V |
Vanderbilt Cup RacesIn 1904 the automobile road races, sponsored by William K. Vanderbilt Jr. were held on the streets of Nassau County. In 1907, the races were suspended due to two fatal accidents to spectators. Undeterred, Vanderbilt got people to invest in a 45 mile roadway from Alley Pond in Queens to Ronkonkoma in Suffolk County. This roadway was the first road specifically designed for the automobile and the first limited access thoroughfare. The road boasted two lanes of concrete and banked curves very suitable for racing. Racing on the Motor Parkway was reserved for one day a year and the remaining days the road reverted to a toll road with had no speed limit. Unfortunately, the Vanderbilt Cup Races claimed the lives of four spectators resulting in banning the auto races except on special tracks in 1910. The Motor Parkway continued as a toll road until 1938. At this time it was forced to close due to tax burden and the competition of the Northern State Parkway which is a toll free road. (Information from THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2003)
|
Vagis, PolygnotosSculptor of the memorial honoring the veterans of World War II which is now located at the Bethpage Community Park. Lived on Evergreen Ave. (Edith Nicholason's sister and brother posed for the memorial) Mr. Vagis was one of the 101 sculptors whose work has been admitted to the nationwide competive exhibition, American Sculpture 1951, in the Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Vagis entry in the exhibit was "The Moon" in cast stone. (from THE NATIONAL HERALD a weekly Greek American Publication, December 20-21, 2003) Vagis was born on January 14, 1894 in the village of Patomia on the Greek island of Thassos to Giorgos and Angeliki. He came to America in June 1911 with the aim of making money for his family. In 1917 after years of manual labor he earned enough money to enroll in Cooper's Union Institute. He became an American citizen after serving time in the U. S. Military. Then, in October of 1919, he enrolled in the Fine Arts Institute and studies sculpture for three years under C. Boulgon and F. Aitken well know sculptors. In 1920 a bronze, Portrait Bust was exhibited in the Brooklyn Museum, and he was introduced to Gertrude Whitney (daughter of Cornelius Whitney and an accomplished sculptor). In 1923 Vagis was awarded a Whitney Museum of Modern Art grant that was used to pay for a studio. His first studio opened on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. The Whitney Museum continued to renew the grant each year for the next ten years. From 1920 to 1922 Vagis' work appeared regularly in the annual Pennsylvania Academy exhibition. In 1927 Vagis exhibited at the Architectural League. From 1920 to 1931, Vagis' work appeared regularly at the National Academy. In 1921 the Hispanic Museum exhibited Vagis' work, which may have led to the Greek’s work being included in 1924 at the Grand Central Palace of the Pan American Sculpture Exhibition. In 1933, the year his Whitney Museum grand ended, Vagis purchased a house at 104 Evergreen Ave., in Central Park where he would work for the next 32 years. This was an area that served as a meditative retreat as well as a studio for Vagis. In 1952 he completed his monument a memorial to 'U. S. Armed Forces'. The monument is about four feet tall and carved from local black granite from Locust Valley, Long Island. A neighbor and friend, Harry Haugen, hauled the slab of granite from Locust Valley to Bethpage, not an easy task. After rendering the stone into a square block Vagis carved four faces, in profile. Vagis chose four local young people from Bethpage who were serving in each of the four chosen divisions of the military. Ruth Nicholson Haugen who modeled as a member of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC); Carl Nicholson for the Navy, Robert Nicholson for the Army and Judy Lang for the Navy Women’s Reserve (WAVES). The memorial first stood in front of the Bethpage Broadway School, now renamed John F. Kennedy Middle School, next to the World War I memorial. At some unidentified time both monuments were moved to the Bethpage Community Park on Stewart Ave. In the 1950's Mr. Vagis continued to exhibit his work, some of his exhibitions were held at: Iowa University, Whitney Museum of Art, New York Museum of Modern Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He also participated at the International Exposition at the Carnegie Institute in Philadelphia. On August 20, 1954 Polygnostis Vagis married Sylvia Bender. She was a poet, a woman of great culture, and a fine sense for the appreciation of visual arts. She died in February 1964. Vagis died on April 14, 1965 at the Manhattan Veterans Administration Hospital. At the time of his death the Greek Government brought his body back to Greece for burial. No consideration was given to his wife. The people who posed for the World War II Memorial were: Navy Veteran, the late Carl (Bud) Nicholson, sat for both servicemen. The late Judy Lang posed for the WAVE. Army Veteran, Regina Bajewski (unsure of the spelling) posed for the WAC. Ruth Haugen did a minimum of posing. (Submitted by Ruth Haugen 2/2004).
