Full text of "History of the Rockaways from the year 1685 to 1917; being a complete record and review of events of historical importance during that period in the Rockaway Peninsula, comprising the villages of Hewlett, Woodmere, Cedarhurst, Lawrence, Inwood, Far Rockaway, Arverne, Rockaway Beach, Belle Harbor, Neponsit and Rockaway Point"

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HISTORY

OF TH E

ALFRED H^ 5 ELLOT

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JItliaca. Kctn ?ork

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE

JACOB H. SCHIFF

ENDOWMENT FOR THE PROMOTION

OF STUDIES IN

HUMAN CIVILIZATION

1918

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3 1924 028 832 941

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Cornell University
Library

The original of tiiis book is in
tine Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028832941

HISTORY

OF THE

ROCKAWAYS

From the year 1685 to 1917

Being a complete record and review of events of

historical importance during that period in the

Rockaway peninsula, comprising the villages

of Hewlett, Woodmere, Cedarhurst,

Lawrence, Inwood, Far Rockaway,

Arverne, Rockaway Beach, Belle

Harbor, Neponsit and

Rockaway Point

ALFRED H. BELLOT

PUBLISHED BY
BELI,OT'S HISTORIES, INC., FAR ROCKAWAY, N. Y.

Bellot's History of the Rockaways, Inc.

CONTENTS

Foreword .....

Poem, "Indian Names and Memories" .

General Characteristics of the Peninsula

Early History .....

Interesting Old Records

Cornell Partition Suit in 1809

Sales and Divisions of Lots

Rockaivay During the War of Independence

Transit Facilities from the Earliest Period

Water Supply .....

Gas and Electric Supply

Banking histitutions

Fraternal Orders, Civic and Business Associations

Educational Facilities — Past and Present

Religious Life, Including a History of Every Church and

Cemeteries ....

Jamaica Bay and Its Fisheries

Honor Roll of "Our Boys" .

Histories of the Villages:

Woodmere and Hewlett

Cedarhurst

Lawrence

Rock Hall, Lawrence

The Rockaivay Hunting Chib

Inivood ....

Far Rockaway

Edgemere

Arverne ....

Rockaway Beach
The Secession Movement

Synagogue

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109

Foreword

'What's -past is prologue."

— Shakespeare's Tempest.

IN preparing this first issue of the History of the Rockaways it has been my
earnest endeavor to complete a work containing only well authenticated facts
and to search diligently into tradition, wherever possible, in order that sur-
mise and guesswork may be totally eliminated. The present work is the result
(and is the product of considerable research and inquiry, extending over a period
of several years. Portions of Colonial, State, Countj' and Village records have
been copied and many officials and old residents, whose knowledge and informa-
tion I have availed myself of, have been interviewed.

' A review of past events is not only a monument to the achievements of our
forefathers, but it is a healthy mental exercise and a guide. It should prove to
be a beneficent influence inasmuch as we may learn from their actions and ex-
periences and fit ourselves accordingly during our own brief span of life before
our time comes, as theirs did, to pass over into the Great Beyond.

This work would be incomplete without a heartfelt tribute and acknowledg-
ment being paid to our brave sons, so many of whom have gone from our midst,
with little warning, to risk their lives on behalf of their country and the free-
dom of mankind, and who are heroically doing their share to hasten the end
of the present terrible world conflict.

Cordial thanks are extended to all who have assisted me, and particularly to
Mrs. Sarah C. Lockwood, ex-Judge Edmund J. Healy, the late Watkin W. Jones,
James Caffrey, Edward Roche, Divine Hewlett, William Scheer, J. W. Wain-
jWright, Charles A. Schilling, David J. Fclio, Dr. J. Carl Schmuck, Carleton Macy,
W. S. Pettit, W. H. E. Jay Junior, Charles R. Bettes, Andrew McTigue, The
Tablet and others.

ALFRED H. BELLOT.

Far Rockaway, N. Y., December 7th, 1917.

INDIAN NAMES AND MEMORIES

Long Island winds are Mowing fair and free

As when of old, a thousand years ago
They swept the shifting sands, o'erleapt the highest tree.

And through the sandy barrens trampled sloiv.

Was there no poetry in those wild days

When Indian braves their love songs murmured low?
When the young mother held her babe in arm.

And Indian luUabys sang sweet and sloiv?

Was there no poetry in those old days

When lifted skies at sunrise arched the dawn?

Where sparkling waters dimpled all the day

And darkling midnights hovered close and warm?

Reckoivhacky, that "lonely place," that "place

Of waters b?'ight." Kisseena, "it is cold."
Ronkonkoma, "the tvild goose' resting place.''

Manhattan "island hill," and Maspeth "overflowed.''

Goivanus "here the sleeper rests," Canarsie
"Fenced place," and Merrick "here is barren

Land," "devoid of trees it stands." Massdpequa
"Great ivater land" — how few, how few they are.

THEIR poetry was Nature's. Deep within
The heart they held it, but all unexpressed

In rvreathed numbers was the joy they felt.

So silent, grave, they lived their lives, and passed.

From shore and river, forest-land and plain,

They passed away. Of all they saw and wrought.

Of all their stately life and utterance,

A feiv names glimpse for us their every thought.

— Jessie Fremont Hume.

History of the Rockaways

there are Voices of the Past,

Links of a broken chain,
Wings that can bear me back to Times

Which cannot come again;
Yet God forbid that I should lose

The echoes that remain.

— Procter.

SWEPT along its entire south side
by the rolling breakers of the At-
lantic Ocean, the narrow neck of
land now known as the Rockaway Pen-
insula, thickly populated and attracting
millions of visitors annually, was taken
over from the Indians by the first white
settlers two hundred and thirty years
ago.

At the present day a large part of
the peninsula, which somewhat resem-
bles in shape an elongated, toeless hu-
man foot pointing to the west, is pr.rt
of the Greater City of New York and is
one of the most popular summer play-
grounds and breathing spaces on the
Atlantic seaboard.

In addition to being a summer resort,
it is a collection of villages, each of
which has its own permanent resident
population, its own religious, civic and
social centres and activities and its own
pride, achievement and aspirations.

Beginning with Hewlett and proceed-
ing south and west, the peninsula in-
cludes Woodmere, Cedarhurst, Law-
rence, Inwood, Far Rockaway, Edge-
mere, Arverne and Rockaway Beach,
which latter is sub-divided into the sec-
tions of Hammels, Holland, Seaside,
Rockaway Park, Belle Harbor, Neponsit
and Rockaway Point. Of these villages
the most important and thickly popu-
lated is Far Rockaway in the centre.

The peninsula is bounded on the south
by the Atlantic ocean, on the east by
Woodmere or Brosemere Baj^ and Nas-
sau County, and on the north by
Jamaica Bay and Nassau County. The
westerly extremity is a point of land
terminating at the junction of the ocean
and bay, south of Coney Island, there
forming the well-known treacherous
Rockaway Inlet.

It was at this point that Henry Hud-
son, the famous discoverer of the Hud-
son River, was delayed in entering that
river on his search for the northwest

passage to China from Europe. In the
log book of Hudson's ship the "Half
Moon" bearing date September 3rd,
1608, his mate, Robert Juett of Lime
House (England), notes that in attempt-
ing to enter the "Northermost of the
three great rivers" he was deterred by
the sand bar and shallow water and
turned toward the narrows. The "north-
ermost" referred to was the old Rock-
away inlet to Jamaica Bay. A year later
a boat's crew from the "Half Moon"
landed on Coney Island, near the inlet,
for the purpose of burying one of their
comrades who had been killed by
Indians while they were exploring the
bay and river.

The greatest assets of the Rockaway
peninsula are its proximity to the At-
lantic Ocean and its easy accessibility.
Served by a frequent and fast electric
train service connecting with Manhat-
tan, Brooklyn, Long Island City,
Jamaica and all Long Island, the entire
section affords a haven of rest whose
health-giving properties are eagerly
taken advantage of by tired city
dwellers anxious to escape the city tur-
moil and summer heat. Bathing, boat-
ing, yachting, fishing, tennis, golfing
and horse racing are among the princi-
pal summer outdoor sports and pap-
times. There are several country clubs
with large memberships, admirable golf
courses, hundreds of public and private
tennis courts, numerous private yacht,
shooting, and bowling clubs, a large
summer variety or vaudeville theatre
and numerous moving picture theatres.
Hotel and home life provide every con-
ceivable branch of social activity par-
ticipated in by residents in the various
sections. Society leaders, princes of
finance, politicians, members of the
diplomatic service, leading men in the
legal, clerical and medical professions;
the stockbroker, manufacturer, factor,
business man, salesman, clerk, stenog-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

rapher, and laborers; in fact, the world,
his wife and his sweetheart, have a re-
curring or permanent regard for the
Rockaways, which they make their sum-
mer resort or regular home.

The resident population of the Rock-
away Peninsula in the months between
October and May is estimated at 36,000
persons. The distribution of national-
ities of the inhabitants is typical of a
great city. The American born are
everywhere, but mostly live in the
northeasterly, or Nassau County, end of
the peninsula. Irish, Jewish and Ger-
mans are found in large numbers, and
there is a considerable sprinkling of
English, Scotch, French, Italians,
Swedes and Norwegians. From May to
October, which is the season when
hotels open and cottages and tents are
rented, it is almost impossible to esti-
mate the number of residents. Strictly
speaking, the "season" is from July 4th
to Labor Day, but these dates are only
observed in the Seaside section, where
there is a popular amusement colony.
It is probable that during a good sum-
mer season the population reaches as
high as a quarter of a million souls, and
to these must be added an enormous
number of "day trippers" and week-end
visitors.

Occupations

Many residents of the Rockaways are
of the class known as "commuters."
The men have their employment or bus-
iness in other parts of the city, and
travel back and forth daily. Every vil-
lage contains up-to-date stores of all
descriptions where food, clothing and
merchandise of all kinds, and in any
retail quantity, may be purchased at
favorable prices. Far Rockaway and
Rockaway Beach are very well equipped
in this respect.

There are not many factories in the
Rockaways, and the small number
which exist give employment to very
few persons. During the summer
months employment generally is plenti-
ful, mostly being in connection with
hotels, boarding houses, bathhouses and
retail stores. It is the usual practice
for owners of cottages to rent them out
for the summer months and reside there
during the remainder of the year. Con-
siderable quantities of land are under
cultivation and mostly produce vegeta-
bles, for which there is ever a ready
market.

The fishing industry forms by no
means an unimportant part in the pro-
vision of employment. Blackfish, weak-
fish and bluefish abound, while the
Rockaway and Woodmere oysters and
clams have a nation-wide reputation.
Oyster beds are numerous and profit-
able and the number of men who "fol-
low the bay" is considerable.

County Boundaries
The whole of Far Rockaway and all
other villages westward to Rockaway
T'oint form the Fifth Ward of the Bor-
ough of Queens, which is one of the five
boroughs constituting the city of Great-
er New York. The remaining villages
of Inwood, Lawrence, Cedarhurst,
Woodsburgh, Woodmere and Hewlett
are in Nassau County, which bounds
Queens County on the east. Nassau
County was created out of Queens
County when Greater New York was
elevated on January 1st, 1898, and the
peninsula, which has its own geograph-
ical and communal entity, was then
divided and governed in the arbitrary
manner — so far as the Queens County
portion of it is concerned — under which
it is governed today. The reader is re-
ferred to the maps published with this
\'olume for a more complete under-
standing of boundaries and locations.

Geological Characteristics
The geological formation of the pen-
insula is as varied as can be desired.
The settlement of Edgemere and all of
the westerly end consists of sand, much
of which has been pumped in to make
a more solid foundation than was af-
forded by the sandy marshes, which
existed before real estate developers
and builders took a hand in the matter.
The other villages are on solid terra
firma and lakes, woods and streams
abound. There is no rock formation or
strata.

Climate
The climate is at all times extremely
bracing and this is one of the principal
reasons for the great popularity of the
peninsula. The summer heat is always
tempered with gentle breezes from the
ocean and the bay, and the severity of
the winter's cold is greatly alleviated,
and often made pleasant, by warm
winds blowing over water heated by the
Gulf Stream, which flows past these
shores in its journey from the Gulf of
Mexico to Ireland.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

EARLY HISTORY

CONSIDERABLE interest has been
and is displayed in the origin of
the word "Rockaway." Reliable
historians agree that the name is a cor-
ruption of the word "Reckouwacky," the
latter being the name chosen by a tribe
of the Carnarsee Indians when they
established themselves at Rockaway
Neck. "Reckouwacky" means "the place
of our own people," and was used by
this sub-tribe to distinguish their place
from other places, such as Mispat (now
Maspeth), and Jameco (now Jamaica),
which were occupied by tribes they had
conquered. If the reader will enunciate
the name in the gutteral tones used by
Indians it will readily be seen that the
altered spelling is easily accounted for.

Another name used by some writers
is Rekanawahaha, "the place of laugh-
ing waters," but the reason for ascrib-
ing the former use of this name, which
is certainly an admirable one, appears
to have had its foundation more in
poetry than reliable data.

The Carnarsee tribe was part of the
Mohegan tribe of the great Mohawk
nation. This tribe inhabited the whole
of Long Island, and sold it to the Dutch
in 1640. Although they parted with
title to their land they still occupied
portions of it and paid annual rents,
usually in the form of a specified num-
ber of bushels of wheat.

Although all titles to Rockaway prop-
erty are properly carved out of the
Palmer patent, granted by the English
Governor Dongan to John Palmer, and
that grant is the earliest recorded docu-
ment in relation to the Rockaways, it
is not correct to conclude or suppose
that this is the earliest historical men-
tion of the Rockaways.

In 1642 a conference was held in "the
woods near Rockaway" between Dutch
envoys, headed by one De Vries, and six-
teen sachems, representing Indian
tribes, who complained of wrongs in-
flicted upon them by the Dutch. At
this meeting, we are told, "addresses of
simple pathos were made and the Ind-
ians emphasized the wrongs complained
of by laying down a twig for each com-
plaint." Apparently the Indians were
not satisfied, and reprisals were made
during the winter, but in the spring
they relented as they desired to plant
their corn and wished for peace with

the paleface people. Accordingly they
sent three delegates from the wigwams
of their great chief, Penhawitz, to Fort
Amsterdam (Manhattan Island), where
Governor Kieft was stationed with his
forces. They bore a white flag, but the
Hollanders did not trust them and only
two of their number volunteered to go
out of the fort to meet the Indians.
These were De Vries and Jacob Olfert-
sen.

"Our chief has sent us," said the sav-
ages, "to know why you have killed his
people, who have never laid a straw in
your way nor done you ought but good?
Come and speak to our chief on the sea
coast." Setting out with the messen-
gers, De Vries and Olfertsen in the
evening came to "Reckouwacky," or
Rockaway, where they found nearly
three hundred savages and thirty wig-
gams. The chief, who had but one eye,
invited them to pass the night in his
cabin and regaled them with oysters
and fish.

As the years passed, life between the
settlers and the Indians became more
peaceful and the number of white
settlers at Hemsteede (now Hemp-
stead), meaning "homestead," Jamaica
and Flushing greatly increased.

In 1685 the Reckouwacky or Rocka-
way tribe had their headquarters at
Hog Island, now known as Barnum's
Island, in Woodmere Bay. Tacka-
poucha of Madnan's Neck (now Little
Neck), was tribal chief, and the Rock-
away sachem or sub-tribal chief was
Paman. At that time the Indians were
paying to the English Governor an an-
nual rent of "five bushels of good win-
ter wheat" and of course their title was
merely one of occupancy. They agreed
to sell their interest in Rockaway Neck,
as it was then called, for the sum of
£31-2-0 in British money.

A deed was drawn on October 6th,
1685, and executed with due ceremonies
two days later. This deed was a con-
veyance by the tribe of Indians through
their chiefs, Tackapoucha and Paman,
of "the whole of that tract of Rockaway
Neck and beach extending from a line
on the West, known as Wells Line, not
far from the turnpike, to the point of
the beach on the west at the inlet at
Jamaica Bay." This "point of the
beach" was at that time a short distance

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

west of what is now known as Wave
Crest. To-day the "point of the beach"
or, as it is now called, Rockaway Point,
owing partly to the action of the ocean
and partly to artificial means, is about
seven miles further west than it was
in 1685.

The deed, which is on record, was
executed by the two Indian chiefs in
the presence of seven witnesses, three
white men and four Indians. The white
men wrote their names and the Indians
marked their symbols. A copy of the
signatures and marks attached to the
historic document is re-produced in this
volume.

At the time of the execution of the
deed the Rockaways consisted of
meadow and marsh land used occasion-
ally by a few Indians for grazing their
horses and cattle upon.

The sale by the Indians to Palmer
was licensed by the English Governor
and confirmed by him as the King's rep-
resentative, in the form of a warrant or
grant on November 3rd, 1685. In return
for the privilege Palmer agreed to pay
a quit rent of a bushel of wheat an-
nually. The same Governor was after-

TACK-A-POU-CHA.

wards attacked by His Majesty's Gov-
ernment for showing favoritism, and
one of the acts alleged against him was
that in abuse of the power reposed in
him, he had given Rockaway Neck to his

favorite. Palmer, without any good con-
sideration. This accusation was for-
ally made in a long indictment of
charges which caused his removal as
Governor and subsequent disgrace. Be-
fore his removal he made a categorical

i J. ^.J.

SIGNATURES TO EARLY DEED.

reply to his accusers and the charge of
favoritism in disposing of the Rock-
aways, which reply shows that he
thought the territory of small value.
The answer reads as follows : Gover-
nor Dongan's reply to the sixteenth ac-
cusation concerning Rockaway Neck,
given to the British Government on
February 22nd, 1687.

"Mr. Stanten" (his accuser), "poor
man neither understands his own nor
others concerns, he was one of the Coun-
cil himself when Capt. Palmer peti-
tioned for license to purchase this land,
lying without the meers & bounds of
Hempsted & when the same was grant-
ed & before he had his patent granted,
the people of Hempsted were summoned
to appear to show cause, if they had any
why it should not be granted. There-
upon one person came to mee & told mee
that it was his land & that it was within
the meers & bounds of Hempstead on
which I ordered him to put a Caveat into
the Secry's office against the passing of
Judge Palmer's patent, and then the sur-
veyor went to survey the lands accom-
panied by some of the inhabitants of
Hempstead, to show him their bounds
who returning this land to be without
their meers & bounds the patent was
passed in which Captn Palmer is ex-
pressly bounded where hee adjoins to
Hempsted by their line. And wherein
hee says the Hempsted people were
frighted to let their Suits fall, its quite
otherwise, for the Pearsall, upon the
granting of this Patent got into pes-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

.session of this land, inasmuch as Judge
Palmer was forced to commence suits
against him Where after it had some-
time depended, Pearsall iinding that to
insist on his pretense would not avail
him, and as for his being frighted into
it by Captn Palmers being Judge,
there's noe such thing for on purpose
he himself withdrew & left the manage-
ment of that Court to his Collegue,
Judge Nicolls and as for the lands being
the only pasture for the town its wholly
false for its no pasture at all, being all
woodland, and that town having a plain
of upwards of 40,000 acres of good
pasture without a stick upon it & as for
its value I believe Judge Palmer would
think himself obliged to Captn Santen
or any others that would give him two
hundred pounds for it."

The foregoing will show that from the
earliest days the Rockaway Title formed
the subject of dispute and many Rock-
away men living to-daj' will agree that
in some sections, mostly near the water-
front, disputes are still continued.

The Town of Hempstead objected to
the sale of Rockaway Neck in 1685,
alleging that Tackapousha had no au-
thority to sell as the land belonged to
the town. They commenced an action
to upset the grant and conveyance to
Palmer and asked for possession. They
were defeated and had to pay costs of
the action. The following notice call-
ing a town meeting to approve the ac-
counts and paj^ments is worthy of re-
production:

"John Smith,

"Justis of ye Peace.

"At a towne meeting held in hemp-
stedd november ye 27. 1699 it was
voted and concluded by a maior vote
yt Justis Smith, Isack Smith, John
Pine, John ffoster and william Willis
shall heare ye accoumpts of those yt
demand mony of ye towne Conserning
ye tryall aboute Rockaway and
macke Returne to ye towne for theire
aprobation in yt matter.

"By order

"Joseph Pettit. Clerck."

In those days Rockaway was consid-
ered an outlying portion of the Town
of Hempstead, an important Long Island
town even then. Being also close to
Jamaica, its communications with that
town were among the earliest to be
opened. The history of Rockaway has

always been closely associated with the
history of Hempstead and Jamaica.

Two years after Palmer obtained his
grant or title to Rockaway, from the
British Government, he sold the prop-
erty to Richard Cornell, an ironmaster
of Flushing. The consideration or
price, contrary to the custom of those
days, was not mentioned in the deed of
conveyance, dated August 23rd, 1687,
which refers to it in a simple manner
by calling it "valuable."

This is of special interest in view of
the record that on August 20th, 1687,
Richard Cornell and his wife, Elizabeth,
sold to John Palmer one-third of a tract
at Madnan's Neck, formerly granted by
Governor Nicholls to Thomas Hicks, and
which was sold in 1666 by Hicks to
Cornell.

The name Cornell was also spelled
Cornwell and Cornwall, the family
being one of the most prominent, and
wealthiest on Long Island. Cornell
University, New York, was founded by
Ezra Cornell, who was a lineal descend-
ant of the original Rockaway Cornell.

It is interesting also to note, in pass-
ing, that in 1667, Palmer was appointed
by Governor Nicholls to enroll the
militia in Queens County, and that
Richard Cornell in 1670 was "permit-
ted to sell liquors and powder to the
Indians."

Richard Cornell was born in the
Countv of Essex, England, in 1625,
came to America with his parents and
settled later at Cornbury, Flushing,
where he purchased considerable prop-
erty. In addition to the Rockaway pur-
chase the records show that in 1684
Tackapousha and other Indians sold to
Richard Cornhill (Cornell), and others,
all the land called Flushing, bounded
west by Flushing Creek, south by the
Jamaica line, east by Hempstead and
north by the Sound.

The First White Settlers

Richard Cornell settled at Rockaway
with his family in 1690. It is a matter
of great doubt and one upon which no
definite information or data exists as to
whether any houses were here before
1690, when Cornell erected a large
frame structure for the use of himself
and his family. It seems a safe pre-
sumption that except for a few huts,
probably used by Indians, the Cornell

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

house, of which we herewith give a re-
production, was the first ever built at
Rockaway.

In addition to the purchase from
Palmer, Cornell also purchased adjoin-
ing property to enlarge his holdings.
On December 26th, 1690, John Smith of
Hempstead, sold and conveyed to Cor-
nell a large tract adjoining the easterly
end of Cornell's property.

The Cornell homestead overlooked the
Atlantic Ocean and was at Far Rock-

ship-wrecked settlers supposed to be
pioneers in this section may be treated
as mere gossip and the legitimate and
clear line be established of the very
much alive and real persons who were
the actual pioneers and active settlers
and cultivators of this highly impor-
tant, if outlying section, of the great-
est and most progressive city in the
world.

The name of the first settler has been
the cause of considerable confusion,

FIRST HOUSE IN ROCKAWAY CORNELL HOMESTEAD 1690-1833.

away. A picture of this house was
painted by Rebecca Hubbard Cornell, a
grand-daughter of the first Cornell. The
house was demolished in 1833 to make
way for the Marine Pavilion, on the site
of which it formerly stood.

The Cornells were the original set-
tlers in Rockaway and all titles to prop-
erty here are deduced from theirs. For
that reason we have thought it advisable
to dwell at considerable length on the
history of that family, believing that
by so doing, the traditional stories of

owing to the faulty orthography of the
period. Cornell is the real name. By a
corruption of the name in common use
it was made Cornwell and Cornwall.

For a number of years Richard Cor-
nell lived at Rockaway with his wife,
five sons, three daughters, negro serv-
ants and farm hands. As the family
grew, additions were made to the house
which at last became the rambling
structure depicted. On the 7th day of
November, 1693, shortly before he died,
Cornell made his will, which we repro-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

duce in the following pages. It will
be noticed that his eldest son, Richard,
received very little under the document.
The reason for this was not lack of
affection on the part of the father for
his son, but vras owing to the fact that
the father had made very considerable
presents of land to his eldest son,
during his lifetime, and wished his re-
maining children to have a fair share.
Cornell had property other than his
Rockaway home.

The will, which discloses much faulty
spelling, although obviously prepared
by a lawyer or "solicitor" as the pro-
fession was known under the English
regime, is filed in the Surrogate's office
of New York County at the Hall of
Records, Chambers Street, Manhattan,
and reads as follows:

Cornwall's Will of Rockaway

In the name of God, Amen: the sev-
enth day of November Anno ye Dom-
iny 1693 and in the fifth year of the
reign of our Soveraigne Lord King
William over England, Richard Cor-
nell of Rockawaj^ in Queens County
in ye Island of Nassau in America
being sick and weeke but of goode
and perfect minde and memory praise
be given to God Almighty, yet call-
ing to minde the uncertainty of this
Life and how certain wee are to dye
and yet the time of our death most
uncertain, do make publish and de-
clare this my Last Will and Testa-
men in manner following that is to
say. First and Principally I com-
mend my soul into the hands of Al-
mighty God, my Creator & my body
I commit to the Earth to be decently
buried at the Discretion of my Ex-
ecutors herewith named and as for
touching and concerning all & every
such worldly Estate which God of his
infinite goodness has blest me with
all in this Life. I give bequeath and
devise in manner following. Im-
primis by this my Last Will and
Testament and doe binde and make
over all my Lands and Meadows sit-
uated and lying at Rockaway upon
the South side of ye island of Nassau
in the Province of New Yorke. In
America for the paying & satisfying
a certain Debt oweing by me to the
children of John Washburne Deed.,
and in case my Executors do not duly

pay and satisfye the said debt to ye
said children as it shall become due
according to the tennor & the true
intent of the Will and Testament of
ye said John Washburne deed. It is
my minde and will that the overseers
of this my Will and Testament may
and shall sell and alienate the afore-
said lands for ye paj^ment of ye said
debt & return the overplus to my
four sons, William, Jacob, Thomas
and John Cornell. Item. I doe give
and bequeath unto my son William
Cornell and his heirs forever a cer-
tain part of my lands and meadows
situated att Rockaway as aforesaid
as hereafter is mentioned (to witt)
bounded on the north side with the
old fence upon the South side of the
last years wheat fields so running
Easterly to Hempstead line Souther-
ly by the new sea including all lands
broken lands. Marshes, beaches, ex-
cepting such preservacons as shall be
hereafter menconed (that is to say)
my now dwelling house with orchard
and the pasture thereunto adjoining
with the barns and lands in tillage
about it with the gardens & springs
and all other outhouses the which res-
ervacons I do give and bequeath to
my dear and loving wife Elizabeth
Cornell during ye time of her widow-
hood and my will is that after my said
wife's death or marriage ye said re-
servacons shall descend to my son
William Cornell & to his heirs for-
ever. Also my will is that improve-
ments that he shall make upon that
share or portion of land & meadow
bought by me of John Smith of
Hempstead commonly called Little
Smith after his entry upon the pos-
session of ye above menconed reser-
vacons shall immediately depend upon
my son Thomas Cornell and his heirs
forever with all the lands & meadow
which I bought of the aforesaid John
Smith.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son
Thomas Cornell & his heirs forever
another part of my Land & meadows
being bounded Southerly with my son
William Cornell line Northerly by ye
middle of ye fresh cove that Robert
Beadels Meadow was laid out in and
so running easterly to the three rails
fence and further if it should happen
and my will is that the said gift shall
include all meadows broken meadows

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

and marshes lying within them Lynes
to the middle of the fresh cove afore-
said.

