Painter in Nesconset, NY

At the time of colonization, the area that would become Nesconset was likely a seasonal hunting ground visited by both eastern Algonquin-speaking and western Munsee-speaking people who lived in clans. These clans likely banded together seasonally to share resources in winter, or to unify against a common threat such as enemy clans. By the 18th century, Kieft’s War and Old World disease had reduced Long Island’s indigenous society to a few thousand people who resided in either reservations or mission-towns across Long Island. From these remaining communities, colonists ascribed tribal names to better identify parties engaging in land transactions. One of these remaining groups was in early Smithtown and would be known to them as the Nissequogue or Nesaquake (a likely descendant of today’s Matinecock tribe. The tribe’s principal sachem was known as Nassaconsett or Nassetteconsett, for whom Nesconset is named. After Smithtown passed a law in 1768 forbidding Algonquin-style living, Nesconset remained largely a deserted stretch of pine barrens. The construction of the Middle Country Road (NY 25) in the same era modestly opened the area to agricultural development.

By the turn of the 19th century, a sparse population of farmers and seasonal residents lived along Middle Country Road and Lake Ronkonkoma. A primitive road network existed as Gibbs Pond Road, Browns Road, Old Nichols Road, Townline Road and the predecessor of Smithtown Boulevard. In 1904, brothers and French immigrants Louis and Clemen Vion came to the Pine Barrens of southeastern Smithtown from Manhattan on numerous occasions as sportsmen. By 1910, the brothers felled a line of trees off of Gibbs Pond Road immediately south of modern-day New York State Route 347 to create Midwood Avenue. They built their home on this street where it is still present.

As the population grew, a lumber yard, general store, and post office were constructed in 1908. The historic Nesconset Schoolhouse was built in 1910 and the Nesconset Fire Department was built by 1935, A commercial center emerged where Lake Avenue South and Gibbs Pond Road meet. The brothers decided to name the newly established settlement after Smithtown’s local historical figure, Nasseconsett, who deeded the Nissequogue tribe’s land to Richard Smith. Later development was concentrated on Lake Avenue South, Southern Boulevard and the Lake Ronkonkoma area along Gibbs Pond Road in the form of summer residences.