1860–1894

The Early Settlement and the Survival Economy

While James S. Nohowec eventually established the family’s legacy in Sayville, his relative Joseph Nohowec remained a cornerstone of the northern settlement. By the 1880s, the community had grown in population and political influence, largely due to the success of local Czech clubs. The residents sought official federal recognition and a centralized identity, leading to a pivotal meeting in 1885 where they voted to adopt the name “Bohemia” to honor their ancestral homeland.

The Role of the Postmaster in Immigrant Societies

Joseph Nohowec was at the forefront of this civic milestone and was appointed as the village’s very first postmaster. In the late nineteenth century, the role of postmaster was one of the most respected and vital positions in a rural town. Operating out of his general store on Smithtown Avenue, Joseph did not merely sort mail; he served as the primary nexus between the tight-knit immigrant community and the federal government of the United States. This official recognition ended decades of confusion regarding the town’s address, which had been variously listed on maps and deeds as “Hassenville,” “Tabor,” or “Lakeland.”

The establishment of the Post Office in 1894 under Joseph’s leadership was a strategic move that cemented the town’s identity. This identity would be fiercely defended in later years when newcomers and developers attempted to rename the town “Sayville Heights” (1931) or “MacArthur” (1947). The Nohowec influence ensured that the Czech heritage of the founders remained the official designation of the village.

Sayville · 1888

James S. Nohowec and the Sayville Transition

The narrative of the Nohowec family bifurcates with the career of James S. Nohowec. While his parents and extended family remained deeply rooted in the agrarian and industrial life of Bohemia, James established his own roots to the south in Sayville. In the 1870s, James moved his family to South Country Road, a strategic location that allowed him to tap into the commercial traffic of the South Shore.

The Evolution of the Sayville Inn and Tavern

Around 1888, James S. Nohowec opened a hotel and tavern on Middle Road (South Country Road), which would eventually become the present-day Sayville Inn. This establishment was more than a local pub; it was a complex commercial operation that included a beer bottling works at the rear of the property. Local tradition suggests that the site may have originally served as an early stagecoach stop, providing a historic foundation for James’s entrepreneurial efforts.

The architectural history of the property reflects the shifting needs of the Sayville community. The original tavern structure still stands behind the current inn, while a new tavern building was added around 1900. In the 1920s, the business expanded further with the addition of a kitchen and restaurant, reflecting the increasing demand for formal dining options among the area’s summer residents and growing permanent population.

The Great Estates

The Nohowec Family and the Gilded Age Estates

The socio-economic landscape of the South Shore in the late nineteenth century was dominated by the presence of grand summer estates owned by the captains of American industry. This “Gold Coast” featured millionaires’ mansions stretching along the Great South Bay, including Frederick Bourne’s Indian Neck Hall and the Vanderbilt family’s Idle Hour. The Nohowec family played an essential, albeit often behind-the-scenes, role in the maintenance and operation of these massive properties.

Service on the Bourne, Wilbur, and Stoppani Estates

Members of the Nohowec family were employed in various capacities on the estates of Frederick Bourne, the Wilbur family, and the Stoppanis. These roles were not limited to simple manual labor; they often involved skilled trades and management. For instance, Simon Nohowec, a brother of Jan, was a professional gardener — a role of high importance on estates where the grounds were a primary status symbol.

This employment provided a crucial secondary income stream that allowed the family to weather economic downturns and fund their own business expansions. The relationship between the immigrant families of Bohemia and the estate owners of Sayville and Oakdale was symbiotic. The estates required a reliable, skilled labor force, and the Czech immigrants found in estate service a level of stability and wages that surpassed what was available in the city factories or early subsistence farms.

Frances Nohowec and the Immigrant Experience

The life of Frances Nohowec (née Novotny) offers a poignant look at the challenges faced by the women of the family. Born near Prague in 1859, she arrived in New York in 1871 and was immediately thrust into labor. At age twelve, she was taken into service by a butcher in Lakeland but eventually ran away back to her parents — a testament to the harsh conditions of early domestic service. She later worked in a cigar factory in Lakeland to help pay off family debts before marrying Simon Nohowec and assisting in the operation of the family’s inn at the corner of Smithtown Avenue and Church Street. Her narrative underscores the collective effort required by immigrant families to achieve economic independence.

