About OB&EN

The History of Oyster Bay

The History of Oyster Bay as written by John E. Hammond

From the introduction to John E. Hammond's book "Oyster Bay."

"The original inhabitants of Oyster Bay were Matinecock, who were here more than 1,000 years ago. Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch director of New Netherlands, tells that the first settlement by Europeans anywhere on Long Island was by the Dutch at Oyster Bay in 1632. Although that 1632 Dutch settlement did not last, the Dutch continued to maintain influence in the area for many years. When the Dutch explorer David Pietersz DeVries sailed into Oyster Bay in 1639, he recorded in his journal that 'he came to anchor in Oyster Bay . . . There are fine Oysters here, whence our nation has given it the name Oyster Bay.' When the first English settlement on Long Island was established at Oyster Bay in April 1640, the Dutch sent soldiers out to arrest and chase the settlers out of what they claimed as their territory. The English settlers then left Oyster Bay and went out east to establish a settlement at Southampton.

A little more than a decade later, in 1653, a new group of settlers arrived in Oyster Bay from Sandwich on Cape Cod and purchased the Town Spot from the Matinecock people who were here. The legality of this purchase was contested by the Dutch, who asserted that the purchase was made in their claimed territory. The 1650 Treaty of Hartford had sought to clarify the Dutch/English boundary, but the issue was not finally settled until the Dutch were driven out of New Netherlands, by the English in 1662.

The Settlement at Oyster Bay came under heavy Quaker influence in the 1660s, and the Quaker founder, George Fox, preached at Oyster Bay in 1671. This led to the erection at Oyster Bay of the first Quaker meetinghouse in New York in 1672. The influence of the Quakers led to the refusal of local freeholders to sign the loyalty oath required in the English land patents, and it was not until they were threatened with the total loss of all their rights to the lands they had purchased from the Native Americans that the freeholders at Oyster Bay finally agreed to sign the Andros Patent in 1677.

A century later, the small village became involved very early in the events that led to the Revolutionary War, when the Sons of Liberty met in Oyster Bay as early as 1765. During the Revolutionary War, Oyster Bay and all of Queens County came under British control much to the chagrin of most of the residents. Many were pressed into service with the occupying British forces. Some because active spies, like Robert Townsend, while others, like Capt. Daniel Youngs, did everything possible to interfere with the British war efforts. Raynham Hall, the home of Samuel Townsend, was commandeered by the commander of the Queen's Rangers, Lt. Col. John G. Simcoe, as his headquarters. It was at Raynham Hall that Maj. John Andre often met with Col. Simcoe. Major Andre was executed shortly afterward for his involvement with Benedict Arnold and his plan to turn over West Point to the British. After the war, when Pres. George Washington made his tour of Long Island, one of his stops included the Youngs homestead, in Oyster Bay Cove, the home of Capt. Daniel Youngs, who had been pressed into British service during the war.

In the middle of the 19th century, Oyster Bay became a favored destination for many of the wealthy residents of New York City hoping to escape the oppressive conditions present there in the summertime. Among this group were the Beekmans, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt, who brought along his son Theodore Roosevelt and grandson Theodore (later to become Pres. Theodore Roosevelt.) Upon the death of Cornelius in 1870, Theodore Roosevelt's father began renting a summer home at Oyster Bay named 'Tranquility' (demolished in the mid 1940s). Later, Theodore Roosevelt chose Oyster Bay as his permanent place of residence when he purchased property on Cove Neck from the Youngs family and began building Sagamore Hill in 1880. He set up permanent residence at Sagamore Hill in 1886. Oyster Bay remained his home throughout his life. Upon his death at Sagamore Hill in 1919, Theodore Roosevelt was buried at Youngs Memorial Cemetery, just across the street from the Youngs homestead, where George Washington had rested overnight little more than a century earlier.

The Long Island Railroad extended the rail line from Locust Valley to Oyster Bay in June 1889. The railroad provided fast and reliable transport into the city and resulted in many of the summer residents becoming year-round residents. The surrounding area expanded rapidly in the early 20th century as many old family farms were purchased and turned into Gold Coast estates, but the small hamlet retained much of its essential character, which had developed from the early Dutch and English settlements and its close connection with the water."