|
VeteransSee War Participants from Bethpage
|
VFW-Butehorn Brothers Post 4987The Bethpage VFW is named in honor of Joseph and Charles Butehorn who died in WW II. Mr. Ralph Amendola was the founder and first commander in 1946. A ladies Auxiliary was also formed the same year and remembered for their cheerful visits to Northport Hospital. The veterans meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. In 1995 a macrhing drum and bugle corps was formed and later achieved state championship with its 80 members. A colonial ancient fife and drum corps was formed in 1958. The groups no longer exist but the community benefited in many ways.
|
Vietnam VeteransSee War Participants from Bethpage There were eight men from Bethpage who were killed in action (KIA). In memory of those Bethpage residents who died in the Vietnam conflict, the Bethpage Woman's Club donated funds to the Vietnam Veterans Fund so that the following eight names could be inscribed on the newly erected Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
|
Vigliotta familyThe Vigliotta family moved from Brooklyn to Broadway Bethpage in 1937. They then relocated to Patchogue in 1943 and were part of the family's East Moriches Duck Farm. The Vigliotta family were the founders of Rock Hill Golf Country Club in Manorville and donated a large tract of land in Eastport for the construction of Our Lady of Island Shrine. Rev William Vigliotta is chaplain of the shrine.
|
Villa Belaire
|
Vogts, Howard C.Coach Vogts first came to Bethpage in 1952, after graduating from Adelphi University in Garden City. He and his wife, Carolyn, used to chaperone "kids" on the early hayrides (transportation provided by Charles Champagne Trucking Company.) Athletic Director, "Howie" (in conjunction with the late Hugh Coyle, former school board member) set up the "Quarterback Club" in 1955-56, now known as the "Dads' Club." In 1966-67, he and his wife Carolyn took mutual sabbatical leaves from their respective educational fields and went out to Michigan State to work on doctoral degrees; he, in administration, and she in pupil personnel services. While there, "Howie" had the good fortune to work with "Duffy" Dougherty, Head Coach at MSU, as MSU tried for National Champs with Notre Dame. See New York Times of 9/19/97 for more info on Mr. Howard C. Vogts. After his one year stint at Michigan State in 1966, Mr. Vogts returned to Bethpage in spite of opportunities to coach college football. Bethpage is a huge football town, and since 1952 Vogts had 303 wins and became the coach with the most wins in New York State high school football in November 2000. In his 50+ years of coaching teenagers, Vogts has coached three generations of players from Bethpage, and he continues to win.
|
Return To Main Page |
W |
W & L ConfectioneryLocated at Broadway and Benkert St. G. Kayser proprietor, 1960. "Try our Home Made Ice Cream and Candy"
|
Walkabout House
|
Walsh Brothers FarmsHicksville Road, Bethpage. Farmers
|
Walsh, Joseph & CeceliaHicksville Road. Farmers
|
Walton, H.V.Groceries, Hardware, Paints and Oils, Broadway (CENTRAL PARK NEWS 10/3/29) Grocery store on Broadway
|
Warnken, ErnestRetail consultant, world class typist, writer, and served 4 ½ years during World War II in the US Army. Half of his service time was served overseas in the American Theater of Operations and the European Theater of Operations. His decorations included a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East with five campaign stars and a bronze arrowhead, American Theater of Operations, American Defense and Victory Medals, as well as, New York State Conspicuous Service Cross. He served on his Church Council and many church committees. He was director of the Long Island Lutheran High School Association, scout leader, and director of championship Junior Fife & Drum Corps. He is a member of the American Legion Press Association and the New York State Legion Press Association, and was editor of a multiple award winning newsletters for American Legion Post 86 in Bethpage. He was commander for five years, and he is "Legionnaire of the Year" for Nassau County and the 10th District New York State. He is a Life Member and officer of Butehorn Bros. Post 4987, Veteran of Foreign Wars of U. S. Married Patricia (nee McMullan) for 50 years and had three sons. Died, July 29, 2001. (Obituaries - BETHPAGE TRIBUNE August 3-9, 2001)
|
Weaver, JeremiahFirst postmaster in Central Park in 1857. Yearly salry $8.00. Total receipts in business for the year were $14.00. (from Bethpage Tribune 11/14/51)
|
Weber's General StoreFormerly "Kohlers." Central Avenue and Wilford Street.