Item. I doe give to my sons Jacob
and John Cornell all my Lands &
meadows & to their heirs forever ly-
ing to the northward of Thomas Cor-
nells lyne situate att Rockaway afore-
said bounded northarly with the
Great River or Cove Easterly by the
raile fence to equally divided be-
twixt the said Jacob and John Cor-
nell according to quantity, quality
except such reservacons as shall be
hereafter menconed (to wit) to my
sons Richard and his heirs forever I
give and bequeath ten acres of mead-
ow joining to Wells his line to run
North & South upon an equal lyne.
Item. I do give to my son William
Cornell & to his heirs forever tenn
acres of Meadow joyning to my sons
Richards tenn acres & to run in the
same manner north & south upon an
equal lyne.

Item. I doe give to my daughter
Mary Cornell One hundred pounds
curr. money of this province of New
Yorke or equivalent to monej' to be
payd att three payments (to wit) one-
third part at the day of her marriage
or when she shall attain the age of
eighteen years & the other two-thirds
to be paid yearly successivel}^ I doe
also give and bequeath to my said
daughter Mary the one half of my
moveables within doors, money ex-
cepted.

Item. My mind and will is that
whilst my wife remains a widow that
shee shall have the whole & sole use
of all my lands & meadows att Rock-
away excepting such lands & mead-
ows as I have already given & be-
queathed to my son William which
said land is to be employed, improved,
for ye payment of the debt due to the
children of the aforesaid John Wash-
burn the maintaining & bringing up
of the children during their nonage.
Item. I doe give and bequeath to
my loving wife while she continues
unmarried the whole and sole com-
mand and use of all my negroes and
stock with all utensils of husbandry
now in my possession to be used and
imployed for payment of all my
debts & the maintenance of her chil-
dren during their minority excepting
six cows and calves & one plow share

with colter & cheins which I give to
my son William also excepting twelve
two heifers which I give to my
twelve grandchildren to be delivered
when they become of age that is to
ye children of my sons Richard, my
son Washborn & my son John Law-
rence.

Item. I do give to my daughter Sarah
Arnold two cows. Further my will
and mind is that if any of my said
sons William, Thomas, Jacob & John
or my daughter Mary shall happen to
dye without heirs male to their own
bodys that then the lands shall re-
turn to the survivors to be equally
divided amongst them.
Item, my mind and will is that if
my wife should see cause to marry
again that then she shall have one
hundred pounds paid by the Execu-
tors out of my Estate with one half
of the moveables within doors (money
excepted) and one negro girle called
by the name of Jane that she shall
not continue Executrix any longer but
surrender up the whole of the estate
personall to my other Executors which
I will be equally divided amongst my
four sons, Willm., Jacob, Thomas &
John. Excepting my negro man
James and my negro woman Diana
which I give & bequeath to my son
William after the death or marriage
of my said Wife and the lands given
by me to Thomas, Jacob & John after
the death or marriage of my wife.
I will that it be returned also to my
executors to be improved for the pay-
ment of debts and bringing them up
till they come of age
Item. My will and mind is that the
lands upon Cowneck and Crab
Meadow be sold to the value thereof
and be equally divided amongst all
my children in general.
Item. It is my will that my right to
the undivided land in ye bounds of
Hempstead shall descend to my five
sons to be equally divided amongst
them.

Item. My will and mind is that my
four sons, Richard, Thomas, Jacob &
John shall have liberty to put up
horses upon the beach if they see
cause they assisting in maintaining
the fence & Thomas shall have liberty
to put on swine upon the beach with
his brother Willm., and that Jacob &
John if thev see cause to build bv

DHjiji-iUi o nioiuxvi ur ixiji, xvui^ivii vv a i o

the path syde of ye eastward of my
dwelling house & on ye land pur-
chased of Little Smith. I doe give to
each of them & their heirs two acres
of said lands, my will is that all
money in the house at my decease and
all my debts due either by bill or bond
or any other account shall be im-
ployed to the payment of ye children
of the deed., John Washburn and
Captain Charles Ledwick. I doe or-
dain & make my loving Wife Eliza-
beth Cornell and my sons Richard &
Will Cornell to be my whole & sole
executors of this my last will & Testa-
ment as also my trusty and loving
friends Coll. Thomas Willett, Lieut.
Coll. Thomas Hicks, & Capt. Daniell
Whitehead as overseers of this my
will desiring them to see ye severall
articles & clauses, therein mentioned
performed according to the true in-
tent and meaning thereof and it is
my will that my sayd executors shall
not act as Executors without the ad-
vice and approvacon of my said over-
seers hereby revoaking all former
wills by me made and declaring this
to be my last Will & Testament the
day & year first above written. In
witness whereof I have hereunto sett
my hand and seale."
The Cornell lands were divided ac-
cording to the will. Other settlers to
whom land was sold or leased, erected

houses and the place became a rural
community.

The old method of fixing boundaries
is interesting, but it was far from satis-
factory and led to many disputes.

In the early part of the eighteenth
century, other owners of lands at Eock-
away are mentioned, the earliest record-
ed names being those of Mott, Hicks,
Brower, Smith and Hewlett. Residents
of Hempstead town interchanged visits
with Rockaway residents. The old
church of St. George's Hempstead was
the nearest place of worship and the
records state that publication of the
"bans of marriage" of Richard Corn-
well and Miriam Mott was duly made
by the Reverend John Thomas, on Feb-
ruary 8th, 1712. When the Rev. Thomas
died, in 1726, his will was proved by
John Cornell of Rockaway, one of the
executors.

The following names are some of
those who married children and grand-
children of Richard Cornell: John Law-
rence, John Washburn, William Creed,
Richard Betts, Mirriam Mott, Joseph
Doughty, John Carman, Nicholas Stil-
well, Thomas Hicks, Elizabeth Smith,
Hannah Van Wyck, Abigail Whitehead,
Patience Oakly, James Denton, James
Stringham, Jonathan Hazard, Susannah
Willett, Henry Foster, Abigail Eldred,
Elizabeth Abrams, Daniel Waters and
Margaret Hicks.

INTERESTING OLD RECORDS

THE following document, which ap-
pears on the records of the Town
of Hempstead, goes to pi-ove that
there were no white men resident in the
Rockaways in 1671, and the relations
between the colonists and the Indians
were far from being of a friendly
nature:

At a Towne Meeting held the 25th
April 1671.

By a generall Vote it was Ordered,
That no Person or Persons inhabiting
within this Towne or the Liberties
thereof, shall plow or break up any
Planting Land for the Indyans, nor
shall no way assist them therein, under
the Penalty of fforfeiting for every
day, or part of a dayes work, so by any
sone as aforesaid, twenty shillings, to
the use of the Towne. It is also fur-

ther Ordered, That Mr. John Hicks,
George Hewlett and John Jackson, do
go downe to Rockaway tomorrow, and
forewarn all Indyans to depart thence,
except such as do really belong to that
place. And that the said Rockaway
Indyans do give no Encouragement, nor
suffer any other strange Indyans to I'e-
side or continue with them, upon any
pretense whatsoever. And that the Per-
sons aforenamed do lay out the quantity
of about fforty Acres of Land for plant-
ing of Corne for the supply of such a
Number of ffamilys of Indyans, as are
belonging to the said place, being about
ten. It being so formerly Ordered by
the Governour.

By Ord. of the said Towne Court.
Rich'd Charlton,

Clark.

UKLLV'L'H HiSTUKY OH' THiJ KUUKAWAXS

At a town convention held in Hemp-
stead on February 28th, 1665, laws for
governing the town were made. One
interesting edict declared that all horses
and cattle belonging to residents of
Hempstead should be branded with the
capital letter "G." This was no doubt
to guard against thefts by the Indians.

Motts Were Early Residents

Adam Mott sen and Adam Mott Junr
and Mary Mott wife of Adam Mott,
senior and Elizabeth Mott wife of Adam
Mott Junr. living at Rockaway for con-
sideration of three hundred pounds to
us paid heirof by John Mott. for Tract
up Lott of land situate and Lying at a
place called Rockaway bounded as fol-
lows: — Beginning at a White Oak Tree
standing near the fence of John Cornel
marked on four sides and with the let-
ter "A" and from thence South forty
five degrees Eastward eleven chains to
a Black oak marked on four sides and
from thence East thirty two Degrees
Seventy Chains to a Red Oak Marked
on four sides Standing by the Road and
from thence North Fifteen Degrees
West Eight Chains and from thence
Northwest thirty four Chain along the
Road to a Black Oak Marked on four
sides and from thence West twenty six
Chains and from thence West Nineteen
Degrees South Eleven Chains to a
White Oak marked on four sides and
from thence South fifteen Degrees east
twenty three chains to a white Oak
Marked on four sides etc.

One Lott of said meadow Lying at
the said Rockaway bound east by tlie
Highway West by the said John Mott,
north by the great Crick and South by
the aforesaid Bargained and Demised
Lands all within the said bounds both
salt meadow and Bogs upland and
swamp be it more or Less as it shall be
found with the appurtenances and the
other Lott of Salt meadow ground Lying
on Hungry Harbour Neck Bounded East
by Samuel Williams Meadow North by
the Core and west by the Core and
South by the aforementioned Creek.

This twenty Eighth Day of Novem-
ber, seventeen Hundred and Nineteen.
(1719).

Division of Hempstead Lands

On account of troubles and disputes
over titles and boundaries in the Town
of Hempstead, a general town meeting
was held at Hempstead on October 14th,
1723, to endeavor to arrive at a method
whereby future disputes might be
avoided and proper and unmistakable
boundaries of lands within the town
defined.

As a result of the meeting it was
"voted and agreed by the major part
of the freeholders and inhabitants" to
laj" out their lands in a manner to be
arranged by the following persons
elected and commissioned for that pur-
pose: Colonel Isaac Hicks, James Sear-
ing, James Jackson, William Willis, Sr.,
Benjamin Seaman, Jr., Joshua Carman
and Abel Smith. These men started
work and decided on fifty proprietors to
whom the lands should be allotted.
They divided the town into plots of one
hundred acres, iiftj' acres and twenty-
two acres each and apportioned thirty
shillings worth of land for every shill-
ing paid by the proprietors toward the
general patent of Hempstead of Octo-
ber 14th, 1723. The commissioners
chose the names of the most ancient
and authentic inhabitants from the best
records they could find and after sev-
eral years of labor upon the division
made their report. During the time oc-
cupied by their researches, delibera-
tions and decisions, several of the
elected commissioners died, and their
report was signed by the following sur-
vivors: Isaac Hicks, James Searing,
Joshua Carman and Abel Smith.

The report, known as the "Division of
Hempstead lands 1723," was presented
to and approved by the town on "Janu-
ary 23rd, 1741-2." The report, which
may be seen on the records of the town,
gives the names of the proprietors, lo-
cation and size of lots, but space pre-
cludes us giving more than the names
of the proprietors in the following list:
Abel Smith, George Hewlet, Lewis
Hewlet, Daniel Hewlet, John Pearsall,
John Langdon and his widow, Thomas
Langdon, John Durland, George Balden,
James Jackson, Arthur Alburtice, John
Abrams, John Elderd, Benjamin Hicks,
Thomas Hicks, Silas Titus, Henry Pear-
sall, Jonathan Coe, Samuel Coe, James
Searing, John Searing, Elias Baley, Solo-
mon Seaman, Mary Demot, Daniel Pine,

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

John Pine, John Aleson, William Van
Velser, Peter Losee, Jonas Flower,
Thomas Doxey, Thomas Gildersleave,
John Combs, Captain Joseph Langdon,
Benjamin Dusenborrow, John Lining-
ton, John Stits, Daniel Bedell, Richard
Southard, Colman Combs, Robert Mitch-
el, Williams Huchings, Henry Alen,
William Thorne, Joshua Barnes, iVIichael
Demot, Nathaniel Oakley, George Ever-
itt, John Smith, Lewis Hewlet, Joshua
Carman, Anthony Demott, John Hicks,
John Mott.

Grant of Hicks Beach

An important grant of beach lands
to Captain Jacob Hicks was made on
June 7th, 1725. We reproduce the docu-
ment verbatim:

Wee Whose Names hereunto Sub-
scribed have Given and Granted and by
these presents do freely Clearly and Ab-
solutelj^ Give and Grant from us and our
Heirs Exets Admrs and Assigns Unto
Capt Jacob Hicks of Rockaway in ye
Bounds of Hempstead in Queens Coun-
ty his Heirs Executors Admrs. all our
Right Title Interest Part or share be-
longing to a Beach Lying on ye South
Side of ye Island in ye Bounds of Hemp-
stead aforesd. att a place called Rock-
away, Bounded as followeth, West by
Whelses Line South by the sea East by
Brockelface Gutt and North by ye
Great Creek, together with all ye
Marshes and other Privilidges There-
unto belonging or in any Wise Apper-
taining to him ye said Jacob Hicks his
Heirs and Assigns forever. Given Un-
der our hands and seals ye Seventh Day
of June in ye Eleventh year of his
Majestys Reign Anno Domini 1725

his
Joseph : J : Mott.

mark
William Willis
William Stits

his
George : B : Balden

mark
Samuel Jackson
Jacob Seaman
James Seamans
Benjamin Birdsall
John Birdsall
Henry Pearsall
Epheraim Valentine.

Peter Tilas
Isaac Smith
Christifer Dinger
Silas Titus.
Benjamin Seamans
Joshua Barns
Ben Hicks
John Treadwell
Joseph Pettit.
Samuel Seamans
Jacob Smith.

his
Rich'd: x: Elison.

mark
James Jackson.

Samuel Titas Rich'd Seamans

Thomas Pearsall. His

George Pearsall Abel : S : Smith

Mark
his
Obediah : : Vallantine
mark

The original grant was made to
Thomas Hicks, who, in 1660, obtained
a patent from Madnans (Great) Neck
from Governor Nicholls. This was
later divided and disputes arose. A
court decision in 1680 divided this land
equally between Captain John Hicks,
Richard Cornell and one Haviland.

The Welles Line.

The Welles (or Wells) line, mentioned
in many deeds relating to property in
Rockaway, and other parts north of
Rockaway on Long Island, was so called
from the name of the surveyor, Phillip
Welles, who laid the line in a survey
he made for Cornell's company in 1684.
Owing to the fact that the boundaries
and points of measurement named by
Welles were difficult or impossible to
identify in later years, the true line is
a matter of surmise. The method of
surveying being so primitive and lack-
ing permanency, has 0(icasioned many
disputes as to title, and innumerable
expensive law suits have resulted.

The Welles report is detailed here-
with, verbatim:

"Survaied and laid out for Mr.
Richard Cornwell Sener and Com-
paney A certaine tract of land be-
ing siteuat and lyeing on the east
side of Cow Neck upon Long Island
According to An Indian purchase
baring date begin-

ing at A Red & white aoke Trees one
the North side a small Creek knowne
by the Indian name of Snakeroe
Creek one the West side of Long Neck
from therre into the woods South East
& by East two degrees and fifteene
minits southerly ninety six Chaines to
the Indian Line in the Midle of the
Neck then by said Line South foure
degrees Easterly twentey to a White
oake tree neare the head of a small
Swamp from therre East by North
one degree and fortey five Minnits,
Northerly seventy-six Chaines to the
Bay, twelve Chaines to the south of

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

the poynt wheare Mans sloope was
Cast away and from therre by the
Sound to the first small Creek Includ-
ing A small Island with Meadows
Conteining in all nine hundred sixty
Akers performed this 25th. Day of
1684.

"Philip Welles, Survr."

The 966 acres surveyed adjoined the
land purchased from Tackapousha in
1684, as previously mentioned, and asso-
ciates of Cornell in this purchase were
John Lawrence, his son-in-law, John
Washburn, Captain John Hicks and
Elias Doughty.

In an attempt to re-locate the Wells
Line the easterly boundary of the
Rockaways, which had been referred to
in many deeds and sales of land but
which even then could not be located,
the following commissioners report in
1727 throws some light:

May the 8th and 9th 1727. Then wee
Justice John Treadwell, Cap. Benjamin
Hick, John Allison Jacob Smith,
Thomas Williams, John Mott Juner and
Thomas Gildersleeve did pursewant to
a voat made by the mager voat of the
freeholders of Hempstead did aid and
assist Doctor Calding ye jeneral sur-
vaior of the province of New York. In
Runing of our West Line which is our
west bonds according to our purches
and patians which is a direct South
line due south from the head of Mat-
thewgarisons bay to the South Sea. be-
ginning at a burch tree at ye sd bay
head did run thrao Samuel Smiths barn
on the South side of the Little plains
and thrao Thomas Cornels barn on
Rockaway and so to the sea that same
cors as a fore said.

This entered by me.

Thomas Gildersleeve.

Clerck.

By his will dated January 16th, 1741,
John Cornell of Rockaway, Colonel of
Queens County militia, who died in
1745, left a life interest in his estate
to his widow Letitia, with a reversion
to their daughter Gloriana. On Aug-
ust 1st. 1748, the widow gave a bond for
the value of the estate, gave her late
husband's eight slaves their freedom
and next day married Captain John
Brown.

An Early Jury Verdict
On September 15th, 1768, a judicial
decree signed by jury and judges, laid
out highways and defined gateways, 20
feet wide, at Rockaway in the township
of Hempstead from "the late Land
Commonly Called and known by the
Name of Rocks' Point Running through
the Land belonging to Mrs. Gloriana
Foster. Also another gate way on Road
twenty feet Wide Runing through Said
Mrs Foster's Land begining Easterly
from the House where John Foster Now
Lives at the above mentioned Gateway
or Road from thence Runing Northerly
as the path or Road Now Runs untill
it Comes to East End of Mrs. Helena
Cornells Meadow at Finger Island So
Called always allowing the Said Mrs
Gloriana Foster and her heirs and As-
signs to pass and Repass Along Said
Ways without any hendrance whatso-
ever.

The Justices and all the Jury have
agreed an Order that Mrs Helena Cor-
nell Shall pay unto Mrs Gloriana Foster
fourteen pounds for the lands laid into
Highways as above.

Witness our hands the 15th day of
September 1768.

Isaacs Smith)

S. Clowes \
Justices

The Jury's names were also signed
by them.

Richard Hewlett,

Leffurt Hougovout,

Jen Stephens,

Isaac Hendrickson,

Frederick Nostrandt,

Hendrick Hendrickson,

Benjamin Carmon,

Nathan Smith.

Michal Demot.

John Oakly.

Harmon Hendrickson.

John Montoney.

Judges in Queens in 1693

The Civil List of the Province of New
York contains a list of all officers em-
ployed in civil offices on the 20th day of
April, 1693.

Justices in Queens County.

Thomas Hix, Esqr., Judge of the Com-
mon Pleas.

Richard Cornwall, Ellias Doughty,
Dan. Whitehead, John Smith and Tho.
Stevensant, Esqrs., Justices.

John Harrison Esqr., Sherriffe.

Andrew Gibb, Gierke.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD IN 1673.

The following is a complete list appearing on record of the inhabitants
of the Town of Hempstead in the year 1673 :

John Smith Blew
Richard Geldersly,
Richard Geldersly
Vrolphert Jacobs
Jan Carman
John Symons jun
Robert Jackson
Symon Troy
John Smith
Peter Janse Schol
Richard Gildersly
Robbert Beedill
George Hallet
Samuel Allen
Richard Valentyn
Kaleb Carman
John Williams
Thomas Richmore
John EUesson
Edward Spry
William Osborne
Edward Remsen
John Fossaker
John Sorram
James Payne
William Fixton
Samuel Denton
Robberd Hobbs
Thomas Sodderd
John Smith jun
Joseph Williams
Ralph Haal
Daniel Beedell
John Jackson
Johnathan Smith
John Champion
John Hobbs

John Lange
Sen Jonathan Semmes
John Bordes
Robbard Marisseu
Mos. Hemmery
John Beets carpenter
Samuel Embry
Matthew Beedel
Comes
Thomas Ellison
Philip Davis
Hopkins

Adam View
Edward Titus
Richard Ellison
John Seavin
Thomas Teasay
Thomas Ireland
Thomas Ellison
Joseph Gem
Thomas Champion
Joseph Pettet
Richard Plotter
John Beddell
Thomas Southward
John Beates
Calvet Goullet
Christoffel Yeomans
John Woully
Edward Banbury
Thomas Gowes
John Mavein
Wm. Thorne
Joshua Watske
Benjamin Symensen
Jan Roelssen

Elbert Hubssen
Lewis Liot
John Ellison jun
Thomas Seabrook
Samuel Jackson
John Pine
Peter Jansen
William Ware
Solomon Semmar
Teunis Smith
Richard Valentine jun
Joseph Wood
Herman Flouwer
William Dose
Symon Foster
Henry Mott
Wm. Fourmer
Joseph Small
Walter Pine
Josia Carmen
John Peacock
John Quakenson
Thomas Daniels
John Napper
Richard Osborn
George Robbert
Charles Abram
Thomas Appelbe
Samuel Smith

Persell

Adam Mott, Jun
Samuel Jackson
Joseph Truax
John Hoyt and
Nine others whose
names are lost.

A commission as surgeon in the
Queens County regiment of militia was
granted to Dr. Ebenezer Lockwood of
Far Rockaway on March 30th, 1809, by
Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, and the
surgeon's son, Benjamin C. Lockwood,
also of Far Rockaway, was commis-
sioned by Governor Enos T. Throop on
October 30th, 1832, as Adjutant of the
Second Regiment of New York Horse
Artillery.

The Lockwood family was very prom-
inent at Rockaway. A sale is recorded

on May 14th, 1836, when Benjamin C.
Lockwood sold to Joseph Abrams of
Hempstead, fifteen acres of good land
for $170.

On September 1st, 1803, Richard Cor-
nell leased his sixth share of his
father's estate for a period of three
years and eight months to Joel Overton.
In return, Overton paid Cornell $25 a
year in cash and provided him with his
board, washing, lodging and mending,
which he valued, according to the lease,
at the additional sum of $55 annually.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

THE CORNELL PARTITION SUIT IN 1809

THE Cornell Partition Suit was the
result of disputes having arisen
with regard to the ownership and
division of lands in the present Far
Rockaway to Rockaway Beach area of
the peninsula. The Cornell heirs pe-
titioned the Queens Court of Common
Pleas, and the Court appointed commis-
sioners to map out and divide the sec-
tion.

On receipt of the Commissioners' re-
port the Judges, on June 14th, 1809,
made their award. At that time the
western end of the beach reached only
to a point about where Eighth avenue,
Rockaway Park, now is.

The partition was made by John Van
Nostrand, Uriah Pearsall and Law-
rence Denton, "commissioners appoint-
ed by the Honorable the Judges and
assistant Justices of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas held at the Court House in
North Hempstead in and for the County
of Queens on the second Tuesday of
November in the year of Our Lord,
1808, to make partition of all and singu-
lar that certain tract of beach or hill
covered with cedars . . . situate at
a place called Far Rockaway in the
town of Hempstead, County of Queens
and State of New York bounded south
by the Atlantic Ocean, westerly by the
gut or Jamaica Inlet, so called north-
erly partly by the bay and partly by
creeks, easterly partly by land belong-
ing to John Mott, Cornaga and Ezekiel
Jennings, then northerly by land and
meadows belonging to Benjamin Corn-
well, then easterly by the west line of
the patent of Hempstead and contain-
ing by estimation 2,000 acres."

Of this area the commissioners made
two divisions known as First division,
the western section of the beach, and
Second division, the eastern section.
The first section was divided into six-
teen plots and the second into fifteen,
all of them as nearly equal in value as
it was considered possible to make
them, and a division of the marsh land
to the north went with the division of
the beach to the same proprietor. The
allotments of plots were made as fol-
lows: —

First division :

Plots 1, 8, 16, William Cornwell;

Plot 2, Ruliff Duryea, Jr.; Plots 3 and
13, Henry Mott; Plots 4 and 14,
Alice Martin; Plot 5, John Cornaga;
Plots 6 and 7, Thomas and Rachel Ban-
nister; Plots 9 and 15, John Cornwell;
Plot 10, Nathaniel Ryder for John Mott;
Plot 11, John Nostrand, and Plot 12,
John Abrams.

Second division:

Plots 1, 6 and 14, William Cornwell;
Plots 2 and 7, John Cornwell; Plot 3,
John Cornaga; Plots 4 and 5, Thomas
and Rachel Bannister; Plot 8, Nathan-
ial Ryder for John Mott; Plot 9, John
Nostrand; Plot 10, James Abrams;
Plots 11 and 15, Henry Mott, and Plots
12 and 13, Alice Martin.

While this partition suit established
more definite boundaries than had be-
fore existed the division lines were not
sufficiently definite to prevent many
quarrels and much litigation as to the
exact boundaries of the various lots.
By a curious oversight, the centre line
on which all surveys were based was in-
definite and thereby led to all the con-
tention which followed. Although the
numbers of the various lots and the ex-
act dimensions of each lot, the grant
of which included all beach and under
l)ay rights, was beyond question, it was
found impossible to decide upon the
exact location in the absence of a basis
line from which to compute distances.
This muddled state of affairs was con-
siderably added to by the disagreements
of surveyors who failed to agree upon
a common method of deciding upon the
line. In a title suit in 1878, Justice
Barnard appointed Henry D. Meyers
of Poughkeepsie, Singleton Mitchell of
North Hempstead and Ezra W. Conklin
of Jamaica, a commission to locate the
line of division between the lots. Even
these judicially endorsed knights of the
theodolite failed to agree after making
a survey and gave the matter up.

