Historic Huntington 250 Years, 1903 - Carolyn R. Markowitz

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THE OLD TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, extended from_ Sound to Ocean and comprised the present villages of Huntington, Babylon, Northport,· Amityville� Cold­ pring Harbor, Lindenhurst. Centre­ port, Melville, Deer Park, Wyandanch, G1�eenlawn, Co1nmack, El,vood, Long Swa1np, Dix Hills, Larkfield, West Hills and other settlements. It is about 35 miles from New York City. Has a great diversity of topography, including, as 'it does, the Great South Bay, the Sound, its bays and fine harbors, in all 101 miles of coast line on Sound and Ocean and their tributaries. There are ideal beaches. rolling country and the wooded backbone, including the highes_t point of land on Long Island; artesian wells, trout strearns and charming little lakes;, fertile soil; whole-souled neighbors. \vith pro­ gressive ideas; natural conditions to please the varying tastes of home seekers. 'l'his region has through express trains; local trolley lines; express and freight delivery; steamboat connection to New York City and N P-W England; several ne-\vspapers; telegraph; tele­ phone; electricity; gas; artesian well, water; unexcelled fire departments; hygeia ice plants; national and state banks; opera houses; public ·library and free reading rooms; high schools; gran1mar, pr�mary and kindergarten school&; first class hotels; many sum· mer hotels and boarding houses; modern Ii very stabl�s; exceptional shopping facilities, including branches of leading depart1nent stores; phy­ sicians and surgeons of-high standing; churches of all religious denomina- tions . There is an exceptional variety of delightful drives with surprising scenic attractions; safe sailing and -still-water bathing. Old Huntington celebrates its 250th _anniversary at Huntington village on July 4, 1903. COME! Publi1bed on the 250th Anniversary of the Settlement of Huntington Long !J/and, N. r. July 4, 1903 HISTORIC HUNTINGTON Introduction T :HIS little volume is produced as a sou­ venir of Huntington. It does not pre­ tend to be a history. It does not clain1 to present all the attractions of the good the Sound to the Sea. Within the bounds of this large township are now the villages of Huntington, Coldspring Harbor, Halesite, Fair Ground, Green­ lawn, Centreport, Northport, Larkfield, Commack, old town. It can be, from its very nature, scarcely Elwood, Melville, Pir�elawn, Deer Park, 'vVyan­ more than a suggestion as to whal Huntington .dance, Babylon, Lindenhurst, and Amityville, each has been, is, and will be. It is presented as a frag­ of which has been dignified with a separate post ment of true history, collected fron1 the most re­ office, besides many other settlements and hamlets liable sources and also as a meagre gli1npse into of equal natural attraction and considerable im- the beauties and advantages which nature has be­ portance. stowed upon the region. This book can only mention some of the con­ It must be explained that the section which is ditions which have made Hu.ntington what it is to­ celebrating in the year 1903 its two hundred and day. It cannot undertake to mention them all. fiftieth anniversary includes not only ·the present It merely suggests the reasons why Hunting­ town of Huntington but also the town of Babylon, tonians can with real pride invite the outside world for this. latter town was originally a part of Hunt­ to look in upon them and see what has been done ington. It then extended across Long Island, from with the advantages at hand. ((Makin' Land" 'A ''Huntingdon'' POST-TOWN of New-York; situated in Suffolk C., Long Island, at the bottom of Brandon harbour, which sets S. by E. from the Sound. It contains about 70 dwellings, a Presbyterian and an Episcopal church, but the latter has no settled minister. It is 38 miles E. by N. of New-York, and 133 from Philadelphia."-From Scott's U.S. Gazetteer, Philadelphia, Decem- ber Ist, I795· The Author says.: "Mileage obligingly furnished by Mr. Patton of the Post-Office.'' BOUTON'$ POINT-SEPARATING HUNTINGTON AND LLOYD HARBORS In the Beginning T · HERE is in the archives at Hague, Hol­ Secretary Van 1,enhoven, Such is apparently the first written report of land, a report; a �etter of information, by · the region about Huntington Bay. It is worthy _ to the States of note here that it was the custom of the early General of the United Netherlands, Dutch navigators to call harbors running far in­ dated March 4, 1650. He describes an expedition land rivers regardless of whether the water was through Long Island Sound, speaks of various salt or fresh. Coldspring I-Iarbor was called bays and harbors, more especially of Oyster Bay. !' Machaquetack River," etc. Then he refers to a bay which he calls Martinne­ The country about Huntington Bay was in­ honck, as follows: "This bay is much deeper and habited by the Matinecock Indians, hence the wider than ·Oyster Bay, and runs westward in, name