Midway between the north and south shores of Suffolk County on Long Island, just past the Nassau border, is Melville, a community of rolling hills, wooded sites – and a thriving commercial – industrial corridor that takes up about one fifth of the land.

The Indians called this section of Long Island, Sunsquams. Our beautiful valley of rolling hills and meadows in the late 1600’s took on the name of Samuel Ketcham’s Hollow named after an early resident. In the early 1800’s the area was known as Sweet Hollow, which lasted to the 1850’s when the name Melville and later Melville began to appear on the map. Sweet Hollow and Melville seemed to appear concurrently, with distinctions of Upper and Lower Melville existing.

The first purchase of land from the Matinecock Indians by settlers in 1653 set the western bounds of Sweet Hollow and went as far south as Old Country Road, which passes from east to west. This Indian trail latter became part of the main road from points to the west out to eastern Long Island. On May 4, 1698 the Baiting Place Purchase, covering the southwestern part of the town was made.

Throughout the Melville - West Hills area many historic highways were built and are still much traveled today. The Old South Path, an island crossing – from Huntington to Amityville, passing by the Walt Whitman House is now called Walt Whitman Road, or Route 110. Through West Hills was the historic Old Post Road, later Chichester Road, over which several notables traveled. In 1744 Alexander Hamilton passed over the Old Post Road on his way from Maryland to New Hampshire. His island long journey ended with a boat from Oyster Pond (Orient Point) to New London, Connecticut. In 1756 George Washington traveled the Old Post Road on his way from Virginia to Boston.

The first settlers in our Sweet Hollow area arrived toward the end of the 1700’s with names of Ketcham, Baylis, Jarvis, Van Velsor, Nostrand, Everitt and Oakley appearing in our history books. Our pioneers were very active in the Revolutionary War Period, as our Sweet Hollow community was well renowned in its opposition to the British army. Our first mail was delivered in September of 1798. A post rider delivered mail weekly and by 1826, residents received mail twice a week.

After the American Revolution, the valley became more populated. The valley grew from 45 residents in 1829 who helped form the Sweet Hollow Church, to approximately 500 residents in 1950. Our residents included such distinguished individuals as Silas Wood (1769-1847) - Long Island’s first historian, former Secretary of State, Hon. Henry L. Stimson, lawyer and statesman and Walt Whitman our poet.

Melville, developed over the years with farming as the primary source of income as the soil was fertile and farmers raised cattle, hogs, oats, flax and apples.

The first Melville post office was opened in 1852 but closed the following year. In 1876 another post office opened but that one also closed in 1906.

The Melville Fire Department was organized in 1947 and our first Post Office was set-up in January 1960 and dedicated on August 25, 1963.

 Melville today retains its nineteen-century ambiance due to its heavily wooded terrain, narrow streets, and nineteenth century buildings situated on spacious lots. Most of the homes on Old Country Road between Sweet Hollow Road and Walt Whitman Road (Route 110) are all part of our Historic District.

Melville’s West Hills has picnic areas, camping grounds, horse riding trails, great bicycle paths and beautiful scenic roads with some of the most wonderful charming-looking homes. 

Jesse Merritt wrote in 1925
Visit the West Hills in springtime when the buds crown nature in glorious attire. Here nature is at its supremacy. Nowhere is woodland more sublime. Visit the hills in dogwood time. Nowhere is spring as vivid, nor the touch of quaintness as striking as here. Here are miles of quietness, dirt roads, which are resplendent with every hue which comes when the first sap flows. . . . Go to the West Hills and know! But be quiet as you go and then others may know, too.

Although our community still has a few farms, most of the area is residential with the large office complexes, hotels and shopping malls paralleling themselves along the Route 110 corridor.

Melville is special, as it is an exceptionally great place to live and work.

Points of Interest

Jayne’s Hill: (428 feet above sea level) Wooded slopes and flowery places, Indian trails,winding roads and one time inspiring views is the highest point on Long Island. The elevation has had several names – The Indians called it Manetto, after one of their gods; it was know as Oakley by the early white settlers; High Hill was the designation used by Silas Wood, the historian; then later came Jayne’s Hill, honoring the prominent pioneer family.

Mountain Mist Springs: In 1898, at the time of the Spanish American War, water from the Mountain Mist Springs, which was reputed as having medicinal qualities, was shipped in large quantities to Montauk Point for the United States troops camped there. Many of the troops brought back from Cuba suffered with yellow fever and typhoid fever.

The Colyer Homestead: built by Walt Whitman Sr., the father of the poet, around 1819 is Located on Mount Misery Road. In March 1836 the site was sold to Richard Colyer (1795-1850).

Peace and Plenty Inn: Built in early Colonial times and occupied by the Chichester family for several generations, was a prominent social and civic center before and after the revolutionary war. President Theodore Roosevelt and members of his family often came to the Peace and Plenty In, usually on horseback, which attracted the attention of the public, giving an awakening to the area.

The West Hills School: The old West Hills schoolhouse,located on Sweet Hollow Road, was built in 1850.

The Walt Whitman House: Walt Whitman’s birth place located on Old Walt Whitman Road is a New York State Historic site.

Sources
Information files on Melville taken from the Half Hollow Hills Community Library in Melville, NY Dyson, Verne, Whitmanland, Brentwood, Verne Dyson, 1960