The difficulty was afterwards finally
overcome by common consent of the
owners through their lawyers, who
agreed upon a certain boundary line
lunning north and south between lots
1 and 2 of the first division of the 1809
))artition as a base for determining the
location of all Rockaway property.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

It would be a difficult and tedious task
to endeavor to trace the many divisions
and subdivisions of lots to date, in de-
tail, but the principal real estate trans-

actions and many interesting events at-
tending them during the past two gen-
erations will be found recorded in the
following chapter.

SALES AND DIVISIONS OF LOTS

JOHN L. NORTON, who had pur-
chased nearly all of division two,
died in 1848, and in 1868 his heirs
sold to the Wave Crest Land Company
and to Wm. Caffrey, Samuel L. B. Nor-
ton and Henry Mott and others the land
lying in the front portion of Wave Crest
and the village of Far Rockaway, com-
prising part of lot No. 11 and the whole
of lots Nos. 12, 13, 14 and 15.

The three sons of Samuel L. B. Nor-
ton — John L. and B. Franklin and
George C. — afterward sold the plots
where Edgemere now is. Patrick Glea-
son also purchased about forty acres
from the same heirs. The companies
mapped out their tracts, ran streets
through the property and put up a num-
ber of handsome cottages for wealthy
New York people, and a number of lots
were sold, with restrictions as to the
character and size of buildings to be
erected, none of the buildings to cost
less than .f3,000.

Remington Vernam, a New York law-
yer, took a great liking to the beach
and having great faith in its future
from time to time bought from the Cor-
nell heirs or their successors lots 1 to
9 of the eastern or second division.
Mr. Vernam disposed of the greater por-
tion of lots 1, 2, 3 and 9. Although the
Norton heirs sold lot No. 9 to Mr. Ver-
nam, there was a dispute between Ver-
nam and Norton as to the exact location
of all the lots between 1 and 9. Nor-
ton claimed that the boundaries of all
the lots except his own had been moved
over 400 feet to the eastward of their
true lines.

Mr. Vernam from time to time fenced
in all the lots of his property west of
No. 9, and had commenced to fence in
that lot in the spring of 1894 when
Franklin Norton appeared on the scene,
and a dispute arose as to the boundary
line.

Norton tore down the fence and a
small building Mr. Vernam had put on
the premises. Mr. Vernam then ejected

him from the premises by force and the
matter went before Justice George W.
Smith at Far Rockaway, who granted
a warrant of ejectment against Ver-
nam. Mr. Vernam appealed to the
county court, but Justice Garretson sus-
tained the decision of the lower court,
without giving an opinion upon the
question of boundaries and title, upon
which the Supreme Court must decide.
An order of affirmance was entered in
the Queens County clerk's office May
23rd, 1896.

In December, 1895, S. Packard of
Brooklyn, a creditor of Vernam fore-
closed a mortgage of $30,000 on lot No.
9 and the lot was sold to Charles S.
Mackenzie of Brooklyn. The new pur-
chaser, upon examination, found that
Mr. Vernam's title was defective and
Justice Wilmot M. Smith upheld all the
objections. He released the purchaser
of his obligations to take the property,
and ordered the referee, Henry A. Mon-
fort, to refund all payments made on
the property and directed the plaintiff
at the sale, Mr. Packard, to pay to
Mr. Mackenzie several hundred dollars,
being cost of search as to title and the
expense of surveyors.

Mr. Vernam also bought of the Cor-
nell heirs lots 14, 15 and 16 of the west-
ern division and all of lot 1 of the
marsh except that portion purchased
by Louis Hammel, where Hammel Sta-
tion of the Long Island Railroad is now
located. This marsh lot No. 1 extends
from Beach channel on the west along
the northern boundary of all the lots
of the western division from 3 to 16.
The Village of Arverne extends over
lots 15 and 16 of the western division
and part of the eastern division.

Dr. Brandreth was the final pur-
chaser of lot No. 12 of the western di-
vision, and he sold off a number of
handsome residences and a number of
building lots. John Kreuscher, a pur-
chaser of a large portion of No. 13 of
the same division, put up a large hotel

BELLOT'S HISTOKY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

there called Atlantic Park House, which
immediately became a popular resort
and a railway stop.

Many years ago "Aunt" Abby Ryder,
widow of Nathaniel Ryder, kept a little
hostelry on the shore of Jamaica Bay.
Hundreds of city visitors used to go
over there in row boats and sail boats,
and landed to get a good clam chowder.
In 1850 Garrett V. W. Eldert married
"Aunt" Abby's daughter, and erected a
hotel on the spot known as Eldert's
pavilion in Eldert's Grove. This was
on plot No. 2. The pavilion is still in
use although much of its spacious
grounds is now covered by cottages,
stores, boarding houses and hotels.

In the year 1857 Michael P. Holland
of Jamaica, bought the eastern portion
of lot No. 1, upon which was a large
hotel known as the Carhart house, and
made extensive improvements thereon.
The house was afterward called the
Holland House. Mr. Holland died in
1859, before he had a chance to receive
any of the benefits of his investments,
but after his death the whole of that
section of the beach received the benefit
of a boom, and the widow, Fannie R.
Holland, sold off a large number of
building lots, and a village was soon
built up. Mrs. Holland also sold a site
for a school house, and donated a site
for a church. When the line of the New
York, Woodhaven and Rockaway Beach
Railroad was extended through the
beach in 1877, a station was established
at Holland, on land donated by the
Hollands.

Lots 9, 10 and 11 in the western di-
vision were purchased by Remington
Vernam.

Lot 8 was purchased by Lewis K.
Dodge, who sold to various parties. Dr.
Brandreth, Philip Gloss and others.

Lot 7 and the larger part of lot 6
were finally purchased by a Mr. Har-
per and Garret V. W. Eldert, and were
sold out in small plots for building pur-
poses.

Lots 4 and 5, and a small part of lot
6, were conveyed to Alfrederick S.
Hatch, a New York Banker. This sec-
tion was once known as Oakley Park,
called after Senator James Oakley.

Lot 3 was purchased by Louis Ham-
mel.

Lot 2, known as Ryder's tract, was
purchased by Benjamin Ryder at a fore-

closure sale years ago for $2,000. This
whole tract was afterward conveyed by
him to Garret V. W. Eldert.

Plot 1 — A Wonderful Creation by the Ocean

The history of plot 1 of the western
division is the story of a wonderful
creation by the sea. Going back to the
last century in the time of our revolu-
tionary ancestors, when the British
forces occupied the present territory of
Brooklyn, after the Battle of Long
Island, they set to work a number of
their unemployed engineers and survey-
ors at making a complete map of the
west end of Long Island. From that
map it is learned that the old gut, or
inlet to Jamaica Bay, was more than
half a mile east of the point of the inlet
as it existed at the time of the 1809 par-
tition suit and the ocean tides flowed
into Jamaica Bay through a broad deep
and unobstructed channel. The tides
and currents and the heavy seas first
formed the long bar; then the heavy
southeasterly storms and pounding seas
year after year forced the shifting
sands up into ridges and hillocks, in
some instances from 25 to 30 feet above
the water. In older sections of the
beach where the cedars had grown, the
cedars would hold the sand until finally
the hillocks covered the trees complete-
ly and when, in after years, the sand
was shifted by a powerful gale from
another direction these hills would be
blown almost entirely away and in these
places the dead cedars, with their
gaunt forms naked to the blasts, could
be seen scattered over the beach. These
beaches were added to continually and
stretches of land, which, in 1809, were
only 200 feet in width from bay to ocean
are now half a mile across. At the
time of the Partition Suit the Point or
westerly end of the peninsula was about
where Eighth avenue, Rockaway Park,
now is.

In a westerly direction the beach has
extended year by year until to-day it
has reached a point south of Coney
Island and several miles west of the
old inlet.

The Old Block House

In 1809, plot No. 1, which extended
from the old gut to the new inlet, com-
prised about 200 acres and was con-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

veyed by Richard Cornell to Nathan-
iel Ryder for $200 and the marsh to the
north went with it. It was upon this
plot that the old United States block
house was built, and the boundary of
the United States land seems to have
been a definite boundary and a base
line from which to compute the division
between lots 1 and 2.

In 1814 Nathaniel Ryder conveyed to
the United States for the sum of $100
a tract of land of about forty or fifty
acres, comprising the westerly point of
the beach, for the purpose of building
a block house or wooden fort thereon.
This land was afterwards purchased
by the State of New York, and, acting
under the authority of Governor Daniel
Thompkins, the state commissioners
paid $100 for the land and expended
"$30 for carriage hire, etc., first deed re-
lease mortgage, searching records,
acknowledgment, etc." The bill of
Adam and Noah Brown for building the
block house was $2,381.65; Benjamin
Cornell was paid ilO 15s. Id. (about
fifty-four dollars), "for transportation
by boat and carting the gun over the
beach." The commissioners reported
that a strong block house had been built
at the entrance to the bay and a single
twenty-four pound-gun mounted upon
it, and that this block house had been
taken charge of by an adequate force
of United States troops.

It was stated in the report that this
inlet was "near the Brooklyn Navy
Y^ard, that an enemy could land from
.^■mall boats in Jamaica Bay and that it
was highly important that this section,
which was also a refuge for coasting
vessels, be protected."

The following is a list of names borne
on the muster roll of a company of New
York State Sea Fencibles, under the
command of Captain .Josiah Ingersoll,
from December 29th, 1814, to March 1,
1815, in the service of the United
States, stationed at the block house
which was then named "Decatur."

Josiah Ingersoll, captain; Isaac
Waite, lieutenant; Daniel Leger, gun-
ner; George Bass, great gunner; John
Arthur, John Brainer, Matthew Craig,
Silas Coleman, Henry Clason, William
Dixon, John Francis, John Finnegan,
John Gould, Joseph Gale, Joshua B.
Hall, Jesse Lewis, Charles Loundes,
Adoniah Mansfield, Patrick McGuire,

John McGowan, William Phillips, Peter
Patterson, Edward Roach, John Smith,
Augustus Williams, John Williams,
Joseph Ward, and David Wilson, all sea-
men; Abraham Fowler, waiter to cap-
tain, and John Rosier, waiter to lieu-
tenant; Hugh Sweener, surgeon's mate,
and Patrick Leaden, doctor's waiter.
Total, 32.

The old block house was pulled down
in 1818.

In 1866 the federal government gave
Aaron A. DeGrauw the right to use and
to occupy this property for $1 per year,
payable the first day of May in each
year until it should be wanted by the
government, when the lessee was to va-
cate the premises and remove all build-
ings at his own cost and expense when
requested to do so by the government.
The franchise was signed by George S.
Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury,
and William W. Belknap, secretary of
war. The title to the property, however,
was in the State of New York, who paid
$100 for the same. This grant by the
Federal Government has been the cause
of much confusion as to the ownership
of the land.

An act was passed by the State Legis-
lature, which was signed by the Gover-
nor June 13, 1887, releasing to John Y.
Attrill upon the payment to the State
by Attrill of $20,000 and all expenses
incurred by the Controller and Attorney
General in their investigations as to the
title of the State and as to its claims
upon these lands. The expense of these
proceedings amounted to $10,000 and
Mr. Attrill was compelled to pay to the
state $30,000 to secure the piece of land
which the State obtained in 1812 for
$100. As this land was situated at the
point of the beach and as all subsequent
accretions to the westward were held to
belong to the owner of this tract the
bargain was considered a good one for
Attrill.

When Nathaniel Ryder purchased of
Cornell lot No. 1 he gave the latter
a mortgage of $300 and it is presumed
that Cornell thought that he was well
rid of this tract that today gives titles
to the whole western portion of the
beach, worth millions of dollars.

He assigned the mortgage to David T.
Jennings, who, as the interest had not
been paid, foreclosed the claim in 1830
and the tract was bid in by Rothery Ry-
der and Henry Hewlett for $181.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Robert Mott, who obtained a judgment
against Rothery Ryder, sold the latter's
interest in the plot under an execution
in 1839, and it was purchased by Henry
Hewlett, who also purchased other
large portions of lot No. 1, which had
been parted with and he thus became
the sole owner of all of this lot, except
the Stringham tract. In 1853 Nellie
Lewis and Abraham Hewlett sold a part
of their father's (Henry Hewlett's)
claim to Samuel J. Soper and Samuel J.
Soper's interest was afterwards con-
veyed through grantees to Michael P.
Holland.

Soper, on August 20, 1853, conveyed
the property to John Carhart and James
H. Pullis, and they conveyed to William
M. Pullis. In 1854 Carhart and Pullis
sold the larger portion of their pur-
chase to Schenck W. Furman, and Fur-
man sold it to John Carhart. The latter
sold two-thirds of the whole tract, in-
cluding the western portion, to Charles
G. Covert. In 1853 Covert conveyed to
lohn M. Johnson and James S. Remsen
both parcels of land bounded on the
west by the United States land, on the
east by land of Joseph Stringham, and
the other tract east of Stringham. Lewis
and Abram Hewlett also sold to Rem-
sen in 1855 the western portion of the
tract, which was left to them by their
father, containing about three hundred
acres, for the sum of $485.50.

In February, 1858, James S. Remsen
bought out Johnson's undivided half in-
terest or share for $20,000, and in 1863
Remsen conveyed all the tract east of
the United States tract, excepting a
strip 1,150 feet in width stretching
across the beach and known as Seaside
Park, to Dr. Richard H. Thompson, who
was at that time health officer of New
York City. The main consideration
named was a stipulation on the part of
Dr. Thompson to build a railroad from
East New York to Canarsie, and to
maintain a steam ferry route between
Canarsie and the foot of First street,
Seaside landing. In addition to this he
was to pay the sum of $3,000. The rail-
road was built to Canarsie and an old
stern wheeler was purchased in Phila-
delphia for the ferry route. Sometimes
the steamboat landed at the pier at the
foot of First street and sometimes on
the beach, if the tide or wind were too
strong to make the other landing. Dr.
Thompson also purchased other small

plots, one from William Caffrey, known
as the Stringham tract, and others
lying to the eastward of the piece
named. He gave back mortgages in
part payment for the tracts purchased.
The vendors reserved the cedar trees,
which were then considered the most
valuable, if not the only valuable, part
of the property. The Stringham tract,
consisting of about sixty acres, had
been acquired by William Caffrey, who
gave about one acre of his land in the
Bayswater section of Far Rockaway to
Joseph Stringham in exchange. String-
ham, called "the hermit," was a fisher-
man, and needed the acre of upland to
reach his beach fronting Jamaica Bay,
and he evidently thought his property
at Rockaway Beach of very little value.

Dr. Thompson died suddenly in No-
vember, 1864, leaving a will by which
he gave all this property, and property
purchased in Rockaway Park, to his
daughters, Mrs. Frederick A. Ward of
Brooklyn and Mrs. William P. Judson
of Oswego, and named DeWitt C. Little-
john, then prominent in political life as
speaker of the Assembly of the State of
New York, as his executor and trustee
and guardian of his children.

Soon after Dr. Thompson died, Little-
john, who said he deemed it unwise to
pay $3,000 out of the funds of the estate
to complete the purchase from Remsen,
over and above the ferry agreement,
conveyed this very valuable property to
a dummy of his, named Francis B.
Dane, who later conveyed it to the wife
of Littlejohn. The title remained in
Mrs. Littlejohn's possession undis-
turbed for many years, and after her
death in 1872 her children conveyed the
present Rockaway Park to H. Y. Attrill,
who with his associates formed a cor-
poration and built the great hotel,
which proved a financial failure. Little-
john also, as administrator of his wife,
sold other portions of the beach and
received large rentals therefrom. In
1888 the heirs of Dr. Thompson, Mrs.
Ward and Mrs. Judson, discovered that,
by fraudulent transfers of the guardian
and trustee, they had been despoiled
of the property, and in an action
brought by them against DeWitt C. .Lit-
tlejohn and his children, recovered
judgment, establishing their claim and
title to the entire property bought by
Dr. Thompson in 1862 from Remsen.
All of the unimproved portions of the

BELLOT'S HISTOHY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

beach lying near Holland and Seaside
and also the property west of Seaside
known as Rockaway Park, by this judg-
ment passed to iMrs. Ward and Mrs.
Judson.

Littlejohn, in an action brought while
the title was vested in his wife against
Henry Y. Attrill, claimed that the en-
tire western portion of the beach, ruTi-
ning to the westerly boundary of Rock-
away Point to Barren Island inlet, be-
longed to his wife by accretion, for the
reason that there was an old inlet which
divided the beach for many years and in
the course of time had been filled in.
Judge Gilbert decided that there was
no merit in the claim, and his decision
was affirmed by the Court of Appeals.

In 1879 the heirs of Alida M. Little-
john conveyed 140 acres to Henry Y.
Attrill. This comprised the entire west-
ern portion of plot No. 1 as far west as
the site of the old United States foit,
and was a tract west of the Dr. Thomp-
son tract, which Littlejohn had con-
veyed to his wife, Alida M. Littlejohn,
through Dane. The 140-acre tract was
known as Rockaway Beach Park, and
upon it a company composed of At-
trill and Smith (the latter president
of the Cleveland, Columbus and In-
diana Central Railroad, Ohio) and
others associated with them built
the mammoth and handsome Rockaway
Beach Hotel, a structure 1,200 feet
long, costing over a million and a quar-
ter dollars and which was finished July
11th, 1879. On April 1st, 1880, the tract
was conveyed by Attrill to the Rock-
away Beach Improvement Company.

This hotel proved to be a financial
failure and the thousands of workmen
who had received nothing but a lot of
receiver's certificates in pay for their
labor, at one time threatened to burn it
down. It was with the utmost difficulty
they were satisfied. Drexel and J. Pier-
pont Morgan bought up a large number
of the receiver's certificates and paid
off the men.

Charles Raht, as executor of Julius
C. Raht, who held a mortgage of $76,000
on the tract, assigned to him by Little-
john, foreclosed his claim and the prop-
erty was struck off at a public sale on
February 3, 1883, to Francis C. Barlow
for $175,000. Mr. Barlow sold the prop-
erty to J. Pierpont Morgan. The hotel
building was sold by Mr. Morgan at

public auction and was bought by
Charles H. Southard, dealer in second-
hand materials, for $30,000. It was
torn down, much of it sold to local men
and used by them in constructing houses
and hotels. It has often been said that
nearly all the hotels built in the place
at that time were built of lumber out
of the big hotel. The land was after-
wards conveyed to the Rockaway Beach
Improvement Company. The entire
tract was laid out in streets and sewered
and a large number of houses erected.

Rothery Ryder died in 1838 and his
wife Abby died in 1863. She left as
heirs Matilda, wife of Garret V. W.
Eldert; Amelia, wife of James V.
Brown, and four sons, Charles, Henry,
Benjamin and Uriah. Matilda died in
1872. These heirs of Rothery Ryder and
the other heirs of Nathaniel Ryder
(father of Rothery) claimed all the
western portion of the beach west of
Rockaway Park, which had been added
to the tract by the ocean while their
father held the 200 acres between the
year 1809, when he purchased of the
Cornell heirs, and 1830, when Jennings
foreclosed his mortgage. This new
land had by 1872 grown to be 610 acres
and was not covered by the Jennings
mortgage. A great deal of new land
had been made to the south of the New
York State property, which tract, ac-
cording to the area described in the
original purchase, only occupied the
northern part of the beach, while the
greater portion was to the south of the
tract, and from this the growth of the
beach westward was all claimed by the
heirs of Nathaniel Ryder.

Shortly after the death of Matilda
Eldert, George Durland of Jamaica
bought out a number of the smaller
holdings of Nathaniel Ryder heirs and
began a partition suit against the other
heirs. Edward M. Shepard of Brooklyn
was appointed a referee to sell, and at a
sale held on October 26th, 1874, the
premises were conveyed to Alonzo B.
Wright. Alonzo B. Wright conveyed to
Benjamin Smith on August 15, 1879,
the whole tract of 610 acres (except
two small tracts sold to Aaron A. De-
Grauw, Jr., and a site for a United
States life saving station) for $200,000.
Smith executed back to Colonel Aarcn
A. DeGrauw, who was Wright's finan-
cial backer, a purchase money mortgage
for $170,000.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Benjamin Smith, on tlie 25th day of
Vugust, 1879, conveyed the tract to
lenry Y. Attrill for $200,000, who ex-
icuted a purchase money mortgage for
;180,000 to Colonel Aaron A. DeGrauw.

DeWitt C. Littlejohn, as executor of
lis wife, as heretofore noted, claimed
he title of this tract as being a portion
if the Dr. Thompson purchase by execu-
ion. The Court of Appeals decided
gainst him. While the case was pend-
ng he built two or three shanties on
he beach and put armed men in them

maintain possession of the premises.
)n the 30th of January, 1880, a steamer
onveyed 200 men hired by Attrill,
>mith, Wright and other defendants
ver the beach, where they made an at-
ack on the Littlejohn guards and
outed them without a battle. They
ore down the buildings and fences and
laintained a guard over the premises.
Vlfrederick S. Hatch, a banker, filed
udgments of $15,142 and of $164,835.32
n the Queens County Clerk's office at
amaica on December 21, 1885, against
Lttrill. Collis P. Huntington, president
f the Central Pacific Railroad, filed a
udgment of $99,193.01 against Attrill
n April 22, 1886, and another of $100,-
40.03 on June 15, 1886.

On April 25, 1890, Alfrederick S.
latch had the property sold by Sheriff
latthew Goldner under an execution to
atisfy his judgment of $164,835.52. It
,'as sold in 1891 to William Parkin for
208,000. Parkin afterwards trans-
erred the property to Isaac E. Gates of
'ast Orange, N. J., as trustee for the
reditors of Fisk and Hatch.

Aaron A. DeGrauw, the financial
acker of Wright, who purchased this
ection of the beach at partition sale,
hen attempted to foreclose his mort-
age of $180,000 against the property.
L-ttrill, as a citizen of Baltimore, Md.,
btained an order allowing him to have
tie case removed to the United States
ourts.

In 1897 Gates executed a partition
eed, whereby he conveyed his interest

1 the property to Collis P. Huntington.
.t this time several actions involving
tie questions were before the United
tales District Court, some of them
aving been there for several yeai's.
hese cases included Wright versus
hipps; Attrill versus Wright; De-
Irauw versus Attrill; Attrill versus
>eGrauw, and Gates versus DeGrauw.

On April 7, 1900, Francis H. Wil-
son, who had been appointed Master in
Chancery to straighten the chain of
title and decide on the proper owner or
owners, ordered the entire property to
be sold by a referee and Edward P.
Hatch became the purchaser of the land
as far westward as and including
Neponsit. Hatch conveyed the property
he purchased to the West Rockaway
Land Company on June 13, 1903, and
this company still owns a considerable
portion of that section, now known as
Belle Harbor, which it laid out, de-
veloped and sold in plots.

The section known now as Neponsit
was conveyed to the Neponsit Realty
Company by the West Rockaway Land
Company, in December, 1908, and the
Neponsit Company has mapped it out,
sold plots, built houses and made of it
the well-populated well-restricted and
desirable ocean front development for
which the name Neponsit has already
become well and widelj' known. A section
of Neponsit was purchased by New York
City from the West Rockaway Land
Company a few years ago, at the price
of about one and a quarter million dol-
lars. The site was intended for a pub-
lic park at the seashore, and is called
the Jacob Riis Park. It remains unde-
veloped as a park up to the present time.
A large city hospital for tubercular
patients has been erected on a portion
of the land.

The ownership of the end of the pen-
insula known as Rockaway Point, ex-
tending from Neponsit to the western
extremity, was confirmed in Collis P.
Huntington under the partition deed
given by Gates in 1897. Huntington
died in 1900 and the estate was inherited
by his widow Arabella, who, in Febru-
ary, 1901, sold Rockaway Point to An-
drew K. Van Deventer, the present
owner.

Rockaway Point is the site of a branch
of the Coast Guard and Life Saving
Station, and adjoining Neponsit in 1916
a fine modern fort known as Fort Til-
den, mounted with a battery of guns
commanding New York Harbor and ap-
proaches, was hurriedly constructed.

A company of United States soldiers
is always stationed there.

Many persons spend the entire sum-
mer at Rockaway Point (which is some-
times called Roxbury) and tents and
shacks are there in large numbers.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

ROCKAWAY DURING THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

THE part played by the residents of
the Rockaways during the Revolu-
tionary War, is identical with that
of the majority of the inhabitants of
Jamaica and Hempstead, most of whom
were Tories and remained royalist.
However, a goodly number of residents
voted for the first American Congress
and sided with the "Americans," which
term came into existence then. Benja-
min Cornell of Far Rockaway, was a
lieutenant in the American Arm5% and
on June 23rd, 1787, after the war, was
commissioned in the New York State
Militia by Governor George Clinton.
While Jamaica was headquarters for the
military regulars, patrols were estab-
lished to and in Rockaway, where sen-
tries were stationed. The armed marine
force found plenty of service in search-
ing for and capturing their enemy, and
numerous minor encounters took place
on the peninsula.

On the passage of the Bill in the Eng-
lish Parliament shutting up the port
of Boston on account of throwing of the
tea overboard, some persons in Jamaica
assembled at the Inn of Increase Car-
penter, a mile east of the village, and,
after an interchange of opinions re-
quested Othniel Smith the constable, to
warn the freeholders to a meeting at
the Court House, for the purpose of
considering the state of public affairs.

A number of the inhabitants met on
December 6th, 1774, and constituted the
local American party. The following
resolutions were passed and recorded:

1. To maintain the just dependence
of the Colonies upon the crown of
Great Britain and to render true
allegiance to King George the
the Third.

2. That it is our right to be taxed
only by our own consent, and the
taxes imposed on us by Parliament
are an infringement of our rights.

3. We glory to have been born sub-
ject to the crown and excellent
constitution of Great Britain; we
are one people with our mother
country, and lament the late un-
happy disputes.

5. We sympathize with our brethren
of Boston under their sufl'erings.

6. We approve the measures of the
late General Congress of Philadel-
phia.

7. We appoint for our committee of
correspondence and observation
Rev. Abraham Ketaltas, Waters,
Smith, Capt. Ephraim Bailis, Capt.
Joseph French, William Ludlum,
Capt. Richard Betts, Dr. John
Innes, Joseph Robinson, Elias
Bailis.

This meeting would have been held
much sooner but for the refusal of
Captain Benjamin Whitehead, super-
visor, to show the townspeople the let-
ter he had received from the Whig com-
mittee of New York.

Abraham Keteltas, though a clergy-
man, said that sooner than pay the
duty on tea as required by Parliament
he would shoulder his musket and fight.

