Albert H. Schmitt aka Albie

A significant piece of history has left us with the passing of Albie Schmitt.   He was “the source” of history of the Long Island farming industry.   He told it, he lived it, and he created it.   Albie Schmitt could tell this history in detail with every name, date, and road in perfect order.

Going back in time as far as we have records, Albie’s story begins in the 1840s.  Henry Schmitt and Ernestine Sappelt emigrated from Germany.  In 1867, her father purchased a farm of one hundred six acres for $15,000.   The farm was located in Rosedale, the Fosters Meadow, on Merrick Road.  They had four children.  Albert, Ferdinand, Clara who married Anton Rottkamp, and Emma who married Philip Hoeffner.  Albert farmed with his father and family until his marriage to Margaretha Kappelmaier at St. Boniface Church in Fosters Meadow on February 12, 1889.  Three days later they purchased a farm of 28 aces for $3,400.  The farm was our homestead on Merrick Road.   Now, this land is occupied by garden apartments and is along the service road of the Cross Island Parkway.  Albert and Margaretha had nine children.   The youngest of the nine siblings, Albert Schmitt farmed the Rosedale homestead with his parents and siblings.  He married Helen Herman on November 27, 1930.   They had five children, Albert Henry (Albie who was born March 29, 1932), Robert, Janet, Edward and Kenneth.   In 1938, Albert and Helen purchased their own farm on the corner of Old East Neck Road and Half Hollow Road in Melville where the homestead still stands with Albert’s name.  They raised potatoes and then other vegetables such as cabbage and peppers. 

Albie met Dottie Harbes, who loved each other deeply for 68 years, at the Irish American Hall in Mineola in 1957.  They married at Our Lady of Mercy Church and had their wedding reception at the New Hyde Park Inn on February 2, 1958.  Albie and Dottie had three children, Albert, Jean, and Jim.  Albie and Dottie and their children began their own farm menagerie with vegetable farms in Riverhead and Laurel and a farmstand and greenhouse business in Dix Hills.   They also had three grandchildren, Albert, Jess, and James.   The farm legacy continues at Albert H. Schmitt Family Farms on Bagatelle Road in Dix Hills. 

Albie Schmitt is a well-recognized part of Long Island Farming.  He was active in Long Island Farm Bureau and the Farm Preservation Committee.  He was also active member of St. Elizabeth’s Church in Melville.  He served as an usher for many, many years.  He was an authority on church history from “years ago” for clergy and parishioners.  His strong sense of community was important to him as his generosity proved.

As a farmer, he worked tirelessly tending to his crops.   As a husband, dad and grandfather, his love and devotion was unwavering.  As a storyteller, his words were true and sometimes peppered with a little bit of humor whenever possible.   He had a great smirk when he teased but all in good fun.   He never wanted to miss an event because he loved being around people and “catching up” with them.

As a Schmitt, Albie was never at a loss for words.  But on Saturday, March 7, the words faded as he passed peacefully with family by his side.   He was finally going to rest after decades and decades of working the farm.  Albie worked into his 90s managing the books and making deals.  He was a whiz with numbers as he used his tricks and strategies like a human calculator.   Before GPS and Ancestry.com, there was Albie.  His photographic memory would recall countless stories and they all started with “years ago”.   When customers would ask about the farm, we would send them to Albie and he would give them a history lesson of their choice about their town or their families.   People would exclaim that he knew more about their family and town then they did.   And if you needed directions, he would not only tell you the best road to take because he traveled them all, but also who built it and what farms it cut through.  Albie decided to take the long, scenic route that took almost 94 years to get to heaven.  Sure, there were some bumps and curves along the way too, but he never lost his great sense of direction.  Don’t worry Dad, we took notes.