04/19/2026
This morning, the Eaton’s Neck FD Junior Firefighters volunteered their morning cleaning up the historic Gardiner Family Cemetery on Cherrylawn Lane, a small but significant piece of Eaton’s Neck history. The Gardiner family once owned the entire peninsula, and their cemetery is a reminder of the deep roots our community has in this special place.
The Gardiners have been part of Eaton’s Neck since the 1700s. John Gardiner, born in 1747, was one of the peninsula’s most well known landowners. John actually maintained an oil lamp on a pole to help guide passing ships through the dangerous reef off Eaton’s Neck Point. In 1798, the federal government purchased land from him to build what would become Long Island’s second lighthouse, and his son went on to become its very first keeper. The cemetery on Cherrylawn Lane holds several generations of the Gardiner family, with headstones dating back to the early 1800s, giving us a glimpse into just how far back our community’s history goes.
We were lucky to have Robert Hughes, Town of Huntington Historian, join us for the cleanup. His knowledge and passion for local history made the morning even more special, giving our junior members a real connection to the land they were helping to preserve. Also a special thanks for Harold Rowan, a town of Huntington liaison in the guidance and help with this community service project.
Town of Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth
