Editing Oakdale, New York (section)

== History ==
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Oakdale was founded around two Native American trade routes, where [[Sunrise Highway]] and [[Montauk Highway]] currently lie. Oakdale was part of the royal land grant given to William Nicoll, who founded [[Islip Town]] in 1697. Local historian Charles P. Dickerson wrote in 1975 that Oakdale's name appeared to come from a Nicoll descendant in the mid-19th century. The community includes: [[St. Johns Episcopal Church and Cemetery (Oakdale, New York)|St. John's Episcopal Church]], built in 1765, is the third oldest church on Long Island.

The community originated with a tavern owned by Eliphalet (Liff) Snedecor in what is now [[Connetquot River State Park Preserve]]. Soon after its founding in 1820, Snedecor's Tavern began drawing New York bluebloods and business barons who wined and dined in remote joy when they weren't fishing and hunting nearby. "Liff's food is as good as his creek", a magazine writer declared in 1839 referring to the food and Connetquot River. The writer added:  "and the two are only second to his mint juleps and champagne punch; whoever gainsays either fact deserves hanging without benefit of clergy."

In 1866, as the railroad reached the area, Liff's wealthy patrons formed the [[South Side Sportsmen's Club]], and soon the race was on to see who could create the most superb spread in the thick forests adjoining Great South Bay. The most prominent were built by [[William K. Vanderbilt]], grandson of railroad magnate [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]]; [[Frederick Gilbert Bourne|Frederick G. Bourne]], president of the [[Singer Corporation|Singer Sewing Machine Co.]], and Christopher Robert II,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spoonercentral.com/Mastics/CR.html|title=Christopher R. Robert|website=www.spoonercentral.com}}</ref> an eccentric heir to a sugar fortune. Meanwhile, [[William Bayard Cutting]], a lawyer, financier and railroad man, built his estate next door in [[Great River, New York]] which had once been west Oakdale.

In 1912, Jacob Ockers of Oakdale organized the Bluepoint Oyster Co., which became the largest oyster producer and shipper in the country.