Schools

1858

The first one - room little red schoolhouse was built 1858 and was located near the corner where Broadway (Bethpage) joins Plainview Road. Today (August 2000) this would be about where Rt. 135 crosses Broadway at the bottom of the hill before making the left onto Plainview Road going north. This school had a wood burning stove, no lights, and drinking water was carried from a neighbor's house. It was abandoned late in the 1890's.

The next school was erected on Broadway on land adjoining the Gifford property. Today (August 2000) this is 593 Broadway owned by the Gaffney family. It was one one - room building at a cost of $700. Pupils had individuals desks (previously they used long benches), the school had its own well and a stove in the rear of the room. It was occupied until the new building on Powell Ave. was constructed about 1912.

1912-1960's

The first building constructed here was an eight brick structure with central heating When it was outgrown, the building was enlarged by an addition at the rear. It was later supplemented by a two - room wooden annex.The Powell Ave. School served the community through 1960. During most of this period high school pupils (9 through 12th grades) went by train to Mineola and later to Hicksville. When Farmingdale put up a new high school building at a lower tuition rate in _____. The transportation of pupils by bus to Farmingdale began in 1931.

Contributed by Mrs. Joseph Jarvis (1952)