"PARR FOR THE COURSE"

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Moriches historian Mary Field, asking me if I had any information about the Hawkins Mastic Liqour store that is about to be declared a historic landmark by Brookhaven town. I told her I did, but also told her although most people remember it as a liqour store (which it still is) it really started out as Lewis Parr's variety store and gasoline filling station circa 1918. I also told her I thought I might be able to come up with a photo of it for her to pass on to the town. A call to my oldest friend in the world Larry Schulz who is the great grandson of Lewis Parr resulted in what you see here. One of the oldest commercial buildings in Mastic.

It was built with two entrances on both the North and South side because originally the north side of the building was were Montauk Highway passed by it. "Old Montauk Highway" still passes by the original entrance though I'm sure it has changed quite a bit. Mr. Parr knew there were plans to re route the highway so he had a front put on the backside too which is what we see here in this photo looking westerly.