Cycling (pre)historic 3 Village History close at hand
By Beverly C. Tyler
August 13, 2008 | 01:23 PM We begin the second leg of our bicycle tour from the Setauket Village Green. The first leg, in the July 31 issue, covered the Setauket Village Green, Strong's Neck and East Setauket, including homes and sites of the Revolutionary War Setauket Spies. On this leg we will be seeing much of the natural environment of the Three Village area, concentrating on the Native American settlements. From the Setauket Village Green ride west on Main Street to the Setauket Mill Pond. Native Americans of the Algonquian language and culture have lived on Long Island over 8,000 years. The Woodland era Indians, from about 3,000 years ago, established a number of settlements here. In Setauket, the Europeans named the people living in the Indian village the "Setalcotts," from the place name of their village, an Algonquian word meaning "land at the mouth of the creek." Just past the Setauket Post Office is the entrance to the Frank Melville Memorial Park. A short walk around the horseshoe-shaped park provides a view of the pond, the extensive planting, the simulated grist mill and the wildlife and bird sanctuary to the north along Conscience Bay. Pathways past the red barn near the mill take you into the sanctuary. Walk along the left path that circles the sanctuary and runs along the Conscience Bay wetland. This area, a nursery for fish, birds and small animals, was also important to Setalcotts who used the grasses, trees, ferns and cattails for everything from building materials to medicines. Much of this area has remained unchanged for over 350 years. As you continue around the park you will see the cottage of the last Setauket miller, Everett Hawkins, and the circa 1680 Woodhull Satterly Jergenson house, home to a succession of millers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Grains, including corn and wheat, were important parts of the colonial diet and the grist mill was an essential ingredient in producing flour and corn meal. Turn right out of the park and go west up Old Field Road to the top of the hill and turn left on West Meadow Road. We follow it to Market Path, on the left just past Mud Road. Along the narrow Market Path there are oak, beech and white pine trees, and the woods are full of laurel. Our route takes us across Quaker Path onto Highwood Road, which passes, and then merges with Southgate, just before intersecting Mt. Grey Road. Across Mt. Grey is Waterview Lane, on the edge of West Meadow Creek. The first cul-de-sac provides just a glimpse of the creek. At the end of Waterview was the location of a prehistoric Native American tool manufacturing site, where drills, knives, arrowheads, spear points and other stone implements were made. We know this by the large quantities of stone flakes and roughed-out stones found there. The Fischetti site was named after the builder of this development who voluntarily stopped construction of the last house for over a year to allow for the archaeological dig. The almost total absence of food refuse at the site shows that this was not the location of a village. However, a village site — the Stony Brook or Richie site on Aunt Amy's Creek — did exist approximately one-half mile to the south during the same time period. Backtrack along Waterview and turn right on Mt. Grey Road, heading south to where Quaker Path intersects. Just at the intersection we turn right onto Lubber Street. A short distance down Lubber there is a memorial to the ancient white oak that stood here until 1979. White oak was the primary building material for the frames of colonial houses and barns. White oak timber framing can be seen in the 1729 Caroline Church at the Setauket Village Green. Turn right onto Black Duck Drive and immediately left onto Night Heron Drive. On the left behind the houses along Night Heron is one of the tributaries of Aunt Amy's Creek. Night Heron curves to the right as it leaves Aunt Amy's Creek and runs along West Meadow Creek. At the point 100 yards before Aunt Amy's Creek meets West Meadow Creek was the site of a prehistoric Native American village encampment — the aforementioned Stony Brook or Richie site. An archaeological project was conducted here in the 1950s. This village is about 300 yards down West Meadow Creek from the tool manufacturing site mentioned above. At the end of Lubber Street turn right onto Woodfield Road. It winds around so close to the water that you can smell the salt air through the woods. The road takes us past a log cabin on the left that is actually a contemporary home, built in this most appropriate setting. Woodfield Road is quite hilly so be prepared. The road ends at Christian Avenue and we turn right to head toward Stony Brook. Continuing west on Christian Avenue we come to the fourth house on the right after Salt Meadow Lane. The Hawkins Homestead marks the start of the Stony Brook Historic District. The two story half of this dwelling is dated 1820 and the older one-story kitchen wing is believed to have been constructed in the mid 18th century (circa 1750), despite the earlier date on the plaque placed on the house. At the top of the hill turn right onto Erland Road and follow it to the end for a good view of West Meadow Creek. Just before the end, on the right between houses, you get a good view of Aunt Amy's Creek. There are also some very interesting houses along Erland. The Setalcotts, according to folklore, referred to this area as "Wopowog." A good companion for this part of the tour is the Three Village Guidebook. It can be checked out of the Emma Clark Memorial Library or purchased from the Three Village Historical Society. This completes the second leg of the tour. The next leg, in two weeks, will take us into Stony Brook Village for some surprises. Beverly Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society. Call 751-3730.