" We hold fast to the elements that are dear to us."
-- Jesse Merritt
" We hold fast to the elements
that are dear to us."
-- Jesse Merritt
[History of the Bethpage Purchase Area]
[Our Area of Service] [Our Past] [Our Purposes] [Our Goal]
[How Can We Help] [Our Programs] [Contact Us]
A
Brief History Of
The Bethpage Purchase Area...
Thomas Powell, the area's first settler, arrived in 1687. During his first decade, he built two homes, one of which still stands (Powell House, Merritt Road). In 1695 Powell purchased a 15 square mile tract of land from three Native American tribes, known as the Bethpage Purchase (see map). For a century and a half, Powell descendants and fellow Quakers were virtually the only inhabitants.
Sustained growth began in 1841 when the Long Island Rail Road was extended eastward through the area. Since that time, Farmingdale has been the heart of the Bethpage purchase. A post office was established (1845) and several businesses begun, including a brickyard, numerous pickle factories and a lumberyard. By the late 1800s Farmingdale had four churches, two fire companies, and dozens of retail stores serving the surrounding farms. In 1904 Farmingdale's residents formed an incorporated village. Long Island's first institution of higher learning, now SUNY Farmingdale, was established as a school of agriculture in 1912.
With World War I, the area's farming tradition began giving way to manufacturing, especially aircraft companies. During World War II and the Cold War, Republic in East Farmingdale and Grumman in Bethpage built tens of thousands of aircraft for the US and its allies. Republic Airport survives, and is one of the busiest general aviation centers in the Northeast.
Thousands of homes were built in the two decades following World War II, virtually removing all traces of the rural roots of the Bethpage Purchase. Its inhabitants now have a heritage dating back over three centuries, which is preserved and commemorated by the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society.
Farmingdale-Bethpage
Historical Society:
Our Area of Service...
The Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society serves the geographic area which once comprised the Bethpage Purchase. Today it includes the communities of Bethpage, Farmingdale, Melville, North Massapequa, Old Bethpage, Plainedge, and Plainview.
Thomas Powell House - Built by Thomas
Powell in 1700
after Purchase of Bethpage from three Native American Tribes
October 18, 1695
Farmingdale-Bethpage
Historical Society:
Our Past...
The society was founded at a meeting in historic Powell House, Merritt Road, Farmingdale, on April 12, 1964. Chartered by the University of the State of New York as an incorporated non-profit educational and cultural organization, its members have enjoyed hundreds of programs and activities since the founding in an atmosphere of respect for the past and good fellowship with each other.
Quaker Meeting House
First Meeting Held in 1698; present Meeting House built in 1890
Farmingdale-Bethpage
Historical Society:
Our Purposes...
To encourage and develop the historical appreciation of the public by promoting study of Long Island's past, especially that of the area once known as the Bethpage Purchase.
To foster the collection of papers and articles of historical value for exhibition and preservation.
To promote appreciation of our area's heritage by encouraging preservation of structures of historical or architectural significance.
To hold public meetings periodically for discussion of topics of historical interest.
Farmingdale Station, Long Island Railroad
Built in 1896, enlarged in 1910.
Farmingdale-Bethpage
Historical Society:
Our Goal...
For the future, the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society wishes to establish a permanent collection of historical resource material which would include artifacts, photos, bulletins, hand crafted articles, programs, documents, maps, books, and memorabilia, and to secure a suitable place in which to preserve and exhibit this collection. This collection would enable present and future residents of the Bethpage Purchase to appreciate their heritage more fully.
Clubhouse, Bethpage State Park
Farmingdale-Bethpage
Historical Society:
How Can We Help...
We invite all interested persons to become dues-paying members of the Society and to participate in our activities. We also welcome donations or the lending of personal and historical items of interest relating to the history of Long Island.
All paid Members of the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society are voting members.
Farmingdale-Bethpage
Historical Society:
Our Programs are Open to the General Public...
Guest speakers lecturing on local and regional history.
Recording and preservation of local history through voices of older residents. (Available at the Farmingdale Public Library.)
Guided tours of historic Bethpage Purchase and the Village of Farmingdale.
Concerts of Early American music.
Bus trips to historic sites and museums.
Annual Founders Day Dinner (April)
Annual Strawberry Festival (June)
Annual Installation Dinner (October)
- Newsletter "The Yeoman" mailed to all paid members -
We invite your inquiries:
Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society
P.O. Box 500, Farmingdale, NY 11735
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