Doll, Diane Recollections

When we moved to Bethpage in 1954, the path to the town shopping area was Stewart Avenue, a tree lined, two lane road. We were told we were in North Bethpage in the English Villate ----- Berkshire, Cheshire, Dorset, etc. Roads, but that the area was affectionately called Swede Town in honor of the population who came before us. We had to avoid Stewart Avenue at release times for Grumman employees. TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC! We loved living in an area that had an actual town with a history rather than a series of shopping centers. It has been a memorable 57 years and I hope to live out my life right here! I absolutely love the stories of Bethpage before I got here and so much of what I do remember while living and raising a family here. I was a member and officer of the North Bethpage Civic Association and have minutes of the meetings. Does anyone remember the shows we used to put on in the property now occupied by the Greek Church on Stewart near Cherry? It was outdoors on the "back porch" which became our stage. Norma Klein was the genius behind everything, from teaching chorus lines to production numbers. It became so popular we had to run it extra nights and raised quite a bit of money for the community. I was a secretary at JFK fir 27 years and really loved my time there. submitted: 3/7/2011