Lake Ronkonkoma in the 1930s: NY's Beach Party Hotspot
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Explore the rich history of Lake Ronkonkoma, a former Long Island party town in the first half of the twentieth century. In this video, I hunt for relics of the many hotels and restaurants which once crowded the circumference of the lake. Today, the lake's prestigious history is largely unknown and obscured by a humble landscape of overgrown brush and aging town beaches. However, there has recently been some efforts at revitalization and several memorials recognizing Lake Ronkonkoma's unique history have appeared around the shore.
I was born and raised in Ronkonkoma and even up into the early 90s a lot of people would use the beach and swim. Ever since then the surrounding handball/basketball/tennis/baseball spots get used, and there is still a restaurant/bar and 2 nice wedding venues but nobody swims anymore. Either way it's absolutely gorgeous still.
I remember going to Raynor's in the late '50s and early '60s as a young kid. We would have family get together picnics inside where there were picnic tables and a bar set up for refreshments,then go change into bathing suits in the dark changing cabana type rooms outside.There were the big slides and a floating dive platform about seventy or so feet from shore.The old wood of Raynor's had a very distinctive pleasing aroma inside that is something that just sticks in my mind as I remember the good times we had there.
I grew up in the area till the 1970s. There were many interesting legends told about the lake.
What an alarming coincidence how so many places burned down and so close in time. Guess they knew the end was near.. anyhow thanks for the video. I enjoyed it. Smithtown resident...
just like beverage barn and norton's garage. seems to be a time honored tradition.
Hello my name is Gary. I grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma in the 60s and 70s. On north ocean Ave. By the Islip side of the beach. My company built the Islip paladin in the 80s company name way keyway ready mix. You made a great video about lake Ronkonkoma. Please keep them coming. Looking forward to your new video 📹. Respectfully submitted Gary karnbach
A favorite hangout for us in the 80s & 90s. Great nostalgia.. from the old bookstore to the old Hallock House, this area captivated our imaginations.
Grew up in lake ronkonkoma myself.
Still make the memorial day parade every year. Look for the fireplace between islip beach and brookhaven beach.
i was also gonna mention the fire place. back in the early aughts my friend and i used to go down lake crest lane and hike through the woods by the edge of the water. always wondered what building it was a part of.
I have to go back and walk around
Great video 🙏thank you. I was interested in the back story. It was cool feeling like I was guided around a bit with a friend. Take care
Such an awesome video! Thank you
Just across the street from beach (raynors feild) they built a park there in 90s .but up into the late 80's there was a beautiful black granite high staircase into the woods. I always thought that was the motel. I wonder what was there now .I remember seeing cement pieces. & 8 large trees around it . About 100' × 200') The trees were taken down too.
It is fascinating to discover how much that little lake's surroundings have changed through the past 100 years, especially in light of the fact that I grew up just two miles away and never imagined there could have been so many interesting events and stories which took place on its shores.
Thanks for this video I'm going to explore deeper in lake ronkonkoma because im there allot
our family would swim there in the 1960"s
I used 2 live on motor parkway in early 70's. Used 2 go 2 the lake all the time. There used 2 b a German restaurant on the lake. A friend drowned in the lake. So that's really sad 4 me.
Sorry you had to lose a friend to the lake, too many individuals spent there last minutes in that small but seemingly treacherous body of water. The German restaurant was aptly named the "Bavarian Inn" and I remember eating there myself. The remnants of the building were torn down about twenty years ago.
That bookstore lasted into the early 00's, i remember the building being there as late as 2004..
Yes, I do have a recollection of that store being there in the early 2000s, but I am not certain it was operational.
@@that1930sguy I think it burned down.. but I can't recollect if it was operational or just a building abandoned at that point..
Diggin your videos 1930s Guy, thanks for the content 👍
I used to go down to the lake as a kid and there is one part right across the street from 7-11 if you look there are a set of stairs that go down and the stop at a square cement structure built into the hill in 1982 it still had old electric wires running up the hill to the telephone poles this structure went pretty deep into the side of the hill I always wondered what it was did your research find anything about this cement structure? Great video!! Update: I asked around some old timers tell me it was a small store that sold candy and things for beach goers i remember the cement box with rotted wood floor and wires everywhere it must of been a really nice place back in the 30's. In 1982 it looked like it was ready to cave in so i would think the whole thing is long gone by now one day if they ever get to dig down that far they may find some good old relics when the lake was in it's golden era
Portion Rd
We used to call that the "Bum's House" (terrible name, I know) when we were kids because we found a dude sleeping in there once. It was one of our meeting places when we went fishing. Never found out the history of it.
Great video, I wonder what Lake Ronkonkoma resident Maude Adams would've thought of the area now?
That is something to ponder!
I thought her home went to the Cenacle...not sure if thats still around.
I miss my home town. Thanks for the video
Would have like to see all the mural at the lake there are many
So cool ❤❤❤😂😂😂
I am doing a Movie about My life Living Steps away from The Lake. My Husband was killed there. My family owned the hotel. And the rentals on the Lake. The Burkes My family. Loud Laura of the Lake. Watch for my Movie of my life at the Lake
Shame, how once this was the place to go to many years ago and now you would not even want to swim in water. My wife’s uncle use to be a lifeguard there in the 60s.
always was told that the undertoe was brutal in that lake and the "lady of the lake" would get me.. an old wives tail my late grandmother used to keep us kids out of that lake.
TIM!!!!
you can Try and explain away the drownings by talking about the depth of the lake, but it only hits that depth in a handful of spots WAY out where most people don't go.
ALSO, the depth does Not account for the lop sided statistics in terms men and women drownings----157 male to 3 women
You didn't mention the infamous gay bar KISS
😊😊😊😊
Thats accurate. Always a weedwhacker in the background
Where's the story of the Indians
uh uh uh...