Packard Shoes was a shoe store located at 8 West Merrick Road. Owned by George A. Packard, the store's motto was "The shoes you love to live in." Packard Shoes was a member of the Freeport Merchants Association.
The store received national attention in the 1960s when Sergeant 1st Class Ulysses L. Harris of NJ was photographed in front of Packard Shoes while meeting with Anotoly T. Kireyev, a Soviet diplomat and spy. Army intelligence knew of the meeting and set up eight observation posts along the route Harris was instructed to follow which included the Freeport railroad station, North Bergen Place, Big Apple supermarket, the Savoy Inn, and finally Packard Shoes. While observing Harris, FBI and Army Intelligence agents were briefly stopped by the Freeport Police as "suspicious characters."
Harris was later arrested and was convicted by court-martial of conspiring to commit espionage. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
See Also:
Freeport Merchants Association
Sources:
"Freeport Merchants Association." The Leader. October 18, 1956, 11. Accessed June 5, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1956-10-18/ed-1/seq-11/
Packard Shoes [advertisement]. The Leader. March 12, 1959, 5. Accessed June 5, 2018.
Waldman, Myron S. "Sgt. Gets 7 Yrs. As Spy; Detail Meeting on LI." Newsday. December 16, 1967, 9.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, June 7, 2018.
The Pagoda House (also known as the Japanese House, Japanese Pagoda, or Chinese Pagoda) was located on Roosevelt Avenue on Randall Bay.
The house was built by H. Lyon Smith as a summer house around 1915. In 1918, Smith's house was advertised for rental or purchase. The advertisement gave the following description of the house:
Unique style of architecture, situated directly on the waterfront of Randall Bay with Long Beach in view. Pagoda containing living room, dining room, billiard room, sun parlor, six sleeping rooms, bath and two extra toilets, butler's pantry, kitchen, laundry, steam heat, electric lights, gas, [and] hot water heating system. Porches 12 feet wide extending over the bay, always cool in hottest weather. Boating, fishing, [and] salt water bathing. Ideal gentleman's residence or private club.
The property was purchased by Frederick Morgan Delano and his wife, Vanessa, around 1925, and the house received a new paint job. The Delano family, who resided in New York City, used the pagoda as a summer house.
Click here for images of the Pagoda House.
Sources:
Japanese Pagoda [classified advertisement]. The Rockaway News. April 1916, 2. Accessed January 27, 2023. fultonhistory.com.
"Many rentals by the Local Agents." The Nassau Post. June 8, 1917, 1. Accessed January 30, 2023. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071434/1917-06-08/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Real Estate News." Nassau County Review. June 8, 1917, 1. Accessed January 30, 2023. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1917-06-08/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Thoeria Club at the Pagoda." The Daily Review. June 17, 1925, 2. Accessed January 30, 2023. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071431/1925-06-17/ed-1/seq-2/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, January 30, 2023.
Pantry Pride supermarket was located on West Merrick Road at Guy Lombardo Avenue. The store originally opened in 1949, using the name Food Fair. Sometime between the 1960s and early 1970s, its name was changed to Pantry Pride. Key Food took over this location in 1979. In 1994, the store name changed again to Fine Fare. In 1998, the store became Compare Foods.
See Also:
Sources:
"Fine Fare." The Leader. October 27, 1994, 1. Accessed March 30, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071065/1994-10-27/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Grand Opening for Fine Fare In Freeport." The Leader. March 16, 1995, 20. Accessed March 30, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071065/1995-03-16/ed-1/seq-20/.
Jenny Jorge (email, March 29, 2018).
"Pantry Pride, Hill's Stores Close on LI." Newsday. October 31, 1978, 1.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, April 15, 2018.
See:
Park Avenue was called Pettit Boulevard before the 1930s.
Source:
Village of Freeport Board Minutes, 1934.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 21, 2016.
Park Street was renamed Bergen Place.
Source:
Fourteen Years Ago." Nassau County Review. August 26, 1910, 1. Accessed May 28, 2016. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1910-08-26/ed-1/seq-1/
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 28, 2016.
Parrott Rifle (also known as the cannon on Sunrise Highway) is a Civil War field artillery muzzle-loading weapon that was acquired in 1902 by the Freeport Citizens' Committee on Trophy Guns. This piece of artillery was originally used on the U.S.S. Hartford, the flagship of Admiral David Farragut, and used during the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. The Parrott Rife was dedicated on July 4, 1902 at its original location on the property of the Grove Street School (located on Pine Street and South Grove Street, now Guy Lombardo Avenue.
The Parrott Rifle is in many photographs taken at the Freeport Schools. It was later relocated to Sunrise Highway when the John W. Dodd Middle School was constructed.
In 1999, the Freeport Landmark Preservation Commission erected a roadside marker honoring the Parrott Rifle (note: the sign misspelled Parrott).
Click here for images of the Parrott Rifle.
Source:
"The Village Trustees." Nassau County Review. September 12, 1902, 3. Accessed March 25, 2021. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1902-09-12/ed-1/seq-3/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, March 25, 2021.
Parsonage Lane was one of the original names for Church Street.
Source:
Historic Freeport: 70th Anniversary Issue. [1962].
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 28, 2016.
Robert E. Patterson was the twenty-third mayor of Freeport (1933 to 1941).
Paterson was preceded by Russell S. Randall and succeeded by Worden E. Winne.
Click here for images related to Robert E. Patterson.
