Central Park - Bethpage History at a Glance

This information is taken from CPHS Newsletters January/ February 2009 - October 2009. Central Park and Bethpage History documented in the following books and periodicals: HARKING BACK by Iris and Alonzo Gibbs; BETHPAGE the years of development 1840 - 1910 by Terence S. Hunt; BETHPAGE 1957 - 1987 A Generation of Growth & Development by Donna Joannou Kunzig; 21st Anniversary of Bethpage 1957 Bethpage Becomes of Age by William Benintendi.

1687	Bethpage Purchase by Thomas Powell from the Marsapeaques, Matinecocs, Secatogues Native Americans for 140 pounds of sterling. Area 3 1/2 miles wide and 5 miles deep. Indians maintain the right to hunt, fish, and gather berries on this land.
1695	Bethpage Purchase Deed executed.
1800	Before 1830 Joshua Hubbs built his home on Stewart Avenue and Farmers Avenue (northeast corner). The house is the oldest standing house in Bethpage in 2012.
1835	First church in the area (Methodist Church) located Hicksville Road end of Central Avenue.
1841	Railroad came through the area.
1841	Population about 33 people.
Between 1847 & 1853	The building later known as the Beau Sejour was built.
1850	First General Store.
1850	The LIRR designated local stop as "Jerusalem Station"
1851	Highway records mention Central Park.
1857	The village officially named Central Park
1857	First Post Office	Jeremiah T. Weaver first postmaster with yearly salary $8.00. Operated from his home 210 Central Avenue.
1858	First one room school house located where Broadway joins Plainview Road. (Area known as Bedelltown)
1867	Post Office named Central Park
1880	George Feuchasel Pickle Works opened on Schneider Lane next to the railroad (south of Nibbie Lane.)
1880	The first hotel built by the Baruth family. Building still standing on east Broadway north of the railroad tracks.
1888	Cider Mill on Stewart Avenue north of the railroad tracks. Run by George Benkert and Adolph Wagner. Later the mill was moved to south of the railroad tracks.
1888	Great Blizzard hit the area. 1896 || 2nd school house was built on south Broadway in the area where the high school athletic fields are located today.
1898	Henry Sengstacken built a house on the east corner of Broadway and Central Avenue. Sold to St. Martin of Tours in 1956.
Late 1800's	Central Park Baseball teams were organized.
1900	Baldwin Blacksmith Shop, Stewart Avenue and Baldwin Place till 1924.
Early 1900	The Bethpage Democratic Party was formed.
1902	The population 375 according to Peter Ross History of Long Island in HARKING BACK.
1908	Bernard Pouchon opened the Beau Sejour.
1908	Ground breaking of the Long Island Motor Parkway on Jerusalem Road, Central Park (today Stewart Avenue and Albergo Ct., Bethpage).
1908	The New York Suburban Realty Co. laid out streets and sponsored special trains from NYC to Central Park on Sundays and holidays.
1910	Central Park first Fire Company.
1910	Fireworks factory located in the area, (today, south of Powell Avenue and east of 135).
1911	Electric lights and telephone lines came to Broadway.
1911	Long Island Motor Parkway ran from Springfield Blvd. Queens to Lake Ronkonkoma - 45 miles.
1911	Powell Avenue School was dedicated.
1912	Henry Sengstacken Lumber and Building Material was established on Seaman Avenue.
1913	First fire house constructed on Stewart Avenue. Designed by Mr. Foster.
1917	St. Martin of Tours Masses held in VFW Hall.
1918	The Wilson Family, became the proprietor of the Beau Sejour. (building razed 1973)
1919	North Central Park Civic Association was organized.
1920	Small business of Gold and Silver Beating established.
1920	Theodore Roosevelt Republican Club - Richard Russell 1st President.
1920	The Methodist Church moved from Hicksville Road to Broadway, south of Central Avenue.
1922	Central Park Pentecostal first congregated.
1922 - 1923	Grange Hall was built on Stewart Avenue south of the Hempstead Turnpike.