|
Whitson, HenryA Bethpage landowner and Quaker. Set free 10 slaves between 1785 and 1800.
|
Willy'sThe big four wheel drives. Rite-way service Jonas Grossman. 271 Central Ave. "Keep your plant alive with 4 Wheel Drive Rite-way Service. (1960)
|
Wilson, EdwardWILSON, EDWARD - REMEMBERS CENTRAL PARK/BETHPAGE - I remember when we made our first visit to Central Park in 1917. It wasn't the ride out from Elmhurst, in our 1916 Ford, tin lizzy, but the never to be forgotten, vivid, first impression I got, as a four year old, as we entered into the Beau Sejour kitchen. There in front of me, just a little above eye level, loomed two huge black iron coal and wood burning stoves, both units brilliantly aglow. Behind the stove range were two young fellows, (teenagers) doing the cooking, each grasping a large black frying pan, the flames licking out from under them. In the other hand a spatula or fork, flipping or stirring as cooks do. Years later I learned, one of the teenagers was Charlie Campagne's older brother and the other kid frying, possibly a filet of Sea Bass, was Oscar Swanstrom. Oscar hailed from Swede Town, and stayed at the Beau for the better part of his life. Later we worked at the Grumman Co. for a better salary. Looking back it is hard to imagine such a busy operation going on in our quiet sparsely, 600 or so, populated hamlet. That was my introduction to our new home to be, the then Hotel Beau Sejour. A year later in 1918 we settled in, and the time to go to school arrived. Powell Ave. School with out the wooden annex, no eight class room addition, or the adjacent athletic field. Instead bordering the schoolyard were the furrowed fields, dolled with the left over harvest vegetation, of the Nibbie farm lands. Down the slope, in the hollow, by the dry creek, stood the barns and farmhouse. They had their own little private dirt road, Nibbie Lane (which is still there) to the village. It came out by the railroad station where Mr. Fredericks presided as stationmaster, and the congenial Sam Rozzi Sr., rail road crossing gate keeper. Also in the back of the school, we kids had our own little footpath running along behind the Broadway homes of the Parisi's, Buddy Mazzara, the Maurer Hotel and Mr. Jarvis home on the corner with the honest to goodness real working windmill. The path was a short cut to the village making easy access to the Hacketts Candy and Ice Cream Store, half of which was the U. S. Post Office. Down past the school on Powell Ave. (then known as School Street) ran the Vanderbilt Long Island Motor Parkway, and a section of the Stewart Rail Road Line (where the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway, Route 135 now exists). Beyond that and up the hill from Stymus Ave. was the Botto Farm. A large track of land that Joe Botto Sr. sold to the State of New York for the park and golf courses, later to be known as, Bethpage State Park. This caused the controversial contest between Central Park and Farmingdale to acquire the name Bethpage. We needed the change most, as much of our mail got mixed up with Central Park Post Office in New York City. By fast action of the post office, and local establishment, our town became Bethpage in 1936. Another notable resident down on Stymus Ave. was our schools assistant principal, Mrs. Samuel Dunton, who tightly parted, in the middle, hair do, round gold rimmed eye glasses, and dress was exactly like a farmers wife in the famous early American painting "Prayer at Noon". Mrs. Dunton taught the 7th and 8th grade, as did Mr. Goubleman, the school principal. Mr. Goubleman resided on Stewart Ave. across the street from the Beau Sejour. Along side was Theo Damm and Joe Baldwin, the town smitty, who had a Horse Shoe Shop on the corner. A few years earlier that site of land was a vast empty field dotted with a house or two in the distance, the Klug's, Sengstacken, Ahearns.Mr. Goubleman was responsible for ringing the bells to call the students together, the second ring was for assembly in the basement auditorium, where he officiated. We all saluted the flag, sang America, repeated the Lords Prayer. Mr. Goubleman then addressed us with the day's agenda, and exuberantly read passages from the Bible. His favorite was, "my cup runneth over" and "I shall