Ronkonkoma County Park
A Brief History: Located near Lake Ronkonkoma at 2 Edgewood Avenue, Nesconset NY is Ronkonkoma County Park aka Walter S. Commerdinget Jr. County Park, has served as a park and nature preserve and trails. The land was owned by the Commerdinger Family since the early 1900’s. Walter S. Commerdinger Jr. as well as his father were both very active in the community as well as local government. He was a charter member for multiple organizations that led to several major growths in the community. After serving in World War I, he became the second postmaster of Nesconset. The abandoned house in the middle of the park was built in 1810 and lived in by several prominent families including the Smiths, The Hallocks, The McCormicks, and The Commerdingers. Today the park is maintained by the Suffolk County Parks department who are attempting to restore the house and apply for status as a National Historic place.
Legends of a small island in the middle of the park’s pond that was the scene of a rape back in the 1980s. Supposedly that is where two males attacked and killed their female companion, leaving her body on the island or even throwing it into the pond. While we have not found any evidence in local newspapers of this event, we did uncover a news report of a party in the park gone wrong. A group of youths were having a party in the park when someone threw a keg into a bonfire causing it to explode. The shrapnel from the keg severed a man’s arm and later died.
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Haunted History: The paranormal claims that persist from Ronkonkoma County Park include hearing the sounds of a girl screaming, presumably from the woman who was raped and left for dead by her friends. Also, there are claims of a bright glowing light throughout the park, presumably the spirit of the woman or the teen killed by the exploding keg that still haunts the grounds of the park. There have also been claims of hearing Indian chanting from a distance. People have also claimed to have seen shadow people roaming around the area as well. Many people claim while walking through the trails at night, they feel an uneasy feeling like someone is following them.