Meet Our Staff | Megan E. Cuddy

When I was young, my grandmother would take care of my sisters and I during the summer when my parents were working. Each day she would pick us up and we would drive to her house on the North Fork. Looking out the window, I would watch the landscape change from rows of houses to farm fields and grape vines. As we traveled along the Main Road, my grandmother would tell us about the crops in season, her successes and failures when she tried to grow them herself, and all the tips and tricks she learned along the way. My favorite tip was sprinkling cayenne pepper to ward off rabbits from lettuce. It even works when growing tulips!

Each day my grandmother would have an activity planned for us. She would take us to Hallockville Museum Farm to see the animals and tour the house or we would go to the beach and enjoy the Great Peconic Bay. One day she took us to the old Cutchogue house, one of the oldest buildings in the area. As we walked around the building our tour guide went into great detail about the architecture of the building, explaining the techniques used to create the structure and the meaning behind the names that were given to each structural element. Listening to the tour guide’s knowledge of the building and the history of some of the lives lived there left a strong impression on me. This moment stuck with me as I pursued my master’s degree in Historic Preservation.

These visits to the North Fork instilled a deep sense of pride in where I live and a longing to protect what makes this part of the world unique. I have the incredible opportunity to work at the Peconic Land Trust where I can learn how to safeguard these places we love.

I’ve been with the Trust for only a few months, and I have learned a great deal about the dedication the Trust’s staff has to protecting Long Island’s history and the natural environment. During my first week with the Trust I was given a tour of the Case House by Dan Heston, Director of Agricultural Programs. Great lengths were taken to restore and modernize the building while maintaining its historic integrity. The Case House was built in the mid-18th century and was relocated to its home in Southold to be a part of the Trust’s Farms for the Future Initiative. Surrounded by farm fields, this building is a testament to the organization’s dedication to protecting Long Island’s working farms and agricultural heritage.

Want to give a warm welcome to Megan or talk about historical buildings with her? You can email her at MCuddy@PeconicLandTrust.org.