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, May 29, 2016.
John T. Patterson was the owner of Pat's Deli, which was located at 49 Helen Avenue in the Bennington Park section of Freeport. Before opening his business, Patterson was employed as a postal worker, a tailor, and a submarine net maker.
In 1977, as a member of the NAACP, he traveled to Washington DC to attend a conference on black aging as an advocate for the elderly. Two years later, he returned to Washington DC as a participant in the Senior Citizens Intern Program for the Fifth Congressional District. In 1981, Patterson was appointed by Governor Hugh L. Carey to a committee that was charged with developing a state policy for the Governor's Conference on Aging.
Patterson took up bowling at the age of 75.
When he turned 85, Patterson was named New York State Senior Citizen of the Year by the Senate and Assembly Committees on Aging. He was chosen from among more than 30 nominees and received a certificate of merit during a Senior Citizens Day Ceremony in Albany. In 1982, Patterson was named Nassau County's Senior Citizen of the Year by the Nassau Department of Citizens Affairs. That same year, he was featured in a Newsday article entitled, "'Man of Action' Keeps the Ball Rolling."
Patterson served as regional vice president of the state's Senior Action Council, he was chairman of the county's Nutrition Council Project, he was a board member of the Roosevelt Community Action program, and was the Exalted Ruler of the Order of Elks of the World. He also the Elks' director of education for Brooklyn and Long Island, and its state president.
Click here for images related to John T. Patterson.
See Also:
Sources:
"'Man of Action' Keeps the Ball Rolling." Newsday. May 5, 1982, 9.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, February 15, 2018.
Pat's Deli was a grocery store and delicatessen. It was located in the Bennington Park section of Freeport at 49 Helen Avenue, and was owned by John T. Patterson Sr. (1897-1983).
Before opening Pat's Deli, Patterson was employed as a postal worker, a tailor, and a submarine net maker. When he retired at the age of 75, Patterson took up bowling.
In 1977, as a member of the NAACP, he traveled to Washington DC to attend a conference on black aging as an advocate for the elderly. In 1981, Patterson was appointed by Governor Hugh Carey to a committee that was charged with developing a state policy to address the needs of the aging.
When he turned 85, Patterson was named New York State Senior Citizen of the Year. In 1982, he was named the Nassau County Senior Citizen of the Year.
Patterson’s wife, Mildred (circa 1900-1962), was a member of the Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club and was a past president of the NAACP.
Click here for images related to Pat's Deli.
See Also:
Sources:
"Honored: Man of Actions Keeps the Ball Rolling." Newsday. May 5, 1982. 9.
John T. Patterson [obituary]. Newsday. May 20, 1983, 39.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, February 5, 2018.
Paul's Pastry Shop was located at 364 Atlantic Avenue. In 1955, the bakery was known as Bayer's Bakery. The following year the name of the bakery changed to Paul's Pastry Shop. In 1968, the bakery was advertised as Paul's Bakery.
Sources:
Bayer's Bakery [advertisement]. The Leader. December 22, 1955, 13. Accessed December 11, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1955-12-22/ed-1/seq-13/.
Paul's Pastry Shop [advertisement]. The Leader. September 6, 1956, 3. Accessed December 11, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1956-09-06/ed-1/seq-3/.
"Shop Freeport Stores." The Leader. December 19, 1968, 4. Accessed December 11, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1968-12-19/ed-1/seq-4/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, December 11, 2018.
Stephen Payn (sometimes spelled Payne) (1820-1889) was a local detective and resident of Baldwin who investigated many burglaries, murders, and other serious crimes on Long Island. He was involved in several high profile cases including the murders of Maggie Bauer in 1876, Ella Clark in 1881, and Ella Smith in 1883. His wife, Nancy, born in 1823, predeceased him in 1877.
Payn died in Wentworth, SD. He and Nancy are buried in Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, NY.
Sources:
Ancestry.com.
"Detective Payne is Dead." LI City Star. May 11, 1889. Accessed May 19, 2022, fultonhistory.com.
"Freeport Mystery." The Brooklyn Union. March 4, 1882, 1. Accessed May 19, 2022. newspapers.com.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 23, 2022.
Pearsall Avenue was named for the Pearsall family, who were long time residents of Freeport and worked as baymen and farmers.
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, May 27, 2016.
Howard E. Pearsall (1890-1945) served as Village clerk for nearly two decades beginning in 1922. He was the first village clerk to be elected president of the Nassau County Village Officials Association. He also worked for his brother, Smith F. Pearsall, owner of the South Side Observer.
Pearsall was chief of the Freeport Fire Department from 1915 to 1917. He was also the secretary of the first Freeport Historical Society. He and his wife, Mae, lived at 174 Whaley Street.
Pearsall died of a heart attack. He and his wife Mary (Mae) are buried in Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, NY.
Click here for images related to Howard E. Pearsall.
See Also:
Sources:
Hazelton, Henry Isham. The Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens Counties of Nassau and Suffolk Long Island, New York 1609-1924 (Volume 5). New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1925.
"Howard Pearsall, Village Clerk, 44." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 7, 1945, 26. Accessed July 21, 2016. http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53702631/?terms=howard%2Bpearsall%2Bvillage%2Bclerk.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, July 21, 2016.
Smith F. Pearsall (?--1920) owned the Nassau County Review, which was a prominent weekly newspaper. Pearsall purchased the newspaper from Charles D. Smith for $2,000 in 1902. Pearsall sold the newspaper in 1920 to James E. Stiles.
