New York State Assemblymember Tommy John Schiavoni has successfully secured New York State Capital funding to rehabilitate and restore the historic Windmill located on the Stony Brook Southampton campus.
Constructed in 1714, the Windmill has been at its current Shinnecock Hills location for 136 years and is the only windmill of three originally in Southampton Village that has survived.
The rehabilitation and restoration project will focus on preserving the Windmill’s historic integrity while making it safe and accessible for public and campus use.
The windmill restoration project, estimated at $3 million, is funded through university capital funds approved by SUNY and New York State in 2025.
“The Windmill at Stony Brook Southampton is more than a historic structure. It is a symbol of community, culture and the enduring legacy of education on the East End,” said Schiavoni, a Stony Brook alumnus who received his master’s degree in liberal studies in 1993. “This funding will ensure that the Windmill is preserved for future generations while continuing to serve as a hub for campus life and community events.”
“The Windmill is the historic symbol of the Stony Brook Southampton campus, and it has been the university’s priority in working with the local community to ensure it remains on the campus for future generations,” said Stony Brook University Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Executive Director of Stony Brook Southampton Wendy Pearson. “Stony Brook is committing nearly $3 million to rehabilitate the Windmill, and we are deeply appreciative to Assemblyman Schiavoni and former Assemblyman Fred Thiele for securing grants to ensure we have the remaining funds needed for this project.”
Schiavoni emphasized that the project represents a shared effort to maintain the region’s rich history and support the cultural and educational mission of Stony Brook Southampton.
The Windmill has a long, proud history tied strongly to the arts community. In the summer of 1957, celebrated playwright Tennessee Williams resided in the Windmill while writing The Day on Which a Man Dies, inspired by the death of his friend Jackson Pollock. In 2013, the American Library Association officially recognized the Windmill at its current location as a literary landmark.
When Long Island University established Southampton College in 1963, the Windmill became the emblem of the new campus, a beloved symbol to thousands of students, faculty, administrators and alumni.
Stony Brook University acquired the campus in 2006, and in 2009, Stony Brook led efforts to rehabilitate the Windmill, which has hosted countless readings, receptions, workshops and other events.
“I am pleased that the new leadership at Stony Brook University recognizes the potential of the Southampton campus and continues to take steps to restore its critical infrastructure,” said former Assemblyman Fred Thiele, a graduate of Southampton College. “The Windmill has been the iconic symbol for the campus for decades and is beloved by the college alumni and all those connected with Southampton College and Stony Brook University. The restoration of the Windmill is a critical first step towards realizing the campus’s real value to the community. I am pleased that work continues on the completion of a long-term action plan for Southampton and that other projects such as dredging, housing, and a new hospital continue to move forward.”
“I wish to commend Assemblyman Schiavoni for working tirelessly and successfully to secure the funds necessary to rehabilitate the Windmill at the Stony Brook Southampton campus,” added former Congressman and former Southampton College Provost Tim Bishop.
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