Patchogue-Medford Library (54-60 East Main Street) occupies a large commercial structure built for W.T. Grant & Co. in 1953 when Dr. William Roe’s house (later Brown’s Boarding House) was removed.

Grant’s grand opening was a 3-day sales bash promoting “4 great stores in 1” - fashion, variety, dry goods and hardware-home furnishings. Teenagers could purchase the latest 45 phonograph records, look at new fashions or sit in juke-boxed booths at the luncheonette. The Library outgrew the Carnegie Library building behind Swezey’s Department Store and moved here in 1981.

Enter the Library and look to the right

The Zoeller mural of the Patchogue River was painted for the interior of the white marbled Union Savings Bank on South Ocean Avenue by artist Robert Zoeller in the 1950s. The sloop Edward takes goods and passengers to Fire Island around 1905. Look for a three-masted schooner and oyster sloop. A tug is docked in front of E. Bailey & Sons Lumber and Moulding Mills. The riverbanks are lined with ship and boat building shops, a major industry for Patchogue from 1850-1930. On the right is the Jones’ coal yard and coal carrying schooner. Vacant land on the southeast portion of the river was the large Kate Gilbert estate until 1915.

Return to Main Street, turn left, stop in front of the Dusty Attic and Toast Coffeehouse