of the shellfish industry was Oakdale-West Sayville. The Long Island Railroad reached Sayville in 1868 and, around 1870, oysters began to be shipped by rail. Until World War I, the Long Island Express Co. had four express oyster trains a day at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Prior to selling his property to Bourne, Col. Ludlow had allowed the oystermen to use his waterfront property, building oysterhouses and an access road to Montauk Highway. When Bourne bought the property many of them moved west to another piece of land owned by Ludlow. In 1893, when Ludlow put those thirteen acres (adjoining Bourne's tract) up for sale Bourne attempted to buy the property, but it was sold to the "Oyster King" Capt. Jacob Ockers. In 1897, Ockers agreed to sell the land to Bourne.
An important real estate transaction took place last Saturday between Frederick Bourne and Jacob Ockers, the former purchasing the property on which are located Mr. Ockers' immense oyster houses on the banks of the Great South Bay. Mr. Ockers purchased the property a few years ago for $2,300, and as the price paid him by Mr. Bourne was $20,000 the transaction is put down as a remarkably profitable one.
So that Ockers would not lose the business that he operated on the land, an agreement was made. Ockers would be given a ten-year lease, and would build another access road further west of the one he had been using. Bourne peacefully coexisted with Ockers on the western edge of his property until his lease expired in 1908. At that time, Ockers built a new plant and basin for his boats in West Sayville and moved his thriving business there.
With that property in hand, Bourne was ready to build his estate. Indian Neck Hall was designed by architect Ernest M. Flagg, who had just completed the designs for the Chapel, Sampson, Maury and Mahan Halls at the US Naval Academy. As Bourne wanted his home patterned on the White House, Flagg's Beaux Arts style fit his requirements perfectly. The design would be classical and symmetrical. It was to face south to the Great South Bay, standing only a few hundred yards from the shore. Built of brick with white marble trimmings, it would occupy an area 300 feet long by 125 feet wide and would encompass approximately 100 rooms. A portico and esplanade would be on the bay side, and a courtyard on the north.
Work began early in 1897, and hundreds of local men were hired to help with the construction and the improvements to the grounds. By July of that year, the bricklaying was well under way, and by November the house was completely roofed. Upon the completion of the roof, Bourne gave a party for the construction workers.
During the summer of 1898 dredging around the property began, and it would continue for another nine months. Bourne had canals and artificial lakes dug on the property (his wife, Emma, enjoyed canoeing). Small islands were created in the lakes, which he had stocked with trout. A great deal of dredging was done to create the magnificent front lawn. Low-lying areas between the house and the bay were filled in, and the lawn between the bay and the mansion was twenty-seven acres when completed. By November of 1899, the main gate and gatehouse, as well as a $30,000 bridge on the main driveway, had been completed.
Indian Neck Hall was completed by early 1900, in time for the Bournes to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. On February 9 they hosted a reception for hundreds of guests.
The entire house was a bower of flowers. The large drawing room was given up to dancing, and the guests were received in the music and morning rooms. The floral decorations were ropes and festoons of laurel and white roses, the latter covered with…
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