From:
SUFFOLK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
300 West Main St.
Riverhead, NY 11901
631.727.2881
Visit suffolkcountyhistoricalsociety.org for more Suffolk County History!
The above image is the Road to Flanders, circa 1910. (Image from the Postcard Collection of the Suffolk County Historical Society Library & Archive. Copyright © Suffolk County Historical Society. All rights reserved.)
The origins of Flanders, a hamlet that gained its name around 1910, are veiled in intrigue. Could it have been named after its wetlands, drawing a parallel with the Flanders region in present-day Belgium? The word 'Flanders' is a derivative of the Flemish' Vlaanderen,' which translates to 'flooded land.'
Josiah Goodale, the earliest English settler in what would later become Flanders, played a pivotal role in Hamlet's early development. Records from Southampton Town indicate his presence at 'Aukabog' as early as 1761, with indications that his house was likely built before 1760. Josiah's significant contribution includes clearing much of the land in the hamlet, and his descendants still live there today.
James Fanning II, a native of Southold and the son of Captain James Fanning, was another early inhabitant of the area. His homestead, built around 1782 and located on Flanders Road, is the oldest known surviving house in the hamlet and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For those with a thirst for more knowledge about the history of Flanders, the Flanders Hamlet Heritage Area Report (2014) is a treasure trove of information. It stands as a significant and comprehensive resource, offering a deeper understanding of the hamlet's rich history.
(Image from the Postcard Collection of the Suffolk County Historical Society Library & Archive. Copyright © Suffolk County Historical Society. All rights reserved.)
Written by:
Wendy Polhemus-Annibell
Head Librarian