Other Significant Historical Information Courtesy of the Oyster Bay Historical Society

The Early Settlement of Oyster Bay
By John E. Hammond

Aside from the words "Town of Oyster Bay," the significant devices on the town seal are a stylized seagull and the date 1653. The Seagull was created by Oyster Bay artist Alfred J. Walker, who graduated from Oyster Bay High School and Pratt Institute and then went on to become an artist with the Walt Disney Studios. The date 1653 comes from the first purchase by Samuel Mayo, William Leverich and Peter Wright, but this was not the first European settlement at Oyster Bay...

Link to source.

A Brief History of Oyster Bay Schools
By John E. Hammond

...The new school house was dedicated on Wednesday, December 27, 1872. Almost 1000 people from the village turned out for the ceremonies. Rev. Charles Wightman pronounced the Invocation and gave a short address...

Link to source pdf.

More Courtesy of the Oyster Bay Historical Society

Link to Oyster Bay History Page.

Noteable Events

Notable Events - During the Revolutionary War, Raynham Hall was owned by the patriot Townsend family. It was here, the Major Andre was billeted and Bennedict Arnold's plot to turn over West Point to the British was uncovered.

In the 1880s, the LIRR extended rail service from LocustValley as a means to establish a connection to Boston. On June 21st, 1889, the first LIRR train arrived in Oyster Bay. In the following year, service commenced with the train coaches being loaded onto a ferry for a connection to the New Haven Rairoad at Norwalk CT. Service lasted less than a year.

Notable Past Residents

Oyster Bay is known for the residence and summer White House of Theodore Roosevelt, Sagamore Hill.

Many well known entertainers spent their youth in this area; among its best known former residents are musician Billy Joel, tennis player John McEnroe, authors Thomas Pynchon and Tracy Kidder, and Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo (Pynchon and Ranaldo both attended Oyster Bay High School). A famous current resident is composer John Barry.

History of the Watershed Courtesy of Friends of the Bay

(from State of the Watershed Report prepared for Friends of the Bay, Fuss & O’Neill, November 2009)

The area including the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Complex watershed was purchased by colonists from the Native Americans in 1653, with the exception of Lloyd Neck and Centre Island, which were not purchased until 1664 and 1665, respectively. The Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor waterways have attracted merchants and colonization throughout the centuries. During the 17th century, common occupations were related to maritime activities, such as boat builders, carpenters, innkeepers, shipwrights and surveyors. The clay deposits on Centre Island began to be used for brick-making. Commerce and populations increased through the 18th century. By the mid-19th century and the invention of the steamboat, Long Island Sound became a popular summer vacation resort destination (McGee, 1997).

Scientific exploration of Cold Spring Harbor and Oyster Bay began in the early 20th century with the development of a biological laboratory to study the freshwater rivers, springs, tidal flats, and saltwater harbor. The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory of Quantitative Biology is still in operation more than 100 years later, conducting world-renowned research. The laboratory boasts seven Nobel Prize winners (McGee, 1997).

In the time following World War II, prominent people continued to commute to Oyster Bay from New York City. Business and shopping increased in the area. Current waterfront commerce and activities include: Petro-Commander Oil Corporation, Oyster Bay Marine Center, Frank M. Flower and Sons, three yacht clubs (Seawanhaka Corinthian, Sagamore, and Oak Cliff), and various beaches and a sport club. Commercial oystering remains a prominent industry in Oyster Bay which began in the second half of the 19th century, with underwater shellfish lands leased by the Town of Oyster Bay. The harbor bottom and Mill Neck Creek are important oystering grounds. Prior to World War II, the shellfish in Oyster Bay were plentiful and supported four major oyster harvesting companies and independent baymen. By 1960, the oyster populations began to dwindle and the Flower and Sons Company began a shellfish hatchery to replenish the harbor stock. Today, the Frank M. Flower & Sons, Inc. shellfish company, along with more than 80 independent commercial baymen, annually harvests up to 90% of New York’s oyster crop and up to 33% of hard clams from the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary. The continued success of commercial shellfishing in Oyster Bay remains a concern for town and village government due to threatened water quality from development and other activities in the harbor and its watershed (McGee, 1997).

