| Prior to 1878, all of the Great South Beach (the proper legal name of
Fire Island) from Fire Island Inlet to Long Cove (far east of Ocean Beach)
was owned as one undivided tract by many owners. In 1878, a partition
action resulted in the tract being divided among the various owners in
proportion to their previous undivided interests. One tract became the
property of Wilmot M. Smith, who died in 1906, and whose family in 1912
subdivided it under the name of Stay-a-While Beach Estates. This is the
portion of Ocean Beach included by Ocean, Wilmot and Surf Roads.
A second tract was acquired by John A. Wilbur in 1908.
He likewise subdivided his tract into approximately 1,000 lots and sold
them off. He called the development Ocean Beach, and sold off all the lots
within five years. Most of the purchasers were Brooklynites, who were
lured to Bay Shore by the promise of a free sail boat ride across the
Great South Bay to inspect the lots.
Mr. Wilbur was very proud of his creation and composed
a slogan "Ocean Beach is where health and happiness go hand in hand." He
had the slogan protected by a U.S. copyright, and it appeared on all
letterheads and advertising. Later it was adopted by the Village and
appears on the Village flag.
In 1921, the two tracts, Ocean Beach and Stay-a While
Beach Estates, became the municipality of the Incorporated Village of
Ocean Beach. In those days, the executive officer had the title of
president of the corporation, which later was changed, by law, to mayor.
Even prior to 1921, Ocean Beach had installed a
sewerage disposal system as a sewer district of the Town of Islip, which
for many years was the only sewer system on Long Island east of Jamaica.
In the 1920's, the boardwalks became paved streets; and
in the 1930's, we were improved with electricity and a municipal water
system.
By statutory definition, we are a fourth class village.
The old joke was "Why are we a fourth class village?", and the answer was
"Because there is no fifth class." But fourth class or not, our village
operates 365 days each year, as it has done throughout its 78 years of
incorporation.
-The author, a prime figure in the
history and government he describes, wishes his name withheld.
Source: Ocean Beach Bicentennial Handbook |
