Faith, Neighbors, and First Steps
The First Native of Bohemia: Charles Peter Kratochvil
Before there were schools, stores, or even a formal village name, there were the pioneer families. Historical records identify Charles Peter Kratochvil as the very first child born in the settlement of Bohemia.
Born on April 1, 1858, Charles entered a community that was little more than a few clearings in the scrub oak. Because there was no church in the village at the time, his family had to travel to the neighboring hamlet of Oakdale for his baptism. On July 10, 1859, he was baptized at St. John’s Episcopal Church. In the church registry, his place of birth wasn’t recorded as “Bohemia”—which didn’t formally exist yet—but simply as “Islip, L.I.”
The “Mother Church” in Oakdale
In the early days, the religious life of Bohemia was dependent on our neighbors. Before the construction of St. John Nepomucene (Catholic) or the local Episcopal mission, the faithful often traveled to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Oakdale.
Built in 1765, this historic structure is the oldest church in Islip Township and the second oldest in all of Suffolk County (surpassed only by the Caroline Church in Setauket). Originally named the “Charlotte Church” after Queen Charlotte (wife of King George III), it was renamed St. John’s after the American Revolution.
Historical Note: St. John’s in Oakdale is historically significant for its architecture, which still features a “slave gallery” in the rear—a somber reminder of Long Island’s history prior to the abolition of slavery in New York in 1827. This church served as the spiritual “grandmother” to Bohemia, eventually planting the seeds for St. Barnabas in Sayville (now St. Ann’s) and the Episcopal mission in Bohemia.
Early Diversity: The Mystery of Michael Donavan
While Bohemia is famous for its Czech roots, the 1886 opening of St. John Nepomucene Cemetery reveals that other nationalities were present from the very beginning.
One of the earliest burials in the cemetery is Michael Donavan, an Irishman who died on December 30, 1886, at the young age of 24. His tombstone bears a poignant inscription:
“Weep not for me, my parents dear / I am not dead but sleeping here. / May his soul rest in peace.”
A Sod Hut on Ocean Avenue? Oral history passed down by older residents suggests that in the early 1900s, an Irish family—possibly the Donavans—lived in a traditional “sod hut” (a home built into the earth/turf) on the east side of Ocean Avenue, just north of Hubal Street. This highlights the rugged, pioneer existence of the early 20th century, where families of different backgrounds struggled side-by-side to build a life in the new settlement.
Local Lore: How Sayville Got Its Name
Bohemia has always had close ties to its southern neighbor, Sayville. But did you know Sayville was almost called “Judea”?
In 1838, residents of what was then called “Over South” held a meeting to choose a formal name for their town. Suggestions included Edwardsville, Greenville, and Judea. Eventually, the community settled on Seville, named after the famous city in Spain.
However, a clerical error changed history. The secretary of the meeting wrote the name phonetically as “Sayville” in the official minutes sent to Washington, D.C. The federal government accepted the spelling, and the name stuck!
The Economic Engine: The Cigar Industry
The Cigar Capital While early settlers tried to farm, the sandy soil made it difficult to survive on crops alone. The true economic engine of early Bohemia was cigar making. Immigrants brought this skilled trade from the homeland, turning Bohemia into a manufacturing hub.
By the early 1900s, Bohemia was dotted with small factories, but much of the 1work took place inside the home. In a true “cottage industry,” fathers, mothers, and even children would strip tobacco leaves and roll cigars at kitchen tables to earn a living. Famous local brands like the “Bohemia Short” were produced here. If you see a home in Bohemia today with an unusually large extension or outbuilding, it likely started its life as a family cigar factory.
The “Pearl” Connection: Button Making
This is a unique Czech trade that sets Bohemia apart from other Long Island towns.
The Pearl Button Industry Alongside cigar making, many Czech settlers were skilled artisans in the pearl button trade. Using shells—often imported from the Mississippi River or the ocean—craftsmen would drill and polish buttons for the garment industry in New York City. It was meticulous, dusty work, but it provided a steady income that allowed families to expand their homes and build the community halls that defined the town.
The Struggle for the Land (Why they came)
It wasn’t because the land was good—it was because it was cheap.
“Scrub Oak” and Determination Why did the Czechs settle here? In the mid-1800s, the land north of the railroad tracks (Sayville) was considered largely worthless by the English settlers on the South Shore. It was a wilderness of pine barrens and scrub oak.
Because the land was difficult to clear, it was affordable—selling for as little as $15 to $20 an acre. The early settlers of Bohemia didn’t just buy the land; they conquered it. With little machinery, they uprooted the stubborn scrub oak by hand to plant their gardens and build the village, earning a reputation for incredible work ethic that commanded the respect of their neighbors.