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The Friends of Connetquot is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, conservation and history of the 3,473-acre Connetquot River State Park Preserve. We work to help management protect a pristine environment and historic buildings and artifacts. We also support educational programs, fishing facilities and hiking and equestrian trails.
Upcoming Events/Announcements
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 Historic Haunts of Long Island: Ghosts and Legends from the Gold Coast to Montauk Point
Saturday, October 20, 2018 - 2:00 p.m.
Just in time for Halloween! On
Saturday, October 20, the Friends of Connetquot host
award-winning author Karriann Flanagan Brosky, who will
discuss her book, Historic Haunts of Long Island:
Ghosts and Legends from the Gold Coast to Montauk Point,
at 2:00 PM. Journey through Long Island's history
as preserved in its ghost stories and spirits who have
made their presence known, from Native American legends
and beyond.
Date/Time: Saturday, October 20,
2018 - 2:00 p.m.
Price: $10 per person. Reservations
are required.
More
information/Reservation Form
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 The History of the Connetquot River
is Now Available!
One Little River is the story of the Connetquot
River, an area on the south shore of Long
Island, NY with a remarkable natural and cultural history. First inhabited by Native Americans until 1683, when William Nicoll came
from England to settle in land he acquired from
the natives. Nicoll and his descendants then
held the land and lived on it for almost two
hundred years.
Author Bob Giffen, a past president of the Friends of Connetquot and a present member of its Board of Directors,
beautifully details the history of the Preserve which
once served as a recreational paradise for some of
America's most important historical figures and men who
shaped our nation.
Friends of Connetquot Receive $66,000 Grant from the Robert D. L. Gardiner Foundation
September 9, 2015
Oakdale, NY - The Friends of Connetquot
Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the Friends
were awarded a
Robert D. L. Gardiner Foundation matching
grant of $66,000 to support efforts to restore the Nicoll
Grist Mill located in the Connetquot River State Park
Preserve. The Mill, which dates to the early 1700's, is an
iconic structure and one of the few mills in the nation
whose mechanisms are still based on the original Norse
design utilizing a horizontal wheel to grind.
The Friends have been spearheading the restoration of the Mill. To date, work on the foundation, framing,
shingles and doors has been completed. The Friends will utilize the matching grant from the
Robert D. L.
Gardiner Foundation to reinstall the main drive mechanism, horizontal wheel and mill stones. Once complete,
the Mill will be a museum dedicated to increasing the public’s understanding of the social and industrial history
of Long Island and the Preserve's role within that framework.
Friends Board Chair Robert Labuski, speaking on behalf of the Board, has said that the Friends
"are very
grateful to the Robert D. L. Gardiner Foundation for their constant support of the Mill restoration. Their
generosity is allowing us to finish the Mill restoration, which, when complete, will be a new cultural resource
for the residents of Long Island."
 Download this press release in PDF format.
Chairman's Letter, FOC Newsletter, Fall 2017
The Chairman's Letter for Fall 2017 has been released.
Here are the highlights:
- A lot of news for equestrians including a meeting with the Assistant Park Director and another scheduled equestrian lecture.
- For our Fishing Public, we have also been working on a
6-week Fly-Fishing Seminar.
- I Love My Park Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 5th.
- We will have our
Annual Trail Ride and Walk and have added a Plant Sale since it will be held the week before Mother’s Day.
- Our 6th Annual Ladies Tea will be held on Sunday, June 10th
- We have scheduled Kerriann Flanagan Brosky, Author of
“Historic Haunts of Long Island; Ghosts and Legends from the Gold Coast to Montauk Point” for Saturday, October 20th from 2-3:30 to discuss her book.
- This year for the first time we will be holding “Christmas at Connetquot” in the beginning of December.
- Our newly rebuilt Nicoll Mill will be open soon for tours.
Please visit the Chairman's Letter page to read the full letter.
OnCell Audio Walking Tour!
 Did you know you can take a walking audio
tour of Connetquot River State Park Preserve using your own cell phone? Thanks to
OnCell and the Friends of Connetquot, you can learn about
the history behind the landmarks of the park such as Mile
Marker "50", the various bridges along the trails, the Ice
House, Hatchery and more! Plus, you can find out what
to look for as you walk the trails of the park. It's a
whole new way to see Connetquot even if you've been here
hundreds of times.
Simply download the map here or get one at the entrance booth as you come in to the park. Call 631-703-3313 to begin the tour and look for the markers along the trail. Enter the number on the marker and you'll be treated to a short summary of what you're looking at and what to look for.
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