Babylon in Suffolk County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Babylon Railroad Company Trolley Route

Historic Site

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 17, 2013

1. Babylon Railroad Company Trolley Route Marker

Note: the light blue areas on the marker form an outline of the Town of Babylon.

Inscription.
In 1871, David S.S. Sammis started a horse-drawn trolley line to transport passengers from the Babylon railroad station to the ferry docks. In 1910, the line was electrified and extended west to the railroad station at Amityville.

Dedicated 2010.

Erected 2010 by Town of Babylon and Village of Babylon.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 40° 42.033′ N, 73° 19.441′ W. Marker is in Babylon, New York, in Suffolk County. It can be reached from Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Babylon NY 11702, 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,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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

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Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: South Side R.R. (within shouting distance of this marker); Conklin House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Babylon's Heros World War I Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Suffrage Study Club (approx. 0.2 miles away); Babylon Town Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away); Auto Races (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Babylon Village Fountain (approx. 0.3 miles away); Robert Moses (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Babylon.

More about this marker. The marker is mounted to the outside wall of the south side entrance to the Babylon Railroad Station.

Regarding Babylon Railroad Company Trolley Route. This is one in a series of markers dedicated in 2010 along the historic trolley route between Amityville and Babylon.

Also see . . .
1. Short Biography of David Sprague Sturgis Sammis. LongIsandGenealogy: David S.S. Sammis, founder of the Babylon Railroad Company:
d. 19 May 1895 at Babylon; Brights disease; son of Daniel Sammis, who served in the War of 1812; father of Joseph
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 17, 2013

2. Plaque commemorating Mile-A-Minute Murphy's World Record Bicycle Ride
Found inside the waiting room of the rail station, this plaque commemorates Mile-a-Minute Murphy's record breaking bicycle ride, which took place on the tracks between Babylon and Amityville.
M. Sammis and five daughters; proprietor of the Surf Hotel on Fire Island; went into hotel business in New York City in 1848 and in 1856 built a hotel on Fire Island for 100 guests, which he soon enlarged; he introduced gas [lighting ?] and made the hotel first class; sold his interest in New York City hotels in 1858, to devote himself fully to the Surf Hotel and real estate ventures in Babylon; built a street railway for transporting guests from the railroad depot to the steamboat dock at Babylon; served as postmaster at Fire Island; organized the Babylon National Bank and the Babylon Water Company; leader in the incorporation of Babylon Village; sold his hotel property on Fire Island to New York State in 1892 to be used for a cholera quarantine station; this upset the people of Babylon, causing of Governor of New York State to call out two regiments of troops to keep order.... (Submitted on February 19, 2013.)

2. James Grover Reminisces About the Tracks. YouTube video:
In this short clip, James Grover (Babylon Village) reminisces about how the trolley tracks ran through town. (Submitted on February 19, 2013.)

3. Viewfinder: A Ride Through Babylon's History.

Babylon L.I.R.R. Railroad Station and Babylon Trolley Route Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, February 17, 2013

3. Babylon L.I.R.R. Railroad Station and Babylon Trolley Route Marker

Babylon Station originally opened as a South Side Railroad of Long Island depot on October 28, 1867. It was briefly renamed Seaside station in the summer of 1868, but resumed its original name of Babylon station in 1869. The Central Railroad of Long Island had once planned an extension to the Great South Bay and Fire Island which was never built, and a horse car and later trolley line was provided by the Babylon Rail Road company as a substitute. The second depot opened on July 2, 1881, and was razed in 1963 as part of the grade elimination project that was taking place along the entire Babylon Branch during the post-war era. The new elevated third station opened on September 9, 1964.... - Wikipedia entry for the Babylon (LIRR Station), retrieved 2/18/2013

Babylon Village Patch article (10/21/2011) by Jacqueline Sweet:
The trolley line route, illustrated with numerous photos showing how the route looks after a century. (Submitted on February 19, 2013.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,290 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on April 23, 2013, by Mary Cascone of Babylon, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 19, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.