Pearsall was also involved in the real estate and insurance business. He was a member of the Methodist Church, the Spartan Lodge (Masons), Elks, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, United Commercial Travelers, the South Shore Yacht Club, and the Freeport Club. Pearsall was also active in the Freeport Fire Department. He was a member of the Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company where he achieved the rank of second deputy chief. He was also an honorary member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the William Clinton Story American Legion Post. Pearsall was the treasurer of the Memorial Library Committee that was raising funds to build a library in Freeport.
Pearsall died in December of 1920. The flags of the Village hung at half mast in tribute to Pearsall. It was said that he was the first private citizen in Freeport to receive this honor.
Pearsall died at his home at 64 South Main Street of pneumonia. He is buried in Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, NY.
See Also:
Sources:
"Death of Smith F. Pearsall Mourned Throughout County." Nassau County Review. December 31, 1920, 1. Accessed June 29, 2016. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1920-12-31/ed-1/seq-1/.
Hodges, Arthur Lewis. Long Island's Greatest Newspaper. NY: Nassau Daily Review, 1931.
Smith F. Pearsall [obituary]. New-York Tribune. December 30, 1929, 9. Accessed December 29, 2017. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1920-12-30/ed-1/seq-9/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, June 29, 2016.
Updated by Regina G. Feeney, December 29, 2017.
George Washington Peasell (circa 1853-1904) was a local undertaker and furniture maker, as well as a member of Wide Awake Engine Company No. 1. He was born and educated in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. His parents were Carman (?-1902) and Harriet A. (nee Earle). Carman and Harriet had seven children but George was the only child still living in the 1890s.
In 1871, Peasell apprenticed with W. E. Uptergrove, and worked at veneer sawing. After two years, he joined his father in constructing tables and stereoscopes. After taking a course in embalming, Peasell and his father formed the undertaking business C. Peasell & Son.
In 1879, Peasell married Minnie F. Watson of Brooklyn. Their three children were named William Carman, Hattie, and Mildred.
Peasell was nominated as assistant chief of the Freeport Fire Department in 1895. He later served as chief between 1898 and 1899, the fifth chief of the department. During his tenure as chief, the Village of Freeport added a steam whistle to the Freeport power house building. The whistle, which replaced inefficient alarm bells, was designed to be heard over a distance of four miles. Through a local newspaper, Peasell also directed residents to avoid using telephones during a fire so that telephone lines could be used by the fire department.
Following the Spanish-American War, Peasell worked for the U.S. government to disinter the remains of American soldiers and sailors who died in Cuba and Puerto Rico. He received the pay and rank of a first lieutenant for this work. Upon his return in May of 1899, it was reported in the press that he had become very ill. After recovering from his illness, Peasell returned to Cuba in December of 1899 to continue his work for the government as one of 14 undertakers working in Cuba. Their assignment was to disinter the bodies of 500 American service members for eventual burial in the United States.
Peasell was very involved in Freeport fraternal organizations. In 1899, he was initiated into the Freeport Lodge of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was active in the Freeport Methodist Church.
Peasell fell ill again in 1904 when he suffered a stroke. He died at the age of 47. He is buried in Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, NY. Peasell's undertaking business was later taken over by Chester Fulton.
See Also:
Junior Order of United American Mechanics
Sources:
Bermudez, Miguel and Donald Giordano. An Illustrated History of the Freeport Fire Department, 1893-2008. Freeport, NY, Freeport Fire Department, 2008.
"Fourteen Years Ago." Nassau County Review. January 17, 1913, 5. Accessed July 9, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1913-01-17/ed-1/seq-5/.
"Fraternal Orders." Nassau County Review. January 6, 1899, 3. Accessed September 28, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1899-01-06/ed-1/seq-3/.
"Freeport." Hempstead Sentinel. (n.d.), 8. fultonhistory.com
"Freeport." South Side Observer." August 10, 1894, (n.p.). fultonhistory.com.
"Freeport's Firemen's Election." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 16, 1895, 7. Accessed September 28, 2017. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50403765/?terms=wide%2Bawake%2Bfreeport.
George W. Peasell [obituary]. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 1, 1904, 9. Accessed July 10, 2018. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53410410/?terms=%22george%2Bw.%2Bpeasell%22.
"George Peasell Very Ill." The Long Island Farmer. March 1, 1904, 1. Accessed September 28, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn87070021/1904-03-01/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Local." Nassau County Review. January 12, 1900, 3. Accessed September 28, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1900-01-12/ed-1/seq-3/.
"New Fire Alarm." Queens County Review. June 24, 1898, 3. Accessed July 9, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071432/1898-06-24/ed-1/seq-3/.
"Personal." Nassau County Review. December 29, 1899, 3. Accessed September 28, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1899-12-29/ed-1/seq-3/.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Queens County (Long Island) New York Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. New York: Chapman Publishing Company, 1896.
"To Bring Home Dead Heroes." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 31, 1899, 11. Accessed July 9, 2018. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50351448/?terms=%22George%2Bw.%2Bpeasell%22.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, October 4, 2017.
Updated by Regina G. Feeney, July 10, 2018.
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company was located at 260 West Sunrise Highway during the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1948, workers employed by the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in Freeport went on a four day strike. The strike led to a new agreement in which workers got a $10 a week raise, five sick days that they would get paid for if they did not take them, and double time for time worked over ten hours per day.