View source and images here.

About Oyster Bay & Cold Spring Harbor Courtesy of Friends of the Bay

The Harbor Complex – A Threatened Vital Resource

The Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Complex is the cleanest estuary in western Long Island Sound and is a vital ecological, economic, and recreational resource. The approximately 6,000-acre estuary, spanning approximately 40 linear miles of shoreline, is the site of one of the most economically important shellfisheries in the State, contains a National Wildlife Refuge, State-designated Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitats, and has been identified by New York State as an Outstanding Natural Coastal Area. Moreover, the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Complex is connected to Long Island Sound, an Estuary of National Significance. Oyster Bay is among the 30-plus areas highlighted by the Long Island Sound Study Stewardship Initiative, in New York and Connecticut, for the ecological and/or recreational values that they support.

The Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary and its watershed have been facing increasing challenges in recent years. Illegal dumping and polluted stormwater threaten water quality, development pressure is reducing the amount of open space and increasing impervious surfaces in the watershed, and man-made dams and culverts inhibit fish passage along streams. Portions of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor watershed are located within the Oyster Bay Special Groundwater Protection Area, designated a Critical Environmental Area by the NYSDEC. The Oyster Bay Special Groundwater Protection Area is one of two such state-designated areas in Nassau County for the purpose of maintaining open space for aquifer recharge. The watershed also contains the West Hills Melville Special Groundwater Protection Area in Huntington, another important protection area for drinking water supply. Ongoing development, intensification of land use, and everyday activities within the watershed has the potential to adversely impact groundwater and public drinking water supplies.

Most of the waters of Oyster Bay are classified with the highest and best water quality determination for shellfishing – an unusual distinction given its proximity to New York City and the fact that the harbors to the west have been closed for several decades. The detrimental impact of degraded water quality on shellfishing in the estuary complex is evident as Oyster Bay Harbor, Mill Neck Creek, and its tidal tributaries are among the 69 waterbodies on the New York State list of impaired waters for shellfish harvesting, and the NYSDEC has decertified all shellfish harvesting areas in Mill Neck Creek and some shellfish harvesting areas in Oyster Bay.

- Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Watershed Action Plan, Executive Summary

View source and images here.

General Info...

Oyster Bay, NY

East Norwich, NY

OB&EN Central School District

Oyster Bay, NY

Oyster Bay hamlet is located in Nassau County, New York. It is situated on the northern shore of Long Island and is known for its picturesque waterfront views, historic landmarks, and charming downtown area. The hamlet has a rich history, with roots dating back to the 1600s, and has been home to many notable figures, including Theodore Roosevelt, who had his summer White House in the area.

One of the main attractions in Oyster Bay is the waterfront, which offers beautiful views of Oyster Bay Harbor and Cold Spring Harbor. Visitors can take a stroll along the shoreline, go fishing, or take a boat tour of the area. Another must-see attraction is the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, which was the home of Theodore Roosevelt and is now a museum dedicated to his life and legacy.

In addition to its natural beauty and historic landmarks, Oyster Bay has a vibrant downtown area with shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. It is also home to several parks and nature preserves, making it a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Oyster Bay is a charming and picturesque hamlet with something to offer everyone who visits.

East Norwich, NY

East Norwich is a hamlet located in the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York. It is a small, community with a population of just over 2,700 people. The area is known for its tree-lined streets, and small-town charm.

Another popular destination in East Norwich is the Muttontown Preserve. This 550-acre nature preserve features hiking trails, equestrian trails, and a variety of wildlife. It is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy some peace and quiet in a natural setting.

East Norwich is a wonderful place to live or visit if you're looking for a quiet, picturesque community with plenty of natural beauty and history to explore.

OB&EN Central School District

According to the district's website, it serves approximately 1,100 students across three schools: Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, James H. Vernon Middle School, and Oyster Bay High School. The schools in the OB-EN district are known for their quality education and high standards. They offer a range of programs and extracurricular activities, including sports teams, music programs, and clubs, to provide students with a well-rounded education. The district also places a strong emphasis on technology and incorporates it into the classroom to enhance the learning experience.

About OB&EN

The History of Oyster Bay

General Info...

Oyster Bay - East Norwich