Katherine Floyd Dana (1835 – 1886 ) was the great grandaughter of signer of the Declaration of Independence, William Floyd. She spent her childhood years at the Floyd Estate in Mastic and returned there with her husband William Buck Dana (1829-1910) in the 1880’s where she lived on the Dana estate known as “Moss Lots”. She was a multi talented artist, author and mother of three adopted children.

Through her art she documented the life and nature of the Mastik River (now known as the Forge River) area in the 19th century. Without her artwork we can only read few scarce details of what Mastic looked like during that time. On my recent visit to the William Floyd Estate in Mastic Beach, I was able to photograph many of her paintings and sketches that I am presenting here as the second in a series of Artists & Authors In The Mastics. They will be followed soon by several of her short storys and childrens nursery rhymes.

Special thanks again to Steve Czarniecki curator of the William Floyd Estate for his assistance on this project.

All Images On This And The Following KFD Pages are courtesy of the National Park Service / Fire Island National Seashore

“South Side Of Poospatuck Creek”

August 27, 1857 …. 2nd attempt at Water & Land

Note: Moss Lots was built on the south side of Poospatuck Creek in 1881

“Aunt Kates”