Historic Village home neglected, harboring rodents and overgrown vegetation

The house that stands at 36 Douglas Avenue in Northport Village has been in place for over 130 years. In 1890, the home was built by the Edward Thompson Publishing Company as housing for the lawyers and bookkeepers who worked there. In 1915, the house was purchased by a German immigrant named Eric Muelenhopt, who worked as a gardener and lived in the home with his wife, son and daughter.

Eric’s daughter Helen grew up in the home, graduated from Northport High School, and became a second grade teacher at Ocean Avenue School. She married Frederick Morgenstern of Lake Ronkonkoma on Easter Sunday in 1949, at Saint Paul’s Methodist Church in Northport.

Helen and Frederick started a family in the Douglas Avenue home and Helen eventually retired from teaching. She passed away in 2004, leaving the house to her son, Edward Morgenstern. Since Helen’s death, the house has been neglected and today is completely inhabitable, with overgrown vegetation that blocks the driveway and entryway, major structural issues, and an infestation of rodents.

At the September 21 Northport Village Board meeting, the board discussed what appropriate actions would be taken at the property in order to maintain its safety and appearance. Neighbors spoke out about witnessing rodents and raccoons traveling in and out of the home, and spotting children going inside to “hang out” despite the dangers of collapse. Mr. Morgenstern, the homeowner, was at the meeting to address the board and said that he had not realized the severity of overgrowth since his last visit to the property. He also noted that a piece of plywood was put in place to keep the animals out of the home, but someone had since removed it.

“The property has become a safety issue for the other residents that have property next door. There’s everything from rats and raccoons, and it’s an issue that really needs to be corrected,” Mayor Damon McMullen said to Mr. Morgenstern.

Village Administrator Roland Buzard said that the board must address the structural issues with the house before winter. He said that in its current condition, if there were a fire at the house, he wouldn’t be certain that firefighters and first responders would be able to address it. “I believe that the neighbors are being put in jeopardy,” Buzard said.

While some called for demolition of the home, resident Jeffrey Moses, who is currently restoring his own historical home on Highland Avenue, spoke about the home’s special history. “It’s just a remarkable story and it’s being neglected and abused,” Jeffrey said at the meeting. Because the home is over 100 years old, it needs to be maintained and preserved under the Village code, he added.

The Village Board’s decision regarding property maintenance was not made at the public portion of last week’s meeting and the home currently stands in the same state, with no landscaping or improvements taking place. Neighbors told the Journal that baby raccoons have been seen entering the dwelling this week and there’s still no clear access to the home through the vegetation. Given the details on the property’s dangers and impact on its neighbors, the hope is that the area will be cleared and maintained by the Village, with the cost billed to the homeowner.