Old Field

Written By Dino DiPietro

Here’s a well-rounded history of Old Field, Long Island, NY:

🏞️ Pre-Colonial & Early Colonial Period

  • The area was originally inhabited by the Setalcott Native Americans, who were present throughout Brookhaven's north shore. Between 1655 and 1659, Setalcott Sachem Waewasen sold land in what is now Old Field to English settlers in exchange for goods like coats, hoes, and kettles. [oldfieldny.org], [fres.suffo...untyny.gov]

  • In 1661, Setauket freeholders divided Old Field into six-acre lots, designated primarily for grazing due to its remote location and challenging access. [oldfieldny.org], [fres.suffo...untyny.gov]

🌲 18th & 19th Centuries – Agricultural & Nautical Roots

  • A smallpox crisis in 1770 prompted authorities to establish a temporary hospital in Old Field for isolation. [oldfieldny.org]

  • By 1791, Old Field Road had been developed, yet a 1797 map shows only two homes in the area. [oldfieldny.org]

  • Throughout the 1800s, residents sustained themselves by timber cutting, fishing, farming, oyster harvesting, and even modest shipbuilding at the Dickerson Boatyard on Conscience Bay. The Old Field Inn briefly operated before burning down. [oldfieldny.org]

  • By 1874, the hamlet comprised around 25 houses spread over three miles of rural roadway. [oldfieldny.org], [fres.suffo...untyny.gov]

🔔 The Lighthouse & Navigation

  • A lighthouse station was first authorized in 1823, with construction funding of $2,500 and another $1,500 in 1824. It utilized whale-oil lamps initially. [en.wikipedia.org], [longislandguide.com]

  • The existing octagonal wooden tower and keeper’s house were constructed in 1868 and lit in 1869, featuring a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The structure stands about 74 feet above sea level with a ~14 nautical-mile range. [en.wikipedia.org], [longislandguide.com]

🏡 Transformation into a Residential Village

  • In the early 1900s, Old Field began transitioning into a residential retreat. Estates such as:

    • Eversley Childs’ estate at Crane Neck (1901),

    • Sunwood by Frank and Jennie Melville (1919),

    • Widewater (formerly Old Field Manor) renovated by Ward and Dorothy Melville (from 1924).

  • The Old Field Improvement Association (1902–1926) implemented key improvements: extending Quaker Path to the Stony Brook railroad and constructing Mt. Grey Road. [oldfieldny.org]

  • The area officially incorporated as the Village of Old Field in 1927, unifying Old Field, West Meadow, and Conscience Bay. At the time, it had about 60 homes and 271 residents. [oldfieldny.org], [en.wikipedia.org]

🌿 Modern Era & Preservation

  • Post-WWII, remaining large parcels were subdivided, with two-acre zoning introduced in 1954, sustaining Old Field’s low-density, wooded character. [fres.suffo...untyny.gov]

  • According to U.S. Census data, the population evolved from 202 in 1930 to 918 in 2010, slightly easing to 893 in 2020. [en.wikipedia.org], [wikiwand.com]

  • Landmark preservation remains vital. The Old Field Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s Cottage serve as the village hall, and the village maintains minimal commercial development, private beaches, and protected nature areas like Flax Pond. [en.wikipedia.org], [oldfieldny.org], [oldfieldny.org]

  • The Three Village Historical Society, founded in 1964, preserves regional history—with a dedicated focus on Old Field—offering programs, walking tours, and exhibits across Setauket and Old Field. [Three Vill...al Society], [en.wikipedia.org]

🗓️ Timeline of Key Events

1655–59 Land purchased from Setalcott Sachem Waewasen [oldfieldny.org], [fres.suffo...untyny.gov]

1661 Land divided into lots [oldfieldny.org], [fres.suffo...untyny.gov]

1770 Temporary smallpox hospital established [oldfieldny.org]

1823–24 Original lighthouse station constructed [en.wikipedia.org], [longislandguide.com]

1868–69 Current lighthouse tower completed [longislandguide.com], [en.wikipedia.org]

1901–1924 Grand estates built [oldfieldny.org]

1902–1926 Village improvements by local association [oldfieldny.org]

1927 Village incorporation [oldfieldny.org], [en.wikipedia.org]

1954 Zoning laws set minimum parcel size [fres.suffo...untyny.gov]

1964 Three Village Historical Society founded [en.wikipedia.org]

Old Field's evolution—from Setalcott tribal lands to colonial farmland, to maritime hub, and ultimately to an exclusive residential enclave with preserved shoreline and historical landmarks—paints a vivid portrait of North Shore Long Island’s heritage.

Dino DiPietro