used by the Dutch: Martinne-honck. divides into three rivers, two of which are naviga­ The to�vn of Huntington was settled in 1653- ble ; the smallest stream runs up in front of the 250 years ago. The settlers were Englishmen, Indian village called Martinnehonck, where they though nearly all had lived some years in New · have their plantations. This tribe is not strong, England, the Bahamas, and many of them also in and consists of about thirty families. There were towns on -Long Island. All had left England formerly in and about this bay great numbers of within twenty years precediqg their arrival at Indian plantations which now lie waste and Huntington. vacant. This land is mostly level and of good Huntington township was occupied by th�ee quality, well adapted for grain and all sorts of tribes of Indians. The Matinicocks occupied cattle ; on the rivers are numerou� valleys of sw�et the north shore of Long Island from Nissequogue and -salt meadows. All sorts of fish are caught (now Smithtown) River on the east to Scouts or ther�." Cow Bay in Hempstead, now North Hempstead, HOME OF JOHN WOOD, " HUNTER," ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS on the west. The Massapeague tribe inhabited the 30 muxes (small brad awls), 30 needles; further southwest part of the town and adjoining terri­ the said sachem doth promise to go, or send some tory on the west. The Secatogue tribe held one, in twenty days to show ·and mark out the land east of these through to the eastern part bounds, and in case it prove not according to ex­ of Islip. pectation then this writing to be voyde and of The first purchase of land was made by three none efectt, but in case it be, then this writing to of the_ inhabitants of Oyster Bay from "' Rascokan stand in full force, power and virtue. Sagamore of the M:atinnicocks, of the one part; ·' ' Witness our hands the 2th of Aprill, 1653. and Richard Houlbrock, Robart Williams, and Daniel Whitehead, their heirs or assigns, certain Tbe mark of _quantitie of land lying and being upon Long RrcHARD + HOULBROCK Island, bounded upon the west side with a river RoBART + Wr•LLIAMS commonly called by the Indians Machaquetack, DANIEL + "\i\THITHEAD on the north side by the sea and going eastward " ' The mark + to a river called Opcatkowtycke, on the south side of the SAGAMORE to the utmost part of my bounds; promising. and the mark + of HEWOIKES by virtue hereof I do promise to free the above the mark + of MuHAMA said lands from all title off and claim that shall the mark + of SYHAR.' be made unto it by reason of any former act; in " The marks of 20 other consideration of which land the aforesaid Richard Indians are given. Houlbrock, Robart Williams, and Daniel White­ " On the same day that this deed was given by head doth promise unto the said Rascokon as the Indians to the Oyster Bay men named in it as followeth: 6 coats, 6 kettles, 6 hatchets, 6 howes, grantees, the latter assigned all their interest in (hose), 6 shirts, 10 knives, 6 fathom of wampum, the premises to certain residents of Huntington, who became the proprietors and they and their "JOP-as VVood, of Halifax, came in 1654, and descendants, or assigns, were ever after called the the !!ext year his father Edman. Edman \Vood proprietors of the first or 'old ' purchase. This was an old man and soon died. Jonas Vv ood, of tract from Coldspring Harbor to a brook running Halifax, was drowned in crossing the Peconic into Northport Harbor and from the Sound to River, probably in the last part of the year 1663. about the old country road is about six miles Jonas Wood, of Oram, was called also Justice square. \i\Tood because he was justice of the peace. Tim­ " The first settlers of Huntington were a body othy \i\Tood died in Huntington in 1659. of men, equally distinguished for the soundness of . "Wm. Rogers arrived early with Jonas Wood their morals and the purity of their lives. They and ·Thomas Wilkes (Wicks). He made the east­ were characterized by peculiar sternness of prin­ ern pttrchase-'from Cows Harbor brocke to ciple, and singular exactness in the discharge of :Niesaqnock River '-in 1656. every duty. They looked on every species of vice "Jonathon R ogers, son of William Rogers, ap­ with a ki_nd of instinctive abhorrence. pears in the records about the same time. "They brought to this country arn unconquer­ " Rev. William Leverick was the first minister, able repugnance ·to arbitrary rule. taking charge in 1657-58. The minister was ·" Among the earliest settlers are the names of called by the town and paid by the town. The James Chichester, John Conklin and his son fi...rst church wa� buil,t by the town and, when the Timothy, Robert Cranfield, Jeffrey Este, Isaac and population outgrew it, it was enlarged pursuant Epenetus Platt, Jonathon Porter, John Sammis, to a vote in town meeting. A committee was ap­ Thomas Scudder and his brother Henry, pointed to see that the work was done and a 'rate' � Thomas Skidmore, John Smith, John Strickland, was laid for