Long Island Railroad

The railroad came to the Bethpage area in l841. The station was originally called Jerusalem or Jerusalem Station. The name of the Post Office was changed in March 1867 to Central Park because their project was located halfway between Hyde Park (New Hyde Park) and Deer Park. First listed on the timetable of May 1873 as Jerusalem or Jerusalem Station and last listed in October 1876. As of February, 1874 there was neither a depot nor a freight house, but Mr. Smith, the agent, used one of the rooms in his own house for a public waiting room. A one-story combination passenger and freight depot, was built sometime between 1874 and 1879. A new station was built in l884 and torn down about 1957. The name was changed to Bethpage in l936.

Note: the Railroad called another station Bethpage with a stop located at Winding Road and Battle Row, Old Bethpage, just north of the big Stewart Brick works. There is no evidence of a station building. Passenger service opened there as an accommodation to farmers, beginning Nov. 9, 1874 with one round-trip a day. During l876 and l877 only summer service was provided.

See: The Long Island Rail Road- a Comprehensive History by Vincent F. Seyfried.