The company was owned by Russell Arundel and managed by his brother, Earle Arundel. Russell Arundel, a native of Virginia, made news when it was revealed that he co-signed a $20,000 loan for Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1953.
Sources:
"Co-Signed for Joe: LI Bottler." Newsday. May 8, 1953, 7.
"Earle Arundel Attends Bottlers Convention." The Leader. December 11, 1952, 5. Accessed April 10, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1952-12-11/ed-1/seq-5/.
"Li Bottle Denies $20,000 Loan to McCarthy, 'Was an Endorser.'" Newsday. May 7, 1953, 5.
"Personalities." The Leader. November 20, 1952, 5. Accessed April 10, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1952-11-20/ed-1/seq-5/.
"Strike 4 Days, Pepsi Men Win $10 Raise." Newsday. July 10, 1948, 7.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, April 10, 2019.
Pershing Place was part of Graffing Place until 1926, when it was changed pursuant to resolution of the Village of Freeport Board of Trustees. The street was named for General John J. Pershing, who was the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. General Pershing visited Freeport in 1920 as a guest of the Freeport Elks Club.
See Also:
Sources:
"Memorial Services of Freeport Elks." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 6, 1920, 12. Accessed July 19, 2017. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/55552920/?terms=%22Pershing%22%2Bfreeport.
Village of Freeport Board Minutes, December 12, 1926.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, July 20, 2017.
David Cairns Pettigrew (1894-1934), known as "Smiling Dave," was a sergeant with the Freeport Police Department. He emigrated from Scotland in 1904, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War I.
On the night of February 11, 1934, Sergeant Pettigrew, along with patrolmen Jules Holze and William Thompson, responded to a street fight outside the Moose lodge located at Merrick Road and South Grove Street (now Guy Lombardo Avenue). After taking four men into custody, another fight started. During this melee. Holze was struck in the head with a nightstick by one of the men and Pettigrew, who reportedly suffered from heart disease, died of a heart attack. At the time of his death, Pettigrew was 39 years old. He left a wife and two daughters.
The Pettigrew family lived at 23 West Milton Street. Pettigrew was the second Freeport police officer to die in the line of duty. He is buried in Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, NY.
Click here for images related to David C. Pettigrew.
See Also:
Sources:
"Freeport Police Sergeant Dies in Making an Arrest." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. February 12, 1934, 2. Accessed December 20, 2017. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/59986290/?terms=%22david%2Bpettigrew%22.
Krieg, Cynthia J. and Regina G. Feeney. Freeport. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2012.
Police Memorial Page. Freeport, NY: Village of Freeport.
"Policeman Dies While Making Arrest." The Suffolk County News. February 16, 1934, 9. Accessed December 20, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031477/1934-02-16/ed-1/seq-9/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, December 20, 2017.
Pettit Boulevard was renamed Park Avenue in the 1930s.
Source:
Village of Freeport Board Minutes, 1934.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 21, 2016.
Stephen P. Pettit (1880-1925) served as Village judge from 1912 to 1913. Born in Rockville Centre, Pettit worked as a cab driver at the Baldwin and Freeport railroad stations and then moved into the auction business with Archer B. Wallace and later with Roland Lamb, a Village president. Pettit initiated the development of what was known as the actors’ colony in south Freeport and was made an honorary member of the L.I.G.H.T.S. (Long Island Good Hearted Thespian Society) Club. Pettit was founder and president of the Citizens’ National Bank on Merrick Road and prominent in real estate circles in Freeport, Long Island, New Jersey and Florida. He was president of the Stephen P. Pettit Company and vice president of the Jamaica Tile and Trust Company, and an organizer and member of the Freeport Chamber of Commerce. He served two terms as constable for the Town of Hempstead and three years as sheriff of Nassau County.
He was president of the Freeport Trotting Association, a horse trainer, and owner of many fast horses. He also played polo on a field located near the intersection of Atlantic and South Bayview Avenues. The opposing team featured such players as Will Rogers, Vernon Castle, and Fred Stone. He played second base for the Freeport baseball team in the South Side League. He also was an Exalted Ruler of the Freeport Elks.
See Also:
Click here for images related to Stephen P. Pettit.
Source:
Hazelton, Henry Isham. The Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens Counties of Nassau and Suffolk Long Island, New York 1609-1924 (Volume 5). New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1925.
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, June 20, 2016.
The Philharmonic Conservatory of Long Island was established in Freeport in the 1940s; it was said to be the brainchild of New York musicians Allan Kaye and Jerome Nazer. The goal of the project was to give local students musical instruction by some of the county's finest artists. It was originally located at 174 West Sunrise Highway and later moved to the Plaza Theatre (2 South Grove Street, now Guy Lombardo Avenue) in 1953.
Sources:
"Ace Artists Teach at Freeport. Newsday. November 4, 1948, 25.
"Long Island Philharmonic Opens Enrollments." The Leader. September 23, 1948, 3. Accessed July 17, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1948-09-23/ed-1/seq-2/.
Philharmonic Conservatory of Long Island [advertisement]. The Leader. October 1, 1953, 15. Accessed July 17, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1953-10-01/ed-1/seq-15/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, July 17, 2018.
Pine Court Apartments is located at 148 Pine Street. It was constructed in the late 1920s by John Cruickshank.
See Also:
Source:
"It Happened Years Ago." The Leader. August 4, 1983, 8. Accessed February 21, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1983-08-04/ed-1/seq-8/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, February 21, 2018.