Faith and Civic Duty

Religious and Cultural Integration

As the Nohowec family became more established in Sayville, their religious and cultural affiliations shifted, reflecting their integration into the broader American society. While the early settlers of Bohemia were deeply tied to their Czech heritage — evidenced by the monument to the religious reformer Jan Hus — the Sayville branch of the family became active participants in local Episcopal and civic organizations.

St. Ann’s Church and the Episcopal Mission

James S. Nohowec and his family were closely associated with St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Sayville. James is listed as a significant figure in the parish’s history, alongside other prominent local citizens like Sidney B. Smith and Edward E. Munkelwitz. The family’s connection to the church was facilitated by Reverend John Prescott, who officiated the marriage of Winnie Nohowec to Hattie Soucek in 1879.

Rev. Prescott’s influence extended beyond Sayville; he was instrumental in establishing mission services in Bohemia, which were initially held in the home of Jan Nohowec. This religious crossover highlights the family’s role as cultural intermediaries, bridging the gap between the English-speaking establishment of Sayville and the Czech-speaking immigrants of Bohemia.

The Sayville Fire Department and Civic Duty

The Nohowecs’ commitment to their community was further demonstrated through their early involvement in the Sayville Fire Department. Like Joseph Novotny in the north, the Sayville-based Nohowecs recognized that fire protection was essential for the survival of their business and the town at large. This tradition of service would continue through subsequent generations, as family members joined various local organizations and contributed to the formative years of the town’s civic life.

1927–1957

The End of Family Ownership

The post-WWII era brought significant changes to the South Shore of Long Island. The development boom permanently altered the rural character of the region, and many of the original family-run businesses faced the pressure of national commercialization. For the Nohowecs, this period was marked by the loss of the family patriarchs and the eventual sale of their landmark business.

The 1927 Transition and the Family Puzzle

The death of James S. Nohowec in 1927 at the age of 76 marked the end of an era. The family business passed to his sons, John Joseph and Milton James. This period is particularly complex for historians due to the family’s habit of repeating names and using nicknames. As noted in the puzzle of names, individuals could appear as John, Simon, or Winnie in different records, making the task of sorting out the specific roles of Jan Nohowec (the barber) versus Simon Nohowec (the gardener) a significant historical challenge.

Following James S.’s death, the business continued under his sons. John lived in the family home on South Country Road, while Milton James established his own residence in Bayport on Snedecor Avenue. Their brother, Jerry Simon, became a key figure in local real estate, residing on Foster Avenue. This geographical spread across Sayville and Bayport ensured the family’s influence remained widespread.

The 1957 Sale and the Legacy of the Sayville Inn

The direct family ownership of the tavern and bottling works, which had spanned nearly seventy years, came to an end in 1957. Two years after the death of John Nohowec in 1955, Milton James Nohowec sold the property. Under new ownership, the establishment gradually evolved into the Sayville Inn, but it never lost its connection to the Nohowec founding.

The preservation of the building’s historic character has allowed the Sayville Inn to remain one of the few surviving examples of the town’s nineteenth-century hospitality industry. Visitors today can still see the original architectural elements added by the Nohowecs in 1900 and 1920, and the bottling garage stands as a silent witness to the industrial ingenuity of the early immigrants.

Legacy

The Enduring Impact of the Nohowec Family

The history of the Nohowec family is a microcosm of the South Shore’s evolution from a collection of isolated pioneer settlements into a thriving, modern community. Their journey from the revolutions of 1848 to the defense of Pearl Harbor in 1941 mirrors the broader American immigrant experience, yet it is distinguished by their unique role in the literal and figurative building of Bohemia and Sayville.

By establishing the first Post Office, the Nohowecs gave the community an official voice. By founding the Sayville Inn and its bottling works, they provided a commercial hub that bridged the gap between different social classes. Through their labor on the great estates, they integrated into the region’s elite economy, and through their service in the fire departments and churches, they demonstrated a profound commitment to civic duty.

As Bohemia and Sayville continue to grow, the legacy of the Nohowec family remains woven into the fabric of the South Shore. The surviving structures — from the Novotny-built homes to the Roosevelt Room at the Sayville Inn — serve as physical reminders of a family that helped put Bohemia on the map and built a hospitality tradition that endures to this day. The factual history preserved in the archives of the Bohemia Historical Society ensures that the names Jan, Joseph, James, and Milton Nohowec will be remembered not just as pioneers, but as the architects of a community.