Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Valley Stream Historical Society has received two grants through the 2026 New York State Conservation Grant Program.
The Society was awarded a $1,000 Site Assessment Grant and a $600 Preservation Supplies Grant. The two grants are among three types of funding offered through the 2026 NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program, which also includes Conservation Treatment Grants.
The program is administered by the Greater Hudson Heritage Network in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding for Long Island projects, including Valley Stream, was provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
The Society credited longtime trustee and historical society archivist Joseph Coen with the successful grant applications. Coen recently retired after more than 30 years as archivist for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.
“The Site Assessment Grant will help preserve the Society’s two antique gas pumps, dating from 1918 and 1920, which stand in front of Raustein’s Gas Station,” Coen explained. “Raustein’s, which opened in 1920, was relocated from 139 North Corona Ave. to the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration in the 1980s. The Preservation Supplies Grant will enable the Society to purchase much-needed archival materials to better protect and preserve Valley Stream’s historical collections — safeguarding our community’s legacy for future generations.”
The 2026 conservation grant program received applications from organizations in 46 New York counties, with 129 awards totaling $88,569 recommended for funding.
The Valley Stream Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 1973. In 2000, it was granted an Absolute Charter by the New York State Board of Regents in recognition of its commitment to historical preservation and education.
The Society operates the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration, the Village of Valley Stream’s landmarked historic homestead of the Pagan, Fletcher and Fairchild families. The Restoration is open to the public for guided tours and historical research.
The Society also publishes the monthly Panorama newsletter, sponsors lectures, holds special events and maintains a presence through its website and social media, including Facebook and Instagram.
