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Development and Rediscovery: Fort Massapeag in the 20th Century
Development and Rediscovery: Fort Massapeag in the 20th Century
(1933+) 🚧
(1933+) 🚧
For centuries, the Fort Massapeag land remained undeveloped until it was sold for the Harbor Green residential development in the 1930s.
Burial Site Discovery: Construction unearthed over 20 human skeletons, reigniting the local massacre legend and drawing treasure hunters, which unfortunately led to the loss of many artifacts due to lack of protection.
Rescue: Despite the losses, local preservationists and nascent archaeologists intervened to save the Fort Massapeag site itself, recognizing its immense historical significance.
Fort Neck Site Preservation
Fort Neck Site Preservation
This Nassau Daily Review article from December 1933 describes the efforts of local Seaford historian Charles Herold to halt construction on the Fort Massapeag site and identify it as historic. Image courtesy Garvies Point Museum
Ancient Burial Ground found on Bay Drive
Ancient Burial Ground found on Bay Drive
Martin “Matt” Schreiner works a test pit in 1938 at the burial ground situated near the Fort Massapeag site off Bay Drive. Human remains were found here when Bar Harbor was being developed in the 1930s. Image courtesy of The Queens Borough Public Library, Archives, Ralph Solecki Photographs.
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