1922	The Central Park Mothers Club was formed later to become the Central Park PTA in 1926
1923	Water District was formed.
1924	St. Paul's Lutheran Church was dedicated.
1924	St. Martin of Tours R. C. Church was dedicated.
1925	Nassau County Police Dept. formed.
1926	Boy Scout Troop #118 was organized. O. B. Briggs, Scoutmaster of 25 boys.
1926	The Central Park Free Library was organized.
1927	The Central Park Library was granted a provisional charter
1927	The American Legion Post 86 was founded.
1931	Land was purchased to build the Bethpage State Park from the Yoakum Estate, Botto Farm and other farm land.
1931	Mr. W. Ahern wrote to Robert Moses, Mr. W. Howes and George LeBoutiller requesting name changed from Central Park to Bethpage.
1932	The Bethpage State Park opened.
1933	The Central Park National Bank closed and never reopened.
1936	Name change from Central Park to Bethpage
1936	Grumman came to Bethpage
1940	Police Boys Club was organized.
1941	Francis J. Fox drowned in the area of Powell Avenue (north side) and today Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway (135).
12/7/41	Dedication of Grumman Plant #2 was suspended due to bombing of Pearl Harbor and the Grumman plants were secured for now we were at war!
War Years	Camp Edwards Army Base located north of Cherry Avenue and west of today's Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway (135).
1941	The Bethpage Aircraft Federal Credit Union opened to serve Grumman employees. Today known as the Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
1941	Ladies Auxiliary of the Bethpage Fire Department formed.
1941	Bethpage Tool and Hardware opened.
1946	VFW - Butehorn Brothers Post 4987 was organized.
1949	Bethpage fire house constructed on Broadway.
1950	Emils Nursery opened on Stewart Avenue
1950	Bethpage Drive in Movie-Hempstead Turnpike. Cosed to make room for Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway.
1969	July 20th, man landed on the moon in the space craft designed and built by Grumman Aerospace.
1973	Bethpage Against Drug Addiction (BADA) formed.
1973	Beau Sejour was razed.
1974	Walkabout House on Broadway opened to service young people in need.
1974	BADA became known as PEOPLE
1074	Saint Isidoros Helenic Orthodox Church.came to Bethpage.
1982	Nassau Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America formed.
1986	Bethpage Central Civic Association formed.
1988	Bethpage Community Foundation formed.
1990	Bethpage Chamber of Commerce formed - February 27, 1990
1990	The Central Park Historical Society received its Provisional Charter.
1990	1st Bethpage Day celebrated. A proclamation from the TOB - First Saturday in October to be known as "Bethpage Day".
1994	Grumman taken over by Northrop.
1995	Senior Housing opens on Powell Avenue known as Central Park Estates.
1995	St. Martin of Tours RC Church closed for renovations (spreading our wings).
1996	St. Martin of Tours Church reopened and dedicated..
1996	Sunny Lane Senior Housing opened.
1999	Apollo Senior Housing opened.
1999	Bethpage Post Office moved to Hicksville Road..
2002	U. S. Golf Open played at Bethpage State Park.
2002	St. Paul's Lutheran Church was set on fire by a lightening bolt, and did extensive damage..
2004	St. Paul's Lutheran Church reopened.
2005	Starbucks Coffee house came to Bethpage (stewart Avenue north of Hempstead Turnpike).
2008	The decomissioned Grumman F-14 Fighter Jet was put on permanent display at Northrop/Grumman Headquaters.
2009	TOB enclosed ice skating rink opened at the Bethpage Community Park.
2009	The U. S. Golf Open returns to Bethpage State Park.
2010	Morrelly Homeland Security Center came to Bethpage, located in the once office space of Grumman Plant #5.
2010	Grumman Studio took over Grumman Plant #5 (where the LEM was built).
2012	Barclays Golf Open took place, in August, on the Bethpage State Park Black Course
2012	Bethpage-Central Park Kiwanis received its Charter on October 1, 2012
2012	Unveiling of the Bethpage 9-11 Memorial on October 5, 2012