The Jamaica committee met again
January 19th, 1775, and after thanking
the New York delegates to the General
Congress for their important services,
said: "We joyfully anticipate the
pleasure of seeing your names enrolled
in the annals of America and trans-
mitted to the latest generations, as the
friends and deliverers of your country
and having your praises resounded from
one side of this continent to the other."

This early anticipation has since been
wonderfully realized.

Only eight days after the committee
had thus endorsed the action of their
delegates, 136 inhabitants of Jamaica
signed a protest stating "that a few
people of the town had taken on them-
selves the name of a committee. We
never gave our consent thereto, as we
disapprove of all unlawful meetings
We resolve to continue faithful sub-
jects to his Majesty George the Third,
our most gracious king."

On March 31st following, being the
day appointed for the taking the sense
of the freeholders of Jamaica on the ex-
pediency of choosing a deputy to the
Provincial Congress at New York, a poll
was opened at the court house. The

8 1!ML1A)T'S IIISTOUY OV Tllh; IJOCK AW A VS

L^sult was that the town inMnaiiiod roy- ai-c (Iclt'rmiiicd no! to choosi' any (k'pu-

list and i-efiisod by a ma.j<irity of uiiio tics, iicir (■(uisciit to it, liiit (hi soh'ttiiily

J send a deputy. lieai- oiii- tcsl ini(in.\' against it.

At Hempstead, April 4th, 1775, the in- "Sixth, That we are utterly adverse

abitants assembled and passed the ('(d- to all mobs, i-iots and illegal pr-oeeed-

iwiuK resolutions in which they I'm- in^^s, b,\' whieh the lives, peace and proii-

hatieally (lecdared their intention of re- erty of our fellow subjects are endan-

lainiuK loyal to the liritish Cfown: jvered; and that we will to the utmoHt

First, that, as we have already borne oC our power suppoi't our le^iil nuiKiH-

[•ue and raithl'ul allegiance to His (rates in suppr-essirur all riots and pre-

hijesty, King- tieorge the Third, oui' servinj^- ( ln' peace of our Liege sever-

racious and lawful sovereign, so we eign."

re firmly resolved to continue in the N<itwitlistanding these i-esolutions, at

iime line of duty to him and his law- ;i meeting of freehcdders of the county,

Lil successor. held at Jamaica, May 22n(l, 1.775,

"Second, That we esteem our religious Thomas lli(d<s and (aptaiii Uichard

nd civil liberties above any other bless- Thorne were idected In i-epresont

igs, and those only that can be secured Hempstead l)iil, on June lidth, 'I'honuis

) us by our present constitution; we Hicks, of Little Nccl<, decliru'd t.aking

nail inviolably adhere to it, since de- his seat, "bei'ause h(^ was informed by

iating from it and introducing innova- sevei-al leading men that the people of

ons would have a direct tendency (o Hempstead set'med much inidiru'd to re-

Libvert it, from which the most ruinous main peaceable and (piiet."

inse(|uences might .justly be a])pre- An address was presented to (Jovermir

ended. (^ddeii at Jamaica on May ISth, 1775,

"Third, That it is our ardent desii-(Mo re((uesting him to intercede with (len-

ave the present unnatural contest be- oral (lage and wiHi the King; to stop

f/een the parent state and her colonies tlu'ir violent measures. His reply was

micably and speedily accommodated (rn nnsatisfaid.ory though given with tears,

rinciples of constitutional liberty; ami On Septeirdier 2n(l, 1775, ("ongr(\ss

lat the union of the colonies with the grantcMl Joseph Uobinson leave to re-

arent state may su])sist till time shall ccdve 100 pounds of guni)owd(M- for (he

e no more. use of Hie J.-imaica militia, on his i)ay-

"P\)urth, 4'hat as the worthy metii- ing cash for it.

ers of our General Assembly who are Hy a test jiaper issued by tlie (leneral

ur only legal and eonstitutional rep- Association, the signers pledg:ed them-

2sentatives. . . . have petitioned selves to stand liy each other in th(^

is most gracious Majesty, sent a, mi^- gri'at struggh^ for their rights aTid to

lorial to the House of Lords and a n:- su|)|iort the Congress. On September

lonstrancc to the House of (!onnnons. Kith, 1775, 0(mgress having ihhhI id'

e are determined to wait patiently the arms for the soldiers in the constitu-

isue of those measures, and avoid tiona! service, sent, troops to Jamaica

verything that might frustrate; thcjse t,o impress tlwm from thosi^ who rid'used

Ludable endeavors. to sign 1 l)i> ( o'lieral Associ.-d.ion. Abi-a-

"l^^ifth, That as choosing deputies to ham Skinner, of Jamai<-a, re|)o|-t,ed to

)rm a provincial ('ongress or Ooiiven- Congress 1h;d. but, few arms had been

on must have this tendency, be highly collected for want of .a liatalli(m of

isrespectful to our legal represenla- s<ildiers to intimidate; the royalists. He

ves, and also be attended in all proba- said, "The fieople conceal all their arms

ility, with the most pernicious ed'ctcts of any value, many say they know notJi-

in other instances, as is now actually ing; about Congress and don't care for

le case in some provinces such as IJu'ir orders and they will blow out an\'

lutting-up courts <if justice^ hwying man's brains tJi.at .attempts to fake thoir

oney on the subjects to enlist nnni for .-irms."

le purpose of fighting- against our sov- Com[)anies were detailed to visit

-eign, diffusing the spirit of sedition Hempstead. Considerable <liHiculty was

nong the people, destroying the au~ encoiiid,('red, but lat.er, in .January,

lority of constitutional assembli(!S and 177(), W(; find th(! following: "The bat-

;herwise introducing many heavy and talion hd't ('olomd Heard at Hempstead

ppr(;ssive gri(;vances), w(; th(;r(d"or(; Last Wednesday with CM) or 700 militia

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

where great numbers of Tories were
every hour coining in and delivering up
their arms." Again, "Colonel Heard
crossed Hurl (Hell) Gate ferry and pro-
ceeded through Newton (Newtown), to
Jamaica, at Bett's tavern, and left on a
Sunday for Hempstead. There was
great talk of opposition in Hempstead,
but it was at last concluded to submit.
His quarters were at Nathaniel Sam-
mis's."

On December 13th, 1775, as some dis-
affected persons in Queens County had
been supplied with arms from the Brit-
ish ship of war "Asia," and were ar-
ranging themselves to oppose the meas-
ures taken by the united colonies for de-
fending their just rights, it was ordered
that Captain Benjamin Whitehead, Dr.
Charles Arden, Captain Joseph French
and Captain Johannes Polhemus, all of
Jamaica, appear before the Congress
on the 19th inst., to give satisfaction
in the premises and that they be pro-
tected from insult, coming and return-
ing.

The following associated themselves
as "minute men" for the defense of
American liberty, and engaged to be
obedient to the Congress : — John Skid-
more, captain ; Jacob Wright, first lieu-
tenant; Nicholas Everest, second lieu-
tenant; Ephriam Marston, ensign; pri-
vates, Cornelius and Derick Amberman ;
Isaac, Nehemiah, Daniel, and John
Bayles; John Bremner, Richard and
Robert Betts, William Cebra, Peter
Canile, Benjamin and Nemiah Everet;
Samuel, Joseph, Thomas and Daniel
Higbie; James Hinchman, Hendrich,
Aaron and Abraham Henderson ; John
Innis, William Nehemiah and Nathaniel
Ludlum; David and Waters Lambert-
son; Andrew Mills, Andrew Oakley,
Urias and Stephen Rider; Hope, Rich-
ard and Nathaniel Rhodes; Joseph Rob-
inson; Richard, Nathaniel, Walter,
John, Obadiah, Simeon, Sylvester,
Nicholas and Benjamin Smith ; Daniel
Skidmore, John and William Stin ;
William and Benjamin Thurston;
Thomas Wiggins, and Jesse Wilson.

On March 27th. 1776, a military com-
pany of 40 men associated themselves
as Defenders of Liberty. The officers
were: Ephriam Bayles; captain; In-
crease Carpenter, first lieutenant; Abra-
ham Van Osdell, second lieutenant;
Othniel Smith, ensign.

On April 26th, following all friends

of American Liberty in Jamaica were
entreated by Elias Bayles, chairman of
the committee, to aid the committee.
Announcement was made that should
any officers in the service of Congress
meet with insults in the discharge of
their duties the offenders were ordered
to be treated as enemies to their coun-
try.

It being ordered on May 17th, 1776,
that the county committee form and
regulate the militia without delay, we
find the following regarding Hemp-
stead: South Hemppstead: — Foster
Meadow Company, 98 men; officers,
none. Far Rockaway Company, 90 men,
Peter Smith, captain; Benjamin Cor-
nell, lieutenant. South Hempstead
Company, 110 men; officers, none.

The total number in North and South
Hempstead and Oyster Bay was 1,028
men. The following were the higher
officers: Colonel, John Sands: lieuten-
ant-colonel, Benjamin Berdsall; majors,
Richard Thorne and John Henderson.

During the month of July, 1776, pre-
cautions were taken for saving the cat-
tle and crops from the British, should
they attempt to land on the island.
Colonel Birdsall, with a command of
recruits, was sent to Far Rockaway,
where sentinels were placed in the most
advantageous positions for observiiig
the approach of the enemy. In August,
Captain P. Nostrand was also stationed
at Far Rockaway with forty-six men to
guard the coast. There was a guard
at David Mott's and at Hog Island Inlet
was a guard boat.

According to one account, "Nelly
Cornell, looking out of an upper win-
dow of a house, called to the American
officer and told him she saw trees ris-
ing from the ocean." He looked, called
another officer and said, "That's the
British fleet. Down with the tents and
let's be off to the ferry." Wagons were
then impressed to convey the baggage
and all the cattle were driven off.

August 25th, Congress resolved that
all horses and horned cattle and sheep
south of the ridge of hills in Queens
county be removed to Hempstead
plains; that the inhabitants remove all
grain then in barns or barracks to a
distance from buildings, that it might
be burnt, if necessary to prevent its
falling into the hands of the enemy. A
few days later the regiments were or-
dered by General Washington to with-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

draw from Long Island. Afterward a
large portion of the militia returned to
Long Island and took British protec-
tion, to save their property and pro-
tect their families.

When the American army abandoned
Long Island to the British after the
battle of Long Island on August 27th,
1776, the more active Whigs fled. Rev.
Messrs. Ketaltas and Froeligh crossed
to the mainland as did John I. Skid-
more, Increase Carpenter, John Robin-
son, Nehemiah Carpenter, sen. and
others. The property of those who fled
was seized by the British authorities.
Most of the Whigs stayed home with
their families and took their chance.
The more obnoxious were arrested and
taken to the British Camp in Kings
County. Among these were Elias
Bayles, an aged and blind man, an
slder in the Presbyterian Church;
David Lamberson, Abraham Ditmars,
Robert Hinchman, John Thurston, and
others.

The more quiet Whigs were not dis-
;urbed. They took the oath of alle-
>;iance to the crown, signed a paper of
submission, prayed to be restored to
;he royal favor and wore a red ribbon
)n their hats.

The village of Hempstead was se-
ected by the British as one of their out-
)osts, "as convenient quarters for their
ight horse, who would be near New
fork City in case of attack and could
ilso make excursions to gather forage,
itc, for the city and scour the country
vhen the rebels landed from the main."
louses were patrolled and soldiers
vere to be found for many miles around
lempstead and sentry boxes were scat-
ered all about what is now Hempstead
'illage. The Presbyterian Church was
ised as a barracks for soldiers and later
he floors were taken out and the build-
ng was used as a riding school for
Irilling horses. The grave-stones were
Lsed for fire backs, hearths and oven
lottoms. On the outside of the church
vere rings, to which soldiers were sus-
pended by one hand and with one foot
esting on a sharp stake set in the
■round, the remaining hand and foot
leing tied together. These points un-
!er foot were occasionelly of iron and
'V writhing of the sufi'erer would some-
imes pierce through the foot. The
ulprit was then sent to the hospital
nd would often be lame for weeks.

This was the punishment of the light
horse. The Hessians (German troops
hired by King George the Third) ran
the gauntlet. An apple tree east of the
burying ground was used as a whipping
post. In this connection it is interest-
ing to note that Joseph Prue was
chosen "Town Whipper" in April, 1772.
Along the brook east of Hempstead
village there were huts for the soldiers,
built of sods. Boards were very scarce,
and the Presbyterian Church at Foster's
meadow and the Presbyterian Church
at Islip were taken down and conveyed
to Hempstead, where the lumber was
used in making barracks and stables.
From 1778 until peace was declared
the light horse made Hempstead their
headquarters during the winter and
occasionally they recruited in the sum-
mer, allowing their horses to wander
into the fields of grain and clover fields,
which in many cases were entirely de-
stroyed. A fixed price was generally
allowed for such damage, which was
paid in New York. These horsemen,
called the "Queen's Own" it is said,
were well disciplined and finely
equipped.

From 1778 the militia was called out
several times to capture "Americans"
or "rebels," and made excursions to the
island in search of cattle and plunder.
We copy a contemporaneous account of
one of these raids which occurred off
the beach at Far Rockaway: "Last Sun-
day (about July 1st, 1779) two rebel
whale boats, on which were seventeen
men, made their appearance at Hog
Island, near Rockaway. The militia
were soon alarmed and a party was
despatched in two boats while the
others marched along shore and se-
creted themselves among the brush at
the entrance of and along the creek at
which they entered. The rebels had
scarcely landed when they observed the
two pursuing boats coming into the
inlet. They endeavored to escape, but
finding they were surrounded and fired
upon from all quarters, they sur-
rendered. Some time after, three others
of the same gentry came rowing along
shore and, observing their own two
boats made into the inlet and fell into
the hands of the militia. These boats
were fitted out at Saybrook, Conn., with
a brass two-pounder in the bow of each,
and had a commission from Governor

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Trumbull to plunder the inhabitants of
Long Island. The prisoners, forty in
number, were brought to town yester-
day."

In July, 1780, near Hog Island, Rock-
away, the American sloop "Revenue,"
privateer, of New London, W. Jagger,
commander, fitted out by Joseph Wool-
ridge, carrying twelve guns and fifty-
two men, was driven ashore by the
British ship "Galatea." The vessel
bilged, the men jumped overboard and
swam ashore with their arms, and were
captured by the militia stationed at Far
Rockaway. Several other captures were
made of Americans who believed Long
Island and its people were not loyal to
the crown.

Rockaway and Lawrence Beach resi-
dents would sometimes take a spyglass
and climb to the roofs of their houses,
and, if they saw any whale boats in the
bay, they would remove their valuables
to a nearby hiding-place, leaving only
a few articles in their houses. When
the robbers landed they would ransack
the houses, curse the residents for their
poverty and depart. Houses and farms
were often nearly emptied of an after-
noon by their owners, and the goods re-
placed next morning, but if the owners
were once caught they were likely to
be tortured till the goods were forth-
coming. The alarm was spread by guns
or horn blowing.

Though the farmers and laboring
classes had to live frugally and on
homely fare during the war it was dif-
ferent with the British officers. They
spent their money freely and loved good
eating and drinking. A little boy once
got a dollar for a quart of strawberries.
A fat turkey would fetch a guinea
(twenty-one shillings) and eggs six
cents each. Here is a note from a
British officer to a farmer: "Sir: If
you can get me a good quarter of veal,
or a good pig, or half a dozen good
chickens, pray do so, for I can't live on
salt meat every day, and you'll oblige,
yours, Cort Van Home."

The standing toast at an officer's
table was "a long and moderate war."
The out-door amusements were fox
hunting, shooting grouse and other
game, horse racing, cricket matches,
hurling matches, billiards, cards, etc.
They indulged in music also, for we
read of pianos, harpsicords, organs, etc.,
besides military bands.

Some of the officers had their ladies
with them, others married American
girls. Some of the soldiers brought
their wives with them from the old
country, especially the Hessians
(Dutch) and Scotch. Their children
were baptized in the Presbyterian
Church.

Hog Island was the residence of
Colonel Richard Hewlett during the
war. He was an English officer, and
had a small regiment of English sol-
diers at his residence and under his
command. The only monument now ex-
isting of their doings is the remains of
a ditch and an embankment thrown up
by the soldiers around a piece of wood-
land then owned by him.

Whitehead Cornell of Rockaway sup-
plied meat to the British fleet during
the Revolutionary war, and in 1784 his
son William went to England to collect
payment of his father's bill against the
British government.

An interesting document, probably
the first New York State bond ever is-
sued, appeared during the war wherein
Governor George Clinton, being in need
of money for the State, and learning
that Long Island friends of the Ameri-
cans were willing to advance one thou-
sand pounds to further the cause of
freedom, pledged the faith of the State
with repayment of that sum and inter-
est at six per cent. He sent a messen-
ger, who obtained the money, and in ex-
change gave the Governor's bond, which
reads as follows :

"State of New York, ss, — I hereby
pledge the faith of said State for the
repayment of the sum of one thousand
pounds, current money of said State, in
specie, with interest at the rate of six
per cent per annum, to John Sands,
Esq., or order, within one year after
the conclusion of the present war with
Great Britain. Given at Poughkeepsie,
this 1st day June 1782.

"Witness Geo. Trimble.

"Geo. Clinton."

The amount was raised as follows:
Major R. Thorne, 200 pounds; John
Thorne, 200 pounds; John Sands, 400
pounds; Daniel Whitehead Kissam, 200
pounds. The notes were paid.

On the 22nd of August, 1776, a British
force of 20,000 men under Lord Howe
landed on Long Island, and on the 27th

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

the battle was fought, resulting in the
defeat of the Americans, who on the
night of the 29th, favored by a dense
fog, retreated to New York. The British
plan had been formed to capture New
York, ascend the Hudson, effect a junc-
tion with a force from Canada, under
General Carlton, and thus cut off com-
munication between the patriots of New
England and those of the middle and
southern colonies; but the movements
of Washington and the failure of Carl-
ton frustrated the plan.

On the 21st of April, 1777, a State
constitution was adopted, and under it
George Clinton was elected Governor,

and he assumed the duties of that of-
fice on the 31st of the following July.
He remained Governor of New York
State after the conclusion of peace be-
tween America and Great Britain, which
happy event occurred in 1783. In De-
cember of the same year, by act of leg-
islature, town meetings were held, and
officers for the Town of Hempstead, un-
der the new American Republic, were
elected.

This section had remained in the
hands of the British from the time of
the Battle of Long Island until peace
was concluded.

- .' y

: ~ ' *

H 4 li, ,

MAURICE E. CONNOLLY.
PKESIDENT, BOROUGH OF QUEENS, NEW YORK CITY.

//\Mi/-

;9p

BELLOT'S HISTOKY Oh' THE KOCKAWAVK

TRANSIT FACILITIES FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD

ALTHOUGH the Rockaway peninsu-
la cannot in any sense be consid-
ered as a section which grew up
overnig-ht, as the saying goes, it is an
indisputable fact that the most impor-
tant steps in its modern development
were synonymous with the establish-
ment of modern transit facilities.

Several railroad routes commenced to
operate throughout the peninsula in the
early "seventies" when there were not
many residents and the real and rapid
advance and progress were then made.

During the eighteenth century Rock-
away had two roads connecting with
Jamaica and Hempstead. The first road
was a mere pathway, formerly used bj'
the Indians, and formed the foundation
for the present Jamaica and Rockaway
turnpike. That part of the path pass-
ing round the head of the bay, now
known as Hook Creek, was frequently im-
passable owing to floods. The Rockaway
pass, mentioned in Field's "Battle of
Long Island," over which William How-
ard and his fourteen-year-old son were
compelled to guide a detachment of Brit-
ish soldiers, was a bridle path over the
hills situated where Evergreen Cemetery
now is and led to the northerly end of
the present Rockaway Boulevard in
Brooklyn, there connecting with the pres-
snt turnpike road.

The other and better road was the main
road corresponding with the present
Broadway. This road led to Hempstead
and branched also to Jamaica. What-
ever journeys were made to or from
Rockaway Neck by the small number of
settlers, had perforce to be made either
by one of these roads — in which case
man's faithful friend the horse was the
3nly assistance available — or else by boat
icross the bay. As time went on, stage
2oaches, which also carried the mail,
connected w"th the Rockaways, and it is
svident from the following interesting
advertisement, copied from the Long
Island Telegraph, published at Hemp-
stead in 1830, that it took several hours
;o reach B-'ooklvn. The advertisement
reads as follows :

"The Hempstead stage leaves the vil-
.age of Hemps^tepd, starting from the
bouse of Davis Bedell, every Monday,

Wednesday and Friday morning, at eight
o'clock, and returns on Tuesday, Thurs-
day and Saturday, leaving the house of
Coe S. Downing, Fulton street, Brook-
lyn, at precisely 2 o'clock p. m. Ar-
rangement is made to carry passengers
to and from Rockaway by the above line.
"Curtis & Mervin, Proprietors."

With the opening of the Marine Pa-
vilion at Far Rockaway in 1834, and the
construction of the turnpike road in the
same year by the company formed for
that purpose, traveling became easier.
Stages were run from Brooklyn direct
to the Pavilion and coaching to Rock-
away became extremely fashionable.
Beautiful teams of horses attached to
elaborate "tally-ho" turnouts made the
journey in fine time, and noted sports-
men vied with each other in the excel-
lence of their equipages. These coach-
ing parties survived until a few years
ago, but the "four-in-hand" seems, in
these parts at least, to have passed into
oblivion.

A scheme to construct a steam railroad
to Rockaway was launched as early as
1833, four routes being surveyed and
estimates obtained. The accepted esti-
mate for the Rockaway branch for a
single track was placed at $110,000, but
up to the year 1868 the line had been
constructed only as far as Valley Stream.

In 1868 the South Side Railroad of
Long Island started construction work
on a branch line from Valley Stream
and completed the road to Far Rockaway
in the following year, under the charter
of the Far Rockaway Branch Railroad.
The trains were, of course, drawn by
steam locomotives. In 1872 the same
company extended the line by construct-
ing the "Rockaway Railway" from Far
Rockaway, along the ocean front after
leaving Wave Crest, to the Neptune
House at Rockaway Beach, a distance of
four miles.

A time table for this route, dated May
27th, 1872, lists the stations on this
Rockaway Branch as follows :

Valley Stream, Hewletts, Woodsburgh,
Ocean Point, Lawrence, Far Rockaway,
South Side Pavilion, Eldert's Grove,
Hollands, Seaside House.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Previous to this the Brooklyn and
Rockaway Beach Hne had, in 1866, com-
menced to operate trains from East New
York to Canarsie, from which point pas-
sengers were taken by ferry boat across
Jamaica Bay to Rockaway Beach.

Another line, known as the Spring-
field "cut-off," was built in 1873 by the
Long Island Railroad Company from
Rockaway Junction (now Hillside, Ja-
maica) by way of Springfield Junction.
This line entered the Rockaways at
Oceanpoint (now Cedarhurst) where the
first station was located, and tracks ran
parallel with the South Side tracks. The
new line of the Long Island Railroad was
in opposition to the South Side line and
was a shorter distance by seven miles.
The Long Island Railroad Company later
on acquired the interests of the South
Side Railroad, and operations of trains
over the shorter route has ceased for sev-
eral years past. The double track re-
mains untouched but is overgrown with
weeds and other signs of neglect abound.
Two of the Long Island Railroad Com-
pany's presidents, Oliver Charlick and
Havemeyer, paid considerable attention
to Rockaway Beach at that period and
several additional routes were suggested,
but not built. The idea of connecting
Rockaway Beach with Brooklyn by a road
across Jamaica Bay was then conceived,
and several plans suggested but not act-
ed upon until 1880, in which year the
present trestle across Jamaica Bay was
built. The route was called "the air
line." The writer wonders whether a
real "air line" will be established in the
near future, when airplanes will be the
means of locomotion.

The trestle route owed its existence
to Senator James M. Oakley and his as-
sociates, incorporated in 1877 as the
New York, Woodhaven and Rockaway
Railroad Company, which operated
trains from Brooklyn, Bushwick and
Long Island City terminals (owned by
the Long Island Railroad Company) on
its own tracks to Glendale Junction. This
line was extended from Glendale through
Woodhaven across the Jamaica Bay tres-
tle, as far as the present terminal at
Rockaway Park, making the total length
of the route fifteen miles.

The trestle route was opened in Au-
gust, 1880, but the line was not suc-
cessful financially, and, after operating
until 1887, through foreclosure proceed-
ings, it passed into the hands of the

New York and Rockaway Beach Rail-
way Company, now a leased line of the
Long Island Railroad Company. Ele-
vated trains of the Brooklyn Rapid Tran-
sit are operated over this route in the
summer season.

This trestle road, known as the Ja-
maica Bay route, has been a most poten-
tial factor in the development of the
Rockaways. The operation of trains
through the Steinway tunnel under the
East River direct to Pennsylvania Sta-
tion, iManhattan, began in loio, and made
it possible for Rockaway residents to
reach the heart of the greatest city in
the world within half an hour.

The present stations at Rockaway
Beach are Hammel, Holland, Steeplechase
Station, Seaside and Rockaway Park.
There are several stations on the trestle
the names being Broad Channel, The
Raunt, Goose Creek and Howard Beach.
The Rockaway Village Railroad Com-
pany was incorporated in March, 1886,
and operated horse-drawn cars between
the railroad station and beach at Far
Rockaway. This line was succeeded bv
a new electric corporation in 1897 known
as the Ocean Electric Railway Company,
which in addition to the Far Rockaway
village route, commenced a trolley serv-
ice over the Long Island Railroad tracks
through Edgemere, Arverne and Ham-
mels; thence along the Boulevard on
its own tracks under a city franchise
through Holland, Steeplechase, Seaside,
and Rockaway Park, and thence over
its own right of way and tracks through
Belle Harbor and Neponsit, the fare for
the whole distance being only five cents.
All the lines before described are now
owned or controlled by the Long Island
Railroad Company, and all are electric-
ally operated.

Another electric trolley route is oper-
ated between Jamaica and Far Rockaway
by the Long Island Electric Railroad
Company. This line opened about twen-
ty years ago, passes through the north-
erly sections of Cedarhurst, Lawrence
and Inwood, and has its terminal near
the railroad station.

Although there have been numerous
fatalities through persons being run over
by trains, there has been only one very
serious railroad traffic accident on these
lines, and that occurred on July 5th,
1875. On that occasion eight persons
lost their lives and many others were
injured, when two trains, crowded to ca-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

pacity with Fourth of July crowds, met
in a head-on colision at Far Rockaway.
The scene of the accident was on the
tracks of the South Side road on the
curve near the gas house, and was caused
through the engineer of one of the trains
ignoring a signal against him.

