A Slow Death, and then Forgotten
Long Island’s stagecoach services were a long time dying. Years after the LIRR reached its eastern limits, many lingered. In fact, one line between Brooklyn and Freeport was still in business until at least 1907.
Given how it started, the Hicksville-Huntington line operated longer than expected: the stages ran for at least 30 years. Although the LIRR was extended to Farmingdale in 1841, a branch to Huntington was not opened until 1868. Even then, the LIRR did not technically reach Huntington. It built a station outside of town, giving rise to place-name Huntington Station. I have not been able to verify just when the Huntington-Hicksville stagecoaches ceased running, but I believe the date was in the 1880s.
Note that some of you readers may be descended from the many people who came to Hicksville in the second half of the 19th century and helped it enjoy its Golden Years. If so, your ancestors likely rode coaches to travel to the many places the LIRR never reached.