dwell in the house of the Lord". Many of us waiting for the first bell often loitered on the front steps, the same spot where all the class pictures were taken. I started in Miss O'Brien's first grade, ground floor, the room on the left. How did they fit 8 grades into four fairly large rooms? The problem was eventually solved with the annex where the loyal Mrs. Harts had the 6th grade. The large extension and athletic field soon followed. Our graduation came in 1927, a few of us went on and attended Hicksville High School. Our parents had to pay the tuition and supply the transportation. Transportation was no problem as I had already been driving our 1921 Briscoe, and later our 1925 Dodge since I was 8 years old. By this time I was my mom's private chauffeur. She made frequent trips to Macy's in New York City in which I did the driving. We also made regular trips to the near by farms for produce, string beans from Walsh's, corn from Moesch's, where a bank and bowling alley now stand, and others DeLalio, McGunicles and Neders much of which is now Grumman. We would sometime scour those nearby fields for carrots and other leftovers for a treat for our cows, Bessie and Browka. So we drove to school daily without a hitch, and without a drivers license. Keeping one eye in the rear view mirror and the other on the road even though there were no police patrol cars in our area prior to 1929. There were no policemen in our town until about 1922. I know, I was in the 7th or 8th grade and had bought myself a shiny new 22 blank pistol from the toy and stationary section of Mr. Hacketts Candy Store. They also had a couple of gambling machines (one arm bandits) there which Mr. Goubleman, the school principal, soon took care of. Our new rookie cop, Eddie Piat, likewise relieved me of my new pride and joy, my new 22 blank pistol. We got to know the new cop well as his more frequent patrols were made to the back room at the Beau Sejour. We also had a motorcycle cop, Frank Zinzi, who patrolled the Hempstead Turnpike in the late World War One about 1916 or so. The turnpike was a narrow macadam road, as all others were then, and had to be treated each summer with a messy oil spray and a layer of sand. Officer Zinzi also doubled as the gatekeeper at the Vanderbilt Parkway Toll Booth exit. This also served as his homestead. The parkway was a dangerous, narrow, speedway with no space for on coming cars. The exit booth was located back in the Island Trees potato fields, behind the Kraemers and Kerchler homes along side of the little white Baptist Church. Last, but not least, on the Police Dept. list was Dick Garret of the auto parts and salvage firm, who I believe was a plainclothes detective. One of the younger Garrets did chase me all the way to school one day, but stopped short of the high school entrance gates. Many years later one of our regular Sunday dinner guest, Count Clarence D Von Herter, told of how he during World War One, while on his way to have dinner at the Beau was frequently stopped for speeding by a motorcycle cop on the Hempstead Turnpike. In fact, it almost became a ritual. This had to be Office Zinzi! I could tell by the look the count gave me that he and the officer both rather enjoyed this mutually satisfactory meeting. Count Herter then drove a racy open, two seater, army tan, Mercedes Benz, with slanted lightweight canvas mudguards. As a car crazy kid, I remember his car well along with the many other fine cars parked around our place. The Pierce Arrow, Stutz Bearcat, but in particular Mr. Honer, the Honer Harmonica king, his Benz was finished in mahogany and the exhaust pipes, nickel plated, protruded out from under the hammered copper hood. A few more on the long list of outstanding early day cars was the monstrous Locomobile, The Moon, Richenbacker. To which I'd like to add our own English 1921 Briscoe and my 12 or 13 year old birthday present, a 1927 Whippet Roadster with a rumble seat. No wonder mom called me the Prince of Whales. While I'm on the car crazy bit, out of the twenty or more cars I had over a lifetime, nine of them, Pontiacs, came from Mr. Larry Calisi Sr., garage on Central Ave. in the McCordville area. So much change occurred in the decade between 1920-1930 and changes continue.
