New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-12
EXCLUSIVE RoNKONKOMA
A DELIGHTFUL SPOT. SAID TO RE Tn,
CENTRE OF LONG ISLAND

became such necessary, elemeat OF life tb-o,-aa
out this part Of the fsan1. this was a pIacA 49,
priced BY rs@sulell RuFnees Of people who passss
their summers - the wild woods and beside a.
romantic lake, many miles away from tba 80
tropois, No lenelier spot could be asked -
ner one conducive to restoring the healtb -.
strength OF the weary II only fsU -
came here and thew guarded their treasure w.T
wishing tee many 20 discover the virtus. !.
the RsigiheFhoed And even now, when the al
road has closely connected RonkORkOna with 49,
great world TO the west ana the towns to ~
east, il still remains a quiet little town OF -
Inhabitants and a small contingent OF Nev-Yorksr.
who have purchased or built for themselves com.
forta BILE homes the shores of the lake
The village proper numbers DO moee than
couple Of hundred inhabitants. II is on the uas
llne of the Long Island Railroad. one OF the erar
of farming towns in the centre Of the island az
preaching 1t from the east rom Greenport for a,
stance, one Tasses through the historical SourhoI5
tnat claims its settlement 20 have been in lsg
Pecontc, Cutchosue. Jamesport. where two wan
known hotels situated on the Great PseonI
Bay; Riverhead, the largest town between Grss,
Fort and Jamaica; calveFton. Manor. Va ohank a,s
Medford all OF them farming villages OF the MS
typical sort Approaching from the west from
Garden City one goes throush CeatraI PARK Par
minsdale, Brentwood AMI Central Isiip also VII.
lagos of small population and in the MIDST Of tia
farming district. Yet almost every one OF rhar
has some special feature more less worthy !,
note, and each. with scarcely an exception "a,
show some traces OF the Indian times aad OF tsA
early generations Of white men
GAME ABOUT THE TINE COLUMBUS rIh-
Renkonkoms itself is in reality settlement oe
few fanili-s Il at came here snerattons ago and
still cling TO the place. Among these are thu
Smiths, who, az il stated rather SHY once
came here about the time Colunous did; ths
NeWtons and The Hawkinses. OF the last named a
man who has spent great deal OF his tiua
here said that IF you shut your eyes and shoot
of gun almost anywhere around here you'd be
sure 20 hit Hawk >" Another resent family OF
long native descent are the Warmers. famous for
their tube making.
II is only Of recent years that the Nsw-York
colony has been established and they are 80 zeal
Gus of their little lake here and have entered 40
into the spirit OF the place that the equilibrium
of the village and neighborhoed has in no wav
been upset by their advent, Their one u aaimous
purpose is TO keep this quiet OF the way
spot, where they pass their vacations in peace
away from hotels and the jangle OF society Hfs
They glory In the freedom heir compare tive sen-
Z de gives chem and all day long during most OF
the summer weeks. both in fair and foul weather
they may b. seer out IN thar boats quietly drifting
along. reds cut and line a-tFoling. feet I'D an
the next seat comfortably pulling away at their
pipes and smiling with satisfa elton az the com
parison between this and the busy haunJs Of sasa
down In swelteFtrg NeW-York
The children lead life absolutely free from the
restraints OF eustem, and go about the greater
IN the lake, rowing boat TOR the fisherman
now running about the yards around their homes
with all the chance in the world 10 become strong
and hardy and atted feH the winter months in the
confinement of the city And all around this Vsea-
toa life may be seen the business OF farming The
natives pursuing their labors undistuTbed and prae
teally as much ale though not a single city
man were nearer than Shelte- Island During this
season Of the year their work IS eAgrossing. They
need all their time in coaxins he nearly fun grown
vegetables and com TO ripen properly and plsati-
fully, In lighting everything that tends Fstard
growth or spoil the product This business takes
their entire attention. that being left alone they
C.. heir part pay little attentien 70 their visitors
The consequence IS, for each concerned II Is as
though tbs other were rot in he neignborhood-a
strong contrast to the full hedged resort whsrs
the greater part OF the regular business is su<
pended b. the natives for the summer in order .
reap much benefit possible fTeH the iAa1
G. the more wsaltay city people, II Is altogetheFa
post pleasant and self-FespeeIiag condition q
affairs.
THE CENTRE OF LONG ISLAND.
Ronkenkema is said 10 be in the centre OF Leas
Island The process of finding the centre OF Long
Island would be as intricate. perhaps. as that en-
pertinent in physics for finding The centre OF
potato. But at any rate il is near the centre
OF this peculiar shaped stretch OF land
to warrant the claim II there be any special
charm from such 4 situation Ronkonkoma can
surely boast of it-thaJ is, RonkoRkoHla Lake-fer.
as has been said the town proper is very small
affair II is not. therefore. important nsghbas-
hood politically. though il may be gsesrap hicaly.
The village gains its fame as well as its
from the lake and needs no stronger reconmeHda-
ton II Is forty-slsht miles from New-YorA- Five
trains each way stop heTe daily II is thus in
speaking distance. as II were. with the city. and
h95 oqt 81 me question toE summer commuters
Ronkenkoma Lake - about two miles from ne
clally 70 one who is not we'll acquainted with ne
Island. The road has been built OF clay, ara rUas
Itself up in high sand banks which Tor the nest
part, are thlckly covered with small cakS ana
shrubs. In the lower parts near the borders Of
the lake large patches OF huekIebsrry bushes grow
In thick !uNurianee The road for the 1rst NILE
runs through these ,sandy woods. and then sud
near the shore 10 the eastern end, where il coa-
told about the stretch along the lake shore Ths
lake, II seems, psriodtesLy Gibbs and then re-
road is entirely covered by The water and 70
considerable depth. The lhoroug htare AZ mat Inc
bank some ten Of dfeen feet above is lower course
The lake has been reached 4 6eauLiin 5Pe' s sl
fore. the spectator. \, dFst IL may not appear az
ern END OF Long Island or from the peAls sAs
lakes OF New-YOrk or New-Jersey. II Is lust
and few eettases here and there SUI lust SsaS
a while and give leisure % your judsnent R9s
DAYS and nights fshing a fisherman perhaps with
romapTic turn Of nina who delights in me stories
them ' enreGs5 wiz ali The 0 frs So OF as oas sO
taTy musings Row out with him 70 the sp0ts
Of the shores where the finest cottages Aaye bssn
built TO the lily ponds ana he wide sandy stretches
or trout or nasty catash: and jhen 90 mons
many charms lingering in your minds eye and il
Is safe e say thst you VII see that theEe Is seT
thing different in Ronk9nkoma and that there Is
nowhere anything just Ike IL
-s-
e0FLD NOT CASH DRAFT AND DIED.