A beautifully crafted “Welcome to Center Moriches” sign now adorns Main Street, proudly positioned in front of the historic Havens House at the East Moriches border. The sign was generously donated by the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association, led by Superintendent Steve Scerri, and was unveiled in a community celebration on a sunny morning.
At the unveiling, Superintendent Scerri was joined by community leaders and volunteers, including Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches President Jackie Osborne and members Art Gerhauser, Mark Danieski, and Gerri Sapanaro. Representatives from the nearby Ketcham Inn Foundation, Bert Seides and Zach Jacob, participated, emphasizing the area’s rich heritage. Also present was Suzanne McKeon, board member of the Downtown Beautification Committee.
Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Karen Dunne‑Kesnig praised the project, calling the sign “a gorgeous new gateway to our community” and “a testament to what we can achieve when everyone comes together.”
East End Sign Design, Puccio Electric, and GP Stonework assisted in its production and installation, while the Moriches Garden Club takes care of the plant beds that frame the sign.
Center Moriches, nestled on the shores of Moriches Bay, traces its origins to around 1655, when English tinsmith Samuel Terrell and other settlers were drawn by the area’s streams, fertile farmland, and coastal resources. The name “Moriches” is believed to derive from Meritces, a Native American figure who lived near the Terrell River, which flows into Moriches Bay.
Directly behind the sign stands the Havens House, a landmark homestead built in stages from the mid-18th century. The property originally extended along the Terrell River to Moriches Bay and was owned by the Havens family for generations. The home was relocated across Main Street in 1971 by the Moriches Bay Historical Society and is today interpreted by the Society as the John Scudder and Mary Pelletreau Havens Homestead, featuring colonial origins (circa 1750) and a substantial 1898 Dutch gambrel-style addition.
Across the street lies the Havens Estate, now Terrell River County Park, a 263-acre preserve purchased by Suffolk County in 1986. This beautiful park, stewarded by the Moriches Bay Audubon Society, offers hiking trails, serene birdwatching, and access to the Great South Bay.
Councilwoman Dunne‑Kesnig reflected on the sign’s meaning: “This sign is more than wood and paint—it’s our community’s welcome mat. It beautifully honors our past while signaling a bright future.” She noted how the collaboration among the cemetery association, volunteers, and businesses highlighted the tight-knit nature of Center Moriches.
For Jackie Osborne and the Chamber of Commerce, the sign serves as a landmark and a cornerstone of their mission to promote local heritage and unity. Board members emphasized their enthusiasm for future beautification efforts along Main Street.
As drivers and visitors come into Center Moriches from the east, they are now greeted by more than a sign—they’re welcomed by five centuries of history, community dedication, and the promise of a shared future. The new sign is a physical expression of what Center Moriches already is: a welcoming, historic, and vibrant gateway to eastern Brookhaven.