it. John Teed, Abiel, .fohn, Samuel, and Content "Thomas Fleet came before 166o. He was a Titus, brothers; Joseph Whit�an, Thomas Wicks. large land owner and vessel owner later. WEST NECK- OVERLOOKING THE BAY AND TRIBUTARIES "Thomas Matthews was probably the first mer­ " John Ketcham held many official positions. chant. He located on the east side of Huntington "Henry Whitney was in Huntington among the Harbor before 166o. first settlers. " Stephen Jarvis came from Southold and set­ " Robert \i\filliams was a Welchman and a man tled as early as 1658 on East Neck. of intelligence. "Thomas Brush came fro1n Southold to Hunt­ " Jonas Holdsworth was the first school teacher ington in 1656-57. He died soon after 1670 and left so far as known. children, Thomas, Richard, John, and Rebecca, " One of the first things the people of Hunting­ who all remained in Huntington. ton did was to establish a school and it was prac­ "John Cory came from Southold about r659; tically a ' free school ' to those residing within the was town clerk in 1664 and later. town limits." PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS ALONG THE BROOKS OF COLDSPRING HARBOR In Colonial Days H U TINGTO I'S first settlers were fully James Chichester, Robert Cranfield, Nathaniel as migratory as their descendants. Many Foster; Stephen Jarvis, Thomas Powell, Isaac of the prominent settlers had lived in two Platt, Thomas Weeks, Jonas V'[ood, Thom�s or three places in New England, some in Whitson, Henry Whitney, Richard Bryant, and four, and in a town or two on Long Island before Thomas Scidmore. Down East N eek were; coming to Huntington. Lists of those living here among others, Henry Scudder, Jeffrey and Isaac only a few years after the settlement· do not con­ Esty, Mark Meggs, Thomas Fleet, John Jones, tain all the names of those who came and lived for Thomas Joanes, and John Finch. At West N eek, a time. John Sammis, Jonas Brush, John Corey, Timothy As a rule the Indians were justly dealt with by and John Conklin, Abial and probably John and the first settlers and there were few difficulties Henry also Edward Titus, John Teed, Richard between the whites and the Indians. Though the Williams, Timothy \1/ ood, and others were build­ Indians had given deeds of the lands they had ing themselves homes. It seems impossible to reserved the right to hunt, so that they continued locate William or Jonathon Rogers. Many of to dwell in their old wigwams and mingled more or their descendants were in the e�st part of the town. less with the whites. They were peaceful. William Rogers was, as we have seen, one of the It is presumed that many of the settlers came by purchasers of the " East Purchase " and he and water; landing at Huntington Harbor. The lands others had one of the ten farms into which it was around the harbor and immediately south of it divided: Jonathon Rogers built a saw mill at were first settled. Along the highway leading Coldspring and in r69r had a grant to build a grist south from the east side of the harbor lived mill there and was given the iron and mill stones Thomas Scudder, Richard Higbie, John Betts, of the old mill. HEAD WATERS OF THE HARBOR AND THE HILLS OF CENTREPORT The settlers early ,secured the services of a and Denies to pay it shall be taken by Destres minister, the Rev. William Leverich, about 1658. forth with." He remained until 1669 when he removed to New­ In 1666 there were 57 freeholders and heads of town, Long Island. families, which in 1684 increased to 84. A com­ Town meetings in the early period were held mittee was appointed to enquire as to those who at various times when any business needed atten­ proposed to settle in the town and none were ad­ tion and all business was attended to at the town mitted unless approved by the committee. meeting. Grants of land were made; contracts As Mr. Leverich had left, the town voted " that were made for the erection of mills, the contract the Constable and Overseers should do what they with the schoolmaster, etc., all were made at town could toward procuring a minister and what they meeting. As the population increased it was not did or procured to be done herein the town would convenient for the whole number of citizens to rest satisfied; and so left it wholly to their dis­ meet two, three, four or more times a year, so in posing." 1667 a constable and four overseers were chosen, The men able to bear arms were enlisted in and after that time one finds " Orders made by companies under officers chosen by themselves, Constable and Townsmen." One order related to and "training" was an early institution in Hunt­ firing the woods; -another '· Ordered that every ington. man having sufficient warning to attend a town Laws were made requiring every man to pro­ meeting shall come to the place appoynted at the vide himself with a1:ms and ammunition for the de­ time appoynted: and for neglect herein they shall fense of the settlement, for the division of lands, pay as followeth, for not coming at the ower six enclosing of fields, regulation of highways and pence, for not coming at all three shillings, and for watering places, for the destru�tion of wild beasts, goeing away without Leave from the Company collection of taxes, establishment and support of a twel pence, and on them that is found Delinquent school, for the prevention and punishment of INTERESTING SHORE LINE OF LLOYD HARBOR-SCENE OF MANY SKIRMISHES IN THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD crime, the preservation of good morals, the sup­ both in a civil and military capacity. I-lats were port of a minister. 