|
Wilson, Paul
|
Winter, RichardPlumbing and Heating Contractors. Radiator Heating with American Red Flash Boilers and American Corto Radiators. Plainview Rd. Central Park
|
Wisconsin GlacierThe Wisconsin Glacier moved to this area from the north about 22,000 years ago. The glacier's edge measured 500 feet high and a depth of about one mile. The glacier carried soil, rocks and clay. As the glacier melted the rocks and soil made up Long Island's surface which formed the hills of the north shore, the flat lands of the Hempstead Plains. The glacier also deposited large boulders like Shelter Rock in North Hills and Target Rock in Lloyd Neck. All told, it took 450 million years for the layers of bedrock, sediment and glacial deposits to form Long Island. (Information from NEWSDAY 'It Happened on Long Island') |
World Trade Center, NYCBuilt to provide prestigious office space, shops, and fine restaurants (including 'Windows on the World' at the top of the towers). An easy commute from Bethpage via Long Island Rail Road or by car. The World Trade Center was the target of an attack on September 11, 2001, as well as The Pentagon in Washington D.C. In the World Trade Center over 3,000 people lost their lives. Bethpage has suffered the loss of:
|
World War ISee War Participants from Bethpage World War I Veterans who served and are listed on the Memorial Boulder/Honor Roll in the Bethpage Community Park on Stewart Avenue. ( This rock used to stand in front of the Powell Avenue Elementary School.)
|
Women's ClubThe seven charter members of the Woman's Club first convened on February 24, 1958 at Grace Marshall's home. Four months later their constitution and by-laws were adopted, and they became known as the Junior Woman's Club of Bethpage. The following year, the organization became certified as a member of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs. The Junior Woman's Club of Bethpage is a non-profit philanthropic organization that promotes educational and cultural programs. Some charitable recipients have included, Walkabout House, PEOPLE, Vietnam Veterans and many more. In 1975 they helped implement the learning disability programs in the schools, they raise money for scholarships, and as a result of their hard work and dedication to Bethpage, in 1976 they won best community improvement project.
|
World War II - Roll of HonorSee War Participants from Bethpage
|
Return To The Main |
Z |
Zawatski
|
Zinzi, Thomas and JosephineThomas Zinzi was a motorcycle cop on the Old Motor Parkway. When Thomas and Josephine married they lived in the toll house at 301 Hicksville Road, Bethpage, known as the Massapequa Lodge of The Old Motor Parkway and raised three children. Mrs. Zinzi was the gate-keeper. Mrs. Zinzi remembers Charles Lindbergh when he used to stop when he was giving his wife flying lessons at the Hicksville Flying Field. Also General Jimmy Doolittle was another who stopped at the gatehouse. (information gathered from the New York Herald Tribune, "Motor Parkway Old Toll House a Family Home" Sunday, April 26, 1964.)
|
Zinzi, Thomas Jr.S 2/c Thomas Zinzi , one of the community's outstanding high school athletes, lost his left leg as a result of an operation following an injury at a training camp in the South. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs Thomas Zinzi, Sr. of Motor Parkway and was captain and star player of the football team at Farmingdale High in l943. He was a graduate of the St. Ignatius Parochial School in Hicksville. S 2/C Zinzi was in srvice for about a year and a half and is believed to have been training as an aerial gunner when the accident occurred. (From The Bethpage Newsgram, Thursday December 6, 1945)
|
Zorn's Poultry Farms2331 Hempstead Turnpike, Bethpage, NY
"Your Kitchen Away from Home"
|
Zuk
|
Zwickert, WilliamMarried Lena Seligman. Owned a garage and auto dealership on Hempstead Turnpike.
|
Return To The Main Page |