Mahopac's first known colonial settlement was founded near the large lake bearing the Algonquian name "Macookpack" around 1740. During the American Revolution, the area served as an important logistical center and supply depot for the American cause. Following the war, the hamlet developed into an agricultural breadbasket, supplying goods and produce--especially dairy items--region-wide. By the mid-19th century, Mahopac, particularly its grand lake, became a resort destination with many large hotels and boardinghouses. Arrival of the railroad to Mahopac in 1872 further supported tourism in the lakeside resorts as travelers from New York City could now reach Lake Mahopac within a few hours. Drawing from the archives of the Carmel Historical Society, Putnam County Historian's Office, and the collections of the authors and others, Mahopac depicts daily life during the community's bygone eras."