1\/Iechanics were invited, and made with broad brims and steeple crowns. The induced to locate in the town by gifts of land, and coats were made with a long, straight body, falling promise of support. below the knees, with no collar, or a very low one, Ananias Carle, of Hempstead, was induced to so that the stock or neck cloth, of spotless linen, settle in the town by a gift of a large farm in Dix fastened behind with a silver buckle, was fully dis- Hills as he was a military man, and the people . played. Red woolen stockings v,1ere much ad- needed an officer to command their local militia mired. efficiently for protection against the Dutch .. . Richard Nichols, the first Colonial Governor, The Rev. Elipl;alet Jones remained with this convened a meeting of two Deputies from every people fifty-four years until his death, aged 91, but town on Long Island, at Hempstead, on the 1st of in 1719 the Rev. Ebenezer Prime was employed as March, 1665. The Deputies from the town qf his assistant, and in 1723 he was ordained and in­ Huntingtqn were Jonas Wood and John I(etcham. stalled as a colleague pastor. The " Duke's Laws" were enacted and put in force The early Huntingtonians were very strict in the at this meeting. The Deputies signed a very ful­ observance of the Sabbath, and punished any in­ some address to the Duke of York, pledging habitant for desecrating the day. loyalty as his faithful subjects, which did not meet The women at the close of the seventeenth, and with the approval of their constituents, and on their even of the eighteenth century, carried heated return to their homes they were handled without stones or bricks to church in their muffs and the gloves by the people, and insulted in various ways. men at church put their feet in fur bags or mocca- Governor Nichols insisted that the town should ' sins, wi.th which many seats were provided. At take out a patent from him. This is dated No­ a late date foot stoves were used. Swords were vember 30, 1666. customarily worn, when in full dress, by persons The subsequent patents from Governor Dongan and Governor Fletcher were very similar, differing At last in November, 1782, more than a year after in some minor points, but not in the vital grant. the surrender of Cornwallis, Colonel Thompson, It seemed necessary to have a new patent because the commander of the garrison here at that time, the governor had a good fee for granting a new ordered the church torn down and used the lumber patent. in building Fort Golgotha. The present building In 1723, June 5, when Rev. Ebenezer Prime was erected on the same site in 1783. was ordained, there were 41 members of the The church was at first Congregational, it be­ church, 14 men and 27 women. Mr. Jones, the came Presbyterian in 1748, but elders were first pastor, is added to the men, making 15. elected in 17 54. The original church was enlarged once. It The only other denomination to come before the 5tood fifty years, till 1715. The first church was in · Revolution was the Episcopal, which erect.eel a the valley west of the present edifice. The exact church in 1750. Other denominations have since position is unknown, but it was beside 11eeting built churches in the town. House Brook. The second church stood where A small church edifice was erected on the south the present one stands. When the British occu­ side about 1730. There was probably no church pi_ed Huntington they drove the pastor from his organization then. The building was used occa­ house, put horses in his stable, bedded them with ·sionally until 1778, when· the British tore it down his unthreshed wheat, destroyed some of his and removed the lumber to Hempstead to build books, tore leaves _out of others to spoil them barracks. When it was rebuilt after the war a without taking the trouble to destroy the whole Presbyterian Church was organized. book, destroyed one volume of a set to ruin the At an early period a grist mill and a saw mill work, etc. They tore out the seats of the church were erected on a stream called Ireland's Brook for firewood, used the church as a storehouse, in Amityville. afterward as a riding school, finally as a stable. ·As early as June 2 r, r 774, Huntington, at a town SALT MEADOWS AND HARBOR-FROM GRIST MILL DAM, COLDSPRING HARBOR meeting, put forth her declaration of rights as " 6th.-That in our opinion the most eff cctual follows: means to this end is to break off all commercial .. 