — Built 1913

Artifacts & Objects

Physical objects recovered from the hospital buildings — medical equipment, institutional items, and personal effects.

Congregation gathered at the church — historic portrait photograph

Community Archives

Records, photographs, and memorabilia from Central Islip's schools, fire department, ambulance corps, churches, and civic organizations.

From the Archives

Aerial view of Central Islip
Aerial view of Central Islip's main corridor — the railroad, storefronts, and homes of a mid-century community
Church before restoration
The 1869 church before restoration — windows boarded, structure overgrown, waiting to be saved
Central Islip State Hospital building
A Central Islip State Hospital building — the kind of structure whose records and artifacts form the heart of the Remson Collection

Contribute to the Archive

Share Your Piece of Central Islip History

Have a photograph, document, artifact, or family story connected to Central Islip? We'd love to hear from you. Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch.

Get Involved

Help Us Open
the Museum

The restoration of the 1869 Church is progressing, but significant work remains before it can open its doors as Central Islip's museum. Every contribution — of time, expertise, or funding — brings us closer to that day.

Donate to the Society Get in Touch

Financial Support

Donations fund ongoing restoration work — heating, restrooms, railings, flooring, and painting. The Society is a nonprofit; all contributions go directly toward preservation.

Volunteer Your Skills

We welcome volunteers with skills in construction, restoration, archiving, research, fundraising, and event planning. Community participation is central to everything we do.

Share Your History

Own photographs, documents, or artifacts related to Central Islip history? Consider donating or lending items to the collection.

Spread the Word

Tell your neighbors, share our story, and help grow awareness of the Society and its mission in the Central Islip community.

Contact

Location

Former First United Methodist Church

Wheeler Road (just north of Alfano School)

Central Islip, NY

Mailing Address

[ Replace with mailing address ]

Email

info@cihps.org

[ Replace with actual email address ]

Connect

Facebook [ Other social media ]

Send a Message