Epilogue
William Duffy
Duffy's rising star seems not to have been dimmed by this incident, for the people in and around Hicksville still trusted him. Within a few years, he became a Vice-President for the National Seed Company, joined the Board of Directors of the Bank of Hicksville, and became Treasurer of the local Knights of Columbus Council. In 1927, he became President of the Long Island National Bank.
He did not forsake farming. When Long Island's farms were being attacked by nematodes (microscopic roundworms, which potentially can destroy entire crops) its farmers needed guidance. Duffy was named to Nassau County's Nematode Committee, which was able to give the farmers access to the best current thinking about the pests' impact, and about possible ways to deal with them.
In 1948, three years before his death, William J. Duffy was chosen to serve as Hicksville's Honorary Mayor during the celebration of the village's tercentenary.
Elwood Curtis
Even as Dr. Curtis faced fallout from his being indicted for criminal libel, he was waging a year-long conflict with the NYS Education Department. Albany had approved a plan to address the overcrowding of Hicksville's lone school, which at the time was operating with split sessions. Curtis felt that the plan - which would build a new school, but in so doing eliminate a village park - was short-sighted. He persuaded the Department to study the situation first-hand, and the subsequent visits by State officials proved persuasive. The plan was rescinded. An alternative approach was devised, one which Dr. Curtis felt would be of significantly greater benefit to Hicksville's students.
Throughout his lifetime, Elwood Curtis continued to serve the Town and the village in various elected and appointed capacities (e.g., he headed the local Draft Board during the second World War). Among all his accomplishments, he is most remembered for winning another hard-fought conflict with Albany: in the 1930s, he led the fight to limit Robert Moses' acquisition of Town beach properties by the State of New York.
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As far as I know, that's the whole story. If any reader can provide more information or insight about this incident, please email me at
Thank you,
and
Happy New Year!
