I never knew that about Irving Berlin. I used to work at Brookhaven National Laboratory, which if I am not mistaken, was built on Camp Upton land. When I worked there it was a top secret facility and you needed a security clearance to get passed the front gate. You were expected to go to your office building and NOT roam around. Our building was an old barracks that I was told was from WWI. Many of the buildings were quite old even in the 60's.
Years later they opened up the facility and anyone could drive through and look around. I guess atom smashers aren't as top secret as they used to be. :0) I think they have closed it to the public again so I have to wonder what is going on there now?