East Rockaway in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

A Life in History

— Mill River Green Way Trail —

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 4, 2025

1. A Life in History Marker

Inscription. Thanks to the diaries of Daniel M. Tredwell, we have a detailed accounting of everyday life around Mill River in the 1800s. Tredwell was born in 1826 on a farm in western Freeport and kept thousands of pages of journals until his death in 1921.

According to the journals, people made clothing from wool spun and raised on their farms. In summer, linens and clothing were made from flax. Shoes were fashioned from hides of cattle killed for winter food, tanned locally and “made into shoes by an itinerant shoemaker who lived with the family.” Candle tallow also came from farm animals. Families raised and sold vegetables, oat, corn, cattle, sheep, and hogs.

Not all of life was hard work, however: evenings brought candlelit quilting and tea parties.

“at which hickory nuts, apples, new cider, crullers, and doughnuts were among the refreshments, and in some more pretentious gatherings, dancing was not uncommon.”

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Entertainment.

Location. 40° 39.046′ N, 73° 39.558′ W. Marker is in East Rockaway, New

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York, in Nassau County. It can be reached from the intersection of Garfield Place and Ocean Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 116 Garfield Place, East Rockaway NY 11518, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area

and on Long Island.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Living Shoreline of Lister Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Native American Greenway (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Longtime Local Delicacy (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named The Living Shoreline of Lister Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Milling Stone & Bedding Stone (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mill River History (approx. 0.4 miles away); The East Rockaway Grist Mill

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 4, 2025

2. A Life in History Marker

The marker is located on the northwest corner of the intersection, facing the sidewalk.

(approx. 0.4 miles away); East Rockaway 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Rockaway.

Also see . . . Daniel M. Tredwell Papers (Center for Brooklyn History).

The Daniel M. Tredwell papers contain manuscripts of histories, essays, lectures, and reminiscences by Daniel Melancthon Tredwell (1826-1921). Dating from circa 1870s through circa 1910s, these manuscript writings primarily concern Long Island, especially Kings, Nassau, and Suffolk counties, with the towns of Flatbush and Hempstead appearing most frequently. The collection includes three major manuscripts, one on Kings County history, another on Native Americans of Long Island, and the last dating from circa 1888 concerning Tredwell's personal reminiscences of nineteenth century Long Island.

(Submitted on October 12, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 64 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.