The early settlers lost no
time in establishing a community and the town records say that a
mill was provided for the same year. It was built and operated
by Henry Perring, and stood across the driveway the driveway from the old Woodhull homestead. The John Roe
mill at the Hill Pond was built in 1708 and was in continuous
operation until the close of the
past century.
As in the other settlements
of Long Island, the church played an important part in life of
community, and in order to have a voice in town affairs, a man
must be in "communion" with the church. The settlers held meetings
in their homes between the visits of traveling preachers who
came through.
The first church organized
in Wading River was one of the oldest in this part of Long
Island. A "meeting house," 26 by 28 feet in size was erected in
1740, and was of Presbyterian order for several years.
In 1785 a
Congregational
church was organized by the Rev. Daniel Young's with the title
of "Second Strict Congregational Church of Riverhead." The church
is situated just across the line in Riverhead town.
Among the early pastors was
the Rev. Jacob Corwin in 1787, who was active in the early life
of the New Village Congregational church several years later.
The Rev. David Wells was pastor in 1802, and after his death in
1821, the church was supplied by visiting ministers for several
years.
One of the many ministers to
occupy the pulpit was Paul Cuffee, noted Indian preacher, who
was born at Wading River and lived until maturity as abound
servant to Major Fredrick Hudson, father of Oliver Hudson, for
whom was named Oliver's Hill.
The present church was built
in 1837, across the green from the original one, on a piece of
land given for that purpose by Zophar Miller. The old church was
sold and moved away to become part of a barn on the Alonzo Hulse
property.
The building committee was
composed of Deacons Luther Brown, Benjamin Glover, James
Tuthill, Miller Woodhull and Hiram Tuthill, and it was agreed by
them that the building should be built with a gallery, and
should have a steeple on it. The present church remains about
the same as when built in 1837, except that the pews no longer
have doors and a low pulpit has replaced the original high one.
Wading River was the seat of a
thriving cordwood and produce shipping business until the
opening of the railroad late in the past century. Cordwood and
produce were shipped by sloop to New York city and other ports,
and besides its mills , there were two shipyards one at the
"west landing" near the
creek and another at the "east landing" near the present public
beach. the village was one of the most industrious in the
county and boasted a tannery, candy factory, a cider mill,
wheelwright shop, black smith shop, cutlery shop and several
stores, and was used as a shopping center for outlying
sections.