Oceanside: founded 1871. Or was it 1817?

Nearly all of the “Welcome to Oceanside” signs have recently been changed from claiming that the community was established in 1871 to saying it was founded in 1817. The change comes months after trying to ascertain the significance of 1871 in Oceanside’s history. After much investigation, it was found that Oceanside’s claimed 1871 “founding” year bore no relation to its settlement history, name changes, attempt to incorporate, or creation of its school district, fire department, sanitation district and public library.
Fred Morse, an Oceanside resident since the 1950s, suggested looking into the history of Oceanside’s First Presbyterian Church. A past president of the Oceanside Kiwanis Club, trustee for the Oceanside Public Library for over 25 years and an Oceanside Sanitation District Commissioner, Morse was also involved with organizing in the Presbyterian Church’s centennial anniversary celebration in 1971.
According to The History of Oceanside, by Dr. Walter S. Boardman, the Presbyterian Church’s presence in the community dates to 1844, when Maria Pine established a Presbyterian Church School in Christian Hook. In 1867, the program was reorganized under the name of “The Christian Hook Mission Sunday School,” with Rev. Marcus Burr also holding adult classes in the schoolhouse on the Northwest corner of present-day Oceanside and Foxhurst Roads.
On May 23, 1871, the church received the deed to the northeast corner of Townsend F. Southard’s farm for a church building to be constructed. According to The Brooklyn Eagle, the church was built, dedicated, and officially founded on October 31, 1871. In fact, the sign posted in front of the church, located on Oceanside Road just south of Foxhurst Road, reads:

First
Presbyterian
Church
at
Christian Hook
Oceanside, N.Y.
Founded
1871