During the summer season large pad-
dle steam boats operate between Rock-
away Beach and Coney Island and IVIan-
hattan and are always crowded with
passengers. There is also a frequent
steam launch service between Rockaway
Beach and Sheepshead Bay.

There is a taxicab service at every
railroad station.

A little more than two years ago an
attempt was made to establish a motor
omnibus service from Far Rockaway
to Rockaway Park. After running for
several months the service stopped and
the company has since surrendered its
charter, but the rapid growth of the com-
munity and the need for additional con-
nections from end to end of the penin-
sula predicate the belief that the at-
tempt will be revived before many years
elapse.

Automobile owners and drivers and
others proceeding by road complain of
the distance between New York City and
Brooklyn and the Rockaways. Because
there is no direct land connection be-
tween the city and the peninsula a long
detour is occasioned. Direct connection
between the mainland and the Rock-
aways across Jamaica Bay would prove
of inestimable value and benefit not only
to the Rockaways but to the city itself,
establishing as it would, a new outlet

within its own taxable area and provid-
ing an enormously increased tax assess-
ment justified by the increment in value.
There are several plans before the au-
thorities at the present time to meet
this requirement. The first is to extend
Flatbush avenue, Brooklyn, over Barren
Island and connect with the west end of
the peninsula. Another and more desir-
able, is to build a boulevard or road
across the bay on a route almost parallel
with the existing railroad trestle. This
would terminate at the center of the
peninsula and shorten the distance be-
tween the city and the Rockaways by
eight miles. It would appear on ac-
count of continued delays in developing
and dredging Jamaica Bay, for which
purpose a large appropriation was made
by the government several years ago, and
is still available, that the game of poli-
tics has its own objects to serve first
and the needs of the community must
wait. However, the immediate construc-
tion of this cross bay road is being eager-
ly pressed by Rockaway residents and
civic bodies.

Work has been started on the improve-
ment of the Jamaica turnpike road,
which, up to the present time, has been
unfit for traffic other than the trolley
line operated over it. It is proposed to
widen this road for its entire length,
raise the grade, making it in some places
six feet higher, and to lay double tracks
for the trolley service, so that the jour-
ney to Jamaica will consume consider-
ably less time than at preent. It is
hoped to have the improvement com-
pleted before the beginning of the 1918

WATER SUPPLY

The water supply obtained by resi-
dents of the Rockaways until the year
1881 was by sinking individual wells,
users drav/ing their own supplies di-
rectly from the ground. In that year
a Holly pumping engine was installed
and a well specially sunk to supply
water to the famous mammoth Rock-
away Beach Hotel. This well or in-
choate waterworks was located north
of the hotel on the site of the present
Alberts Hotel at Fifth avenue, Rock-
away Park. Water was sold to a few
consumers in the district and the pump-
ing station continued doing business in

a small way for a year or more. It was
eventually purchased and dismantled in
1890 by the Queens County Water Com-
pany, which company came into exist-
ance on March 20th, 1884. The first
attempt to inaugurate a public supply
system was the result of constant local
agitation to abolish the well system,
which, it was urged, was extremely dan-
gerous in a growing section where the
only means of sewage disposal was by
the use of cesspools, which in time
would be bound to contaminate the
wells.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

John Lockwood and six associates ap-
plied to the authorities of the Town of
Hempsetad on October 11th, 1883, for
authority "to organize a water works
company with a capital stock of $50,-
000 to supply the town of Hempstead
and its inhabitants with pure and
wholesome water from wells sunk in the
ground." The town granted a franchise
on October 22nd, 1883 but excepted
from it the territories of Garden
City and the Village of Hemp-
stead. The Queens County Water
Company was incorporated on March
27th, 1884, and issued its capital stock
on May 1st, in the sum of $40,000, to
R. I. Mullins and others for the con-
struction of works at Far Rockaway.
On June 3rd, following, $40,000 worth
of bonds at 6 per cent interest were
issued to Mullins in part payment for
building equipment, and for completing
works at Far Rockaway. Soon after-
wards, the capital stock was increased
from $40,000 to $50,000 and the addi-
tional $10,000 was also issued to Mul-
lins for extension of construction work
at Far Rockaway.

The system built by Mullins was
completed and accepted December 15th,
1885. Seven months later a five-years'
contract was entered into by Queens
and Nassau County supervisors with
the water company to supply water to
the fire district comprising the unin-
corporated village of Far Rockaway. In
1887 the company's capital stock was
again increased to $100,000 and the ad-
ditional $50,000 was issued to Mullins
in part payment for money due for
construction of the extension of the sys-
tem to Rockaway Beach. R. V. W. Du-
Bois and others, interested in the Com-
pany, applied in June, 1887, to the local
authorities of Hempstead for a renewal
of the franchise granted in 1883. The
renewal was asked for in order to en-
able the company to reorganize its
financial affairs. DuBois stated that
the business had extended beyond what
was contemplated at the time of the
original organization and in particular
that the continuation of the mains to
Rockaway Beach required an enlarge-
ment of the Company's financial basis.
On June 13th, 1887, a new franchise
was granted, not directly to the Queens
County Water Company, but to DuBois
and his associates, who proceeded in
October, 1887, to organize another cor-

poration, the Queens County Water
Company of Long Island. The inter-
relations and subsequent combination
of the two companies are obscured by
the mists that hang over those early
days of the Rockaway water supply. The
original company had to issue scrip to
pay the interest on its outstanding
bonds. Between the new company and
the old, the mains were extended to
Rockaway Beach.

The water company's first pumping
station and well system was construct-
ed in Far Rockaway on a parcel of land
bordering Carlton avenue, just south
of the Long Island Railroad right of
way. The water supply at this point
proved to be insufficient and another
station was established on Remsen
avenue, north of Long Island Railroad
right of way. This new source of sup-
ply also proved inadequate. The princi-
pal stockholders of the Company, about
1890 or 1891, acquired a tract of land
near Valley Stream and thereafter put
down wells and constructed a pumping
station. The source of supply proved
to be satisfactory and the nev/ plant was
leased to the Company on February
1st, 1893. For eighteen j'ears, subse-
quent to 1893, the company secured its
entire water supply from the Valley
Stream plant, but, by 1911, the increas-
ing demand for water on the Rockaway
peninsula during the summer months,
induced the Company to establish an
auxiliary station at Washington avenue,
Rockaway Park, for use for a few hours
each day during the heaviest summer
load.

During the early period of its exist-
ence the Company was in continual
financial straits. From 1884 to 1900
no dividends were paid and operating
expenses were seldom earned. In 1893
judgments amounting to about $150,000
were secured against the Company, and,
about that time, Franklin B. Lord, of
Lawrence, became interested. He suc-
ceeded in putting the Company on a
sound financial basis.

The Valley Stream Supply is taken
from 74 shallow wells and from 52 wells
ranging in depth from 140 to 210 feet.
The capacity of these wells is fifteen
million gallons daily. The Company
also have four wells at Lynbrook which
are held in reserve for future need. At
Rockaway Park they have three wells
ranging from 760 to 780 feet in depth.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

The water at Valley Stream is filtered
by three slow sand filters of a daily ca-
pacity of about seven million gallons.
The pumping capacity is twenty million
gallons daily. At the Rockaway Park
auxiliary station there is a mechanical
filter of a daily capacity of about one
and a half million gallons and the pump-
ing capacity is two million gallons daily.
All water is filtered before being
pumped into the distribution system.

The Company has about 200 miles of
mains, of which 90 miles are in Queens
County, and 110 miles in Nassau Coun-
ty. The district supplied is a long nar-
row neck of land and the distance from
the pumping station to the extreme end
of the distribution area is over 13 miles.

The supply is under constant inspec-

tion by the City of New York and the
Company also has independent analysis.
The water is very soft and pure and of
a most excellent quality.

The area supplied by the Company
consists of the Fifth Ward of the Bor-
ough of Queens; the incorporated vil-
lages of Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Lyn-
brook. East Rockaway and Woodsburgh;
and the unincorporated sections
known as Inwood, Koodmere, Hew-
lett, Valley Stream and Oceanside.

There are now approximately eleven
thousand individual water consumers in
the area of supply and the work of the
company is most efficiently done under
the able supervision of the engineer,
Charles R. Bettes.

GAS AND ELECTRIC SUPPLY

The development of the present ex-
cellent lighting, heating and power
equipment in this locality, is in itself
a most interesting history.

Prior to the year 1880, all local
houses and the streets, which were then
lanes, were illuminated — in the few
lanes which boasted artificial light — en-
tirely from oil lamps. Contemporaneous
advertisements informed the public that
"Best Test oil was 12 cents per gallon."
Before this time inhabitants made and
dipped their own candles, the only arti-
ficial illuniinant they knew.

On February 19th, 1880, the Rock-
away Gas Light Company was in-
corporated for the purpose of manufac-
turing and supplying artificial gas to
Attrill's new monster hotel at Rock-
away Beach. This was the first attempt
of its kind by any body of local men
to provide gas lighting. A thirty-thou-
sand foot gas holder was erected on the
plant then located at Rockaway Park on
the present site at Washington avenue.
Of this company Henry Attrill was
president and James A. Taylor, treas-
urer. The hotel was never properly
opened, but gas was manufactured at
the plant and supplied to local consum-
ers. The original gas tank is now used
for storing tar by the Queens Borough
Gas and Electric Company at their
Rockaway Park plant.

The old company had a very short ex-
istence. Fire broke out on the plant

and the office building, containing all
the company's records, was totally de-
stroyed. The Rockaway Gas Light Com-
pany sold its entire business on May
20th, 1882, to the Town of Hempstead
Gas and Electric Light Company. The
principal directors and officers in the
latter company were Edward W. Meal-
ey, president ; Henry Stack, secretary ;
Henry Y. Attrill, William A. Kenner,
George L. Geran, Frederick A. Phipps,
William K. Soulier and Charles F.
Dieterich.

This company was more businesslike
than its predecessor and went ahead
manufacturing gas, which it sold to con-
sumers resident in the Rockaways, un-
til July 1st, 1902, when it was merged
in the present Queens Borough Gas and
Electric Company.

Another company, known as the
Rockaway Electric Light Company, was
formed in 1890, but this had a short and
unsuccessful existence. This company
was incorporated on May 8th, 1890, by
Henry E. Hawley, John A. Seeley,
James A. Taylor and Horace K. Thur-
ber for the purpose of operating at
Rockaway Beach under a franchise
granted to Samuel R. Myers in 1889.
This franchise and the business of the
Rockaway Electric Light Company is
now owned by the Queens Borough Gas
and Electric Company, with which it
was merged on July 26th, 1897.

The next local combination was

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

formed by Far Rockaway men on
March 12th, 1892, under the name of
the Citizens Lighting Company. The
stockholders were Thomas Henderson,
Samuel B. Althause, Jr., James Caffrey,
Smith M. Decker, Edward Roche, Rich-
ard L. Gipson, Frederick M. Richmond,
Newman J. Pettit, Delmar L. Starks,
David H. Jennings and Joseph C. Big-
lin. This company operated at Far
Rockaway until June 29th, 1898, when
the business was sold to the Queens
Borough Electric Light and Power
Company, incorporated for that purpose
on February 28th of the same year. The
stockholders in the new corporation
were Van Wyck Rossiter, president;
David H. Valentine, Royal C. Peabody,

C. L. Rossiter, T. S. Williams, Frank
McGovern, Joseph C. Biglin, Isaac M.
Sutton and H. Hobart Porter, Jr.

The Queens Borough Gas and Elec-
tric Company, the present supplier of
light and power to the entire Rockaway
peninsula, was incorporated on July
1st., 1902, and acquired the business of
the Electric Light and Power Company
on that date. The first directors were
V. Everit Macy, G. D. Gregory, Eugene

D. Hawkins, Alfred H. Bronson, Nelson
C. Thrall, H. Hobart Porter, Jr., George
Crocker, and Carleton Macy.

This company at once initiated a pro-
gressive and sound businesslike method

of doing business, which has done a
great deal to assist the rapid advance-
ment and desirability as a place of resi-
dence of all parts of the peninsula.

Carleton Macy was elected president
in March, 1904, and has continued so
until the present time. Under his able
and painstaking guidance, the concern
flourished and became of real public
service and is the largest permanent
employer of labor in this section. For
efficiency of service and promptitude in
handling the enormous demands made
upon it at the beginning of each season,
the company has no superior. Its area
of service is from Oceanside on the east,
to Neponsit on the west. There are 180
miles of gas mains in the street and 165
miles of electric pole lines. The main
electricity generating station is at Bays-
water, Far Rockaway, and the principal
gas works are at Rockaway Beach,
while there are sub-stations at Far
Rockaway, Rockaway Beach and Lyn-
brook. There are about 8,000 all-year-
round consumers of gas and 4,500 users
of electricity in the Rockaways.

The present directors of the Queens
Borough Gas and Electric Company are
V. Everit Macy, George D. Gregory, Eu-
gene D. Hawkins, James A. Mooney,
Carleton Macy, Alfred H. Bronson, and
Ira R. Stewart.

BANKING INSTITUTIONS

The first banking institution was
established in the peninsula on May 1,
1888, at Far Rockaway, on Catherine
street fnow Central avenue), near
Cornaga avenue, in the front part of a
frame building used by J. M. Kraus as
a dry goods store. The growth and
progress of that little bank have been
remarkable.

George Wallace and Charles L.
Wallace, residents of Freeport, and
Samuel R. Smith, also of Freeport — who
had just returned after an absence of
ten years spent in conducting a general
store business in Drayton, North Da-
kota, where he was president also of
the State Bank — commenced business
as private bankers in the village of Far
Rockaway, with a capital of five thou-
sand dollars. Mr. Smith, who is now

the president of the Bank of Long
Island, was then cashier, bookkeeper
and clerk, and the only active man in
the business. The need of a bank im-
mediately became obvious and its serv-
ices were at once utilized by residents
throughout the peninsula. Two months
after opening Valentijie W. Smith of
Merrick joined Samuel R. Smith as an
assistant. Business increased rapidly
and the Far Rockaway Bank was
formally organized on January 1, 1889,
with a capital of $25,000. Deposits at
that time were approximately $75,000.
Officers of the new bank were Peter N.
Davenport, president; W. A. Wynn,
vice-president; Samuel R. Smith, cash-
ier, and Valentine W. Smith, assistant
cashier. The first directors were:
Peter N. Davenport, W. A. Wynn, Sam-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

uel R. Smith, S. B. Althause, Jr.; Ed-
mund J. Healy, William Scott, Dr. J.
Carl Schmuck, George P. Bergen,
Thomas Henderson, Thomas F. White,
and Henry Craft.

The handsome brick building at the
corner of Cornaga and Central avenues
was erected in 1890 and the volume of
business transacted jumped up by
leaps and bounds until this became the
only bank in the State with a capital
of $25,000 having deposits exceeding
one million dollars.

The Far Rockaway Bank was merged
in the new Bank of Long Island on Jan-
uary 1st, 1903, which latter establish-
ment was formed by the amalgamation
of the Flushing, Jamaica and Far Rock-
away banks. Samuel R. Smith became
president, with headquarters at Ja-
maica, and Valentine W. Smith was, and
is, vice-president in charge at the Far
Rockaway branch. The Bank of Long
Island now has twelve branches in the
Borough of Queens, with a capital and
surplus of $1,600,000, and deposits ex-
ceeding thirteen million dollars. Local
branches of the Bank of Long Island
have been established at Hammels, now
in charge of William S. Milan, and at
Seaside, now in charge of William H.
Reynolds.

The National Bank of Far Rockaway
is housed in the show building of the
village. The ornate three-story marble
finished structure, which immediately
attracts one's attention when arriving
at the railroad depot, was opened on
July 1, 1912. The National Bank of Far
Rockaway is an offshoot of the Queens
County Trust Company and was char-

tered on October 21st, 1908. Business
was commenced on November 8th of the
same year in leased offices in the old
Wynn Building, near Cornaga avenue,
on Central avenue. The first president
v/as Harry G. Heyson; Jacob Lauch-
heimer was vice-president, and James
L. Stanley cashier. The same gentle-
men continue in office and are assisted
by a board of directors consisting of
Joseph Fried, Charles A. Brodek, Max
Katz, E. J. Decker, Lewis H. May,
William S. Pettit and Philip P. Scott.

The Bank of Lawrence was organized
under that name in the fall of 1902 by
Talbot J. Taylor, Robert L. Burton, John
H. Smith and Dr. J. Carl Schmuck, who
commenced business in February of the
following year at the present bank. The
first directors were Edwin Abrams,
Richardson Brower, John A. Ruth, Dr.
J, Carl Schmuck, Origen Seymour, John
H. Smith and L. Stuart Wing. The capi-
tal of the corporation was $25,000 and
there was a subscribed surplus of
$10,000.

The Bank of Lawrence has greatly as-
sisted the development of the westerly
end of the peninsula by its consistent
policy of encouragement of local and
deserving business men and concerns
and the aid it has lent to them. The
present directors are: Dr. J. Carl
Schmuck, president; John H. Smith,
vice-president; John A. Ruth, cashier;
Morris F. Craft, Divine Hewlett, James
W. Safford and Winfield S. Vandewater.
The capital is now $50,000 and there is
a surplus of undivided profits of $65,000.

FRATERNAL ORDERS, CIVIC AND BUSINESS
ASSOCIATIONS

Among the Fraternal orders estab-
lished in the Rockaways, the wealthiest
is Olympia Lodge, No. 808, of the
Ancient Order of Free and Accepted
Masons, which owns the handsome

Masonic Temple on Mott avenue. Far
Rockaway. The order having the
largest membership is Rockaway Aerie,
No. 1544, Fraternal Order of Eagles,
which meets at Arion Hall, Rockaway

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Beach. The aerie has a considerable
nucleus for a building fund, with which
it intends to build its own home at an
early date. The membership of this
order is at present about 500.

Certain local Masons, now deceased,
were granted a dispensation on June
24th, 1893, valid for one year, to enable
them to form a new lodge for the Rock-
aways, and their efforts were so suc-
cessful that the Grand Lodge of the
State of New York, on June 7th, 1894,
issued a full charter, authorizing the
formation of the present lodge. The
officers named on the charter were Peter
N. Davenport, master; J. Carl Schmuck,
senior warden, and Archibald Mutch,
junior warden. The first meetings were
held in a brick building near Cornaga
avenue on Central avenue. Far Rocka-
way, where Mullen & Buckley now do
business. Meetings were held there for
about six years, when headquarters
were changed to the fourth floor of the
Horton Building (now Teddy's), also on
Central avenue. The lodge continued
there for eleven years. The present
Masonic Temple was built and first used
bv the Masons in 1910, and has been

the permanent home since that date.
The present membership is about 350
men.

Other orders with branches estab-
lished in the peninsula are the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Forest-
ers of America, Junior Order United
American Mechanics, Sons and Daugh-
ters of Liberty, Exempt Firemen's As-
sociation. Knights of Pythias, Knights
of Columbus, Catholic Benevolent Asso-
ciation, Loyal Order of Moose and Red
Men. The Boy Scouts of America have
numerous branches throughout the
Rockaways.

The business associations include the
Civic Federation of the Rockaways,
Progress Society at Far Rockaway, Board
of Trade at Rockaway Beach, Far Rock-
away Business Men's Association, Rock-
away Beach Business Men's Associa-
tion, Rockaway Park Citizens Associa-
tion, Rockaway Beach Liquor Dealer's
Association, West End League, Somer-
ville Improvement Society, Women of
Arverne, Far Rockaway Women's Club,
Women's Suffrage Party, Half Way
House Improvement Association, and
the Edgemere Taxpayer's Association.

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, PAST AND PRESENT

THE admittedly high standard of
free education provided for chil-
dren in the Rockaway peninsula
is a most important factor in the suc-
cess and prosperity of the place.

In these days of hustling energy and
aggressive efficiency one's educational
attainments form one's chiefest qualifi-
cations in the battle of life. Parents
seeking the best for their children have
no hesitation in choosing schools in the
Rockaways as having the highest stand-
ards.

This chapter deals exclusively with
the various public schools and the his-
tory of each is given in the village or
school district of which it now forms a
part.

Lawrence — Cedarhurst — In wood

The villages of Lawrence, Cedarhurst
and Inwood form Union Free School
District No. 15 of the Town of Hemp-
stead. This district was placed under

the Superintendency of Schools Act in
1906, with Fred De L. King superin-
tendent, which position he stills holds.

SCHOOL BUILDING AT LAWRENCE.

Mr. King has under his superintend-
ency the Lawrence High School, Law-
rence Grammar School, Cedarhurst
Grammar School and two grammar
schools at Inwood, all of which have
a present registration of about 1,650

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

pupils, forming sixty classes. There
are sixty-four teachers.

The imposing brick and stone school
building in Lawrence was erected in
1913 at a cost of about $125,000, on the
site of the former frame school build-
ing. The latter was built in 1893, and
later torn down to make way for the
present building which is at once the
home of the high school for the district
and the grammar school for Lawrence.

The principal of these two schools is
Cecil C. MacDonald, and the present
registration of pupils is about 140 in
the high school and 436 in the grammar
school. The equipment includes a well
chosen library for use of scholars and
the public, a fine gymnasium, domestic
science rooms, laboratories and shops.

teacher, in the Abram's building at
Lawrence. Two years after the move
to Central avenue Mr. King was author-
ized and instructed to organize a high
school for the district, which he did on
June 26, 1895.

The old Broadway school was the
first public school ever used in Rock-
away. Old men living in the Rockaways
remember when they attended the
school at Lawrence before the first Far
Rockaway school was opened. The late
Peter N. Davenport and George Wal-
lace, then young men, were once teach-
ers there.

The members of the Board of Educa-
tion are Leslie L. Beach, president, and
John McNicoll, George B. Simmons, Gil-
bert E. Horton and John Ruth, trustees.

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CED.A.RHURST PUBLIC SCHOOL.

The Cedarhurst school (No. 3) was
erected in 1902 and has a present reg-
istration of 207 pupils. The principal
is Willard B. Gardner.

The Inwood school (No. 2) has a
registration of 343 pupils, the principal
being Frederick S. Slack.

The large public school (No. 4) at
Inwood, the principal of which is
Robert G. Horn, has a registration of
514 pupils. This building has an audi-
torium capable of seating 700 persons.

When Mr. King first took charge, in
1892, the total registration of pupils
was only 286 in the whole district, and
the principal school was then situated
at the corner of Frost Lane and Broad-
way, Lawrence. This building now
stands near West Broadway, Wood-
mere. The Central avenue building
was occupied in 1893. At that time
there was a branch school with one
teacher, in the Comb's building at In-
wood, and another branch, also with one

SUPERINTENDENT FRED DE L. KING.

The officers are: Fred De L. King, su-
perintendent; Newman J. Pettit, clerk;
J. Russell Sprague, treasurer, and
Lewis P. De.xter, Jr., truant officer.

The following is a list of those who
have been members of the Board of
Education since the year 1890: The
late Franklin B. Lord, Theodore A.
Gauntt, the late John W. De Mott, Sam-
uel D. Abrams, Freeman Sprague, Jr.,
Julian D. F'airchild, John H. Smith, the
late Theodore Sprague, Garrett C. Van
Dine, William Player, Jr., Edward J.
Horn, Joseph H. Foster, James W. Saf-
ford, the late Wilbur B. Wood, Morris
F. Craft, John G. McNicoll, Andrew
Weston, Percy C. Vandewater, George

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

B. Simmons, Theodore Bowker, the late
Oliver S. Davison, Franklin B. Lord, Jr.,
George A. Johnson, Leslie L. Beach,
Gilbert E. Horton, John A. Ruth.

The school district assessment for the
present year is $8,589,212.

INWOOD PUBLIC .SCHOOL NO. 4.

Woodmere and Hewlett

Woodmere and Hewlett villages form
Union Free School District No. 14
(Town of Hempstead), of which Charles
S. Wright is principal. In earlier days
in those parts children went to school
first at Valley Stream, then to Lawrence
and afterwards to a school house built
in Hewlett, near Grant Park. In 1898
this building ceased to be used for
school purposes and was sold. It was
later moved to near Woodmere Bay, and
is now used as the home of the Wood-
mere Yacht Club.

WOODMERE SCHOOL, DESTROYED 1916.

A new school was built in 1898, when
the district was made a separate Union
Free school district. High school train-
ing was begun in 190-3 and the school
building enlarged in 1910. This build-
ing was totally destroyed by fire in
September, 1916. Since that time
classes have been held in various stores

and at the fire house, pending construc-
tion of the new and imposing building
on Broadway, which is almost completed
and expected to be ready for occupancy
early next year. The cost of the new
school is estimated at $140,000, and it
will accommodate both high school and
grammar school pupils. There is to be
a gymnasium in the buildmg.

The present registration at the Wocd-
mere-Hewlett Grammar School is about
300 scholars, and at the high school 40
scholars. There are fifteen teachers.

The school board consists of William
H. E. Jay, president; Smith Carman,
Garrj' Brower, Emil Darmstadt and
Dallas Brower.

The school district assessment is now
$3,344,000.

Far Rockaway Schools

The first Union District Free School
was erected in Far Rockaway about the
year 1861 on land now occupied by the
Magistrate's Court House, a small part
of which building is part of the old
school house. The land was given for

SANFORD J. ELLSWORTH.

the purpose by Benjamin B. Mott,
known as "Little Ben." The school
house stood back in the woods and was
approached from Mott's lane by a path
now covered by the public library. The
name of the first teacher was Patrick
Burns and he lodged first at Calfrey's
hotel on Greenwood avenue, and later

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

at Lawrence Duncan's house. About 25
boys and girls, several of whom are still
living-, attended. There were also two
or three private schools, one being con-
ducted by Mrs. Mary Hartford at
Broadway and Cornaga avenue.

Prior to the erection of the public
school those children of residents who
went to school attended the old school
house on Broadway in what is now Lav/-
rence, to receive their teaching. As
time passed on and the village grew,
more teachers were employed and bet-
ter school accommodations became
necessary. A fine new public school
building was erected on State street in
1893, the number of pupils then being
about 250. A high school was estab-
lished in the same building in the year
1895. Two years later the school was
considerably enlarged and in 1907 the
annex was built. Plans are now being
prepared for an additional story of
eight rooms to be erected at an esti-
mated cost of $55,000.

FAR ROCKAWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL.

The primary school is known as pub-
lic school 39, Borough of Queens, and
the present number of pupils is about
800. The high school has a registration
of about 500 pupils. Both schools are
under the highly efficient management
of the principal, Sanford J. Ellsworth,
who has held that position since 1895,
when he organized the high school. The
schools employ forty-five teachers and
provide a complete course from kinder-
garten to college. About fifty pupils
are graduated yearly and many of them
go to college or training schools for
teachers.