D. Wesley Pine (1846-1931) was born in Greenwich Point (now north Freeport) in 1846 to Raynor and Catherine (Edwards) Pine. He apprenticed as a carpenter in his late teens, and went into business for himself after his training. In 1877, he formed the firm of Pine and Pearsall by becoming partners with Carman Pearsall. This firm built many of Freeport's buildings, and Pine was influential in real estate development in Freeport.
See Also:
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 27, 2016.
Updated by Denise Rushton, August 1, 2016.
Pine Hall was the original name of the apartment building located at 164 Pine Street. The building was constructed around 1963 and had apartments ranging in size from studio, one and two bedroom layouts. Rents started at $119 per month. The building boasted laundry rooms on every floor, intercoms, and reserved parking.
Sources:
Pine Hall [advertisement], Newsday. February 9, 1963, 77. Accessed February 10, 2023. Newspapers.com.
Pine Hall [advertisement], Newsday. July 6, 1963, 54. Accessed February 10, 2023. Newspapers.com.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney. February 10, 2023.
Pine Island Yacht Club was active in the 1980s. It was named for Pine Marsh, which is bounded by Swift Creek, Bay of Fundy, and Long Creek.
Source:
"One Day Switch." The Leader. June 26, 1986, 9. Accessed June 21, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1986-06-26/ed-1/seq-9/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, June 21, 2018.
John Pine ran a mill on the border between Freeport and Baldwin. Around 1686, Pine damned the Milburn Creek with the help of John Tredwell in order to create an artificial pond that he used to power a gristmill.
Click here for images related to John Pine's mill.
Sources:
Metz, Clinton. "Waterfront Just a Creek." The Leader. October 19, 1972, 13. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1972-10-19/ed-1/seq-13/
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 22, 2021.
Pine Street was named for the Pine family, who were among the original settlers of Freeport.
See Also:
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, May 27, 2016.
Playland Park was an amusement park located on South Grove Street (now Guy Lombardo Avenue) and Front Street. Described as a "smaller-scale Coney Island," Playland opened on May 26, 1923. The park operated on nine acres and amusements included a rollercoaster, carnival-like booths, a dance hall, a giant swing, a carousel, and a bathing facility. The park was created by a group of South Shore businessmen, which included Harry Barasch, Samuel S. Geer, Charles Davey, Edward F. Goldman, and Richard Sanneman. It was reported that the land originally cost $40,000. During its best year gross receipts were $100,000.
Actor and competitive swimmer Johnny Weissmuller swam in the pool at Playland Park in the mid 1920s. In 1928, the first Nassau County interscholastic championship swim meet took place at the pool in Playland Park.
The Great Depression, coupled with competition from the new state park at Jones Beach, led to the demise of Playland Park. In 1931, the park was destroyed by fire. On the day of the blaze, the Freeport Fire Department was filming the movie The Freeport Story at Maple Street and Mill Road. Coincidentally, the movie company doing the filming, a subsidiary of the Fox Film Corporation, had stored some of its equipment in the pavilion in Playland Park. The pavilion, valued at $30,000, was completely destroyed and the film company lost $100,000 worth of equipment in the blaze. The fire was blamed on an electrical short circuit.
In 1933, the land was purchased for residential development by Ernest S. Randall (1873-1934). A year after Randall's death, all of his real estate holdings, including the Playland Park property, were sold at auction.
Click her for images related to Playland Park.
See Also:
Sources:
"Amusement Park Sold at Freeport; To be Dismantled." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. July 10, 1933. Accessed February 19, 2019. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/59845480/?terms=%22Playland%2Bpark%22%2Bfreeport.
"Freeport's 'Vamps' Quit Film Star Flat." The New York Times. June 29, 1931, 19.
"Long Beach Schools Take First Nassau Swimming Meet." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 17, 1928, 34. Accessed February 19, 2019. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/57556008/?terms=%22Playland%2Bpark%22%2Bfreeport.
Metz, Clinton E. "It Happened... Years Ago!" The Leader. August 20, 1981, 6. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1981-08-20/ed-1/seq-6/.
"Playland Park Property to Go on the Auction Block." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 12, 1935, 1. Accessed February 19, 2019. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/52627405/?terms=%22Playland%2Bpark%22%2Bfreeport.
"Playland Site on Block Today." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 22, 1935, 2. Accessed February 19, 2019. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/52633877/?terms=%22Playland%2Bpark%22%2Bfreeport.
"Village Linemen Demand a Raise; Threaten to Quit." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 15, 1923, 13. Accessed February 19, 2019. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/57150457/?terms=%22Playland%2Bpark%22%2Bfreeport.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, March 25, 2019.
Plaza Theatre (also known as Plaza Theater) was located at 2 South Grove Street (now Guy Lombardo Avenue) just south of the Long Island Rail Road tracks. The theater was operated by Charles and Jennie Reitmeyer. Originally, the Plaza was opened as an open-air theater called the Plaza Airdome in the early 1910s. In November 1912, the Plaza Theatre installed a musical electrical chime system. The following month, it was reported that commuters were allowed to use the vestibule of the theater as a waiting room.
Edward J. and Leona Ellenberger purchased the theater in 1951. In 1953, Philharmonic Conservatory of Long Island opened in the Plaza Theater. The theater was torn down in 1958 to make room for the elevated railroad tracks.
Click here for images related to the Plaza Theatre.
