Seaford, NY, School Vote

The budget passed the May 20, 2008, vote 1,481 to 1,099, according to Newsday. It would seem to indicate that 2,580 people voted, out of an estimated 11,000 eligible. The modification to the busing mileage lost, No 992- Yes 929. Link to the school district news page here.

Meeting 5.1.2008 of the Seaford Historical Society

The leadership and volunteers of the Seaford Historical Society welcomed those who attended the May 1, 2005, "Wine Tasting" meeting with a spread of large circular tables, tablecloths, glasses, nibble-food, and coffee. The brief business meeting was followed by an enthusiastic speaker, Seaford resident Joe Sheehy, on the history, variety, and taste of Long Island wines. Equally well prepared were the displays of the work the organization hopes to accomplish in restoring the museum. The generosity of individuals, civic organizations, and businesses continues impressive. Please note the mailing address for all correspondence, donations, and memberships: Seaford Historical Society, Post Office Box 1254, Seaford, NY 11783. More information is available at the society's website, http://www.SeafordHistoricalSociety.org
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I have been trying to learn about the names of Seaford streets that represent local families, as Jackson, Southard, Ray, and others. Some sort of list will soon appear on this blog. However, at this meeting I received friendly help about three matters: 1) that Condit Street is named after the builder of homes there; 2) that mail delivery and house numbers arrived about 1951; 3) that public water (as opposed to homeowners' well water) arrived around 1960. If you wish to correct or comment, please use my address as given in the right-hand column.
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Many thanks to the workers of the Seaford Historical Society and the Fire Department that helped make the evening of May 1 so enjoyable.

Street drainage info, 5.2.2008

Continuing the topic of street drainage: I have been informed that the Town of Hempstead's 2008 Highway Capital Program includes the current project (see photo) as "the "Guildford Park Area Part I." This is only the beginning of a project to reconstruct the roads in this area, and it may take several years. Paddock Road, for example, is not in 2008 plans, but when the street is reconstructed, it is said that any storm drain system improvements that are needed will be included in the project. The department and person that appears to be in charge is the Town of Hempstead Department of Engineering, 350 Front Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. The Commissioner of this department is William H. Rockensies, P.E.
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I can understand the logic of the present work. One begins where the drain outflow goes into Seaman's Creek at Waverly Avenue, then works backward to connect drains to that outflow. Much of the street disruption is caused by the need to move some other utilities out of way of the new drains. It is also understandable that the underground work must be done before repaving rather than after it!
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In the photo taken May 1, 2008, the crane is positioning a new catch basin (or other term?) in the hole dug on the curb line of Locust Avenue opposite Bit Path. The move of this concrete object from its temporary storage point on the east side into the hole on the west side took less than five minutes!

More on street drainage

My issue of the Wantagh-Seaford Citizen dated 4.17.2008 has arrived. On page 8 is a six-paragraph press release from Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilwoman Angie Cullin on the road improvement project "for the Guildford Park Area of Seaford" "slated for completion in July." Subscription to the Citizen is only $32 for two years. Link here.

Waverly Avenue digging, 4.2.2008

I have deleted my previous post about the street construction, because much has become obvious. It seems that the digging project along Waverly Avenue, Bit Path, and Locust Avenue involves drainage. Various gas and water lines, perhaps also electricity and telephone, have to be moved to make way for better drainage. Twelve big 48-inch pipes were stored on Waverly Avenue, plus what appear to be concrete catchbasins marked for Guildford Park Drive. Yet there are many locations that have surveyors' marks that seem to indicate more excavations. Further information is welcome.

Half of Seaford train station is closed

As of April 2, 2008, the east half of the Seaford train station is closed. Passengers must use the stairways at Jackson Avenue. The escalator is out of service for replacement. The ticket machines and the mail box have been relocated to the north side of the escalator. Passengers buying tickets will first have to walk east to the ticket office and machines, then west to Jackson Avenue to reach the six-car section of the platform that remains in use. Passengers traveling to Seaford must sit in the west six cars, as other car doors will not open at Seaford.

New trustee at the Seaford Library

The Seaford Public Library Board of Trustees announced that Patricia Coughlin has been appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Jeanne Cox. Mrs. Coughlin, who has lived in the Seaford community for 42 years, teaches Math and Social Studies to fifth graders and holds a Master's Degree and additional graduate credits in reading. She will be sworn in March 31 at the Board of Trustees meeting.

Meeting 1.30.2008 of the Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Assoc.

The Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association held a bimonthly meeting on January 30, 2008, in Room 152 of the Wantagh High School. The meeting, with an attendance of about eighteen, ran from 7:22 to 8:43 p.m. Following the Pledge, the slate of the nomination committee was presented and elected without challenge. I am sure the list of officers will soon appear on the Association's website here.
An attempt to summarize the meeting follows:
Assemblyman David McDonough explained the topic of Trump on the Ocean. Regarding PILOTS or payments in lieu of taxes, he pointed out that each assemblyman around the state would demand the same treatment if we succeeded in getting such payments for the Wantagh School District. As far as the Fire District is concerned, it may be possible to chart the added number of calls regarding events at the new restaurant and arrange some increased payment.
Floyd Earle, new president of the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, spoke.
Richard and Lisa Shary spoke about park or environmental issues: the marine playground at Wantagh Park; security patrols at Wantagh and Cedar Creek; the rejection by Nassau County for the proposed Cedar Creek Park; windmills in the Atlantic; an artificial industrial island in the Atlantic; the Nassau Hub.
They distributed a map from the South Shore Bikeways Connection Study, which proposed connecting the Jones Beach Bikeway with the bike path in Massapequa Preserve. It would depart Cedar Creek on the east side, travel north on Cedar Street and Willoughby Avenue, east on Waverly Avenue, through Tackapausha Preserve, then east on Maple Street. Mr. Shary is president of the Friends of Masssapequa Preserve. He warned of 6,000 bikers daily on that route. He urged a route from Cedar Creek east to some unused paving on NY 135, then along the south side of the railroad to Massapequa.
As this blog concerns Seaford, I note that Waverly Avenue is a rather bumpy road for wheeled vehicles, bicycles, sedans or any other size. I am not certain, but I think Waverly Avenue was open by 1908 from Washington Avenue two blocks or so at least to the fire house. Perhaps in the 1920's, I understand it was lengthened west to Willoughby Avenue. Is the name "Waverly" Scottish in origin?

