Seaford decoys

These photos from a 2008 meeting of the Seaford Historical Society are presented in connection with the February 28 item in the calendar above.

East end of LIRR platform now in service

On January 31, 2009, the LIRR trains began serving the renovated eastern half of the Seaford station platform, and the western half was closed for work. The photos above show the almost-hidden entrance to the platform from the south side of the ticket office; the new waiting room, and the new platform. The available stairs are at Washington Avenue and adjacent to the south side of the ticket office. The problem is that the ticket machines are on the northside, with inadequate markings that one must walk around the barricades to get to the stairs. The decorations on the waiting room windows are remarkable and commendable. Please click on the photo for magnification.
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The elevator and escalator are not yet in service.

Commerce on Merrick Road, Seaford

The business row in Seaford on Merrick Road seems to total about 167 commercial enterprises in a distance of about 1.3 miles. On the morning of January 12, 2009, I counted about 80 businesses on the south side of Merrick Road from Cedar Creek (East Bay Diner) to Seaford Creek (Tackapausha). It seems that four of these locations are empty: an home theater dealer opposite Kenora Place, and, at Willoughby Avenue, a Korean vegetable store (which offered excellent produce) and two others.
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The north side of Merrick Road from Fir Street (Seaford School District, but Wantagh Post Office) to Seaford Creek has about 87 stores. Several vacancies occur between Spruce St. and Willoughby Avenue and again between Kenora Place and Seaford Avenue.
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Widening Merrick Road, Seaford, about 1975

Shortly after we arrived in Seaford in 1972, the installation of a sanitary sewer trunk line under Merrick Road seems to have led to a widening of that street through Bellmore, Wantagh, and Seaford. I cannot establish the exact years, but I have two or three slides, and data exist on the Nassau County Records Viewer. At times, the street was an obstacle course of construction. The other day, I tried to contrast the present buildings between South Seaman's Neck Road and Smith Lane with the records. What a surprise to learn that the "old" post office that is now Beach Bum Tanning lost an angle-cut off its facade! The adjacent tailor was also cut back. Most of the other buildings east of that point were built after the widening. In the block from Jackson Avenue to Smith Lane, at least two structures were condemned, demolished, and the lots sold for new construction. The building occupied by Runyon's remains, having been cut back about five feet because of the widening. Similarly, the cinder block paint store, built in 1969 at the corner of Smith Lane, lost about five feet.
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So, for those blocks, much of the widening was done on the south side of Merrick Road.

The former location of the Methodist church

At the November 6, 2008, meeting of the Seaford Historical Society, the question arose as to the location of the Methodist church before it was transported in 1923 to Washington and Waverly Avenues. It seems to have been where this building, 3943 Merrick Road, now stands. According to the Nassau County Land Record Viewer, the present structure was built in 1928. The building to the left, 3935, despite its modern look, seems to be a rectangular replacement of several structures that date from 1903. The record viewer shows a bakery in front, with various additions towards the rear. The building to the right dates from 1980.
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The photographer is standing where Smith Lane meets Merrick Road. At one time, Smith Lane carried the name Seaford Avenue. Later, it received the name Smith, probably because of the Smith Family home on the southeast corner.

Fishing before the causeway was built

At the meeting of the Seaford Historical Society, November 6, 2008, Fred Roth and others discussed fishing in the bay. The topic included references to previous generations and, in particular, the condition of the bay before the Wantagh Causeway to Jones Beach was constructed (1928?). If my notes are correct, there existed an inlet, Zach's Inlet, near present Zach's Bay. It could get fairly shallow, so most of the ocean-going boats used Jones Inlet, which has moved west over the years since the 1920's, due to the shifting sands. Much of the sand on which Ocean Parkway east of the water tower was constructed was taken from the bay, and thus the State Channel (parallel to Ocean Parkway) was dredged for the sand. Some sand for the causeway was taken from a sandpit near the present Washington Avenue Park, Seaford, but the appearance of the water table in that pit limited that supply. The terms "East Bay" and "West Bay" predate the causeway, as the waterways of the bay allowed only one route, The Run, between the two bays. By the way, each island, each channel had some name or other, and these names rather than buoys were used in conversation about where one was going or had been. I think I heard it said that the count of island houses is about 28 now, down from hundreds in the old days. Corrections are welcome to the address on the right.