1st.-Th.at every freeman's property is abso­ intercourse with Great Britain, Ireland, and the lutely his own, and no man has a right to take it British Vv est India Colonies. from him without his consent, expressed either by .. 7th.-And we declare ourselves ready to enter himself or his representatives. into these or such other measures as shall be " 2d.-. That therefore all taxes and duties im­ agreed upon by a general congress of all the colo­ posed on His lV.Iajesty's subjects in the American nies * * * Colonies by the authority of Parliament are wholly " And, lastly, we appoint Col. Platt Conklin, unconstitutional and a plain violation of the most John Sloss I-Iobart, Esq., and Thomas Wickes, a essential rights of British subjects. committee of this town to act in conjunction with " 3d.-That the act of Parliament for shutting the committees of other towns in the county, to up the port of Boston, or any other means * * correspond with the committee of New York." under color of law to compel them or any other of As it became evident that the British govern­ His Majesty's American subjects to submit to Par­ ment intended to coerce the colonies into submis­ liamentary .taxation, are subversive of their just sion military organizations sprung up everywhere. and constitutional liberty. Of the 1st or \.Vestern Regiment of Suffolk "4th.-We arc of opinion that our brethern of County, Gilbert Potter, of this town, was lieu­ Boston are suffering in the common cause of Brit­ tenant colonel. Three companies were raised in ish America. Huntington at first and later two more, and Jesse " 5th.-That it is the indispensable duty of all Brush was a major in the regiment. colonies to unite in some effectual measure for the They were about to join the American army repeal of said act,and every other act of Parliament when the disastrous battle of Long Island caused whereby they are taxed for raising a revenue. them to disband. THE BOUNDARY OF" HUNTINGTON SOUTH "-OLD OCEAN OFF BABYLON ''Huntington South'' T HE portion of the original township of with his n1en as an officer in the British service in Huntington which is now included in the 1776 and 1777, in the work of constructing a fort town of Babylon was formerly called at Lloyd Neck. On August 19, 1779, General "Huntington South," and while nearly Delancy issued an order to Captain Dingee to have the entire population of this section was favorable two hundred and ten men of the Suffolk County to the cause of independence, there were a few militia parade with their blankets, on i\/Ionday, who refused to aid in what they regarded as a August 23, 1779, to be employed in repairing and rebellion against the constituted government. constructing the fort at Brooklyn, and to cut, hew, Among this small minority was one Arthur Din­ and transport seventy-five thousand pieces of tim­ gee. He owned a large tract of land, a part of ber, pickets, fascines, etc., to be used in the work. which is now embraced in the present incorporated To this order Captain Dingee returned answer that village of Babylon. The tract lay on both sides of it was impossible. Obviously it was a difficult the Sumpawams road, extending from the present order to enforce. At that time the loyalists (called Railroad Avenue north to the nursery of Prince Tories) complained that the patriots (rebels) of the H. Foster. Mr. Dingee appears to have been a town of Huntington were very insolent and were decided loyalist, and doubtless acted in accordance only restrained by the presence of Royal troops. with his convictions. Upon the receipt of Captain Dingee·s letter Gen­ After the occupation of Long Island by the Bri­ eral Delancy issued a more positive order contain­ tish troops he served as captain of militia, having ing the following: superseded the captain commissioned under the " If the requisition of men and material for the Colonial government-probably Captain Platt. purpose before mentioned is not immediately com­ There is evidence that Captain Dingee assisted pliecl with a detachment of troops will be sent into :o�E OF AMlTYVILLE'S OLD HOMESTEADS that district, and every person who shall refuse to those British agents personally liable for acts contribute his assistance toward a work in which which, in many instances, they could not avoid do­ the King's services and the interest of the loyal ing. Besides, those involuntary " tresspassers " inhabitants are so blended, shall be turned, with­ could be tried in a county in which they did not out distinction, out of Long Island, and their farms reside. The year 1783 was the year that tried the will be allotted for the support of those who have souls of the loyalists, as the years immediately suffered for real attachment to government." preceding had tried the souls of patriots. Mr. Of course further resistance to the order was Dingee, realizing that the enforcement of the tres­ useless, and it was generally complied with. Gov­ pass act would deprive him of all his