Sources:
"Freeport News." Nassau County Review. November 29, 1912, 1. Accessed January 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1912-11-29/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Freeport News." Nassau County Review. July 26, 1912, 1. Accessed January 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1912-07-26/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Freeport News." Nassau County Review. December 27, 1912, 1. Accessed January 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1912-12-27/ed-1/seq-1/.
Philharmonic Conservatory of Long Island [advertisement]. The Leader. October 1, 1953, 15. Accessed January 16, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1953-10-01/ed-1/seq-15/.
"The Plaza Theatre Now in New Hands." The Leader. July 5, 1951, 8. Accessed January 17, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1951-07-05/ed-1/seq-8/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, January 17, 2018.
See:
Plover Canal is the waterway located south of East 2nd Street and north of Ann Drive.
Source:
Map of Nassau County Barrier Islands, 2014. Accessed October 27, 2020. https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25617/2019-helicopter-larviciding-Map?bidId=
Researched by Regina G. Feeney. October 27, 2020.
See:
Polio Epidemic of 1916 is estimated to have infected 9,000 New York City residents resulting in the death of 2,343 people. Nationwide, there were 27,000 cases of polio (the word "polio" is short for poliomyelitis, a disease also referred to as infantile paralysis) and 6,000 fatalities. In a two month period,160 cases were reported in Nassau County. At the urging of local health officer Dr. William H. Runcie, the Village of Freeport adopted a resolution in August 1916 to protect the public from infection. This resolution required Freeporters to report to the local health board the arrival to Freeport of any child under the the age of 16. Those who had or were suspected of having the disease were required to be quarantined for a period of six weeks. Children under the age of 16 who had been exposed to someone that had polio were required to be quarantined for two weeks. Public funerals for anyone who died of polio were prohibited. Children under the age of 16 were barred from attending any public or private gatherings, church, movie theaters, amusement parks, beaches, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Due to this epidemic Freeport public schools were closed from July 2nd to October 2nd.
All cases of polio in the Town of Hempstead were required to be reported to Town Registrar of Vital Statistics Franklin G. Gilbert. A newspaper published on August 25, 1916 reported that in one week there were seven cases of polio in Freeport: Paul Leonard (age 7); Robert Staats (age 25); Elizabeth Rose Olneer (age 2 years); Leo Goggin (age 3 years ); John Danley (age 5 years); Rebecca Luftmann (8 months); Marjorie Binney (age 2.5 years); and one death: Helen Leonard (age 5 years). Between July 11 and August 25, Freeport had 14 cases and 1 death reported. The following week, a newspaper reported two Freeporters stricken with polio: Christian Schmitt (age 5 years) and Helen McClernon (age 8 years). A newspaper from September 8, 1916 reported two additional cases: Nellie Schmidt (age 4 years) and Walter Schmidt (age 3 years).
An isolation hospital was established on the grounds of the Town of Hempstead's almshouse in Uniondale to quarantine those infected with polio. The hospital was organized under the direction of the deputy Town of Hempstead health officer, Dr. Gordon Lindsay of Freeport. Gordon's wife oversaw the day-to-day operation of the hospital. Anna Lindsay was a graduate of Bellevue Hospital Training School. The temporary hospital was described as a "portable house" 18 by 39 feet in size that could accommodate 15 patients. Another hospital located in an existing almshouse building was able to accommodate six or more patients. The ambulance service of Chester Fulton was designated the official carrier of all people with polio to these hospitals.
By the fall, the spread of polio began to wane. A local newspaper reported that the number of cases locally began to drop. Margaret Binney of Southside Avenue returned home with a paralyzed leg and Helen McLaren of Archer Street was said to be in better health.
In November, a health clinic sponsored by state and local health officials took place at the Freeport Elks Club to evaluate the recovery of children who had been stricken by polio.
Sources:
"Admit 6 Patients." The Nassau Post. September 1, 1916, 1. Accessed April 12, 2020. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071434/1916-09-01/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Infantile Paralysis at Rockville Centre and Freeport." South Side Observer. November 10, 1916, 9. Accessed April 13, 2020. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031784/1916-11-10/ed-1/seq-9/.
"Infantile Paralysis Epidemic Dying." Nassau County Review. September 08, 1916, 1. Accessed April 12, 2020. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1916-09-08/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Infantile Paralysis Situation Improved." South Side Observer. August 31, 1916, 1. Accessed April 12, 2020. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031784/1916-08-31/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Legal Notices." The Nassau Post. August 18, 1916, 5. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071434/1916-08-18/ed-1/seq-5/.
"Paralysis Conditions Improving in Town." Nassau County Review. September 01, 1916, 8. Accessed April 12, 2020. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1916-09-01/ed-1/seq-8/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, April 13, 2020.
Pompei Italian Kitchen was located at 132 West Sunrise Highway. It was opened in 1962 by John Gentile and John DiCicco. The restaurant was known for its square pizza.
Click here for images of Pompei Italian Kitchen.
Source:
"HEP Partners Offers Square Pizza Pies in New 'Pompie.'" The Leader. April 05, 1962, 3. Accessed November 3, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1962-04-05/ed-1/seq-3/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, November 3, 2017.
The Poop Deck (also known as The Poop Deck Dock and Lounge and The Pool Deck Restaurant and Bar) was a bar and grille located in a converted boathouse at 23 Woodcleft Avenue.
