Road
Bar Scored As Farmers Seek Water For Stock
Way
Fight at Middle Island Reopens
July 5, 1929
Yaphank,
L.I., July 4—After peace and non-interference of a year, following an
armistice a year ago today, the battle of Bartlett’s Pond at Middle
Island has again broken out this week. Official steps are being sought
to end permanently the rancor over the night of way leading to the pond
adjoining the property of Charles Dieffenbach. This time the situation
is an acute one, due to the long dry spell and the need for water on the
part of the farmers of this section.
The pond is an old one, often mentioned in the record of the town of
Brookhaven, but last year a real battle was staked when Frederick
Brenner Jr., charged Charles Dieffenbach with striking him with a
shotgun and chasing him from the shores of the pond and prohibiting
others in the section from using the pond, which is the local “old
swimming hole.”
Assistant District Attorney Alexander G. Blue started prosecution of the
case, but by mutual consent the case was dropped when Dieffenbech
relented and allowed use of the pond on July 4.
This week the fight loomed up again when Dieffenbach is alleged to have
blocked off the entrance to the pond on July 4.
This week the fight loomed up again when Dieffenbach is alleged to have
blocked off the entrance to the pond. With their cisterns dry many
farmers in this section have been going to the pond at night and filling
tanks with water for farm use, but they face a difficult problem with
the road closed.
According to Justice Frederick P. Marchant, there is a three rod public
right of way to the pond and also a right of way around the pond. In
the meantime Town Counsel Ralph Hawkins and the trustees are being
appealed to for a final order that will keep the entrance to the water
open.
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