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!
What were high school students thinking about when they returned from winter break at the start of 1964? No doubt, some were preparing for the next school show, or practicing their driving for a road test, or finishing work on the upcoming yearbook. Seniors were thinking about careers, and worrying about finding full-time jobs, or applying to college.
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Introduction
Note: If you're familiar with the attack on Pearl Harbor and the history that led up to it, you may wish to skip to the next heading.
In 1904, negotiations to resolve conflicting regional ambitions between Russia and Japan broke down. The Imperial Japanese Navy then launched an attack upon Russia 's fleet, a day before war was declared. Later, when the war ended, Japan was recognized as a major power, and it would be invited to important global conferences for years to come.
Click here to continue reading December 2019: Pearl Harbor Attack
Normally, a complaint filed with the State Commission on Human Rights - especially one about a realtor - would be adjudicated rather quietly, but the summer of 1964 was far from normal. People aired their views more freely than they had in the past, and they took action. And so, once this complaint was filed, the realtor's office on Old Country Road was picketed. Counter-pickets also appeared, and over eight days they yelled racist chants, harassed the first pickets, tried to incite onlookers, and even threw rocks. A squad of helmeted riot police was needed to thwart their efforts to perpetrate assault. In the end, negotiations ended the conflict. Hicksville had refused to be drawn into violence.
I regret that family circumstances have prevented me from preparing a new article for Hixnews this month. I believe that "Ancient Hixtory" will return in November. In the Interim, perhaps these direct links to all the earlier articles will be of use to some readers.
Ron Wencer
Arthur H. Heiser, Bird's-Eye Map of Long Island (annotated by author)
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 8, 1910
On Tunnel Day (the day in 1910 on which the LIRR first carried passengers beneath the East River), the Brooklyn Daily Eagle printed a two-page detailed aerial drawing of Long Island. The implication was clear: For New Yorkers who had been longing for homes outside the City, the whole of the Island now was within reach.
Click here to continue reading September 2019: Hicksville Becomes a Suburb (Part II)
H. Strehm, 34th Street Ferry, 1910
New York Public Library Digital Collection
Can you imagine a Hicksville with no commuters?
Click here to continue reading August 2019: Over and Under the East River