All About Massapequa Park

When the first Dutch settlers arrived on Long Island in 1636, there were approximately 13 Indian tribes or chieftancies comprised of several thousand native Americans. They lived in well defined areas and were known for their location. Thus the Merricock derived their name from their word for "bare land" while the Copiague for "place of shelter."

These Indian tribes, judging from the language and customs, were related to the northern Algonquin rather than to the Iroquois of the Hudson Valley. The Marsapeague - which means "great water land" took its name from the area of south central Nassau with its abundant fresh water springs. The Indians had friendly dealings with the settlers through the efforts of their chief, Sachem Tackapausha. In 1658, Tackapausha gave the settlers of Oyster Bay a deed to the Marsapeague meadowlands thus establishing a European presence in what was to become Massapequa Park. The park and museum on Merrick Road in Seaford are named for the Indian chief.

South of what is now Sunrise Highway, in the area of Cartwright Boulevard, was a council grounds. Until the woods were cleared for construction, there was a hollow surrounded by trees that were bent by the Indians to grow as benches. They had a fortified settlement south of present-day Merrick Road on what they called the Marsapeague "river." The Europeans called this area "Fort Neck" (at Gloucester and Fairfax Roads in Harbor Green). In 1667, Tackapausha made his mark on a deed that gave the last tract of Indian land in the Massapequa area to the white man.

The earliest known house built by a European was occupied by Thomas and Freelove Jones. The house was at the head of Massapequa Creek near the probable Indian trail that became Merrick Road. The family prospered and in 1770 built a mansion, the first in the area. A memorial marker stands at the corner of Cartwright Boulevard and Beverly Avenue, the mansion location. Tyron Hall, known later as the Fort Neck House, remained standing until 1940. By 1780, a number of estates stretched along Merrick Road from Amityville to Seaford, primarily owned by descendents of Judge Thomas Jones. However, Thomas, a well known Tory, and his wife were exiled to England after the Revolutionary War.

In 1868, the first steam train came along and the Floyd-Jones families had a private station built on their side of the track, just west of Unqua Road. The Southside Railroad also had a station west of Hicksville Road called the South Oyster Bay Station. Woodcastle Hotel was built by Louis Francois Dessart on the site of the Front Street firehouse and became a well known summer resort. Descendants of the hotel's founders still live in the area.

Two houses built in the 1880s are still standing. One is on Roosevelt Avenue at Front Street, the other on Broadway and Front. Before 1920, there were about 18 homes in what is today's Massapequa Park, 15 of them on the north side of the tracks. A few of the homeowners worked on the estates; some commuted to Brooklyn and New York City. During the 20s, Sears, Roebuck sold prefabricated homes through its catalogue and several communities of these ready-to-build "prefabs" were put up in the area, including Hollywood Gardens in the area of Grand Boulevard, Pacific Street and Charles Avenue. All are still standing. An excellent example is on the southwest corner of Clark Boulevard and Second Avenue.

In 1925, the Massapequa Avenue School opened with five classrooms, five teachers and 100 students. It was the third school in the area, preceded by a one-room schoolhouse near Old Grace Church on Merrick Road and another built in 1852 on Wurtemburg Road.

Most of the area now occupied by Massapequa Park was a wooded thicket in 1927 when some far-sighted and energetic young men saw great possibilities in the "wasteland" of scrub oak and brush. There was no Sunrise Highway, no Southern State Parkway, no Park Boulevard north of Clark, no railroad station. What was to become Massapequa Park was virtually inaccessible.

The real estate firm of Brady, Cryan & Colleran placed large ads in the New York City newspapers announcing free special trains from Penn Station to Massapequa, which had a station stop at the time. The builders improved and extended Park Boulevard from Merrick Road to well north of the railroad tracks. This enabled hired cars to bring the crowds that responded to the "day in the country" offer from the Massapequa station to the village-to-be. Actually, Massapequa Park's first day, November 6, 1927, was sunny, and prospective buyers walked along the lake to the Park.

The records show that $131,000 worth of homesites and business lots were sold on this opening day. More than 900 people had come. For five years thereafter, every Sunday and holiday, special free trains were run from New York. Many times two trains a day were needed. On one occasion in May, 1929, 5,621 people visited Massapequa Park on four separate trains.

The founders of the Park envisioned a community of graceful homes. This objective is evidenced today by the many red brick houses along Tyrconnell Avenue, Glengariff Road and Avoca Avenue. When built, these houses sold for $8,950 and those in the Lincoln Avenue section for $7,950.

The next important step was to get a railroad station for Massapequa Park. It took five years to convince the Long Island Rail Road of the need. The builders even went so far as to boycott the railroad for six months hoping that the transportation company would yield to their demands for a stop. A fleet of buses was run from Penn Station and Flatbush Avenue to bring prospective buyers out from the city.

The railroad stop was won only when the developers agreed to erect a 12-foot sign clearly stating it was only a "temporary landing stop" and must not be regarded as a station. They also had to bear the total cost.

The first new LIRR station to open in 25 years made its debut on the first Sunday morning in October, 1933. At this time, a major road was being built over the water pipes and conduit that brought water from Long Island reservoirs to New York City. At first, the road was called "Pipeline Boulevard" but was quickly changed to Sunrise Highway. (The extension of Sunrise Highway in Queens is still called Conduit Boulevard.)

Another memorable day in the early life of Massapequa Park was May 12, 1929, with the dedication of Fitzmaurice Flying Field. The field was named after the world-famous Colonel James J. Fitzmaurice, pilot of the "Bremen," the first lighter-than-air ship to reach North America from Europe. A crowd estimated at 100,000 people visited Massapequa Park that day. Fitzmaurice Field operated until 1951. Today it is the site of the McKenna and Hawthorn (Hawthorn now closed) Public Schools.

Massapequa Park was incorporated as a Village in 1931, with Peter F. Colleran presiding as the first Mayor. The first Village Justice was Judge Michael J. Brady. Brady and Colleran Parks are named for these two men who were so instrumental in the development of the Village.

The construction boom that swept Long Island in the 1950s and 60s brought a new wave of young people to Massapequa Park. New schools and services had to be provided. The Village quickly matured from virtually a "frontier" community to the suburban enclave of approximately 6,000 one-family homes and 300 commercial ventures that it is today.

The community continued to develop and mature. In 1980 the Southgate condominium/shopping center replaced an older shopping center. In 1981 the elevation of the Long Island Railroad tracks and Massapequa Park station was completed to provide greater safety and convenience.

Massapequa Park is moving into the 21st Century as a modern, up-to-date community that has preserved its strong ties to the past.

Credits: Official Site for Massapequa Park

http://www.ci.massapequa-park.ny.us/