The Poop Deck was owned by George Beitterick (circa 1910-1956) and his wife Edna (1910-1999) and was opened in 1943. The Beittericks purchased the established bar, then known as Knipes, for $5,000. They originally were going to name the bar The Bow but settled on The Poop Deck. Joe Elliot was the bar's long-time manager and a friend and companion of Edna. It was reported that Yul Brynner, Victor Moore, Dan Dailey, Pat Boone, and Guy and Lilliebell Lombardo came to The Poop Deck. Television personality Arthur Godfrey was said to have mentioned The Poop Deck on his television program.
After Edna Beitterick passed away in 1999, The Poop Deck was demolished and partners Mike Danon, Mike Gross, and Peter Clavin built their restaurant, E. B. Elliot's, on the site.
Click here for images related to the Poop Deck.
See Also:
Sources:
Braun, Bill and Norma Braun. "Good-bye, Poop Deck!" The Leader. October 31, 2002, 4. Accessed January 11, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071065/2002-10-31/ed-1/seq-4/.
"G. Beitterick; Bar Operator At Freeport." Newsday. July 13, 1956, 67.
Ingrassia, Michele. "Keeping Bar Hemingway and Havana Might Come to Mind When You Walk Into the Poop Deck, the Little Bar Edna Beitterick Took Over 49 Years Ago and Hasn't Changed Since." Newsday. September 1, 1992, 48.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, January 11, 2019.
Poor House Road was an early name of the section of Bayview Avenue north of Merrick Road.
See Also:
Source:
Raynor Town Map, 1868 located at the Freeport Historical Society.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 29, 2016.
Popular Shoe Store was located at 68 South Main Street. According to a 1927 advertisement, the store sold shoes manufactured by Thom. McAn, Dorothy Dodd, and Pied Piper. Its motto was "Footwear for the Entire Family."
Source:
Voyageur, 1927 (Freeport High School Yearbook).
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, December 25, 2016.
Porterfield Place was named for Robert Porterfield, who was a real estate developer.
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, May 27, 2016.
Jacob Post (1874-1967) was a grocer, carpenter, and builder with an office on South Main Street. In 1896, he was a member of the Freeport Improvement Club. He built the Olive Building on the southeast corner of South Main Street and Olive Boulevard (Sunrise Highway) in 1912. The building was named for his daughter, Frances Olive.
Post married Jessie E. Smith in 1900. In 1909, they established the Freeport Taxicab Company with Willet G. Smith. The Posts are buried in Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, NY.
Click here for images related to Jacob Post.
Source:
"Freeport News." Nassau County Review. May 28, 1909, 1. Accessed August 10, 2016. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1909-05-28/ed-1/seq-1/.
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, June 24, 2016.
Updated by Regina G. Feeney, August 10, 2016.
A Post Office was established in Freeport around 1858, five years after "Freeport" became the community's official name. Before 1858, Freeporters had to pick up their mail in Merrick at a stagecoach stop and general store near Babylon Turnpike. Here, the mail was administered by Joseph Smith. His son, Carman Smith, was appointed the first postmaster of Freeport. The mail may have been sorted in or adjacent the hotel/tavern owned by Benjamin Smith, located on the northeast corner of Broadway and North Main Street. Nelson H. Smith, father of the village mayor and Hempstead Town Supervisor, Hiram Smith, became postmaster in 1867. The post office was probably relocated to Smith's general store located on West Merrick Road. Sidney Smith, brother of Carman Smith, served as postmaster from 1873 to 1880. For four years in the 1880s, Albert Cox, father of Smith Cox, was postmaster. The post office was said to have been located in his shoemaking shop on North Main Street. Later postmasters included: Elbert Bedell, Daniel B. Raynor, Charles Powell, Robert G. Anderson, T. Benson Smith, Sylvester Shea, Edward A. Rice, May Bannon, and Ralph Marshall.
The introduction of house numbers in 1899 allowed for free home mail delivery, which began in 1907.
Throughout the years, the post office has occupied various locations including: Merrick Road (west of Main Street); east side of Main Street (both north and south of Newton Boulevard); and Grove Street (now Guy Lombardo Avenue). The Colonial Revival-style Freeport Post Office building was constructed in 1933 on Merrick Road. The exterior is typical of the buildings erected by the postal service at that time. The interior includes two William Gropper murals done for the Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP), New Deal program. These oil-on-canvas murals are entitled "Suburban Post in Winter" and "Air Mail." In 1989, the Freeport Post Office was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Freeport Landmarks Preservation Commission added a roadside marker to the grounds of the Freeport Post Office.
Click here for images of the post office buildings in Freeport.
Sources:
Metz, Clinton E. "Freeport of Yester-Year." The Leader. August 18, 1966, 14. Accessed May 11, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1966-08-18/ed-1/seq-14/.
Krieg, Cynthia J. and Regina G. Feeney. Freeport. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2012.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 11, 2017.
Vandewater Post was a carpenter. At the turn of the century, he served as a village constable as well as trustee of the Vigilant Hose Company No. 2.
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, June 24, 2016.
Irving Standard Potter, known also by the nickname "Honey" (1891-1953), was a jazz musician and orchestra leader. Born in Hempstead, Potter's parents were Gabriel and Adalaide (nee Jackson). Honey Potter's Orchestra played extensively throughout Long Island.
During World War I, he lived on Rhodesia Avenue in the Bennington Park section of Freeport. Potter played in the cornet section of the 367th Infantry band at Camp Upton. While in Europe, he served as a stretcher bearer.