property, exe­ ernor Tryon also, in like manner, many times gave cuted to his son Selah a warranty deed for all real, orders to captains of the militia of Huntington and a bill of sale for all his personal property; and town to have cut, and sent to New York City, fled to St. John, Nova Scotia (now New Bruns­ large quantities of wood for the use of the British wick). In 1792 he returned to his home on troops. Long Island. Mr. Dingee had spent about eight About the year 1783, the Legislature of the years in exile, and during that time the enmity to State of New York enacted the so-called "tresspass the loyalists had softened to such a degree that he act" by which suits could be brought against all could dwell at his old home on terms of friendship persons acting under British authority who had with his neighbors. Mr. Dingee lived a number of impressed horses, cattle, men, wagons, or wood years after his return, and was a liberal contribu­ belonging to patriotic owners. The law made tor to the support of the Presbyterian church. FORT FRANKLIN, LLOYD NECK-AN IMPORTANT BRITISH OUTPOST IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES Fortifications 1n Huntington H UNTINGTON was the scene of active which would cause most humiliation to the inhabi­ operations in the colonial period. Both tants. On the top of this hill one hundred grave the British and the Continental forces stones were leveled and the old residents were set considered this section of sufficient im­ to work digging the ditch. An earthwork was portance to warrant attention. The British had thrown up six feet high around the fort, which was several forts within the township, the most impor­ two acres in extent. It faced the north and was tant of which was Fort Golgotha. _five rods wide with a gate in the middle. Colonel In the fall of 1782 the crowning outrage to the Thompson erected his own marquee close to the feelings of the patriots in Huntington was com­ grave of the Rev. Ebenezer Prime, a brave and mitted by Colonel Benjamin Thompson, a Massa­ especially active patriot, in order that he might chusetts Tory who was stationed here with six " tread on the old rebel whenever he went in or hundred men. Already the old First Presbyterian out." Church had been torn down and now, although Using the earthwork for one side, the soldiers the articles of peace had been drawn up, Colonel constructed their barracks of the timber brought Thompson ordered the beams, timber, and planks from the First Church and the buildings in the to be used in the construction of a fort in the vicinity which had been torn down. The tomb­ center of the village. This he named Fort Gol­ stones were used as tables and ovens, and it is said gotha. that many of the people saw the reversed inscrip­ The spot honored on July 4, 1903, by the raising tion from the stones erected to the memory of of Old Glory has been desecrated by the tread of their friends on the bread which the British ate. hundreds of Tory feet. It was this place Colonel Some of the gravestones were carted as far as Thompson chose as fit"ting for his fort and one West Hills by relatives of the dead and there · ALL THAT REMAINS OF WEST Hll,.LS STONE BLOCK HOUSE, ERECTED AS A PROTECTION AGAINST INDIANS hidden until the destruction of the fort, after which west end of Lloyd Harbor. It was a most im­ they were returned to the old cemetery. portant point in the days of British occupation. As the war was practically over before the erec­ A strong force of His Majesty's men were in tion of Fort Golgotha, it saw no active service. In· charge and with this as a base raids were made 1784, after its evacuation by the British, it was upon the surrounding region. Vast quantities of leveled by the people and the material sold at timber and cordwood were felled and the natural auction. \i\Tith the proceeds a fence was erected resources of this rich country were sadly depleted. around the parsonage. Fort Franklin, with its companion earthworks on For protection against attack by water there t):ie east side of Lloyd N eek, at a point command­ were two forts on Lloyd N eek, one which com­ ing Huntington Bay and its tributaries, offered manded the waters at the east side of the neck, and protection for British ships which, to a consider­ Fort Franklin, on the summit of the high bluff able number, were anchored for varying periods overlooking Coldspring Harbor. Another fortifi­ in Huntington and Oyster Bays. cation was close by the main road, on the summit Colonial forces from Connecticut planned and of Gallows Hill, later called Fort Hill, east of _the attempted numerous attacks on these Lloyd Neek village. There were some defenses of minor im­ defenses and there were some lively actions. The portance in the central section of the township. fact that cannonball and heavy shot have been The remains of one of these is still shown on the found at numerous points on Lloyd and West Place farm at \rVest Hills. Neeks gives mute evidence of the genuineness of