Land Surveyor in Poquott, Suffolk County, NY

Poquott was founded by European settlers in 1659. The peninsula came to be known as “George’s Neck”, and was developed mostly as farmland. A fort with a single 32-pound gun, dubbed “Fort Nonsense”, was erected at the tip of Poquott during the War of 1812. It did little to deter the British raiders who entered Port Jefferson Harbor.

As the 20th century approached, “California Grove” was established at what is now the foot of Washington Street (1883). California Grove was an amusement park that featured an oyster restaurant, dancing pavilion, skating rink, picnic grounds, and a pier at which the steamboat Notowantuc would unload tourists from Connecticut. The establishment of California Grove led to Poquott’s development as a summer bungalow community.

Poquott continued to grow as a summer community. Several camps (Dr. Petit’s Camp/Camp Woodbine/Pine Bluff Camp) dotted the shorelines of Poquott. At the turn of the century, large swaths of George’s Neck came into the hands of world traveler, financier, and businessman Edward Larocque Tinker. The Tinker family built several stunning homes throughout Poquott.