Opening from On This Site - Native Long Island

Great Bear Hassock

Great Bear Hassock is one of three Hassock entries grouped around Rockaway and East Rockaway Inlet. It is identified as a tract of meadow near East Rockaway Inlet. Great Bear Hassock is preserved as a named meadow tract in the inlet landscape. Because the source places it near East Rockaway Inlet without boundaries, the location shown here uses a modern inlet-area point. The Hassock group is explained through Algonquian words for marshy land. Related language examples include Narragansett hassucki, meaning marsh land, and Delaware assisku, meaning miry or marshy. Early documents also used related forms such as Hassokie and Hassokey for marsh, meadow, or swamp places. Why Place Names Matter “Geographical names are more than just labels on maps; they are a cultural legacy. They can tell us about our history and the values of previous generations. They can reveal trends in exploration...