Fort Franklin was situated upon the high the family traditions which have been handed ground at the west side of Lloyd Neek near to the down, telling of fierce engagements in this region. • NORTHPORT FROM THE WESTWARD-SPY HILL Geography T HE territory embraced in the first town­ ship of Huntington, situated thirty to forty miles from New York City, included a strip across Long Island, from the Sound to the Ocean. The township of Babylon fully pleasing, affording delightful facilities for boating, bathing, fis_hing, and all the salt water recreations. On the north side of the region are the villages of Coldspring Harbor, Huntington, Centreport, has since been formed from the southern -part of arid Northport, each with a frontage on salt water. the area. Hence the two towns are jointly inter­ Further south are Fair Ground, V\f est Hills. Lark­ ested in the celebration of the 250th anniver­ field, Long Swamp, Dix Hills, Commack, Elwood, sary of the settlement. The geographical situation Melville, Wyandance, Deer Park, and Half Hollow includes a great variety of country. North of the Hills. Still further south are Pinclawn, Amityville, middle section is a range of hills, one of which rises Lindenhurst, and Babylon. to the highest point on Long Island. Jayne's The characteristics of the country in the earliest Hill has an elevation of 421 feet, according to a days of occupation by English-speaking people U. S. government survey. From several of the were such as· to make it a self-supporting country. hill tops one can see Long Island Sound on one The colonists were thus enabled to make a com­ side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The fortable living, and found it unnecessary to move northern half of the section is hilly, the southern on as they had done from other places before part almost flat. There are numerous attractive reaching Huntington.· The developn1ent up to the streams and lakes of exceptionally clear water. present time has been a gradual and steady growth, Many of the hills are heavily wooded and the fields and there never was a time when Huntington's are fertile. The harbors and bays prove wonder- prospects were brighter than in the year 1903. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OLD Tll\IE GARDEKS Journalism in Huntington S AMUEL A. SEABURY established the poet Walt Whitman, whose home was at \i\Test American Eagle in 1821. In May, 1825, it Hills. The name bas never been changed. was changed to Long Island Journal of Phil­ The S11fi·o11i Democrat was established by Edward osophy and Cabinet of Variety, published by Strayhan, a young n1an of ability, who died soon Samuel Fleet. The name was changed in 1827 to afterward. It has passed through many changes Portico. of management, and is now called the Sufi·ozk The Long Islander was established in 1836 by the Bulletin. Captain Kidd Story T HERE is a story, which has been told so many times in Huntington as the truth, that it is firmly believed, to the effect that one of the members of the crew of Cap­ he ran into the woods and made his way to the south. A large hollow log is claimed to have given him shelter and cover from the prying eyes of his pursuer �. Indeed, it is alleged that the crew of the tain Kidd, the famous pirate, escaped from the ship, who came out for him, sat on the very log in pirate vessel in Huntington town, bought 12.nd, and which Conklin was concealed and made declara­ made his home at Half Hollow Hills. The story is tions with a great deal of emphasis as to what they stoutly denied by some historians, but here it is. would do with him if they should succeed in find­ Take it as gospel truth or not. ing the runaway. Night coming on, they gave up Captain Kidd certainly did visit Huntington the search and returned to the ship. Conklin is town. He ,vas here with his vessel and his crew. then alleged to have made his way toward the mid­ J t is alleged that the little sheet of water near dle of the island, following what is now known as Northport, now known as Sweetwater Lake, was " Rogue's Pathway,'' thence out to I-Ialf Hollow in those days an arm of Long Island Sound. nav­ 1-Iills. There he met a friendly band of Indians igable for large vessels, and IGdcl is said to have who gave him shelter. sought its shelter as a retired and safe anchorage. Conklin liked the treatment received so well, and He is said also to have anchored in Coldspring was so pleased with the character of the local­ Jf arbor. As the story goes, it was when the I(idd ity., that he purchased a large tract of land. The vessel was anchored there that Jacob Conklin was fine old homestead, which w · as erected on a sent ashore to get a supply of fresh water. He is knoll, surrounded by numerous bubbling springs, said to have been an unwilling member of the cre,;1,1. is still standing and in a good state of preservation. Taking advantage of the opportunity to get away, The region is now named \tVyandance. WOOLEN MILL AT COLDSPRING HARBOR-THE FIRST lN NEW YORK