Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society

The Algonquian Indians who surrounded Lake Ronkonkoma considered its waters to be sacred. They believed not in one Supreme Being but in "manitous" which are supernatural beings that control nature. They believed that every person, animal, plant and rock had its own manitou. Manitous did not exist in a hierarchy but are akin to one part of a body interacting with another. All manitous are a part of the "spirit of everything". The Collective Being is named Gitche Manitou. Ac...cording to Charles Montgomery Skinner*, Gitsche Manitou had great powers and put in charge powerful guardians to keep the fish of Lake Ronkonkoma from being caught, "for these fish were the souls of men, awaiting deliverance into another form". To bear witness to the sunrises and sunsets on this beautiful Lake is to witness what the Indians believed to be the power and awesomeness of Gitsche Manitou. Please enjoy these photos of some of nature's greatest shows. *Charles Montgomery Skinner "Myths and Legends of Our Own Land" (1896) For more content and a searchable database, please join The Lake Ronkonkoma Museum Group on FB. The link is below. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1884149745155157/

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Because of the seemingly unending snow and ice storms of the past couple of days, the Museum will be closed tomorrow, Saturday, February 19, 2021. Stay safe. See you next week.

The Board and Volunteers would like to wish you all a safe, wonderful New Years Eve and the very best in 2021! Happy New Year!

On this Christmas Eve, the Board and Volunteers of the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society wish all of you who celebrate the day, a Very Merry Christmas!