History of Brookhaven
Before the English settled at Brookhaven back in 1640, the area was inhabited by Native Americans of the Setauket and Unkechaug tribes called Algonquian. In 1655, the first deed of settlement was sealed by the town Bicentennial Commission welcoming English people to the territory. That first land purchase made makes up the modern-day Setauket, Sony Brook, and Port Jefferson. The second purchase happened in 1664 and ran eastward along the North Shore to cover the Old Mans area all the way to the Wading River. At the time, the settlers hunted whales, fished and farmed but all that changed when the English Colonists. The American Revolutionary War led to Brookhaven laying their loyalty to the British colonists but that did not stop a few from siding with the Americans to bring down the British. They participated in the Culper Spy Ring which was George Washington way to infiltrate the enemy and several battles alongside the then US army commander and PresidentGeorge who led them to victory. By the 19th century, development in Brookhaven had begun to slip in with several communities partaking in shipbuilding which is still practiced today. In 1843, trains began their operations after rail lines reached Brookhaven and the present-day Port Jefferson Branch began its operation in 1873.
By the mid-20th century, New York was a blossoming state with communities along the shores transforming into resort town successfully hosting urban residents, the then celebrities, and the rural section of Brookhaven became a camping ground for youths. Fishing communities changed into fashionable and exclusive surroundings for the elite. An interesting historical fact recorded in Brookhaven is that Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest minds in history, had set up a research center in Shoreham which today is being renovated to accommodate Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe. Due to its close distance to New York City, Brookhaven’s population increased tremendously in the post-war era. Also, the Long Island Rail road contributed to the population growth as well as the presence of the highway system of Robert Moses.