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!
This month, Ancient Hixtory continues its look at Miss Farley, and attempts to capture the nature of the woman behind so many achievements.
Click here to continue reading March 2020: Not Your Typical Schoolmarm
One April morning, a young woman from the Susquehanna Valley began teaching at the school on
This article, which covers Miss Farley's first twenty years in Hicksville, is the first installment in a series of Ancient Hixtory articles about her life and career.
Click here to continue reading Febuary 2020: Miss Mabel Farley Comes to Hicksville
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