Conclusion
That out-of-place photo of the Burrill estate (which, after falling into disrepair, was later revitalized as the Meadow Brook Club) fooled no one. The overhead wire on the Central Branch was taken down as planned, and not stretched all the way to Hicksville (as was not planned). When electrification did arrive, it came through a third rail, and in terms of the Eagle's profile, it was very, very late indeed. The demise of the two most prestigious local industrial employers - the gold leaf shops and the large Heinz plant - was a heavy blow for the village to weather. Beetles and builders abruptly put an end to almost all the local farms. Mercifully, the vaunted macadam roads eventually were overtaken by progress, as were the flagstone sidewalks. No one has been seen counting Hicksville's streetlights for a long, long time.
And yet, Hicksville not only survived, it grew. Maybe sizzle is overrated.
*****
