PROSSER’S PINE FOREST TO BECOME COUNTY PARK
Footnotes to Long Island History
PROSSER'S PINE FOREST TO BECOME COUNTY PARK
MAY 4 1967
by
Thomas R. Bayles
Walking in Prosser's Pines
The Suffolk county board of supervisors last week approved the purchased of Prosser pines 50 acre tract of Middle Island land which contains the last remaining white pine forest on long island the history of Prosser pines which is now to become a county park is recalled here by noted historian Thomas R Bayles in an article entitled Prosser Cathedral Pines
Now that the Suffolk County Board of Supervisors have approved the purchased of the Prosser estate of 50 acres on the Yaphank road in Middle Island which includes the 13 acre white pine forest, something of the history of the Cathedral Pines is of interest.
It was back in 1812 that uncle Billy Dayton set the first white pine seedlings on his farm in Middle Island on the road to Yaphank, which was in later years purchased by George Prosser. As the years passed the trees grew and seeded themselves over the land that surrounded the first planting until they covered nearly 15 acres and became the most beautiful white pine forest on long Island
As one walks through the quiet solitude of these "Cathedral Pines" covered with a soft carpet of pines needles, and gazes up into their lofty heights, the rush of our modern world seems far away.
Several years ago a hurricane blew down over 50 of the original tress that had grown to a height 100 feet. A neighboring farmer, Charles Szuster who owns a saw mill, cleared them out and sawed the logs into boards. He also hauled all the brush away and burned it as Mrs. Prosser would not allow any fires near the forest. Where these tress stood, and after they were blown down, the sunlight came into the tress seeded themselves and have become a thriving grove of growing pines again.
Mr. Prosser took great pride in keeping the forest in first class condition during his lifetime. He built the road running all around the forest and it was enjoyed by the public for years until careless people went there for picnics and left rubbish all around. Finally conditions got so bad that for several years the white pine forest has been closed to the public, although Mrs. Prosser gave permission to the writer to take many groups of school children and others through this wonderland of nature until her death last winter.
Across the road runs the Connecticut (now called Carman's) River which was so important in the early life of that settlers in this area as it furnished water power to run their saw and grist mills. This is part of the acreage along the river from South Haven to Middle Island that has taken over by the county for a wild life refuge.
On the west side of the river lies a large tract of land consisting of several hundred acres that has been purchased by the Suffolk County Boy Scouts for a camping area, and is known as Camp Wilderness At times over 2000 scouts camp there on weekends.
Now that the Cathedral Pines will become a part of the Suffolk County park system, we have the assurance that they will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
The following poem was written especially for the cathedral pines by Walter Beverly Crane several years ago.
" of Prosser's dreamy woods I sing.
Each tree a harp each branch a string.
The cadence soft and low is balm,
In Prosser's woods a hallowing calm
Tis God's cathedral, minister choir,
The singing pines are harp and lyre;
In Prosser's woods I voice a prayer,
And worship god and nature there."
The sentiments in Mr. Cranes poem were also those of a great Long Island poet, William Cullen Bryant when he wrote in 1910, "the groves were God's first temples. In the darkling wood, amid the cool and silence, man knelt down and offered to the mightiest, solemn thanks and supplication.
DEEDS THAT MADE UP THE PROSSER FARM
1793 William Brewster to James Dayton
Land in Middle Island - East side of the Connecticut River part of two lots in the little division
Lot numbers 11 and 12. Bounded by
Northerly by Daniel Swezey – This must be lot 10
East by the highway – Wading River Road?
West by the river
1795
William Phillips to James Dayton
For 6 pounds 10 shillings
Piece of land lying and being in the division on the East side of the head of the Connecticut River.
It being the west end of lot number 51 running to the wading river hollow
1797
Zachariah Hawkins to James Dayton 225 pounds East side of the river
North by land of John Turner
On the east the wading river road
West by the land of Henry Dayton
1798
Jonathan Jones to James Dayton
Land lying at north Commack bounded south to my meadow - westerly by the bay
Northerly by the meadow of Daniel Homan Easterly by the land of William Smith Esq.
1813
Daniel Jones to James Dayton
North by the land of Clark Overton
Easterly by a line called Manor
Southerly by the land of Henry Dayton
Westerly by the road or highway running through Wading River
1814
William Overton to James Dayton
100 dollars
Bounded
West by the Wading River Road
South by the 48th lot in the little division
Easterly by the Manor line
1814
Henry Dayton to James Dayton
900 dollars
West by the Connecticut River
South by the lands of James Dayton
Easterly by the road reserved between the two tier of lots
Northerly by the land of Henry Raynor deceased being lots No. 13 – 14 -15 so running the width of said three lots to the wading river road with the lot No. 47 in the East division of lots from the road.
1820
Sylvanus Overton to James Dayton
West by the land of Benjamin Havens and William Turner
North by the land of said Sylvanus Overton
South by the land of said James Dayton
Easterly by the lands of Daniel Overton
1827
Daniel Overton and Albert Davis to James Dayton
West and south by the land of James Dayton
North and East by the lands of Daniel Overton
1830
Daniel Overton to James Dayton
Beginning at the Wading River Road adjoining the land of William Phillips
Running easterly by and with the land of William Phillips until it comes across the land from Sidney Smiths
Then southerly by and with the land of Wm. Sidney Smith and til it comes to a road called Mosures Road then westerly by and with the road until it comes to the north west corner of a cleared lot then west to the wading river road, then Northerly by and with the road until it comes to the first mentioned place or boundary. Also a certain piece or parcel of land lying West of the said Wading River road bounded as follows North by the lands of Apollas Mills
West by the lands of James Dayton and southerly by the lands of James Dayton
Easterly by the Wading River Road.
1842
Zachariah Dayton to James Dayton and William Dayton
Beginning at the Connecticut River thence running easterly along the fence between the river and West orchard to the highway thence northerly along the highway
1842
Zachariah Dayton to Wm. And James Dayton
All that part and potion of real estate of James Dayton late of Brookhaven deceased – lying South of a certain line described as follows
Beginning at Connecticut River thence running Easterly along the highway until it comes to a fence on the East side of said highway thence running East across the North orchard and hollow by the fence to a ditch thence Southerly along said ditch to a fence running Easterly thence Easterly along the fence to the East end of the garden lot
Northerly to the middle of the road thence Easterly by the old mowing? Lot fence to the South East corner thence Northerly along the East fence of said mowing lot by the Northeast corner, thence Easterly by a fence to the Wading River Hollow Road
Southerly by said road to a certain locust stake and stone fixed for a bound. Thence due East course to the Northwest corner of Clark’s lot thence Easterly along the ditch of said lot to the end of said ditch thence due East course to Yaphank line.
James Dayton died July 14th, 1872
William Dayton his brother died – his will dated May 12th 1869
John Dayton to Thomas Prosser deed dated Oct. 4th 1889
Conveyed 239 acres of land