Bohemia, Decade by Decade
The 1900s: A Village Named Bohemia
An identity crisis resolved
For its first 50 years, the village suffered from an identity crisis. The Post Office officially referred to the area as “Sayville,” while locals called it “Tabor.” To complicate matters, many maps and outsiders referred to it as “Hassenville” — named after Joseph Hasse, a prominent local landowner and farmer.
1904
The Battle for a Name
In 1904, the community decided to settle the matter once and for all. A petition was circulated to establish an independent Post Office. While some pushed for “Hassenville” or “Tabor,” the majority voted to honor their heritage.
Joseph Nohowec was appointed the first Postmaster, operating the post office out of his general store on Smithtown Avenue. With that appointment, the name “Bohemia” was officially and permanently adopted.
Industry
The “Cigar Capital” of Long Island
The 1900s marked the transition from small “kitchen shops” to genuine industrial power.
M. Foster’s Factory: This decade saw the rise of the massive M. Foster Cigar Factory at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Church Street. Unlike the small backyard barns, this was a large-scale operation that employed dozens of men and women.
The Engine of the Town: By this time, cigar making was no longer just a winter hobby. Men would farm by day and roll cigars by night, while women and children stripped tobacco leaves. The “Bohemia Cigar” became a recognized brand in New York City, renowned for its high-quality hand-rolled craftsmanship.
1903
The Landmark Schoolhouse
As the population exploded with the cigar boom, the tiny 1867 schoolhouse (District No. 8) was bursting at the seams.
In 1903, the residents voted to construct a modern, two-story schoolhouse. The impressive wooden building was built for roughly $3,000 — a major investment for the community at the time.
With its distinctive bell tower, this building became the visual icon of the village for the next 70 years. It served generations of students until it was tragically destroyed by fire in 1974. Today, only the original bell survives, preserved as a piece of village history.
Culture
The Sokol Spirit
While the Bohemia Sokol (Gymnastic Union) was officially chartered on May 1, 1897, it was in the 1900s that it truly became a cultural force. “Sokol” (meaning Falcon) was more than a gym class; it was a patriotic organization dedicated to the idea of “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body.”
Cultural Impact: In the 1900s, the Sokol and the CSPS Hall hosted elaborate gymnastic exhibitions, theater productions, and balls that drew Czechs from all over Long Island. These events firmly solidified Bohemia’s reputation as a thriving cultural island in the middle of Suffolk County.