Click HERE for
SAYVILLE HISTORY
SAYVILLE HISTORY:
Being a historic community, here's some of what I know about it... Before being officially settled in 1861, Sayville was home to native Americans, the earliest being the farming Secatogue tribe (also known as the Secatague or Secatoag tribe).
The convenience of rail travel arrived in 1868, and Sayville flourished! Back in the day you would have had your choice of over 30 seaside wooden hotels. Alas, none remain. Most were vicitims of fires and were not rebuilt(candles and sketchy early electricity were surely to blame). Visitors enjoyed the grand 1500 seat operahouse (also destroyed by fire in 1961), our Great South Bay beaches, and took a short ferry ride with Sayville Ferry to Fire Island to enjoy the more remote island and experience the very different Atlantic Ocean beaches.
Early important industries were timber and oysters - just to the west (West Sayville) we had the home of the world famous Blue Point Oysters and the Blue Point Oyster Factory! The building sits over one the most unique aquifers in the world, with perfect conditions to spawn and grow oysters. The building still stands to this day, now a working shipyard - thanks to residents (including myself, a founding member) who successfully formed the West Sayville Civic Association (WSCA) to fight off a condo developer seeking to level the building. We couldn't stand to lose this historic building or forever lose the benefits of this special aquifer. Oyster cultivation is still being done there.
The building a stones throw from the Long Island Maritime Museum, which houses a spectacular collection of early small boats in an unassuming warehouse on the bay. Boat restorations are always underway on fabulous old boats that will later be on display. The property houses a museum, an old oyster house, an early baymen's cottage, and a working restoration shop. All are open to visitors, and the best time to visit is in August, when they host the Long Island Seafood Festival! Yum! Lobster, clams, chowder, roasted sweet corn, and more.
The convenience of rail travel arrived in 1868, and Sayville flourished! Back in the day you would have had your choice of over 30 seaside wooden hotels. Alas, none remain. Most were vicitims of fires and were not rebuilt(candles and sketchy early electricity were surely to blame). Visitors enjoyed the grand 1500 seat operahouse (also destroyed by fire in 1961), our Great South Bay beaches, and took a short ferry ride with Sayville Ferry to Fire Island to enjoy the more remote island and experience the very different Atlantic Ocean beaches.
Early important industries were timber and oysters - just to the west (West Sayville) we had the home of the world famous Blue Point Oysters and the Blue Point Oyster Factory! The building sits over one the most unique aquifers in the world, with perfect conditions to spawn and grow oysters. The building still stands to this day, now a working shipyard - thanks to residents (including myself, a founding member) who successfully formed the West Sayville Civic Association (WSCA) to fight off a condo developer seeking to level the building. We couldn't stand to lose this historic building or forever lose the benefits of this special aquifer. Oyster cultivation is still being done there.
The building a stones throw from the Long Island Maritime Museum, which houses a spectacular collection of early small boats in an unassuming warehouse on the bay. Boat restorations are always underway on fabulous old boats that will later be on display. The property houses a museum, an old oyster house, an early baymen's cottage, and a working restoration shop. All are open to visitors, and the best time to visit is in August, when they host the Long Island Seafood Festival! Yum! Lobster, clams, chowder, roasted sweet corn, and more.
