Judy Belden Lloyd, Recalls the Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma
As I remember the legend it was two tribes, one on either side of the lake - the young Indian man paddled across the lake to meet the young girl from another tribe - verboten. One night he either fell out of his canoe in the middle of the lake or was killed and thrown out of the canoe. The girl found the canoe and paddled to the middle of the lake, uttered a curse that every year a young man would die in the lake and jumped into the lake - eventually drowning.
Judith Lloyd
Ben Vitale Said:
I do recall the legend! If it did happen, their remains, are probably at the location shown in the photo. Most of the lake is shallow, except for the area directly off of Hollywood Pavilion. The lake contour actually looks like a funnel, converging at the location shown in the photo, at a depth of 90 feet.
Bob Turoff (Contributing Reader) Said:
Funny the way the mind works after all these years. I remember when we were having a party at Cedar Grove and one of the girls had too much to drink. She thought she would try to swim the lake and we went out in a row boat to catch her. When we caught her it was just in time. I know she would have gone under.
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Across from Cedar Grove, was Club Clair. The owner drove a bright pink Cadillac and we always thought she was a madam. I remember going one night to hear the “ink-spots”. Back then, one of the original of the group was still singing with them. I remember being there with Maryann (forgot her last name). Nearly forty years later, after having moved way up to Plattsburgh I had a funny encounter. . . I was stopped at a check point along the highway and the Officer asked for my license. He brought a few feet away to a van and a few seconds later I heard over a loud speaker in the van. . . Are you the Bob Turoff from Lake Ronkonkoma ?????. At the time I could only wonder… boy they sure have quick computers in that van. I replied Yes sir and he came back over the speaker. . . you’re the guy who used to date my wife! It sure is a small world.
John and Karen Hall Said:
Remember when we were young and could walk around the entire lake shore. We spent our summers at Raynor's Beach pavilion, or Duffields's West Park Beach (sold in 1954, now the Town of Islip Beach), or did you spend it at Hollywood Beach (now Brookhaven Town Beach), or Jack Yerk's Beach Pavilion (the last pavilion, which burnt down in 1969), or DeGinerios Lakeview, or the private Turner's Corner, or even the old Jack Brown's Hotel and beach. Which ever one we spent our youth, they're all gone. Today, the lake is the highest it's even been, with no end in sight with the rising waters. Regards John Hall, class of '61.
Reply to John and Karen Hall:
The Lake Ronkonkoma area certainly did change! Almost everything is gone, with a few exceptions! The photo directly below, is a photo of Turners Park, now a playground/ Picnic area! Damn we had a lot more fun when it was a Carnival. The ride with the four cages, was the ride that defined manhood; if you could ride it without getting sick, you were a real man! I patronized the Hollywood Pavilion, and the Cider Grove Pavilion. My friend Bob Turoff (above) also frequented these Pivilions. This is how Bob met many people that attended Sachem! Ben Vitale
The Photo Below is the former site of "The Hollywood Pavilion." As you can see the building is gone, and they are putting up a wall to hold off the rising water.
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And now one of the few things that have not changed; the old Trailer Park, that was next to Turners Park. The dilapidated trailers are still there!
You Must Read This Article About Lake Ronkonkoma!
The author had a few personal experiences, with the "Wicked Bitch from the bottom of the lake!" Unfortunately the author remains anonymous. The author lived on Maple Crest Drive, in Lake Ronkonkoma; is it possible that he too attended Sachem? This is getting more interesting by the minute!
http://www.geocities.com/aardduck/lady.html
