Blue Point is part of the Brookhaven Patent from King Charles II, first
settled by people in Setauket in 1655. Bayport in Islip is separated
from Blue Point in Brookhaven Town by Namkee Creek.
The southwest part of Brookhaven where Blue Point is located was not
settled by the early colonists, and in 1664 Governor Winthrop of
Connecticut purchased from Tobaccus, chief sachem of the Unkechaug
Indians, all the land on the south shore from Blue Point to Bellport,
and extending north to the middle of the island. This purchase was
confirmed by a Patent from Edmund Adros, governor of Colonial New York,
in 1680.
In 1752, a Humphret Avery, from New London, Connecticut purchased what
is now Blue Point and Patchogue, from the Winthrop family, for 2600
pounds (about $6000 in today's money).
Humphrey Avery was in need of money to pay his debts, and received
permission from the governor to sell his land in a Lottery. The
property was divided into 36 plots. 8000 lottery tickets were printed
selling at 30 shillings each. The lottery was widely advertised. The
drawing was made in June 1758 and was such a success that Avery was not
only able to pay off all his debts, but he also bought back Blue Point
and parts of Patchogue.
The oldest dwelling in Blue Point is the old Joseph Avery homestead
built in 1812 on the north side of what is now Middle Road just west of
Boylan Lane.
The name Blue Point is supposed to have originated from the bluish haze
that settles over the point of land extending into the bay at Blue
Point.
During the Revolution the harbor at Blue Point was a major shipping
point for British vessels to send to New York, lumber, food, and other
supplies that they obtained from this part of Long Island. The British
ships in Blue Point were raided several times by American rebels from
Connecticut.
In 1815 Mr. Avery planted some oyster seed in the bay bottom off Blue
Point. They turned out to be quite plentiful and the best tasting
oysters in the bay and were much desired. Soon all oysters in the bay
came to be called Blue Points. An interesting by-product of the Blue
Point Oysters is their tough shells which were used to pave early
country roads that joined the many farming communities along the South
Shore.
The oldest church is the Baptist Church built in 1865. The first school
was built in 1871. Blue Point and Bayport became one school district in
1952.
When the railroad came through Blue Point in 1869, Blue Point became a
very popular summer resort. Among the large hotels were the South Bay
House, now the Ursuline Home, the Avery Five Mile Look on the bay, with
a popular bathing beach, the Monterey Hotel and the Hallett House, and
the Bayport House, now a Nursing Home.