Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society

The Board and Volunteers of the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Vanderbilt’s Motor Parkway Construction of the Motor Parkway began in 1907. The Parkway would eventually run from the Kissena Corridor in Queens County over numerous bridges and overpasses to Lake Ronkonkoma, a distance of 48 miles. In 1908, a race was held over parts of the new highway. A young man named George Robertson from Garden City, New York won the event driving the American Locomobile, which was the company's first gas-powered car. ... The Locomobile was known as Old 16. Her permanent home now is The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan. George Robertson passed away in 1955. Enjoy! For more content and a searchable database, please join The Lake Ronkonkoma Museum on Face Book. The link is below. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1884149745155157/?ref=share

This is the Belz-Short House which is located at 250 Hawkins Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma on the northwest corner of Church Street and Hawkins Avenue. It was built in the early 1900s by the Belz Family and it served for many years as an Inn. The Patchogue Advance of Friday, February 1, 1935 mentions that Mrs. Elizabeth Belz, was a trustee of The Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library which is now the home of the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Museum on Hawkins Avenue. Other trustees... at that time were Mrs. G.V. DeVere, Frank L. Newton, Mrs. Frederick Wilkinson and George C. Raynor. Later records show that it is still in the Short family, and it is now used as apartments. I have always loved the house. Thank you, Artie Weingartner for contemporaneous photo. For more content and a searchable database, please join Face Book Group Lake Ronkonkoma Museum. The link is below! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1884149745155157/?ref=share

Our Community mourns the loss of Legislator Tom Muratore who passed away yesterday, September 8, 2020 at age 75. Tom Muratore was a Republican who represented the 4th legislative district. He was elected as a Legislator in November 2009, and, until his death, he served as vice chair of the Public Works, Transportation and Energy Committee. He was also a member of the Environment, Planning and Agriculture Committee as well as the Seniors and Consumer Protection Committee. A...s a former Suffolk County Police Officer and Union law enforcement official with many years of service to the community, Tom devoted his career to protecting and serving the people of Suffolk County. Tom was a champion for his constituents and more than that, he was a firm supporter of The Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society and The Lake Ronkonkoma Improvement Group (LRIG). Tom had been a Suffolk County resident for the majority of his life. He graduated from Central Islip High School in 1963, and has resided in Ronkonkoma with his wife Linda since 1970. He had been battling cancer in recent years. His death comes after he took the oath of office for a sixth term as Legislator of the Fourth District in January. We shall miss Tom and we pray that he continues to watch over us as we pray for strength and peace for his loved ones. Rest In Peace, Legislator Muratore.

Come one! Come all! The Museum is reopening Saturday. The hours are 10-2. Wear a mask! Hope to see you!