By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.
Lake Ronkonkoma had its first potential case of drunk driving involving a horse and buggy in almost a generation on Saturday night, March 21, 1943.
Sadie McHue, a 39-year-old former nurse, borrowed a friend’s horse and buggy and went out for a spin. She was plain and simple drunk. A commotion being made by McHue on Carroll Avenue and Cherry Street brought passersby running to her aid. Ivar Okvist came out of his home to see what all the fuss was about, and he found Sadie bending over the horse, she was tangled up on the harness of a horse lying on the ground.
At first, Ivar thought Sadie might have been hurt and called a doctor and the constables, Wallace Jay and Al Quattlander. Ivar Okvist had released McHue from the obstacles, and Jay and Quattlander discussed possible charges, as this was an unusual case. They looked into their books and charged Sadie with “public intoxication” and promptly took her to the Patchogue jail where she spent the night. At the court hearing in Patchogue, local Justice of the Peace Harold C. Sorenson, of Lake Grove, considered invoking an antiquated highway law that prescribed a penalty for driving while intoxicated but decided to fine Miss McHue $10 after she pleaded guilty to public intoxication. She promptly paid the fine.
We do not have much information on the life of Sadie McHue after the incident. Ivar Okvist was a lifetime resident of our village, with countless life-saving rescues as a lifeguard at our lake in the 1920s; WWII China-Burma-India Theater, U.S. Army Air Forces; Ronkonkoma Fire Department member for 63 years; Co-Founder, RFD Medical Unit 1941; Mitchell Field Air Force Base; Foreman, Camp Upton; Chief, Westhampton Air Force Base; Charter Member, Ronkonkoma Rescue; Ex-First Asst. Chief, Ronkonkoma F.D.; Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Founding Member; and was always there for anyone who needed a hand.
Wallace Jay lived on Portion Road, was a Detective with the Town Police – Director of the Brookhaven Town Police Athletic League from 1950 – and proudly recalled the day when he was nine years old being pushed up on a stage and being inducted to the local Indian tribe. He was given the name Lakomis meaning “long boat.” He was a lifetime member of Ronkonkoma Fire Department with over 50 years of service, and a Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Founding Member.
Ivar Okvist and Wally Jay were lifetime friends. Did you ever wonder how the young adults in Lake Ronkonkoma socialized, and what became of the strong friendships they made?
We will start in the periods 1924-1926, which shows us how important their gatherings were. So many of the events and get-togethers they had were noted in The County Review and The Suffolk County News. This was a loyal and amazing group of friends who without fail gathered every week, at a round robin of different homes. They would socialize, catch up on their life experiences, and sing, dance, and share refreshments.
We see that on February 6, 1925, a Sunday night gathering was held at the home of Lillian McMenamin. Mary and Ann Farnum, Marie and Louise Rugan, Mabel Fish, to name a few, were present. February 17, 1925, found Miss Margaret Curtis entertaining some of her friends at her home on a Tuesday evening. Among those invited were Elsie Davis, Mary Farnum, Marie Roselle, Mabel Fish, Ann Farnum, Kitty Curtis, John Morrissey, Wallace Jay, Carl Hamann, John Roselle, Harold Terry, Burt Court, Ivar Okvist, Lawrence Jay, and Richard Herrschaft. February 24, 1925, recalls Clarence Overton entertaining a number of friends at his home on Tuesday evening. Among those invited were Mary and Ann Farnum, Hazel Gough, Mabel Fish, Margaret Curtis, Evelyn Herrschaft, Ivar Okvist, Richard Herrschaft, William Okvist, Sumner Newton, Bert Gough, Walter Davis, Joseph Fish, Harold Terry, Lawrence Jay, Wallace Jay, and Eric Okvist.
Miss Emma Bowers was given a surprise party in honor of her birthday at her home on Tuesday evening April 21, 1925. A most enjoyable evening was spent dancing and refreshments were served. Among those present were Rita Farnum, Vera Hodges, Evelyn Herrschaft, Marie Morrissey, Helen Farnum, Kathryn Dedrick, Irene Bowers, and May Mathews. The Messrs included William Okvist, Clarence Overton, Lawrence Jay, Harold Bowers, Wallace Jay, Walter Davis, and Eric Okvist. April 25, 1925, tells of the Farnum home on Portion Road was the scene of a delightful party on Saturday night when the Mrs. Farnum entertained a number of young folks from this village. The evening was spent playing games, singing, and dancing, after which refreshments were served. Among the invited guests were Mrs. May Mathews, Marjorie Robins, Rita Farnum, Helen Farnum, Margaret Curtis, Mabel Fish and Hazel Johnston, Messrs. James Davis, William Robinson, Harry Robins, Francis Reynolds, and more.
Another favorite day outing for the group was the trips to West Meadow Beach and Cedar Beach, both part of the Long Island Sound. Wondering what was so important from the weekly fun? Most of these wonderful people, from great families, came together fifty years later and began the task of recording and saving their experiences in Lake Ronkonkoma, with the formation of a museum. Out of that work also came a book, headed by Anne Farnum Curtis, but written by all of them who were still alive. Their memories, work and determination started with all good intentions for the community.
If you have knowledge of our past, you will identify most of the last names. The young group all held employment in the village and were respected by the population. You may also connect marriages between some of the names on the list, and those who became leaders in future years. William Okvist to Evelyn Herrschaft; carpenters Ivar Okvist and Wallace Jay that rebuilt the Lake Ronkonkoma Free Library, which had been neglected for years; and Ann Curtis and her family, who gave it their all to establish a respectful and truthful collection. Their determination made it ready for the local museum. Harry Robins, Robins Hardware, and Richard Herrschaft, The Village Bar & Grill (pre-Brunos) – both became proprietors of the local store and restaurant.
As grandchildren of this group, we found time to give a hand every weekend. There were also local children that helped – yes, even removing the endless piles of pigeon, raccoon, and squirrel waste and carcasses. We just kept filling the cardboard boxes up with waste and removed it from the building. Before the building could be overhauled, permission was granted from the Sachem Public Library to allow the group to use the building for community purposes. The members used their individual skills and reached out for assistance from outside establishments. Ivar Okvist used his federal connections, writing D.C. for donations of shelving, display cases, and cases for taxidermy animals. Unfortunately, help did not arrive, but things began to turn around locally. Local families would allow their photographs to be copied at Lake Photo, allowing the originals to remain with the families. Those who had lived the history of Lake Ronkonkoma also recorded it.
At this point in time, the Sadie McHue story gives us a chuckle. It gives us a true picture of what life was like in our sedate village and shows that things happen without any warning.
But how about the rest of the United States? Believe it or not, the story wound up being printed in thirty-seven papers, that we know of, throughout the country! Most on the very next day, our countrymen were reading all about it. Once again, Lake Ronkonkoma made the news, probably because of the crazy things that happened here. Our school bus that had to be pulled from the giant puddle on Carroll Avenue by the Ronkonkoma Fire Department; the chasing of chickens let out of the coop on Hawkins Avenue; Richard Hallock’s memories of his family rounding up pigs from Goulds Feed because they escaped his farm; the cow and woman that froze to death in the winter on Hawkins Avenue; the Indian canoe kept by the Girardets. There are so many more, and we are working on them.
Lake Ronkonkoma has a tight group of both family and individual friends, who have left behind legacies that are profound. There have been moments that we expect one of them to be in their normal spot, and we can stop for a moment to talk. Memories will have to do. These genuine members of our community have deep accomplishments and have been putting us in a state of awe as we go through the requests and gather what we can about their lives. This is so important, to keep the facts straight, not to embellish or create stories to increase profits.
Legacy is always first.