In connection with the school there
is a well equipped gymnasium, a library
and laboratories.

Rockaway Beach and Arverne Schools
The public schools of Arverne and
Eockaway Beach, in the Borough of
Queens, consist of public school No. 42
at Arverne, public school No. 44 at Hol-
land and public school No. 43 at Rock-
away Park, all under the capable man-
agement of one principal, William M.
Gilmore.

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WILLIAM M. GILMORE.

The first public school at Rockaway
Beach was conducted by Mrs. Julia Hol-
land (wife of Michael P. Holland), who
was appointed schoolmistress for that
Union Free School district of the Town
of Hempstead in 1878. Mrs. Holland
taught in her own home at Holland and
Railroad avenues and started with ten
pupils. She remained schoolmistress
until 1881, when the large school
house, now the Rockaway Beach police
station, was erected, and Mr. Candee
became the schoolmaster. Others suc-
ceeded him and Mr. Gilmore was ap-
pointed by the local Board of Education
in the spring of 1894. At that time
there were five teachers in the central
school house, and two "annex" or
branch schools were being used, one on
Washington avenue and one on Lincoln
avenue, Rockaway Park, each under the
direction of one teacher. The total reg-
istration was then less than 300 pupils.

The schools became part of the public
school system of Greater New York at
the time of consolidation, on January

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

1, 1898, in June of which year there
were ten classes and a total registration
of 438 pupils.

In April, 1901, the new building near
Holland Station (public school 44) was
opened and all the classes in the old
buildings were transferred to the new
building. There were then ten classes
and a total registration in June of the
same year of 551 pupils.

The new building at Rockaway Park
(public school 43) was opened in De-
cember, 1903, with three classes, and a
total registration of 102 pupils. In June
of 1904 these two schools had a total
registration of 812 pupils, and in De-
cember of the same year the new build-
ing at Arverne, public school 42, was
opened with three classes and a regis-
tration of 97 pupils.

The average registration of the three

been called to the urgency of the need,
no provision for extension has yet been
made.

All of the foregoing schools which
existed before consolidation of Greater
New York in 1898 were at one time
Union Free schools under the Town of
Hempstead. To emphasize their growth
the author quotes the following inter-
esting extract from minutes on the rec-
ord book of Common School District 15,
Town of Hempstead (in which district
the peninsula was included), dated Jan-
uary 1, 1849 :

"To the superintendent of Common
Schools of the Town of Hempstead, we,
the trustees of the school district num-
ber fifteen in the said town in conform-
ity with the statutes relating to com-
mon schools do certify and report that
the whole time our school has been in

THE OLD UNION FREE SCHOOL AT LAWRENCE.

schools is now about 1,600 pupils in the
winter months and this is increased to
approximately 2,200 in the summer
months, when many summer visitors
register their children for school at-
tendance in this district.

In addition to the foregoing, two bone
tubercular classes are taught at Nepon-
sit Beach Hospital.

Additions are sorely needed to the
Holland school CNo. 44), and although
the attention of the city authorities has

session since the date of the last report
for the said district is eleven months, and
since the date of said last report our
school has been kept by teachers after
obtaining a certificate of qualifications
according to law for eleven months, that
the amount of money apportioned to our
district by the Town Superintendent of
Schools during the said year and since
the date of the said last report, except
library money, is one hundred and twelve
dollars and twenty-five cents, and that

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

the said sum has been applied to the
payment of compensation of teachers
employed in the said district and li-
censed as the statute prescribes. That
the amount of library money received in
our district from the town superintend-
ent of common schools was twenty-
eight dollars and six and one-fourth
cents, and that the said sum was on or
before the first day of October last ap-
plied to the purchase of a library for
the said district. That the number of
volumes belonging to the district
library and on hand on the last day of
December is three hundred and sixteen.
That the number of children taught in
said district and during said year and
since last report is one hundred and
twenty and the names and ages of which
are as follows: — (Oldest — 21. Youngest
—5.)

"That of the said children thirty-nine
attended less than two months. Thirty-
six less than four months and more
than one. Ten for four months and less
than six. Twenty, six months and less
than eight. Seven, eight months and
less than ten. Eight, ten months and
less than twelve. And that the number
of children residing with their parents
in our district on the last day of De-
cember last, who are over five and un-
der sixteen years of age is one hun-
dred and ninety. (Complete census is
given.)

"And we further report that our
school has been visited by the town su-
perintendent twice during the year pre-
ceding this report and that the sum
paid for teachers' wages over and above
the public money appropriated to said
district during the said year amounted
to $175.25. That the amount raised by
taxes during the said year was for re-
pairs, etc., $30. That the school books
in use in said district during the said
year were as follows : Porter's Rhet-
orical Reader, New York Readers Nos.
1 and 2, Websters' Dictionary and
Spelling Book, Walker's Dictionary,
Smith and Browns' Grammar, Colburn's
and Smith's Arithmetics, Morse and
IVritchell's Geography.
"January 1, 1849.

"SAMUEL DOUGHTY,
"G. D. CRAFT,
"J. H. JENNINGS,

"Trustees.
"JOHN BROAD,

"District Clerk."

Parochial schools in the Rockaways
are fully described in another chapter
containing the history of the various
churches to which thev are attached.

Public Libraries

The establishment of a free library
building in Far Rockawa.v was made
possible bj' the Carnegie donation, for
in 1903 the sum of $240,000 was allotted
to the Borough of Queens for the erec-
tion of library buildings. It was at first
proposed to expend this sum on the con-
struction of three buildings, but, owing
chiefly to the suggestion and energy of
Peter J. McGinnis of Far Rockaway,
then member of the Library Board of
Queens, it was finall.y decided to erect
six buildings in the borough, at a maxi-
mum cost of $40,000 each, one such
building to be erected at Far Rockaway.

The present site of the library build-
ing at the corner of Central and Mott
avenues, which had been given by
Benjamin B. Mott with the old school
house site, and was then owned by the
city, was utilized for the Imilding and
the latter was opened on August 18,
1904.

The local library committee then con-
sisted of Peter J. McGinnis, Rev. Mr.
Demarest and John A. Loope.

About the same time a store was
leased and a small branch library
opened at Hammels. This branch was
removed in 1912 to more convenient
quarters in the McKennee Building,
near Holland Station.

The local libraries have been a great
boon and educational aid. The cour-
teous treatment of library employees
is a constant encouragement to use the
excellent collection of books, which is
constantly increasing. A special
feature is the frequent "story hour"
for children, whose minds are thus
trained in an interesting manner to look
to books for aid in their search for
knowledge.

Newspapers

The first newspaper was published on
June 23, 1883, at Far Rockaway by the
late Watkin W. Jones. It was called
"The Rattler," for the first year of its
existence, but the name was then
changed to the "Rockaway Journal."
The paper was issued weekly and was

BELLOT'S HISTOUY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

successful for a number of years. It
greatly aided the growth of the place,
but later went out of existence.

There are now two weekly papers
published at Rockaway Beach, viz., the

"Wave" and the "Argus." Far Rock-
away possesses three similar publica-
tions, viz., "Rockaway Life," "Far
Rockaway Journal" and the "Rockaway
News."

RELIGIOUS LIFE

EVERY section of the peninsula is
well cared for from a religious
standpoint, and large congrega-
tions attend the services of Roman
Catholics, Hebrews and Protestants of
all denominations. Churches, syna-
gogues and social centres are numerous,
well founded and, in general, on a sound
financial basis. The worship of God is
regular and devout and this religious
spirit and the guidance of the ministers
has been greatly instrumental in the
peaceful and successful development of
the peninsula, and the means of train-
ing the minds of some of New York's
foremost citizens, who live or lived
here and had the advantages of that
guidance and training. A description
and history of each church or syna-
gogue will be found in the succeeding
chapter.

the site of the first Rockaway church,
near the Long Island Railroad crossing
on the Jamaica and Jericho Turnpike
road. The present edifice, valued at
$40,000, is the centre of religious life at
Lawrence, and the pastor, the Rev.
Henry Blatz, has the care of an ever-
increasing and devout congregation,
among which are many of the leading
residents of Lawrence and Cedarhurst.

On November 13th, 1831, this church
v.as founded and officers were elected at
an organization meeting held at the
home of John Baylis. The new church
was called McThendre's Chapel, and
was part of the Hempstead Methodist
Episcopal Circuit.

The first church building, erected dur-
ing the year of its foundation, 1831, was

An Early Sunday School

The following letter, written by Jane
Cornaga in 1818, shows the early estab-
lishment of a Sunday school at Far
Rockaway. The writer possesses the
original letter:

"Far Rockaway, May 2, 1818.

"Sir, I am happy to inform you that
our Sunday school here has a very
promising appearance; but the Scholars
labour under many disadvantages from
the want of books. I am therefore re-
quested by our Superintendent, Mrs. B.
Cornell, and the teachers, to request
you (if you please,) for ten or fifteen
testaments, the receipt of them will be
acknowledged in the most grateful man-
ner.

JANE CORNAGA, Secry.

"To Mr. Lewis A. Eigenbrott
"Jamaica."

Lawrence Methodist Episcopal Church

The present beautiful Methodist Epis-
copal Church at Lawrence is erected on

LAWRENCE M. E. CHURCH.

a plain frame structure with a double
pitch roof, supported by four large pil-
lars. It was illuminated by candles.
The church was rebuilt in 1866 at a cost
of $8,000. The cornerstone was laid by
the Rev. Edward G. Andrews, who later
became Bishop Andrews. Shortly after
this the parsonage was built on land
opposite the church. Since then it has
been modernized and reconstructed.
The cemetery attached to the church

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

contains the graves of many Rockaway
settlers.

The present church building was
erected in 1907 during the Rev. John J.
Forist's pastoracy. The old structure
is now used as a Sunday School. The
beautiful memorial windows of the
church represent scenes taken from
Hoffman's famous paintings depicting
incidents in the Life of Christ. They
include "Christ and the Doctors,"
"Christ Blessing the Little Children,"
"Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane"
and "The Resurrection."

Affiliated with the church is the Law-
rence Chapter of the Epworth League,
the Ladies' Union, the Women's Foreign
Missionary Society and the Lincoln
Military Band.

The Sunday School is particularly
well supported, the membership exceed-
ing 400 children.

Trinity Church, Hewlett

The Protestant Episcopal parish of
Trinity, Hewlett, was first known as
Trinity Chapel, Rockaway, and was part
of the ancient parish of St. George's
Church, Hempstead, a patent and char-
ter of which were granted by Kin.g
George the Second, July 23, 1735.

Occasional services were held at
Rockaway prior to 1817 by the Reverend
Seth Hart. In August of that year the
Governor of the State, Daniel D. Tomp-
kins, while visiting Far Rockaway, do-
nated to the inhabitants, on petition of
Benjamin Cornwell and others, a small
building called the block-house for use
as a place of worship. The Rev. Mr.
Hart held services in this building
every fourth Sunday afternoon. The
Rev. Dr. Gilbert H. Sayers, Rector of
Grace Church, Jamaica, also officiated
occasionally. The exact location of the
block-house is not now known. This
arrangement continued until the need
of a more convenient and befitting
house for worship was generally felt.
The question of erecting a Chapel, while
often considered, did not result in any
positive efforts to obtain one until Sep-
tember, 1835, when a consultation of
the friends of the church was held,
and, at a subsequent meeting, it was
resolved to build a Chapel. The Rev.
Wm. M. Carmichael of St. George's
Church, who presided at the meeting,

and Clinton Pettit and George Hewlett,
were appointed a Committee to take the
necessary steps to carry this resolve
into efi'ect by securing funds and a
suitable plot of land on which to place
a Chapel, "to be under the jurisdiction
of the Vestry of St. George's Church,
Hempstead." A plot of ground con-
taining about three acres was given by
Major Cornelius Van Wyck and his sis-
ter. Miss Van Wyck. Another acre was
purchased from the same parties, and
on the third day of May, 1836, the
corner-stone was laid by the Rt. Rev.
B. T. Onderdonk, Bishop of the diocese.
Donations of timber and stone were re-
ceived; about $1,500 in cash was raised
by subscriptions, and a gift of $500

OLD TRINITY CHURCH, HEWLETT.

was made, on the application of the
Committee, by the Corporation of Trin-
ity Church, New York. These facts
were duly reported to St. George's Ves-
try; also that while the cost of the
Chapel had been about $2,300, there
was left an indebtedness of only about
$90, which the Committee would imme-
diately seek to obtain. They requested
the Vestry to take the proper steps to
have the building consecrated, by the
name of "Trinity Chapel, Rockaway."

The Chapel was consecrated by
Bishop Onderdonk on Saturday, July 8,
1837. The next day the Bishop admin-
istered the rite of confirmation to a
class of fifteen. The chapel and
grounds continued to be the property
of St. George's, Hempstead, until 1844.

On the 12th day of December, 1843,
at a meeting of the congregation of the
Chapel, Clinton Pettit, George M.
Hewlett and Peter T. Hewlett were ap-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

pointed a committee to obtain from the
corporation of St. George's a separa-
tion from that parish preparatory to
its organization as a separate parish.
This committee waited upon the Vestry,
January 22, 1844. But the Rev. Dr.
Carmichael having resigned the rector-
ship and there being no rector, the
Vestry deferred action until they were
duly organized with a rector, and it
was not until October 9, 1844, that the
matter was disposed of. At that date,
at a meeting of the Vestry, the Rev.
Orlando Harriman, Jr., rector, in the
chair, was passed the following:

"Resolved, That the Corporation of
St. George's Church, Hempstead, con-
vey all their right, title and interest
in Trinity Church, Rockaway, and the
lands appertaining thereto, to the
rectory and Vestry of said church, by
deed of gift, to be held by them and
their successors, for the purposes of an
Episcopal (Church) and no other pur-
pose.

"Resolved, That the rector and senior
warden be a committee to prepare the
deed and the rector be authorized to
sign it and affix thereto the corporate
seal."

Upon this favorable action of St.
George's Vestry, a meeting of the con-
gregation was held on February 14,
1844, and the organization of Trinity
Church, Rockaway, perfected. The fol-
lowing persons were elected its first
Vestry: Foster Nostrand and Clinton
Pettit, wardens ; George Hewlett, Jacob
Lawrence, John L. Morton, Aledger
Hewlett, George M. Hewlett, Jacob
Stringham, George R. Rhodes and Dr.
Robert B. Baisely, vestrymen.

Through the liberality of Joseph
Hewlett a rectory was built on the
church grounds in 1854 and in 187'j
preparation for building a new and
larger church was begun, the corner-
stone being laid by the Bishop on July
19, 1877. The present beautiful edifice,
which marked great advance in archi-
tectural style, was consecrated by
Bishop Littlejohn on May 2, 1878.

The chapel of St. John's was opened
at Far Rockaway in 1860 during Rev.
Samuel W. Sayres' rectorship and was
later created a separate parish.

The old Trinity church building has
been converted into a Sunday school
and lecture room. The congregation

consists of about 130 families in Hew-
lett and Woodmere and the present
rector is the Reverend Arthur Lewis
Bumpus.

The parish officers are: Divine Hew-
lett and Benjamin C. Vandewater,
wardens; Clinton Locke, Stockton Buz-
by, Henry 0. Chapman, Edward C.
Smith, William H. E. Jay, Eugene P.
Bicknell, Carleton Macy and Joseph S.
Hewlett, vestrymen. Carleton Macy is
also treasurer and Joseph S. Hewlett
clerk.

St. John's Church, Far Rockaway

The Protestant Episcopal Church of
St. John at Far Rockaway was first
opened as a chapel or mission from
Trinity Church, Hewlett, in 1860, by
the Rev. Samuel W. Sayres, rector of
that parish. It was opened to meet
the wishes and convenience of the
largely increasing population of Far
Rockaway, who previously had to jour-
ney to Hewlett to attend divine service.

The opening of the new chapel was
made possible through the generosity
of Far Rockaway parishioners who sub-
scribed funds to build the present
church on land donated by Benjamin B.
Mott. One of the most zealous workers
was Mrs. F. H. Bolton, a sister of
Augustus Hewlett of Rock Hall, who
had for a considerable time previously
conducted a Sunday School in her home
on Jarvis Lane.

The Far Rockaway chapel was con-
secrated by Bishop Potter in Novem-
ber, 1860, and was ministered to by the
Rev. Samuel W. Sayres and grew stead-
ily in numbers and faith. In 1882 St.
John's was created a separate parish
with the title "St. John's Church, Far
Rockaway," and Mr. Sayres became its
first rector, leaving Hewlett for that
purpose. The present church building
embodies the original structure, which
has been added to at both ends. The
chancel has been rebuilt and enlarged
and a memorial window installed to
honor the memory of the late George C.
Rand.

The parish house was erected in 1900
for lectures and Sunday School, which
latter is now attended by about 150
pupils. The congregation of the church
now numbers about 500 and is minis-
tered to by the rector, the Reverend

riO

BELLOT'S HISTOTvY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

William A. Sparks, who was appointed
in May, 1911.

The mission of All Saints from St.
John's Church was opened at a store
on Central avenue, Lawrence, in 1904,

school superintendent
Davies.

Mr. J. E.

REV. WILLIAM A. SPARKS.

by the Reverend Henry Mesier, then
rector, and regular Sunday services are
held there, the congregation numbering
about eighty persons and the Sunday
School being attended by about fifty
scholars.

The parish officers of St. John's are
Harold Herrick, clerk and warden;
Daniel Whitford, warden ; Edward M.
Bentley, Jonathan T. Lanman, Peter B.
Olney, 0. S. Seymour, Albert Francke,
Edward C. Lord, William S. Pettit and
Thomas Williams, vestrymen. Edward
M. Bentley is treasurer.

St Andrew-by-the-Sea, Belle Harbor

The Episcopal Church of St. Andrew-
by-the-Sea at Belle Harbor is a mission
from the Cathedral at Garden City, and
was established in 190(5 when the
church was erected at a cost of $8,000,
on five lots donated by the West Rocka-
way Land Company.

Divine service is held every Sunday
throughout the year, the Reverend R. F.
Dufiield, the Archdeacon, officiating. A
Sunday school service is also held regu-
larly. The seating capacity of the
church is about 150, and the Sunday

St. Mary's Star-of-the-Sea. Far Rockaway

PRIOR to the year 1847 Roman
Catholics in Rockaway who wished
to attend iMass had to make the
jou)'ne>' to Jamaica, where the nearest
church of that faith was then situated.
The first Mass in Far Rockaway was
celebrated at William Caffrey's Hotel in
1847 by the Rev. Michael Curran, Jr.,
who, in 1838, had been sent by Bishop
I'ubois from Astoria to found the
Jamaica parish of St. Monica, Father
Curran later on opened up several mis-
sions, one of them being at Far Rock-
away. His work was continued by his
successors in the Jamaica pastorate, the
Rev. John McGinnis in 1844 and Rev.
Anthony Farley, Sr., in 1854. These
clergy visited Far Rockaway and cele-
brated Mass in various homes of their
parishioners, and in a tent in the sum-
mer time. In January, 1851, the in-
creasing number of Catholics making
Far Rockaway their summer home in-

Ki:\'. IIIOKBEKT F. FARRELL.

duced Andrew Brady to donate a plot of
ground as a site for a church, which
was built by local men, some of them
contributing money and others helping
in its construction. The building, which
is shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion, was located on ground adjoining
the present St. Joseph's Convent on
Central avenue, and was first reached

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

from Broadway. It lay back from the
road and attendants climbed over a
"stile" to get there. Far Rockaway con-
tinued to be a mission of .Jamaica, and
Father Farley ministered to it until
1868, when the Rev. Joseph Brunnemnn,
0. F. M., was appointed as the first resi-
dent pastor. He was followed in No-
vember, 1872, by the Rev. M. J. Murphy,
who caused the rectory to be built,
which later was remodelled into the
present convent for the Sisters of St.
Joseph. In October, 1879, Rev. Henry
J. Zimmer assumed charge, having been
appointed by the Rt. Rev. John Lough-
lin, D. D., to succeed Father Murphy,

altar, artistic Stations of the Cross, and
a beautiful oil painting over the altar,
"The Star of the Sea," presented by
John Kelly, all gifts of the loyal parish-
ioners. Father Zimmer turned over the
parish to his successor, the Rev. G. M.
Flannerj', LL.D., eatirely free of debt,
and with several thousands of dollars in
the treasury. Dr. Flannery continued
the good work during eight years. He
improved the school building, beautified
the church by decorating the sanctuar.y ;
installed a large church bell, the gift
of Edward Roche, and a new pipe or-
gan; a beautiful brass and onyx sanc-
tuary rail, a lectern and pulpit, the

m::^m^^¥^mm^'^

THE FIRST ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN FAR ROCKAWAY.

who had been sent to Brooklyn to build
a church in the Greenpoint section.
Father Zimmer continued as rector un-
til the year 1896, when ill health forced
him to resign. During his administra-
tion an attractive new church and rec-
tory were erected in 1884 on a more
central site purchased for the purpose,
and the old church was converted into a
parochial school. When Father Zimmer
gave up his charge he left what today
is termed a "complete working plant"
supplied with all essentials. The
school, as a building, was rather a poor
affair, but as to results, the success and
present strong faith of its former pupils
do Father Zimmer great credit. The
church contains a handsome marble

gifts of James Caffrey. In September,
1904, Father Flannery was transferred
to the pastorate of St. Paul's, Brooklyn,
and the present incumbent, the Very
Rev. H. F. Farrell, V.F., was sent by
Bishop McDonnell to succeed him. Dean
Farrell had been a member of the Pub-
lic School Board of Education at West-
bury, and later on its president, the
first Roman Catholic priest to occupy
such a position in the State of New
York. This experience strengthened his
conviction that an up-to-date parochial
school is the most important feature in
a successful parish. His first efforts
were to raise funds to realize this need.
Sensing considerable prejudice against
the scheme, he began the publication of

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

a Parish Monthly to create a sentiment
favoring Catholic education. The little
periodical, aided by pulpit talks, quietly
but effectively did its work, and in the
fall of 1908 work was begun on the new
school, an acre of land on Broadway
having been secured. The building,
which is of Tudor Gothic design, is of
brick and terra cotta and is known as
the Lyceum. It contains twelve class-
rooms, a completely equipped theatre,
seating 800 persons, teachers' room, a
library^ gymnasium and meeting-rooms.
The entire cost, including land and
equipment was one hundred and forty
thousand dollars, of which one hundred
thousand have been paid. The teaching
staff includes four Sisters of St. Joseph,
three brothers of the Sacred Heart, and
four lay teachers. Drawing, vocal mu-
sic, and physical culture are taught by
specialists. There are now about four
hundred children in attendance.

During Dean Farrell's administration
the entire church has been decorated,
handsome English oak stalls and an
organ have been placed in the sanc-
tuary, and many beautiful gothic vest-
ments have been added to the original
collection. These improvements have
been made possible largely through the
generosity of Mr. F. N. Dowling, a
parishioner.

The resident congregation of the Far
Rockaway parish numbers between
seventeen and eighteen hundred souls.
In the summer time this number is
doubled.

In the spring of 1905 the Holy Name
Society and the Blessed Virgin's Sodal-
ity were established, and both have
flouri.«hed. The former now numbers
two hundred members, composed of men
in all walks of life. A St. Vincent de
Paul Conference was created in 1910.

From St. Mary's the Italian church
of Our Lady of Good Counsel at In-
wood and the summer mission of St.
Gertrude at Edgemere were founded by
the present rector.

The Presbyterian Church at Far Rockaway

The first steps were taken by Presby-
terians in Far Rockaway to band them-
selves together on December 23rd, 1887.
On that day a meeting was held at the
home of Mrs. Mary D. Wells of White
street. Far Rockaway, for the purpose

of organizing and arranging for regu-
lar prayer meetings. Temperance Hall
on Mott street was engaged until May
1st, 1888, for Sabbath services and
weekly prayer meetings, and the first
prayer meeting took place there on De-
cember 29th, 1887. On January 15th
following the first regular service with
sermon was held and a Sunday School
organized. The Presbytery of Nassau
was petitioned for a charter, which was
granted on January 30th. The same
day the church was organized with
thirty-nine charter members. The Board
of Home Missions contributed $500 a
year for support of a pastor, until June,
1891, when that contribution ceased.

In May, 1888, the congregation wor-
shipped in the present Magistrate's
Court Building on Central avenue. It
was then the Public School. They prac-
ticed their devotions there for the
period of one year. On September 12th

REV. .T. JIILTON THOMPSON, D.D.

of the same year the cornerstone of a
new church was laid at Central and
Neilson avenues by the Rev. Dr. T. De-
Witt Talmage. The new church was
dedicated in June of the following year.
The trustees were delighted in Octo-
ber of 1908 to receive from Mrs. Mar-
garet Olivia Sage, widow of the late
Russell Sage, a donation of a new
church site, where the present beautiful
structure now stands, together with the

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

sum of $250,000 in cash. Of this sum
$150,000 was to be used "for the erec-
tion of a suitable group of church
buildings, and the remainder held as a
permanent endowment fund, the income
to be used for church purposes, but the
principal to be kept intact under an
appropriate deed of trust."

The cornerstone of the new church
was laid on December 12th, 1908.
Seventeen months later, on May 11th,
1910, the new Russell Sage Memorial
Church was dedicated and the Presby-
terians have held their services there
ever since. The present minister is the
Rev. Dr. -John Milton Thompson and his
congregation numbers among its mem-
bers many of Far Rockaway's leading
business men and residents from In-
wood, Lawrence, Cedarhurst and Wood-
mere. The church has a Sunday School
with about 250 scholars; Ladies' Aid
Society; Home and Foreign Missionary
Society, and branches of the Christian
Endeavor, Westminster Guild, King's
Daughters and Boy Scouts.

Woodmere Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodist Episcopal Church at
Woodmere is pleasantly located in the
centre of the village facing Broadway
and is a frame building with accommo-
dation for about 200 worshippers. The
church was established 46 years ago.
The church property, with the adjoin-
ing parsonage, is owned by the church
body, represented by five trustees.
There is also a Sunday School, a branch
of the Epwoi'th League and Ladies' Aid
Society. The Rev. Smith A. Sands is
parson. The church trustees are F. D.
Brower, G. H. Carman, Dallas Brower,
Charles D. Combs, George D. Horton
and Robert Graef.