Grocery chains

At the November 6, 2008, meeting of the Seaford Historical Society, one surprise was to learn the existence of both Bohack's and A & P on Merrick Road near Jackson Avenue. A & P, I'm told, was on the north side of Merrick Road. Bohack's on the south side at the southeast corner of South Seaman's Neck Road. That structure later became the post office (which moved to its present location in 1980), Bette's Florist, and now Beach Bum Tanning. In the discussion, I neglected to ask whether the stores were self-serve. Many stores that pre-dated King Kullen required the customer to talk to the butcher over his counter, pay him separately, deal with the vegetable man likewise, and also bring a list to a counter for canned and dry goods. This Newsday article says that Bohack owned more than 700 stores in 1939.
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Several people mentioned the convenient Hill's Supermarket where World Gym is now located. Even though this is in Wantagh, before the construction of NY 135 Hill's was simply across Seaman's Neck Road from Seaford. It seems that the construction of NY 135 made that location (in Wantagh, at the east end of Park Avenue) much less convenient for Seaford shoppers.
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I must also mention that a King Kullen supermarket existed in the small shopping center at Kenora Place and Merrick Road, where a liquor store occupies a rear corner, adjacent to Blockbusters.

Seaford LIRR 1967 photos

A thread has developed on railroad.net concerning the Seaford station repairs. If you use the link below and then scroll a considerable distance down the discussion, you will find eight black-and-white photos from Dave Keller showing the construction of the elevated station while a temporary station was in place on ground level.
The link is here.
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The same thread reminded us that the Seaford train service was moved to the elevated structure in two steps forty years ago: On October 22, 1968, the westward train service began to use the elevated platform. On November 1, 1968, eastward train service was moved upstairs. I note that this happened before the purchase of the M-1 fleet, so all cars had trap doors and steps. That explains why the photos of the temporary platforms show "low-level" platforms. Until this week forty years ago, passengers climbed onto trains. The steps on the coaches could be slippery in bad weather! When the new station was put in service, the platform was the height of the coach floor, and one merely had to step over the gap.

Three citizens attend Wantagh hearing

The required annual budget hearing for the Wantagh Fire Department was held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Note that the Wantagh Fire district includes parts of Bellmore and Seaford, plus contracted coverage of Jones Beach and Tobay Beach. Three citizens (Larry, Janet, Joe) attended the Powerpoint presentation by Superintendent Michael Antonucci, a clear presentation that can be found in a different format here. Ten uniformed members, including perhaps the five elected commissioners, were present.
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A notice of Public Hearing Policy was distributed to the public prior to the meeting. Item 4 reads: "Please do not expect the Board to answer any questions, as this time has been reserved for the public to inform the Board of Fire Commissioners about their concerns and comments regarding the proposed budget." Two attendees gave their views.
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Some budget items were explained and some answers given. The proposed 2009 budget amounts to $6.403,500. There is no public vote on the budget. The hearing ended at 7:27 p.m.

Topo map of Seaford, 1903

A discussion on railroad.net concerning LIRR grade crossings along Sunrise Highway led me to this find at the University of New Hampshire's digital collection. They have made available what seems to be a 1903-based 7 1/2 minute quarter of the Babylon Quadrangle, showing downtown Seaford: here. Note that there is no Sunrise Highway and only Washington Avenue and Seaman's Neck Road cross the tracks. The west border of this map seems to lie near the present Seaford post office at 73 degrees, 30 minutes.
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The site also offers the northeast quarter of the Hempstead quadrangle here. Much to my surprise, Seaford Avenue is shown running north from Merrick Road, jogging where Waverly now is, and continuing north-west to Wantagh station. Parts of Oakland Avenue and Woodward Avenue are both shown (where I walked this morning), but I suspect the streets may have had other names.

Meeting topic Sept. 4: the carving of decoys

One of the arts for which Seaford is famous is the making of decoys for duck hunting in the bay. It is the subject of the meeting September 4 of the Seaford Historical Society 7:30 p.m. at the Seaford firehouse, Southard and Waverly Avenues.
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The following is from the Society:
In the mid-1800's the Great South Bay became a mecca for hunting ducks, shorebirds, and other waterfowl. They were hunted for sport, food, and to be sold to a large market in New York City, eager for game for the table.
Seaford was known up and down the east coast for having some of the finest waterfowl hunting and guides. It became the destination for many wishing to hunt waterfowl. Famous sports figures as Babe Ruth came to hunt our shores.
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These hunters were called "sports" or "yorkers." Over the years, several hotels were built to accommodate their needs, the most famous being Powell's Hotel at the corner of Merrick Road and Jackson Avenue.
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During the meeting (see top paragraph), Frank Murphy and Bill Powell will tell you about these gunners and decoy makers from Seaford. The evening's presentation will include many old photos and a display of Seaford decoys dating back to the 1870's. The meeting is open to all.