History Oakdale, New York

oakdale originated tavern owned eliphalet (liff) snedecor in connetquot river state park preserve. after founding in 1820, snedecor s tavern began drawing new york bluebloods , business barons wined , dined in remote joy when weren t fishing , hunting nearby. ``liff s food creek,`` magazine writer declared in 1839, referring connetquot river, ``and 2 second mint juleps , champagne punch; whoever gainsays either fact deserves hanging without benefit of clergy.`` in 1866, railroad reached area, liff s wealthy patrons formed southside sportsmen s club, , race on see create superb spread in thick forests adjoining great south bay.

the prominent william k. vanderbilt, grandson of railroad magnate cornelius vanderbilt; frederick g. bourne, president of singer sewing machine co., , christopher robert ii, eccentric heir sugar fortune. meanwhile, william bayard cutting, lawyer, financier , railroad man, built estate next door in great river, had once been west oakdale.

oakdale part of royal land grant given william nicoll, founded islip town in 1697. local historian charles p. dickerson, writing in 1975, said oakdale s name apparently came nicoll descendant in mid-19th century. community has other claims historical distinction: st. john s episcopal church, built in 1765, third oldest church on long island. in 1912, jacob ockers of oakdale organized bluepoint oyster co., became largest oyster producer , shipper in country.

the presence of gilded age estates large component of oakdale s past. in 1882, vanderbilt built noted one, idle hour, 900-acre (3.6 km) on connetquot river. lavish, wooden 110-room home destroyed fire april 15, 1899, while son, willie k. ii, honeymooning there. willie , new wife escaped. promptly rebuilt of red brick , gray stone, exquisite furnishings, $3 million. building @ time considered among finest homes in america. daughter consuelo had honeymooned there when married duke of marlborough in 1895.

after vanderbilt s death in 1920, mansion went through several phases , visitors, including brief stay during prohibition gangster dutch schultz. around time, cow stalls, pig pens , corn cribs on farm portion of idle hour converted short-lived bohemian artists colony included figures such george elmer browne , roman bonet-sintas. estate home of dowling college, struggling school closed in august 2016.

by 1888, robert built spectacular castle east of idle hour called pepperidge hall, furnished in french style wife. pair didn t along. on january 2, 1898, told police found robert shot death in manhattan apartment. ruled suicide , moved paris. mansion featured in silent movies 1916-1920, fell disrepair , razed in 1941.

in 1897, bourne, began 438 acres (1.77 km) later owned land reaching west sayville, completed mansion, indian neck hall, on east side of oakdale. bourne active locally, commodore of sayville yacht club, , generous local fire department. eastern part of estate comprises west sayville county golf course , long island maritime museum, while of middle portion developed homes. bourne died in 1920. 6 years later mansion, on western end, became site of la salle military academy, operated christian brothers, catholic order. in 1993, brothers converted academy kindergarten-through-high-school ``global learning community.`` in 2001, la salle closed , bought st. john s university, new york.

oakdale founded around 2 native american trade routes, sunrise highway , montauk highway lie.