Potter married Nellie Holmes (1895-1967) in 1917. They lived at 48 Bennington Avenue. Both are buried in Long Island National Cemetery.
Click here for information related to Honey Potter.
See Also:
Sources:
Irving Potter [obituary]. Newsday. May 14, 1953, 125.
Krieg, Cynthia J. and Regina G. Feeney. Freeport. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2012.
New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 [Fold3.com].
New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
"Soldiers Returning." South Side Messenger. November 11, 1910, 8. Accessed March 19, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1919-03-21/ed-1/seq-5/.
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, March 19, 2018.
Powell Family Cemetery was part of the Powell farm, which was located on the corner of Grand Avenue and Babylon Turnpike. Formerly, this property was part of the Sand Hill Church, Freeport's first house of worship. It was established in the 1830s by Charles B. Powell and included 13 burials. It was situated on an area of about 50 x 150 in size and located 1,000 feet north of the Powell Homestead. Charles Powell's infant son was the first to be interred in the plot (possible James Powell (1838-1838). Charles died on September 13, 1842 (age 68). His wife, Mary, died on December 14, 1853 (age 74). Other burials included Robert Powell (d. 1884, age 83) and his wife, Catharine, (d. 1857, age 45); Robert and Catharine's children Emma (d. 1848); Catharine (d. 1849); Catharine Emma (d. 1850), and Cordelia (d. 1859). Other internments included Anna Powell, Robert Powell, John B. Powell, Esther Hilliard, and Mary Matilda Powell (d. 1895). [Please note: since there was no official records for this cemetery, names and dates have not been verified and may differ from source to source].
John P. Powell (1850-1917), grandson of Charles Powell, had the bodies relocated to Greenfield Cemetery in 1900.
Source:
"To Destroy Powell Plot." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 30, 1900, 33. Accessed January 9, 2017. http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50354397/?terms=powell%2Bcemetery%2Bgreenfield.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, January 9, 2017.
Powell Place was renamed Coolidge Place in 1924.
Source:
Village of Freeport Board Minutes, 1924.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, December 16, 2018.
Powell Street was named for Charles Powell. He was a real estate developer. The Powell family were early Freeport settlers. They lived in northeast Freeport.
See Also:
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, May 27, 2016.
Powell's, located at Ellison Point on Woodcleft Avenue, built, repaired and stored boats. It also sold marine supplies and duck decoys. Powell's included a marine railway. Powell's was established by Charles Powell in 1914.
Sources:
"Ellison's Point Has a Fine New Boat House." The Nassau Post. September 9, 1914, 1. Accessed June 3, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071434/1914-09-09/ed-1/seq-1/.
Powell's [advertisement]. The Nassau Post. September 12, 1914, 3. Accessed June 3, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071434/1914-09-12/ed-1/seq-3/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, June 3, 2019.
Presbyterian Cemetery was most likely a subsection of the larger Freeport Cemetery, which was located on Pine Street and Church Street.
See Also:
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, October 31, 2017.
Price Paper & Twine Company (also known as Price Paper and Twine Company) is located at 379 North Main Street. In 1953, Seymour J. Price, president of the company, successfully petitioned the Village of Freeport to change the area of North Main Street near Woodside Avenue from Residence "A" zoning to Business "B" district. The business was constructed originally at 174-76 North Main Street. In the 1920s, Price's father, David, and uncle Samuel owned a bakery at 176 North Main Street. The bakery was called the Star Bakery in the 1940s.
Sources:
Metz, Clinton. "It Happened... In 1921." The Leader. October 26, 1978. 5. Accessed November 24, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1978-10-26/ed-1/seq-5/.
1930-1931 Freeport Phone Book.
1939-1940 Freeport Phone Book - Street Telephone Guide.
"North Main Street Landowner Sues Village." The Leader. July 20, 1978, 1. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1978-07-20/ed-1/seq-1/.
"Paper Firm to Build in Northeast Section." The Leader. July 16, 1953, 1. Accessed November 24, 2018. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071064/1953-07-16/ed-1/seq-1/.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, November 24, 2018.
Prince Avenue was named for Adolph Prince, who was a resident of Stearns Park. His son was New York City judge Leopold Prince.
See Also:
Researched by Cynthia J. Krieg, May 27, 2016.
Prospect Gun Club was organized in 1879 and incorporated in 1882. The organization, popular with Brooklynites, occupied a clubhouse on Meadow Island. The club also maintained a 40-long boat with a 20 horsepower engine which was named the P.G.C. The boat, designed and built by H, J. Gielow for $2,800, was commissioned in 1908.
In 1913, New York City Mayor, Ardolph Loges Kline, was a visitor at the clubhouse of the Prospect Gun Club.
Click here for images related to the Prospect Gun Club.
Sources:
"Mayor Kline Guest of Prospect Gun Club, At Freeport, L.I." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 7, 1913, 4. Accessed January 7, 2021. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53164328/?terms=%22prospect%20gun%20club%22&match=1.
"Personal and Social." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 23, 1908, 6. Accessed January 7, 2021, 6. https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53149617/?terms=%22prospect%20gun%20club%22&match=1.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, March 12, 2021.
Putnam Avenue was originally named Forest Avenue.
Source:
Zimmerman, Charles. "Strolling the Archives." The Northwester [newsletter of the Northwest Civic Association]. January 1991.
Researched by Regina G. Feeney, May 28, 2016.