One of Babylon's first homes holds a clue on how the village got its name in a chimney stone.

This month's Long Island's Hidden Past made a stop at the Nathaniel Conklin House in Babylon.

Conklin, a wealthy land owner, decided to build the large center-hall federal style home in 1803 on the northeast corner of Deer Park Avenue and Montauk Highway.

He was a widow who moved his mother and two sons into the new home. Conklin's mother called the area where they lived Babylon, which was meant to be a negative reference to the Babylon in the Bible.

Conklin would then inscribe the words, "New Babylon," into the stone - to assure his mother that where they moved would be a great place to live.

 

More information on this month's segment:
Nathaniel Conklin House
280 Deer Park Avenue
Babylon, NY 11702
(631) 669-8164