| The beginning of the evolution
of Hicksville |
 |
We
Hicksvillites are very proud of our long interesting history
which started on May 20, 1648.
Robert Williams, a Welshman from
the area, bought land from Chief Sachem Pugnipan of the Matinecock
Indian Tribe. The majority of this 6.2 sq. mile purchase became
known as Hicksville. Later this land was re-surveyed by the
government and a huge rock was brought to the purchase site.
Today this site is known as Cantiague Rock Road and West John
Street (or Prospect Avenue). This rock marks one of the boundary
lines of Hicksville that we can physically see.
There are five oil painted
murals depicting historical Hicksville events in the Middle
School which was built in 1923. One
mural shows Robert Williams and Chief Sachem Pugnipan.
Yesterday’s Indian trails are today’s roads in
Hicksville such as South Oyster Bay, Woodbury, Newbridge and
Jerusalem. So as you drive the local roads, paved with concrete
and blacktop, you are taking yesterday’s Indian trails
that crossed from Nassau (then Queens county) to Suffolk County
and from the Sound to the Bay. The Indians placed these trails
so perfectly that we just paved right over them. Sometimes
the Revolutionary War seems so far away in time, but the British
soldiers walked along these very trails while they occupied
Long Island for seven years. And yes, George Washington did
sleep here. Exactly where – now
that’s
another story.
Hickville’s namesake, Valentine Hicks, was
a Jericho landowner and the second president of the Long Island
Rail Road. He was responsible for bringing the railroad to
Hicksville. With the railroad more people could view what properties
were available east of NYC and Brooklyn.
Two business property leaders
bought much of Hicksville. Using the railroad station depot,
which was the last transfer station, as their center, these
business leaders laid out 1,000 acres of streets and lots.
Population quickly grew around this area with farming on the
outskirts and hunting on the plains.
In 1834, the Grand Central Hotel was built
on what is now the approximate site of the American Medical
Insurance building on Broadway across from Kennedy Memorial
Park. Sportsmen came to Hicksville by train, hired a horse
and buggy and traveled to Islip or Babylon for some fishing.
In front of the Grand Central Hotel, they bought tickets on
the stagecoach for all parts of Long Island to hunt or fish.
The hotel was the center of the Hickville’s community
and social life until well past the turn of the century. The
locals enjoyed food in the restaurant. Businessmen from NYC
and Brooklyn had their families spend the (part or the entire)
summer at the hotel. They would join their families on the
weekends when work was over. It sounds like today’s families
who have cabins in the mountains. I have seen a copy of an
1896 hotel ad stating on the premises there were strolling
gardens and bowling alleys available to the guests.
Around the turn of the century,
there were seven hotels in Hicksville. The LIRR encouraged
tourism and brought many sportsmen and visitors to Hicksville.
Sportsmen could bring their dogs or hire thoroughbred pointers,
Irish Setters and a variety of hounds from the Sportsmen’s
Hotel. The Sportsman’s Hotel was located in what used
to be Whale Drugs.
In 1914, Hicksville had it’s own opera house laughingly
called the “uproar house.” The attendees were very
loud and boisterous. As the piano player accompanied the silent
films being played on the screen, there were always background
disturbances, including a gunshot or two. Ahhhh, Hicksville’s
own movie theatre. Our ole opera house can still be found on
the south side of Nicholai Street about 100 feet off of Broadway.
Before
Broadway was widened, for 25 years this roadway was a beautiful
sight during Christmas time. Holiday lights were strung from
the sidewalk-to-sidewalk forming colorful and cheery arches
over the entire downtown shopping area. This annual assessment
event was spearheaded and organized by the Hicksville Chamber
of Commerce from 1939-1964.
The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce is now involved
year round in projects for all to enjoy. The fence and gazebo
in Kennedy Memorial Park and in the southern section of the
park, the floral gardens, brick memorial walks and the park
clock that lets everyone know that Hicksville is a Community
that has time for you.
There is so much more to say. The “Goldbeaters of
Hicksville” had
formed so much of our history. The Vanderbilt Cup races ran
through Hicksville. Hicksville boasted of the L.I. Aviation
Club, the pickle and glass works, and the housing boom. I have
touched lightly on some Hicksville stories but there is never
enough room. Please go to the Hicksville Public Library and
ask to read Anne and Richard Evers’ series of Hicksville
history books. I cannot think of another nearby town that has
so much printed about their history. Take an hour on a rainy
afternoon when you don’t have any plans and read through
a chapter at a time. But be careful – you’ll enjoy
yourself so much that it might become habit forming. |
