By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.
The Newton Family owned the land north of the Lake in Lake Ronkonkoma from approximately Metzner Road to Hawkins Avenue. Sometime in 1819, the Newton Family planned a large celebration and with foresight, ordered five European Beech trees, grown and native to Scandinavia. In order to survive the trip and their slow growing pattern, the saplings were most likely at least fifteen years old when sent. The five trees were shipped from Southampton, England Port, while the Port of NYC received the five trees. They were collected and the five European Beech trees were planted in significant spacing in honor of the Nationwide bicentennial, held in 1820 by the Newton Family with a large celebration at their property.
This celebration marked the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Pilgrims Landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620. Family, friends, townsfolk, and neighbors attended the celebration on the shores of the Lake. The five trees thrived for years, all were beautiful and were much admired.
Two of the Purple Beech trees were destroyed for “building progress,” and the Purple just west of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Portion Road is in its last cycle of life. The fifth Purple is thriving in a private location. We will refer to the Copper Red tree for this story.
The integrity of this specific European Copper Red Beech Tree (pictured top) at the location has been cared for by the property owner for years. Virginia Schutte, with family for generations here in town, owner of the tree and property, began to notice the tree to show deterioration, and rather than remove the tree in its entirety, it would be carved into the Indian Princess of Lake Ronkonkoma (pictured below).
The tree was proclaimed as a Historic Landmark of Lake Ronkonkoma, No. 2, on October 19, 2012, at the Riverhead meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature. The Copper Red was proclaimed a Landmark again on 10/21/2015, as we began the process of carving the tree at an age of approximately 214 years.
We know of the Newton ownership of this tree and property, and it continued with the purchase of the property in 1881 by Dr. Robert Finley, a successful veterinarian from NYC, who then completed full-time residence and veterinarian accommodations in 1883. Dr. Finlay’s daughters sold the Horseshoe Cottage in 1963 to Ronald and Florence Hills, and they operated their pre-school on premises as Beechwood Preschool. The Schutte Family has owned the property since March 1973.
There is a wonderful tradition with the little girls of the tree ownership including visitors and neighbors, spanning 200 years, who would treat the tree as one of their best friends. They danced around it, sat by it, and kept it company. Was this the first indication of the power the tree had deep in its roots? Did the girls feel a presence in the tree? The stories and songs made for the tree were passed down from the Finley Family to the Schutte grandchildren.
Coincidence that the one tree that was not a Purple European Beech like the other four had entered such a claim on the community? Time has proven that the lone Copper Red Beech tree may have not been a mistake after all, but a “deliberate godsend to our community.” We have seen a direct attraction to the Copper Red, and its power and force has brought us closer with greater magnitude.
Magical powers? A channel for Native American spirits? We have seen its quiet and glorious powers and agree that this tree was sent to us to act as a transition from 1820 to the future, and to keep the Indian Princess Legend alive and remembered for eternity.
Our community witnessed a vortex in 1929. It is well documented, and the description of the day, the weather, the odd wildlife formations all were a result of this phenomenon; however, the most remembered incident was the effect it had on the lake itself. There are a limited number of vortex experiences on this earth, and it seems we have one in the lake.
If you were present at the Princess of the Lake Festival on June 15, 2019, you witnessed first-hand the results under the direction of two Native Americans, Ric Statler and Daniel Pierce. Ric Statler opened the healing ceremony in 2019, and he explained how his goal was to make her a watchdog or guardian over the lake. His words:
“Those of you who live here know for many years the legends of the lake princess and the curse or the tragedies that have followed. Today, we look to make a transition with that, and you are all part of this healing ceremony. Princess Tuskawanta has resided here for hundreds of years. We look now for her to reside in the statue, in the totem that is carved in her honor. We look for her to come from the lake to the totem, where she can be a more benevolent source and a guardian of the lake, rather than the terror of the lake.”
Ric Statler later said that he sensed there was a lot of negative self-worth from the princess due to the way in which she had been defined, and then once given that role, felt there was no other way for her to respond. So, by offering her the chance to be a watchdog of the lake, it was well-received.
So many witnessed the ceremony as this happened.
Today, our Princess is making every attempt to last long enough for us to work out the problems with the sculpture, her home, and if needed, to help transition the legend and of our protection to the future. No doubts, no explanations; just nature steering our course to make our time on Earth easier using this Native American ceremony and to continue to honor our Princess Tuskawanta.
The advances we have made, from the little girls to the Native American Ceremony, and the Princess’s new residence must not go without notice, we have too much to lose.
The Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Commission maintains the landmarks in the community and will do everything in their power and make every attempt to save the Princess. Virginia Schutte, who is loyal to the spirit of the Princess has authorized them to do whatever is best for our Princess.