St. Joseph's (R. C), Hewlett

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
at Hewlett is a small frame structure
on Broadway, erected in the year 1874.
The parishioners number about two
hundred. Sunday School services are
held in the church. The Rev. John F.
Farrell officiates and resides in the par-
ish house on Broadway. A building
fund is being raised and it is fervently
hoped that a large enough nucleus will
be accumulated in the near future with
which a modern church and school
buildings may be erected on that site.

The present church was considerably
damaged by fire when the roof and
tower were destroyed last year, but they
have been thoroughly repaired since.

The First Congregational Church

The First Congregational Church at
Rockaway Beach was founded in the
year 1881 at the residence of the late
Mrs. Fannie R. Holland, on what is now
Holland Avenue, by a number of resi-
dents who held weekly meetings for di-
vine services. At that time there was
no permanent preacher and addresses
were made by visiting ministers. A

REV. JOHN C. GREEN.

meeting was held in the public school-
house on December 29, 1885, when it
was resolved to formally organize and
join the Congregational Denomination.
The members then numbered eleven.

The charter members were John J.
Jamieson, Mrs. Amelia Jamieson, Mrs.
C. Ward, James R. Cruickshank, Mrs.
Kate M. Cruickshank, Miss Sarah Belle
Cruickshank, Mrs. Angeline Furlong,
Mrs. Henrietta Fisk, Mrs. Josie Estelle
Persch, Miss Louise Fisk and Miss
Edith Ward. John J. Jamieson was
moderator and the late Michael P. Hol-
land was secretary. On February 22
of the following year, 1886, the church
was admitted to membership and at the
end of 1887 work was commenced on a
church building, a site for which was
presented by Mrs. Fannie R. Holland.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

The building cost $4,000 and was dedi-
cated on February 22, 1888. In 1899 the
present site of the church at the Boule-
vard and Academy Avenue was donated
by Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jamieson and
the church building was shortly after-
wards moved there. The present pas-
tor, Rev. John C. Green, chosen March
26, 1896, devoted himself to his duties
and during his ministry the church has
made wonderful strides. The building
has recently been considerably enlarged,
the congregation now number about 500
and the average Sunday school attend-
ance is about 300. A handsome resi-
dence for the Pastor is owned by the
church and there is no debt on any of
the buildings.

The Ladies' Aid Society has been of
inestimable value to the congregation.
The membership of that society, under
the leadership of Mrs. Frances F. Davis,
now numbers about 150.

St. Paul's (M. P.), Inwood

The present Methodist Protestant
Church of St. Paul, Inwood, was found-
ed in 1879 at the home of Henry Wan-
ser of Inwood, when and where the
first Divine service was held. After
religious services a meeting was held
by the twenty-two members present,
who then formed the local church body.

The original twenty-two charter
members were : David H. Merritt,
Sarah M. Merritt, John H. Abrams,
Samuel Wanser, Freeman C. Bowker,
Frances Bowker, Samuel J. Horton,
Henry Wanser, Sarah Wanser, Isaac
Wanser, Henry Abrams, Hiram Abrams,
Elizabeth Wanser, Smith Mott, Harriet
Mott, Lucinda Sprague, Charles A.
Wanser, Morris Hicks, Hope Hendrick-
son, Adelia Abrams, Jarvis Hicks and
Charles Jones.

The first pastor was the Reverend H.
S. Hull.

At that time services were conducted
in the various homes of the worship-
pers, but in the fall of 1879 the first
church building was erected at the
corner of Lord and Redwood avenues
and opened on December 12th, 1879.

This building was used for a num-
ber of years, during which the congre-
gation grew steadily in numbers and in
faith so that eventually the original
accomodations were insufficient for the
needs of the worshippers. Then it was
that the old building was moved and

the present handsome structure, with
the old building as a nucleus, erected,
with a seating capacity for about 600
persons.

The growth of Inwood has necessi-
tated more additions and improvements
and a Sunday School accomodating 500
children has been erected, adjoining
the church, with a frontage to Lord
avenue. The present Sunday School
attendance is about 400 and the church
congregation consists of 222 members
and their families.

The present parson is Rev. Roby F.
Day. The church property, which in-
cludes the parsonage, is valued today
at $30,000.

St. Rose of Lima, Rockaway Beach

The parish of St. Rose of Lima, Rock-
away Beach, was established on August
30th, 1886, when Bishop Loughlin dedi-
cated the first Roman Catholic church
there to the service of God.

ST. ROSE OF LIMA CHURCH.

Before the year 1884 Catholics at-
tended mass at Far Rockaway. In that
year Father Farley of St. Monica's
Church, Jamaica, celebrated mass at
various places at the beach, first at
Datz's Hotel, then at Curley's Hotel,
next at the old schoolhouse. Residents
were anxious to have a local church
and the first contribution of $150
towards a building fund was donated by
Seraphina Magliola. This was quickly

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

followed by other amounts, and suf-
ficient money was raised to buy two
lots on North Fairview Avenue and
build the first church.

The first resident pastor, in 1886, was
the Rev. E. J. Connell, who caused the
rectory to be built. He was succeeded
by the Rev. Thomas F. Horan as acting
pastor until the arrival of the Rev.

ST. VIEGILIUS MISSION, BROAD CHANNEL.

Thomas J. McCaffrey, who continued
the improvement of the church prop-
erty, secured additional ground, and his
death on September 9, 1900, was sin-
cerely mourned.

The next pastor was the Rev. Henry
F. Murray, now pastor of St. Mary's,
Bensonhurst. The increase of the Cath-

olic population during the first six years
of his pastorate was so great that a new
church was an imperative necessity.
The cornerstone was laid July 1, 1906,
and Bishop McDonnell pontificated at
the dedicatory services September 27,
1907. It is a magnificent, fireproof build-
ing of brick, stone and steel, with a
seating capacity of over a thousand, and
with three marble altars, a marble altar
rail, marble statuary and all other ac-
cessories, all gifts from parishioners.

St. Rose of Lima is the mother church
of the Seaside church of St. Camillius,
the mission of St. Virgilius at Broad
Channel, and St. Francis de Sales'
Church at Rockaway Park, to whose
building St. Rose's congregation con-
tributed $1,100.

On Father Murray's transfer to the
city he was succeeded by the Rev. James
J. Bennett, the present pastor.

St. Camillius, Seaside

The Roman Catholic Church of St.
Camillius de Lellis was established as
a mission from St. Rose of Lima Church,
Rockaway Beach, by Rev. Henry F. Mur-
ray in 1909. In January, 1912, Rev.
Joseph P. Brady was appointed the first
resident pastor and St. Camillius was
established as a separate parish. Father
Brady is still the present rector.

CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES, BELLE HARBOR.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor

The parish of St. Francis de Sales,
Belle Harbor, which includes Belle Har-
bor, Rockaway Park and Neponsit, was
formerly a mission attended from Ham-
mels, Rockaway Beach, and in July,
1906, this newly developed residential
section was organized into an inde-
pendent parish under the Rev. Francis
J. McMurray as iirst pastor. During
the first year he celebrated Mass in the
g-ymnasium of St. Malachy's Home, but
Father McMurray soon secured fifteen
lots desirably located in Belle Harbor,
five of which were donated by the West
Rockaway Land Company. Ground was
broken for the church and rectory on
December 8, and the cornerstone of the
new church was laid by Vicar General
McNamara on Sunday, May 19, 1907.
The Very Rev. Dean Farrell of Far
Rockaway preached the sermon.

Work was pushed so rapidly that the
church was ready for dedication Sun-
day, July 21, when the Rt. Rev. Bishop
officiated, the Rt. Rev. Chancellor Mun-
delein, now archbishop of Chicago,
being celebrant of the Mass, assisted
by the Rev. Henry F. Murray as deacon
and the Rev. John J. O'Brien of New
York as sub-deacon. The preacher on
the occasion was the Very Rev. Mons.
James J. Coan.

As the number of the parishioners
rapidly increased they desired a parish
school, and as a nucleus for a school
fund Robert J. Guddihy, Edward Wren
and Charles Troutman each contributed
?500. Seven additional lots adjoining
the church property were secured at a
cost of $9,900, and ground was broken
for a school and convent in March, 1913,
and they were ready for occupancy and
were dedicated by the Right Reverend
Bishop on October 28, the same year.
The school is a fireproof structure and
is thoroughly equipped and in charge
of sixteen Sisters of St. Joseph. It has
been most successful during its brief
existence and reflects credit on both
teachers and pupils.

Father McMurray was succeeded by
Rev. James M. Foran, the present pas-
tor, in 1916.

Our Lady of Good Counsel (R. C), Inwood

On Sunday, June 11th, 1905, the Rev.
Herbert F. Farrell, rector of St. Mary
Star-of-the-Sea, Far Rockaway, an-

nounced that he had secured a store
in the Schoolbred Building, Inwood,
where he proposed to start a Sunday
School and Settlement for the Italian
children of that section. The Sunday
School was opened that day and Cate-
chism was taught every Sunday there-
after and sewing every Saturday morn-
ing for about two years. The Settle-
ment was then transferred to a house
owned by Michael O'Rourke, more cen-
trally located, where the work contin-
ued until 1909. In that year Father
Farrell purchased six lots on Henry
and Madison streets, and erected a
Chapel thereon, using as far as possible
all the brick and lumber taken from
the first Roman Catholic Church in Far
Rockaway. The first mass was cele-
brated in the Chapel on Christmas
morning, the celebrant being Rev. Luigi
Salamoni, S. M. M., who was intrusted
with the care of the mission until the
following July.

On April 26, 1910, the Chapel was
dedicated by Rt. Rev. Charles E. Mc-
Donnell, D. D., under the title of Our
Mother of Good Counsel. There being
no parochial residence for the priest,
the Rev. Luigi Salamoni and Rev. John
J. Mahon each resided with Michael
O'Rourke until the present rectory was
secured in September, 1911.

On July 28, 1910, the present rector,
John J. Mahon, was appointed first
rector of the newly formed parish.

The property consisted of six lots,
on Henry and Madison streets, with a
small Chapel erected thereon at a cost
of $3,000. A mortgage for same had
been secured but was liquidated during
the year 1912.

In the spring of 1911, another mort-
gage of $6,000 was secured to pay for
certain lots, bounded by Wanser avenue
and Henry and Madison streets, pur-
chased from the Horton Estate on
March 30, 1911, for the sum of $7,500.
This mortgage was paid off in 1912. In
the meantime, Edward J. Loughman of
Lawrence presented the parish with a
furnished rectory valued at $10,000.
The building had to be removed from
Central and Lawrence avenues to its
present site, and the moving of this big
house occasioned considerable interest
and admiration. A small portion of the
rear, used as a laundry, had to be left
behind, owing to the narrowness of
the streets. Up to this time, the par-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

ishioners had no special place to hold
meetings, sociables, lectures, etc., and
a decided want was happily gratified
when the spacious and beautiful resi-
dence was set on its new foundation
and thoroughly renovated. Thereafter
it served not merely as a parochial
residence, but also as an assemblage
place for the promotion of various
church activities.

Already the Inwood parish had
grown to such proportions that the
little Chapel on Henry street became
entirely inadequate to accomodate the
people. During the winter of 1914,
steps were taken to prepare for the
erection of a new church building. The
digging for the foundation was done
almost entirely gratis by loyal parish-
ioners. The actual work of construc-
tion was begun early in August, and
completed shortly before Christmas, at
a cost of $24,000.

The installing of altars, pews, stained
glass windows, organ and other fur-
nishings remained to be done and it
was deemed advisable to await the ar-
rival of spring before dedicating the
church to Divine service.

In compliance with the bishop's man-
date, the parish was incorporated
April 8, 1914, under the title of "The
Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady
of Good Counsel, at Inwood, in the
County of Nassau, in the State of New
York," with the following officers: Rt.
Rev. Charles E. McDonnell, D. D.,
president; Rt. Rev. Mgr. George Kau-
pert, V. G., vice-president; Rev. John
J. Mahon, treasurer and rector; Edward
J. Loughman, and Timothy D. Mulcahy,
lay trustees.

The building up of the spirit in the
lives of the people during the past five
years has been the chief work in process
since the inception of the parish. Diffi-
culties untold, privations, discourage-
ments and even hostility were met. On
the other hand, there will be found few
places where a larger amount of good-
will, co-operation, zeal and sacrifice
have been displayed, although .he peo-
ple of the locality are not favored with
a superfluity of worldly possessions and
the population of Inwood consists in
the majority of Albano-Italians, who
number at least 1,000 of the present
congregation of 1,800 Roman Catholics.
There were originally only fifteen fam-
ilies of American origin.

The church settlement school for
Italian children at St. George's place
is doing excellent work under the su-
perintendency of Miss Irene Slachta.
The usual church societies have strong
branches at Good Counsel Church, and
have done much to live down and over-
come the former unenviable reputation
possessed by the village.

St. Joachim's, Cedarhurst

The first church built in Cedarhurst
was in 1899, when St. Joachim's Roman
Catholic Church was erected and conse-
crated. The building stood on the site
of the present structure and was at first
a branch of St. Joseph's parish church
at Hewlett. Cedarhurst was afterwards
made a separate parish. During a vio-
lent thunderstorm about ten years ago
the church was struck by a bolt and
caught fire. It was totally destroyed
and the parish house adjoining was
considerably damaged. The present
handsome structure was erected a few
months later, the funds having been
raised by parishioners. The present
church seats six hundred persons. The
rector is the Rev. Henry C. Jordan.

The Cedarhurst parochial school was
erected in 1916 on land opposite the
church. It is a fine looking terra cotta
brick and stone structure, three stories
high, and is under the direction of the
Sisters of St. Joseph, four of whom,
aided by two lay sisters, instruct the
two hundred pupils daily.

German Evangelical Church

The First German Evangelical Church
at Far Rockaway was organized in that
village on January 24th, 1909, by a
small congregation, who worshipped at
Hope Mission on Mott avenue. The
first pastor, the Rev. Paul A. Hopf, was
elected on February 21st of the same
year. Shortly afterwards a small chapel
v/as built on Carlton and John streets.
Far Rockaway, where services were
held until June, 1910. In that year the
Presbyterian Church on Central avenue,
vacated by that body when the Russell
Sage Memorial was built, was pur-
chased. The present pastor. Rev. John
G. Bosshart, preaches to a large and
devout flock. The Ladies' Aid Society
has been especially helpful in the good
work of the church, which also main-
tains a Sunday School.

EELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Christian Science

A society supporting the practice and
teachings of Christian Science was or-
ganized at Far Rockaway in August,
1915, and up to April 1st, 1916, held
regular services at the Christian Sci-
ence rooms in the Willett Building on
Sunday mornings and Wednesday even-
ings. Since that date services have
been held at the Masonic Temple. The
membership is steadily increasing and
the body, which is now known as the
First Church of Christ, Scientist, has
numerous and enthusiastic workers and
worshippers, among whom are prom-
inent residents of every part of the
peninsula.

then held in private homes, first at
Joseph Gottlieb's, then at Lechtman's
laundry building and later at I. Frank-
lin's house. After that the basement
of the church was made into the pres-
ent children's school. There are now
eighty members and their families id
the congregation, which is led by Rabbi
H. Germansky.

The officers of the congregation ara
S. Weisskopf, president; H. Weiner,
vice-president; Emil Rothschild, treas-
urer; Arnold Wetzler, recording secre-
tary, and Henry Shalin, financial sec-
retary.

The trustees for 1918 are: Dr.
E. L. Friedman, M. Berkowitz and
Alex. Wiener.

Beth Israel, Rockaway Beach

The Temple Israel now at Fairvie^'.'
avenue, Hammel, Rockaway Beach, was
organized as the congregation Beth
Israel on September 15th, 1896. Up to
the year 1893 Hebrews residing at
Rockaway Beach went to Brooklyn or
New York to attend religious services,
but in the fall of that year, at the sug-
gestion of Joseph Gottlieb, a number
of local Hebrews arranged to hold their
religious services together at Hammel.
Through the kindness of Max Lewy,
one of the prime movers, a dining room
of his hotel was utilized by the small
band of worshippers, some of whom at
times conducted the services which at
other times were ministered to by visit-
ing Cantors. Matters progressed in
that manner for about three years,
when Mr. Lewy moved to the Atlantic
Park Hotel and provided room for the
worshippers there.

It was at that place that the congre-
gation was organized with ten mem-
bers, as follows: Joseph Gottlieb, Max
Lewy, Alex Weiner, Max Abrahams, S.
Weisskopf, Jacob Kohn, Benjamin B.
Lechtman, Bernard Edelstein, Simon
Simon and Morris Langensen.

From that time the congregation
grew steadily and the building of a
Synagogue was projected. Lots were
acquired on Fairview avenue and a
cornerstone laid in 1900. A public sub-
scription list was opened and freely
contributed to by local Jews and Gen-
tiles, and the present structure was
built and opened with religious serv-
ices on Sunday, June 24, 1900. Chil-
dren's religious school services were

Derech Emunoh, Arverne

The Hebrew Synagogue at Arverne,
known as the Congregation Derech
Emunoh, or the Road to Faith, was
erected at the corner of Ocean and
Vernam Avenues in the year 1905 A. D.
(5666 Hebrew style). The structure,
which is of handsome and lofty design,
cost $36,000 to build and has seating
capacity for about 600 persons. The
Rabbi is Rev. Hyman Meyer of Arverne
and the teaching of the orthodox faith
is extended to a religious school also
conducted by the congregation.

The cornerstone has just been laid for
the Hyman Memorial adjoining the
synagogue, with a frontage of Vernam
Avenue. The memorial will be a social
centre as well as religious school and
is to be erected in memory of the late
Samuel I. Hyman of Arverne, at an
estimated cost of $25,000. There is no
debt on any of the property of the con-
gregation, the officers of which are:
Samuel I. Unterberg, president; Samuel
Bayer, vice-president; Elias Surut,
treasurer, and Victor Friedman, hon-
orary secretary.

Temple Israel, Far Rockaway

The Temple Israel, Far Rockaway,
was organized as a Reform Hebrew
synagogue about ten years ago, and has
made great strides since. The first
meeting place of a handful of devout
Jews was in the Horton Building. When
the Masonic Temple was erected a move
was made there. The cornerstone of
the present handsome temple, at the

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

corner of State and Roanoke Streets,
was laid in 1908, and tlie building,
which has a seating capacity for about
600 persons, was completed and dedi-
cated in July, 1911. The congregation
now consists of 183 members and their
families, and a religious school, with
227 pupils, is conducted in connection
with the synagogue.

The Women's Auxiliary is of great
value and assistance in the conduct of
the affairs of the congregation, and its
members have done splendid work in
the establishment of the Children's
Haven at Hollywood Avenue, Far Rock-
away.

Rabbi Isaac Landman is the present
rabbi and the officers of the congrega-
tion are: Joseph Fried, president; Wil-
liam Rosenbaum and Benjamin Beit,
vice-presidents; Saul L. Migel, treas-
urer, and E. Louis Jacobs, secretary. In
addition to the foregoing gentlemen,
Philip N. Aronson, Adolph Elsas, S. J.
Steiner and David Goodman are trus-
tees.

Congregation Shaaray Tefila

The growth of the orthodox Jewish
Synagogue called Congregation Shaaray
Tefila, Gates of Prayer, at Far Rock-
away, has been remarkably rapid and is
evidenced in various fields of activity
and advancement.

The Synagogue was formed in 1910
by ten men, who first held services in
the hall of the Horton Building (now
Teddy's). The first board of officers
consisted of Maurice Cohen, president;
I. Lidz, vice-president; Max Rubin,
treasurer; Cecil B. Ruskay, secretary,
and A. Seidt, Maurice Cohen, Max
Rubin, I. Lidz and H. Lesser, trustees.

A move was made to the Masonic
Temple in 1913, where services were

held and in which a rapidly increasing
congregation took part.

In 1911 the Congregation requested
Dr. Benjamin A. Lichter, of Pittsburgh,
to become their Rabbi, and in February,
1912, Rabbi Lichter accepted and be-
came their minister. The Congregation

DR. BEN.JAMIN A. LICHTER.

was incorporated on May 24th, 1914,
and at once set about providing funds
to build the present handsome and com-
modious building on Central avenue,
Vifhich has seating capacity for 500 per-
sons, and was completed, dedicated and
occupied in September, 1915. The struc-
ture and site cost $47,000 and is owned
by the Congregation. The present of-
ficers are: I. Lidz, president; Max
Rubin, vice-president and treasurer;
Cecil B. Ruskay, secretary; A. Seidt,
treasurer of building fund; Benjamin
C. Shapiro, financial secretary, and Max
Rubin, Max Goodman, J. Stone, A. Seidt,
H. L. Simmons, Julius Lichter, I. Lidz
and I. Ginsberg.

The Congregation now numbers up-
wards of 350 persons and its work is
greatly assisted by the Sisterhood Gates
of Prayer and the Junior Congregation.

CEMETERIES

THE burying grounds in the Rock-
aways are not numerous. The
cemeteries at Lawrence and Hew-
lett are the last resting places of many
whose names are recorded by past
events of local importance, and of many
whose descendants and relatives are liv-
ing here and actively doing their duty
in that state of life unto which it has
pleased God to call them.

The old Cornell burying ground in
Far Rockaway is of especial interest.
It contains the bodies of most of the
first white settlers here. The plot is
peacefully secluded and lies between
the rear of the cable building on Grand-
view avenue and a residence fronting
Greenwood avenue, 100 feet from Rue
de St. Felix. The size of the plot is 75
feet by 70 feet. It is railed in on all

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

sides by a good iron rail fence and
sheltered and shaded by well grown
and ancient pine trees. Many of the
Cornells mentioned in this book lie
buried in this half-hidden God's acre,
the existence of which is unknown to
many Rockaway residents who regu-
larly pass in the neighborhood.

Several of the old stones still stand
and bear record of lives that are passed,
but many more, which had become un-
decipherable through age, were buried
in the ground some years ago when the
fence was erected.

Inscriptions on some of the stones
still standing state the following facts :

To the Memory
of
THOMAS CORNELL, ESQ.,
His weeping widow erects this monu-
ment of her affection and his age.
Born the 28th of July 1703.
Died the 24th of March 1764.
What he was to the Poor and to the
Public the last of which he served
27 years in the General Assem-
bly of New York, is en-
graved on tablets more
enduring than
this stone.

'Here lyes the body of Abigail Cornell
who departed this life April 20th day
1762 in the 57 year of her age."

■'Jane McPherson, Died August 5th,
1816, Age 33 years."

"Benjamin Cornell, died June 8th, 1821.
Age 71 years 25 days."

"Rebecca H. Lockwood, wife of Dr.

Ebenezer Lockwood, only child of

Benjamin and Abigail H. Cornell.

Died October 20th, 1807.

Age 23 years 6 inonths."

"Ebenezer Lockwood, Died July 5th,
1813. Age 40 years, 1 month, 2 days."

"Henry Foster and Gloriana, his wife.

He was born July 8, 1718,

Died June 1768.

She was born August 26th, 1721.

Died April 25, 1797.

Numerous skeletons have been dug up
at various times and places in the pen-
insula, and some of them have been

adjudged to be those of Indians, notably
those found in Bayswater section and
near Lawrence Station about thirty
years ago.

There is a small burying ground on
West Broadway at Cedarhurst, near
Madison avenue, where several head-
stones bearing the name of Mott are
within a few feet of the sidewalk and
entirely unprotected.

The Victims of the Mexico and Bristol

The cemetery of the old "sandhole"
church at Lynbrook, as the Methodist
church which once stood there was
called, contains the bodies of 120 of the
victims of two emigrant ships, the
"Mexico" and the "Bristol," which were
wrecked on the Rockaway shores eighty
years ago.

The bodies are buried in one large
grave, called the mariners' plot, 35 feet
by 161 feet, and lie side by side in two
long rows. Mr. Wright of Woodmere,
now 90 years old, told the writer he was
present at the interment of 43 of the
victims of the Mexico, whose bodies
were interred a few weeks after those
of the 77 victims of the Bristol, and he
vividly recalls the memory of the large
number of pine box coffins, the crowds
of people and the eloquent funeral ser-
mon.

The plot is marked by a marble monu-
ment about twelve feet high and four
feet square at the base, which bears
inscriptions telling the sad story. The
grave and monument were partly paid
for by money found in belts on some of
the unclaimed bodies, and partly by do-
nations. The inscriptions read as fol-
lows:

On the front side is the following:
"To the memory of 77 persons, chiefly
emigrants from England and Ireland,
being the only remains of 100 souls,
composing the passengers and crew of
the American ship 'Bristol,' Captain
McKeown, wrecked on Far Rockaway
beach November 21st, 1836."

On the second side: "To commemo-
rate the melancholy fate of the unfor-
tunate sufferers belonging to the 'Bris-
tol' and 'Mexico' this monument was
erected; partly by the money found
upon their persons and partly by the
contributions of the benevolent and hu-
mane in the county of Queens."

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

On the third side: "To the memory
of sixty-two persons, chiefly emigrants
from England and Ireland; being the
only remains of 115 souls forming the
passengers and crew of the American
Barque 'Mexico,' Captain Winston,
wrecked on Hempstead beach January
2nd, 1837.

"In this grave, from the wide ocean,
doth sleep

The bodies of those that had crossed
the deep ;

And instead of being landed safe, on
the shore.

In a cold frosty night they all were no
more."
On the fourth side: "All the bodies
of the 'Bristol' and 'Mexico' recovered
from the ocean and decently interred
near this spot; were followed to the
grave by a large concourse of citizens
and strangers, and an address delivered
suited to the occasion from these
words : 'Lord save us, we perish.'
Matth."

The writer has gathered some details
of the wrecks from various sources pub-
lished at that time or shortly after-
wards. The frozen bodies washed up
from the wreck of the Bristol were tem-
porarily laid, as they were recovered,
at the plot of ground corner of Broad-
way and Cornaga avenue, Far Rock-
away, where Wynn's stables now are.
Some were identified and claimed by
relatives or friends and the others later
buried with proper respect and the
funeral cortege was followed by nearly
all the residents to Lynbrook.

The Bristol was an American ship,
nearly new, manned by a crew of six-
teen officers and men, and having one
hundred passengers, about ninety of
whom were in the steerage. She sailed
from Liverpool October 16th, 1836, and
arrived off Sandy Hook November 20th.
Not succeeding in obtaining a pilot she
was driven on the 21st by a violent gale.

upon the Rockaway shoals, a few miles
west of the Marine Pavilion, and a half
mile from the shore. The roughness
of the sea by the continuance of the
gale rendered it impracticable to afford
any assistance from the shore until
after midnight of the 22nd, when a boat
from the shore succeeded at imminent
peril in rescuing thirty-two individuals
from a watery grave. The other eighty-
four, three of whom were cabin passen-
gers and the others emigrants and sea-
men, perished.

