Ancient Hixtory
Wonderful articles about the history of Hicksville, researched and written by Ron Wencer. This complete monthly series spans 4 years, from May 2018 until April 2022. Enjoy!
- Ron Wencer, Class of 1964
- Category: Ancient Hixtory
- Hits: 12851
Introduction
When the Hixnews team decided to write about “diner memories,” I volunteered to do an Ancient Hixtory article about Hicksville’s early diners. I limited myself to true diners: coffee shops, luncheonettes, ice cream parlors, Howard Johnson’s restaurants, etc. were beyond my scope. My research yield was sparse (evidently, diners were not considered inherently fascinating back then), but I did conclude that the Hub Diner was Hicksville’s first. In addition, my research shone light on a Hicksville-boosting PR campaign of a century ago – a campaign into which the Hub’s name dovetails perfectly.
Click here to continue reading August 2024: Hicksville's First Diner
- Ronald Wencer
- Category: Ancient Hixtory
- Hits: 13006
Over two centuries ago, the murky image you see headed a composite schedule of Long Island stagecoach services. It appears to depict a four-horse stage. With a bit of whimsy, the artist has placed the end of the coachman’s whip perilously close to a man's head on horseback.
Long Island Star, July 30, 1817
Click here to continue reading January 2024: Riding the Hicksville Stage
- Ronald Wencer
- Category: Ancient Hixtory
- Hits: 12213
Hearst Newspapers’ American Weekly, December 29, 1946
Introduction
This is history, not a fairy tale. There are no glass slippers or poisoned apples – but there is a tragic princess who forgoes much of her wealth, and who eventually settles down in a quiet, happy marriage with a one-time stable hand from Hicksville.
Click here to continue reading August 2023: A Very Unlikely Turn of Events
- Ronald Wencer
- Category: Ancient Hixtory
- Hits: 1381
New York Times, June 9, 1979
Click here to continue reading April 2022: Hohner In Hicksville?
- Ronald Wencer
- Category: Ancient Hixtory
- Hits: 1018
Women's Suffrage Poster (digitally restored)
New York State Library
Every year, do you celebrate what happened on November 6, 1917? Maybe you should. On that day, the voters of the State of New York (all of them men, incidentally) decided that thereafter, women would be entitled to vote in all elections held in the state. Getting things changed took a lot of work by a lot of people - and some people in Hicksville were part of it.
Click here to continue reading March 2022: 1917 Women's Suffrage
- Ronald Wencer
- Category: Ancient Hixtory
- Hits: 1393
Last month, we saw how the Protectory sheltered boys in need, and helped them prepare for their futures. As the excerpt above suggests, however, Long Islanders have not always treated their needy neighbors very well. This month, we look at the complicated history of the Jones Institute, a local residence that cared for adults in need. Its origins can be traced back to early 1836, but we'll set the stage here by beginning the story a little earlier.
Click here to continue reading February 2022: The Poor You Will Always Have With You