Meeting 1.3.2008 of the Seaford Historical Society

Each time I attend a meeting of the Seaford Historical Society, I am impressed how the individuals who lead this organization show cordiality and competence. They welcome newcomers and strangers. They know the order and timing of the program, and they run the meetings well.
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Harrison Hunt, historian and author of books on our Civil War, presented an excellent slide show, with narration, on Long Island's participation in that sad conflict (1861-1865). I have several pages of notes, but I will present items in my own order, attempting to begin with Seaford and move outwards.
1) The Seaford men who served in that war tended to be farmers and baymen, as these were the principal occupations. [Recall that the place name "Seaford" comes almost twenty years after the war.] We were part of the Town of Hempstead [town hall being in Hempstead], but the county was Queens and the draft board of 1863 met in Jamaica.
2) Apparently, the individual names of men from hereabouts who served in the war might be found in an 1890 census of Civil War veterans. Most seemed to have joined Company H of the New York 119 Volunteers. As Mr. Hunt addressed the Civil War from a Long Island viewpoint, instead of Seaford only, he did not provide individual names.
3) Moving a half-mile west of Seaford: The Wantagh Fire Department displays a bell from a Civil War warship outside its building on Park Avenue.
4) In North Bellmore, African Americans who served in the Civil War are buried in the Oakfield Road cemetery.
5) In North Wantagh, the cemetery on Wantagh Avenue (now adjacent to the church of St. Frances de Chantal) contains the grave of a doctor who served in the war and died there by disease, as many participants died.
6) Mr. Harrison displayed a photo of David Allen from Jerusalem (North Wantagh) in the Zuave uniform some regiments used. One must remember that the U.S. Army numbered fewer men than the volunteer regiments.
7) Delancey Floyd Jones served in both the Mexican War and the Civil War. A biography is in Wikipedia. A description of the Floyd-Jones of Massapequa (South Oyster Bay) is here.
8) In the early 1830's, having graduated from West Point, George Meade did survey work for the Long Island Rail Road, probably in Brooklyn or Queens, as the railroad began expansion eastward from Jamaica in April, 1836.
9) Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee were both stationed at Fort Hamilton sometime.
I may edit this post further. Corrections are welcome.

Native American names in Seaford

In an attempt to identify which Seaford streets had names of the earliest people in Seaford (generally from the 1600's), I encountered several surprises. Obvious are the names Tackapausha, Seaman, and Jackson. There appears to be no street named after a Native American ("Indian"), but rather the Tackapausha Pond and Preserve. Merrick Road is named for a local tribe or family. Otherwise, more streets have Indian names, but they are not the names of individuals, rather tribal, geographic or both. Some of the Indian street names refer to tribes or locations far away from Seaford. The list I have made includes: Merrick Road, Narragansett Ave , Mattituck Ave, Penataquit Ave, Wyanet St, Ladonia St, Tonopah St, Manhasset St, Wadena St, Roanoke St, Alcona St, Tuscala St, Seminole Ave, Peconic Ave.

Meeting 11.1.2007 of the Seaford Historical Society

Thomas Saltzman, historian of the Town of Hempstead, presented two Powerpoint CD shows that he and his office prepared. The first reviewed the history of record-keeping in the Town of Hempstead. The second was prepared for classes of fourth-graders, who study local history.
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Many thanks to the volunteers of the Seaford Historical Society, who graciously and expeditiously offered this meeting. First, however, I must provide this link to a page outlining the history of the Town of Hempstead. I must also remind readers that Seaford, New York, does not have the status of village or city. It is an unincorporated section of the large Town of Hempstead. We have about 16,000 residents, but our local government is the Town of Hempstead, which counts about 750,000 residents.
Mr. Saltzman explained from 1643 to 1784 the Town of Hempstead extended from Long Island Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. During the Revolutionary War, the northern section tended to be "Patriot," siding with George Washington, and the southern section was "Loyalist," friendly to the King. In 1784, the town was split, a division that can be seen on the parking signs along Old Country Road! (In Westbury, those on the north side of that street are marked "Town of North Hempstead," on the south side "Town of Hempstead.") For a while after 1784, the term Town of South Hempstead was used.
It must also be noted that the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay formed part of Queens County until 1899, when Nassau County was established. As a result, certain county-level documents (some land deeds, for example) originating prior to 1899 are held in the Queens County record office on Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica.
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Until about 1870, the town records moved from house to house depending on who was Town Clerk. When the Town of Hempstead was split in 1784, the clerk happened to live in north of Old Country Road, so North Hempstead retained the older records. Some were later copied, by hand, of course. Through many years, there was only one town meeting a year, in April, and it considered few items of business. The records from 1784 to 1870 make six volumes. About 1870, the Town created a records office on Liberty Street, Hempstead, so the records would not thereafter be stored at the current clerk's home. Nowadays, there is a special department in Town Hall for the preservation of records.