Charles (Karl) Stein (Ken Sr., granddad) was born in 1869 in Hesse, Germany. In his teens, (16) he hopped on a boat in Germany, with a friend. He was a stowaway, so began his life on the sea.
As the journey began across the Atlantic Ocean, Charles settled in as a shipmate. The ship made stops along the way until the ship reached NYC in July 1885. He had no documents, didn’t speak English, and had little to no money, yet he was able with his friend to make his way to Sayville to visit his friends’ relatives. He eventually found a job in the oyster industry.
Charles married Adelina Ockers (she was a sister of Jacob Ockers, the oyster king)and had 8 children -Ivanhoe, Adelia, Marion, Carl, Lenore, Marguerite, Frederick,& Jacob
The Stein family in Sayville is so large that it’s hard to tell their story. Many in the Stein family have also led successful lives and have spread out across the area and country. But this is the story of Sayville Ferry Company.
Charles had the “Mildred A” built and then purchased a gas-powered sloop, “The Dare”. He started ferrying people across the bay from West Sayville’s Green Creek to Fire Island in 1894. Charles opened the Charles Stein Machine Shop on Atlantic Ave in West Sayville around the same time.
Charles lived in Sayville for the rest of his life.
His son, Fred K. Stein, joined his dad’s business. He started Stein’s Boat Yard and expanded the Stein Ferry service as a second job. And in 1918 took over the business, moving the ferry service to the end of Foster Ave. in Sayville.
Fred was a force in developing Fire Island. He built a hotel in Cherry Grove in the 1920s. Then provided summer ferry service.
Ken, was born in 1920 to Fred & Anna Stein.
They were both the products of their dad and granddad (Karl) Charles Stein.
It was in 1934 when Fred’s son, Ken (senior) joined the business. Ken received his captain’s license and started piloting two ferries.
Ken Stein Sr. woke up in 1939 and decided to start the Sayville Ferry Company.
Well, maybe, but not likely.
Ken Sr. was a 1939 graduate of Sayville High. He played football and was a member of the varsity club. In the 1940s, Ken Sr. took over the Sayville Ferry Company from his dad and ran it till the 1970s.
The ferry company moved again to River Ave. before again moving a little down the street to its current location on Browns River.
It was Ken who presided over a large expansion of the Sayville ferry company.
He also spearheaded the expansion of the Fire Island communities of Cherry Grove and the Pines. He joined other businesses to convince the Town of Brookhaven to provide additional services to the island communities.
The family has continued expanding its service in the Great South Bay. After Ken senior, Ken junior took over the helm in 1979.
Ken junior continued the continued expansion and growth of the company.
Sadly, Ken Jr. developed cancer at an early age and died at 57 in 2000.
The Sayville Ferry Company continues to operate as a family business with the next generations of Steins- Ken III and Ken IV.
The Stein family has, through the generations, been a major part of the growth in the Sayville area for more than 100 years. They have involved the family in many community organizations. From the West Sayville Fire Department to the rotary club, Wet Pants, Ken Stein Memorial Scholarship, the Chamber of Commerce, and many others.
And it all started on a dock in Hamburg, Germany, in 1885. When?
Karl Charles Stein hopped on a ship the S.S.Hammonia to America to build a better life.
A story repeated over and over again in Sayville and communities all over America.
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