Bill Text: NY J02109 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 335th Anniversary of the Town of Islip, New York
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-20 - ADOPTED [J02109 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-J02109-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution No. 2109 BY: Senator BOYLE COMMEMORATING the 335th Anniversary of the Town of Islip, New York WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commemorate the distinguished histories of the communities which comprise the noble body of this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 335th Anniversary of the Town of Islip, New York, to be recognized with a myriad of events, kicking off with a 335th Birthday Celebration and Cupola Lighting on Thursday, November 29, 2018, followed by Living History Day at the Islip Grange on Saturday, June 8, 2019; festivities will culminate in December of 2019 with a time capsule event to be held; and WHEREAS, On November 29, 1683, William Nicoll became the first patentee of Islip when he purchased land from Sachem (Chief) Winnequaheagh of Connetquot; he named his 50,000-acre plantation Islip Grange, in honor of the town from which he emigrated: Islip, England; and WHEREAS, The original settlement encompassed Bayport, Bohemia, Brentwood, Central Islip, East Islip, Great River, Hauppauge, Holbrook, Holtsville, Islip Terrace, Oakdale, Sayville, West Sayville, and part of Ronkonkoma; part of this original domain is now the site of Heckscher State Park; and WHEREAS, In 1710, the precinct (or district) of Islip was established and in 1720, the first elections were held for the posts of supervisor, constable, collector and two assessors; the Town Clerks entry for the first Tuesday of April 1790, marked the first in which Islip was referred to as a "town"; and WHEREAS, Some early settlers made their living raising grain and beef, but Islip's proximity to the water made fishing and shipping the principal way of life; Jacob Ockers, whose Oakdale home on Montauk Highway is the only town-owned structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was known as the Oyster King at the turn of the century; and WHEREAS, A Dutch immigrant, Jacob Ockers parlayed his limited fishing experience into a world renowned industry; by 1900 his Blue Point Oyster Company shipped as many as 100,000 barrels of oysters a year all over the world; and WHEREAS, In 1908, New York State passed a law forbidding any oysters to be called Bluepoints unless they came from the Great South Bay; the dam and oyster industry employed 500 boats and 1,100 men locally, and oyster shells were used to pave town streets until around 1915; and WHEREAS, The Great South Bay also attracted wealthy tourists from New York City who built mansions, lodges and country clubs for their vacationing pleasure, several of which still stand today; Islip's oldest deeded home, and site of an overnight stay by George Washington, is Sagtikos Manor in West Bay Shore; and WHEREAS, William Nicoll had St. John's Episcopal Church in Oakdale built in 1765, so early settlers and Native Americans who had become Christians had a place to worship; it remains the oldest church still in active use on the South Shore; and WHEREAS, William K. Vanderbilt's estate is the former site of Dowling College in Oakdale, and the estate of Commodore Bourne, a founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, is the former site of St. John's University; and WHEREAS, The original South Side Sportsmen's Club lodge still stands amid the beautiful grounds of Connetquot River State Park Preserve; this stately and important architectural structure is said to be what first attracted many of the noted personalities to the area; and WHEREAS, Over the course of Islip's heritage, it has changed from a subsistence farming economy in the early years, to a bustling fishing and tourism area in the 19th and 20th centuries, to the "bedroom community" of the post-World War II years, to its status today as the third largest town in the State of New York, where industry and community provide a great place for its more than 300,000 residents to live, work and play; and WHEREAS, In recognition of the Town of Islip's rich history and enduring contribution to the State of New York, this Legislative Body is proud to pay tribute to this spirited town upon the occasion of its 335th Anniversary; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 335th Anniversary of the Town of Islip, New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Town of Islip.