The Mexico was an American barque
of 300 tons, manned by a crew of twelve
men, including officers, and having on
board 112 steerage passengers, as as-
certained from her papers certified by
the collector at Liverpool. She left
Liverpool October 23rd, 1836, only a
week after the Bristol, but did not ar-
rive off the Hook until the 31st of De-
cember. Not being able to find a pilot
she stood off to sea; but on returning to
the Hook on the 2nd of January, 1837,
and attempting to enter the bay, she
was driven on Hempstead beach, about
ten miles east of the spot where the
Bristol had been wrecked. The weather
being extremely cold, and the waves
constantly breaking over the ship, most
of the passengers and crew perished
in the succeeding night. On the follow-
ing day a boat, in charge of Raynor
Smith, set out from the shore and suc-
ceeded in reaching the vessel and
rescued the captain, four passengers
and three of the crew, who dropped
from the bowsprit. The boat was un-
able to return and the few survivors
M'ere necessarily left to their fate. The
whole number that perished was 116.
On the 11th of January forty-three
bodies were buried at the place where
the monument is erected and several
others that were afterwards recovered.
A few of the bodies were recognized
and taken for burial elsewhere.

JAMAICA BAY AND ITS FISHERIES

JAMAICA BAY, which washes the
northern shore of the penisula, is
thickly interspersed with islands.
Most of these islands are simply has-
socks or sand bars, completely sub-
merged at high tide; some are over-
flowed by the highest tides only, and a

few are composed of dry land. These
include Broad Channel, The Raunt,
Goose Creek and Barren Island. The
sand bars are destitute of vegetation,
and those which are at times overflowed
produce a coarse grass called sedge.
The Bay is navigable through Broad

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

and Beach Channels for vessels draw-
ing six or eight feet of water, and
through many of the other channels
and in its northern portion at high tide
by vessels of lighter draft. It is crossed
near its middle by the Long Island
Railroad trestle, which is built on piles
across it, and has drawbridges over
two of the principal channels.

This bay has always been a place of
resort for procuring clams, crabs and
oysters. The first recorded action of
the town prohibiting the indiscriminate
taking of these shell fish was in 1763. In
July of that year the following notice
was given :

"Whereas divers persons, without any
right or license to do so, have of late,
with sloops, boats and other craft, pre-
sumed to come into Jamaica Bay and
taken, destroyed and carried away quan-
tities of clams, mussels and other fish,
to the great damage of said town, this
is to give warning to all persons who
have no right or liberty that they do
forbear to commit any such trespass in
the bay for the future; otherwise they
will be prosecuted at law for the same
by Thomas Cornell, Jr., and Waters
Smith. By order of the town."

The following is found in the Colonial
manuscripts :

"May 31st, 1704, Tunis Johnson,
Derick Johnson, Amberman and Derick
Longstreet, fishermen, of Flatlands,
were brought prisoners to Jamaica for
trespassing in Jamaica Bay by fishing
with nets without consent of the free-
holders. They were let off: on their giv-
ing a bond for 100 pounds not to do so
again. But in May, 1707, Governor
Cornbury ordered them to attend him
at Rockaway Beach, with their boats
and nets, and bid them, when there, to
fish and draw their nets. After Corn-
bury was out of office (May, 1709) the
people of Jamaica sued the fishermen
for the penalty of their bond which
they had forfeited. The prisoners peti-
tioned for a release from their bond."

In 1791 it was "voted that all persons
be precluded from coming with boats
and pettiaugers in the bay of this town
for the purpose of getting clams or
oysters, without paying to the coinmis-
sioners authorized to receive the same
the sum of one shilling for every thou-
sand so taken as aforesaid, on pain of
paying 40 shillings for each ofi^ence."
This regulation was re-enacted several

times in subsequent years. At the same
town meeting it was "voted that no per-
son or persons other than inhabitants
of the township and paying taxes with-
in the same, presume to cut any sedge
on the marshes in the ba}' of this town-
ship on the penalty of 40 shillings for
each ofi'ence."

In 1863 the trustees of the town, fi.ir
the consideration of six cents, granted
to D. H. Waters "the privilege of plant-
ing oysters under the waters of Jamaica
Bay to the extent of one hundred square
yards, under said waters known as Hell
Gate Marsh."

At the annual town meeting in 1869
the exclusion of non-residents from the
fisheries in the bay was recommended,
and at the town meeting in 1871 the
trustees were instructed to remove all
stakes or other obstructions illegally
standing in the waters of the bay, or
in the marshes thereof.

In 1871 an act was passed by the
Legislature authorizing the board of
auditors to lease to actual residents of
the town, on certain prescribed condi-
tions, portions of land under the waters
of the bay for planting oysters, and
prescribing penalties for any trespass
on the lands so leased.

In 1875 a vote on the question of
these leases was taken by ballot, re-
sulting as follows: "For granting ex-
clusive privileges in the waters of
Jamaica Bay, 167; against the same,
808." Notwithstanding this emphatic
protest of the people, lessees are still in
the enjoyment of the rights they ac-
quired under the law.

The following appeared in the New
York Mercury of January 27th, 1754:
"Last Monday morning, the weather be-
ing uncommonly pleasant and warm,
many people were induced to go into
Jamaica Bay for oysters and clams, etc.;
but about noon such a severe gale of
wind arose from the northwest, with a
sudden change from warm to cold, as
was scarce ever known here, when all
the small craft put off to gain the shore
in the best manner they could. A num-
ber of canoes and pettyaugers came on
shore at a point of meadow south of
Jamaica, and with the utmost difficulty
the people belonging to them traveled
up to a house two miles from the place
of landing. All got safe to the house,
though much benumbed and several
speechless, except Daniel Smith, a

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

young man, who perished on the mead-
ows a half mile from the house, his
companions not being able to help him
any further, having dragged him a mile
after he lost the use of his feet. The
same day the crews of two canoes in
Jamaica Bay, consisting of eight people
from Newtown, not returning at nigtit
v,ere sought for next day, but the ice
being so thick it was impracticable to
go far in quest of them until Friday,
when one canoe was found driven on
an island of sedge, in which were found
the bodies of Samuel Leveridge, Amos
Roberts, William Salier, and Thomas
Morrel, alias Salier, all frozen to death,
the steerman sitting in an erect posture
at the helm. The three former were
married men, leaving distressed fam-
ilies behind them. Today another canoe
was seen but could not be come at by
leason of the ice, in which, it is sup-
posed, are the other four missing per-
sons, one white man and four valuable
negroes."

At the present day there are more
anglers at leisure than fishermen for
profit on the bay. While several hun-
dreds of men gain a livelihood by the
lure of the rod and line, the net, and
breeding oysters and /digging clams,
many thousands who come and go hire

boats from one or other of the innumer-
able docks along the bay, and so pass
the time. In the summer months the
bay is dotted with boats of all sizes; the
old flat-bottomed rowing punt, the
swiftly flying cat boat, the small, noisy
single engine motor boat, the luxurious
modern motor launch fitted with cabin
and rest rooms, houseboats, heavy
rigged sailing dories, motor ferry boats
and large excursion steamers accomm^o-
dating several thousand passengers.

The villages of Broad Channel, The
Raunt and Goose Creek are now popu-
lar and thriving villages and well-
known summer resorts, accommodating
many thousands of persons in the sum-
mer time. There is also a considerable
permanent year-round population.
Thousands of pleasure boats are owned
and rented out from these three resorts
alcne and the excellent fishing avail-
able attracts an ever increasing num-
ber of enthusiastic followers of Isaac
Walton, who meditate on the philosophy
of life and other and lighter themes,
while awaiting the not infrequent tugs
which give promise of the landing of
scaly victims. Many residents eke out
a livelihood by digging for clams and
oysters and afterwards vending them.

FAR ROCKAWAY FROM THE OCEAN FRONT.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

HISTORIES OF THE VILLAGES

WOODMERE AND HEWLETT

THE villages of Hewlett and Wood-
mere at the north-easterly end of
the Rockaway peninsula have inter-
ests in common and might well form a
single village.

Each possesses a separate post office
and railroad station — these being the
only signs of civic individuality. The
stores of both villages form a continu-
ous line in Broadway, the main street,
and the Tov/n of Hempstead, within
whose corporate limits the villages are,
assesses the villages together as one
school district.

The writer has been unable to discover
any mention of Hewlett as a community
before the advent of the railroad in
1869. Up to that time and for many
years before a few farmers lived there
and the entire section down to the ocean
was known as Rockaway. For several
generations several farms in the locality
had been owned by persons bearing the
name of Hewlett. The earliest mention
of Hewlett in the Rockaways is on the
records of the Town of Hempstead which
tells us that on January 2, 1718, George
Heulitt of Hemstead, a husbandman con-
veyed to his grandson John Heulitt a
hous and land containing 50 acars and
other meadow and wood land on west side
of Rockaway, known by the name
"George Heulitt's poynt."

A church, an inn and a country store
existed, but residents were stirred from
their lives of peace and quiet when steam
trains put in an appearance. A stop was
made and the station received the name
of Hewlett, after the leading family.

About the year 1893, for some unex-
plained reason, the name of the station
was changed to Fenhurst. Residents ob-
jected to this name as being likely to
give visitors a poor impression of the
place and the name was again changed
to Hewlett. On June 21, 1897, Augustus
J. Hewlett gave to the Long Island Rail-
road Company "a strip of land 31 feet

wide running from the present station to
Trinity Churchyard, on condition that
the station shall be for ever named and
known as Hewlett."

The history of the picturesque Trinity
Church, and that of all other churches
in the Rockaways, will be found in de-
tail in the special chapter in this book
devoted to the history of local churches.

There is a large private school for girls
and many fine residences in the village
of Hewlett and one of the best known
steeplechase courses in the country,
which every year attracts leaders in the
world of sport and fashion. The course
is known as Hewlett Bay Park and owes
its existence to the efforts of Carleton
Macy who conceived the idea of laying
out the present beautiful course. This
gentleman acquired large holdings to the
east of the main road and is mainly re-
sponsible for the high class and pictur-
esque development which has taken place.

The estimated population of Hewlett is
1,000 souls.

Considerable local pride is taken in the
well equipped Hewlett Volunteer Fire
Department, which has rendered good
service in the community. Its officers
are: President, William H. E. Jay; Chief,
John Keating; Secretary, Lewis Mul-
doon ; Treasurer, J. H. Howe. The equip-
ment is thoroughly modern and consists
of a powerful motor pumping engine and
hook and ladder apparatus which are
kept in the Hewlett fire house.

The assessable value of Woodmere and
Hewlett is $3,344,000.00, but to this sum
must be added the assessable value of the
incorporated village of Woodsburgh,
which is $651,370.00. The village of
Woodsburgh is a small exclusive colony,
being that part of the old village proper
which is nearest Woodmere Bay and was
incorporated a few years ago by the
thirty or forty owners of fine residences
there in order that they might not be
assessed in the Woodmere-Hewlett dis-

BELLOT'S HISTOPvY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

trict. In this way the old name of Woods-
burgh is used by one of the most recent
developments. An old landmark is the
building standing at the corner of Broad-
way and Franklin avenue. This was for-
merly the only store between Jennings
corner and East Rockaway. It was first
used as a regular country store by Rich-
ard Hewlett and later by Frank H. Wey-
ant, father of David Weyant, president
of the village of Cedarhurst.

The oyster and clam beds in Hewlett
and Woodmere Bays, which have for
many years furnished the famous de-
licious bivalves, the Woodmere oysters,
and incidentally provided a good means
of livelihood for many persons, are show-
ing signs of decadence. "Eel" grass
has begun to grow on the floor of the
bay.

Hewlett has three churches used also
by residents of Woodmere. They are
Trinity (Protestant Episcopal), St. Jo-
seph's (Roman Catholic) and the Meth-
odist Episcopal.

There is no police force in Hewlett.
The streets are cleaned by the local im-
provement Society. The cesspool system
of drainage, called by some the "subsoil
drainage system," is employed in Hew-
lett and Woodmere alike.

Fifty years ago the present beautiful
village of Woodmere consisted of about
half a dozen farms, most of whose own-
ers or tenants eked out a moderate living

from the sale of the products of the
meadow and marsh lands. It was then
called in the neighborhood Brower's (or
Brewer's) Point. In place of the high
class suburban development Woodmere
now is, having in its environs some very
picturesque and costh' residences, the
section was a rural part of Far Rock-
away, and then in the County of Queens.
It was reached by a roughly-made road,
the present Broadway, leading from Val-
ley Stream to the Far Rockaway Beach,
and by the old Jamaica turnpike which
joined the other road in the present vil-
lage of Lawrence. At the junction of
these two roads was the famous Jen-
nings corner, a general store and the
first Far Rockaway post office. Mail for
residents of every part of the Rockaways
was left at Jennings corner to be called
for and numerous old residents distinctly
recall the days when they went to Jen-
nings corner, not only to get their mail
but to play the then regular game of
"forty fives" and to get a drink of gin
and sugar — which was also regular.

The residents between the Rockaway
Turnpike and Hewlett, half a century
ago, consisted of Cornelius Vandewater,
Warren De Mott, John W. De Mott,
Nathaniel Pearsall, Ebenezer Carman,
Abram Lawrence, George M. Hewlett,
John Hitchcock, William Doughty, David
Andrews, James H. Jennings, Gilbert
Craft, Stephen Carman, Mott Pettit, Mi-

WOODMERE RAILROAD STATION AND APPROACH.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

cajah Pettit, John C. Hicks and Charles
Hicks, Treadv/ell Hewlett, Venus Law-
rence, William Chichester, Daniel D.
Lord, George T. Hewlett, Robert Car-
man, John R. Hicks, Abraham Hewlett,
John Lott, Charles McNeill.

Modern developments left Brower's
Point practically untouched until the
coming of the railroad and the real es-
tate developer. In 1868 the South Side
Railroad Company of Long Island com-
menced construction of a branch line

the suggestion of the post office authori-
ties who often confused with the section
mail directed to residents of Woods-
burgh, N. Y., and Woodbury, L. I. The
local post office was in Koch's Drug Store.
After the death of Samuel Wood in
1878 his estate passed into the hands of
Abraham Hewlett, and Woodsburgh de-
veloped gradually. The interests of the
various owners were represented by the
Woodmere Land Improvement Company
in the management of which Divine

SAILING ON WOODMERE BAY.

from Valley Stream to Far Rockaway,
which it completed and over which it
operated steam trains in 1869. The pres-
ent station was located at Brower's Point
on land given for the purpose by Samuel
Wood. At that time the name of the
place was changed to Woodsburgh, after
the owner of the entire section, Samuel
Wood, whose hobby and pride it was to
possess his own little town. Wood was
a retired importer, in which business he
had amassed a fortune. He bought up
all the farms in the vicinity, which he
called Woodsburgh.

About the time of the railroad coming
through Wood caused to be built the fa-
mous Woodsburgh Pavilion Hotel which
became a resort of wealthy and fash-
ionable persons. This hotel faced the
present Broadway and Woodsburgh
Boulevard. It accommodated 500 guests,
and to build and furnish cost the sum of
$400,000. Contemporaneously with its
construction some very fine residences
were built and "high life" was the order
of the day. The needs of retinues of
servants brought by the fashionable vis-
itors created business in the vicinity and
stores were established to cater to their
wants. A separate post office district
was created for the village, which again
changed its name from Woodsburgh to
Woodmere. This change was made at

ib^

DIVINE HEWLETT.

Hewlett, Thomas W. Martin, Joseph S.
Wright, George M. Hewlett, Edward
Schenck and Julian T. Davies were ac-
tive.

The rapid modern building growth of
the village is due entirely to Robert L.
Burton of New York City, who, in the
year 1901 purchased from the Samuel
Wood estate, represented by the Wood-
mere Land Improvement Company, the
entire tract of land south of the railroad
track, consisting of 200 acres of pleasant-
ly wooded upland and 100 acres of marsh
meadow land. The purchase price was
$125,000. In addition to this purchase,
Burton immediately acquired land to the
north of the railroad track, consisting of
about 50 acres of upland and 50 acres of
meadow land.

His first step after he acquired title
was to tear down the large pavilion hotel
which had been closed for about four
years. Every residence, excepting only
that owned by Divine Hewlett, was either
torn down or removed to the easterly end
of the village in the section adjoining
Hewlett and a new order of things for
Woodmere was inaugurated. With
strong financial backing and inspired

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

with a desire to emulate the style of
Tuxedo Park and Lenox, in making
Woodmere the highest type of restricted
suburban residential development, Bur-
ton laid out streets, dredged the creeks
in Woodmere Bay, built a bridge,
laid out tennis courts and golf links,
erected a club house and connected
gas, water, electric lights and the tele-
phone system. Burton spent more than
a million dollars in improvements.
Many residences of great architectural
beauty were built on portions of the
property sold to individuals, and some
of the best known people made Wood-
mere their home. From that time on it
filled rapidly, and to-day the permanent
population is estimated at about 1,800
persons. This is increased somewhat in
the summer months by season visitors.

In 1909 Robert L. Burton sold his en-
tire interest in the section to the Hudson
Realty Company, headed by Maximilian
Morgenthau, which company has contin-
ued to develop and improve it where pos-
sible.

The old steam railroad has given place
to the excellent express electric train
service of the Long Island Railroad Com-
pany and the two or three old stores have
been succeeded by a village business cen-
tre on Broadway which includes the full
equipment of a modern business section.
The Woodmere Club's golf links are fa-
mous throughout New York.

The oldest resident of the Rockaways
lives at Woodmere in the person of Jo-
seph Skidmore Wright, father of Mrs.
Divine Hewlett of Woodmere Boulevard.
The venerable gentleman, who was 90
years of age on November 11th, is in
an excellent state of health and, in a con-
versation with the writer a few days ago,
recalled numerous incidents of his boy-
hood and earlier manhood days, and par-
ticularly referred to the funeral and
burial at the old Sandhole Church of the
43 victims of the wreck of the Mexico
in 1837, at which mournful occasion ho
was present.

The Woodmere Union Free School,
under the direction of the principal,
Charles S. Wright, educates about 350
children residing in Woodmere and Hew-
lett. The grades covered are kindergar-
ten, primary, grammar and high school
training. A competent staff of teachers
is employed and the fine new brick and
terra cotta school now nearing comple-
tion will prove a suitable and worthy

home for the excellent standard of teach-
ing.

The school board of the district con-
sists of William H. E. Jay, Dallas
Brower, Smith Carman, Garry Brower
and Emil Darmstadt.

There is no police force in Woodmere,
but uniformed men are employed in some
sections as watchmen. There is a well
equipped post office, streets are lighted
by gas and electricity, and The Wood-
mere Improvement Society cares for the
cleaning of them. The drainage, like that

ROCKAWAY'S oldest RESmENT.
JOSEPH SKIDMORE WRIGHT, AGE 90 YEARS.

of Hewlett, is the "subsoil" or cesspool
system. The land is rich and loamy,
well wooded and watered.

Woodmere has a fine frontage to the
bay of that name and there is good fish-
ing, bathing and anchorage for yachts
and motor boats. The air is remarkably
fine and invigorating.

Woodmere is efficiently protected
againt damage by fire by the Woodmere
Fire Department. This is a volunteer
organization of about eighty members,
and is composed of the Woodmere Hose
Company, the Empire Hook and Ladder
Company and the Empire Hose Company.
The two latter companies share the same
fire house, which is located on Brower
avenue. The entire equipment consists
of two modern combination chemical-
hose engines, one horse-drawn apparatus
and one hook and ladder apparatus, also
horse-drawn.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

The Department officers are: Clarence
Dixon, chief; George Combs, assistant
chief, and John J. McCarthy, secretary
and treasurer.

The company officers are: Woodmere
Hose — C. A. Schiflfmacher, president; W.
H. Latham, secretary; W. A. Juch,
treasurer, and John J. McCarthy, fore-
man.

Empire Hose Company — Thomas
Ward, foreman ; Harold Ward, assistant
foreman.

Empire Hook and Ladder Company —
Henry Hoffman, foreman; Robert Mur-
ray, assistant foreman.

The Woodmere Hose Company owns
its fire house building on Franklin place,
the entire equipment, and also the enor-
mous fire bell, weighing nearly sixteen
hundred pounds, and tower, near the
railroad track at Franklin place. This
bell was formerly the Far Rockaway fire
bell and was purchased by the Wood-
mere Hose Company from the Far Rock-
away Fire Company, when that village
was absorbed in Greater New York.

The Woodmere Hose Company No. 1
was permanently organized on October
17th, 1902, at the residence of C. A.
Schiffmacher, Sr., and the following were

Hewlett, E. L. Tuthill, Edward L. Mail-
ler and John W. Latham members.

The first apparatus, known as a
"jumper," being a two-wheel affair pulled
along by members of the company, is
shown in the illustration.

Many old Rockaway residents well re-
member Woodsburgh as the place where
they cast their first votes in Town of
Hempstead elections. The old Neptune
House Hotel, or Woodsburgh House,
which formerly stood opposite the large
Pavilion Hotel and was where the Gram-
ercy Market now is, was conducted by
Martin V. Wood, brother of Samuel
Wood, and the votes were "taken" in the
hotel. There are numerous interesting
and humorous stories of election day
incidents in which some of our best
known men figured and we reluctantly
pass them over, lacking space to devote
to their recital. David Felio recalls that
a stage started from his place at Seaside,
and one year he with four other demo-
crats shared the vehicle with five Rock-
away Beach republicans led by Roland
Seaman. Other voters were picked up
on the way to Woodsburgh and a rest
was given to the horses when a stop was
made at Far Rockaway. The journey be-

WOODMERE HOSE COMPANY NO. 1.

Left to right: Charles A. Frost, C. A. Schiffmacher, William A. .Juch, C. A. Schiff-
macher, Jr.; 1)1-. E. C. Smith, A. Burtis, Edward Rich, Joseph Schiffmacher, William H.
Latham, Edward L. Mailer and Warren Brewer.

the first officers and charter members :
Dr. E. C. Smith, president; Divine Hew-
lett, vice-president; George H. Schiff-
macher, treasurer ; P. B. Mott, secretary ;
C. A. Schiffmacher, Sr., foreman;
Charles A. Frost, assistant foreman ; and
C. A. Schiffmacher, Jr., Joseph L. A.
Schiffmacher, Joseph S. Hewlett, Herbert

ing continued and the voting accom-
plished, many acquaintances were met,
greeted and treated and by the time home
was reached it could easily be called a
"full day."

An old landmark is the oldest house
in the place, known as the Brewer's
Point Homestead, reputed to be built

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

about 1772 by John Brower, shortly be-
fore the Revolutionary War. The house,
which stands on East Broadway Wood-
mere, near Brower avenue, remained in
constant possession of the Brower fam-
ily, who added to the original four-room
cottage, until the year 1909, when Sea-
man Brower sold it to Charles R. Price,
an old Woodmere resident, the present
owner and occupier. Mr. Price, with
praiseworthy purpose, caused the old
house to be thoroughly repaired in such
a manner that the original framework
and characteristics remain unimpaired.
Other places of interest in Woodmere are
the Keystone Yacht Club on Woodmere
Bay, Woodmere Gun Club, the Woodmere
Club and golf links.

The Culluloo Monument

An interesting old Woodmere lankmark
is the Culluloo Monument, which now
stands at the junction of Wood and
Keene lanes, Woodsburgh.

The following is the inscription on the
stone:

"Here lived and died
"Culluloo Telewana, A. D. 1818,

The last of the Rockaway Iroquois In-
dians, who was personally known to me
in my boyhood. I, owning the land, have
erected this monument to him and his
tribe.

"Abraham Hewlett. 1888."

The facts are that Abraham Hewlett
was a boy five years old when Culluloo
died and his recollection of the Indian
could not have been very distinct. Before
he died Mr. Hewlett told relatives that
he remembered "Culluloo, the Indian,
whom I saw mornings and evenings when
he went to and returned from work, that
he was very kind and that I last saw him
lying dead in a room when several col-
ored men came and carried him away, but
where they buried him was never known
to me."

Doubts have been expressed as to
whether Culluloo was an Indian or a black
man. The late Mrs. William J. Kava-
nagh, a resident of Lawrence for many
years, and a well known Indian scholar
and literary woman, is authority for the
definite statement that he was a negro
named Lou and that he was called "Col-
ored Lou." This viewpoint seems very
probable. Mr. Hewlett's recollection
might easily have been of "Colored Lou"
and his kindly thoughts might have in-

spired sentimental reasons for the rest,
of the inscription. However that may be,
there is no room for doubt that the monu-
ment does not mark any grave. It first
stood on Broadway, but was later moved
to its present site.

The Woodmere Country Club

The Woodmere Country Club was
organized in 1910 and a well equipped
clubhouse was then opened on Club
Drive, near the railroad station. The
first directors and officers were: George
C. DeLacy, president; Watson Vreden-
burgh, vice-president; Clarence G. Gals-
ton, treasurer; W. K. McDonald, secre-
tary; Frederick Ciurney, James Frank,
J. C. Morgenthau and J. Lawrence
Phipps.

The club was immediately successful
and its accommodations were insufficient

THE FIRST WOODMERE COUNTRY CLUB.

for the needs of the members, so that
larger premises became necessary very
shortly after the club was incorporated.

The present magnificent clubhouse at
Woodsburgh was erected and opened in
1914. The building is well equipped
and fitted, and its accommodations in-
clude dormitories, bowling alleys, bil-
liard and pool rooms, dining room, re-
ception and lounge rooms, ballroom and
parlors. There are, also, a beautifully
situated 18-hole golf course near the
shores of Woodmere Bay, several ten-
nis courts, and a fine open air, salt
water bath, making deep and shallow
water available for swimmers and
bathers.

The membership of the club now num-
bers about 250 persons, and the present
officers are: L. J. Robertson, president;
William A. Schutz, vice-president;
David A. Ansbacher, treasurer, and I. H.
Lehman, secretary.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

The Woodmere Private School or
Academy on Woodmere Boulevard is
an admirable institution, organized five
years ago by a number of prominent
Woodmere gentlemen. Seventeen pupiLs
were then taught in a house leased for

the purpose, but the accomodations of
this building were not sufficient and
three years ago the fine structure now
used was erected at a cost of $50,000
and the number of scholars has already
increased to about 135.

A BEAUTIFUL VISTA, WOODMERE.

CEDARHURST

CEDARHURST, like other villages in
the Rockaway peninsula, owes its
modern development to the excel-
lent railroad service. The South Side
Railroad Company, in 1869, established
a station where the electric power house
now stands, on land donated by Thomas
E. Marsh, and named the place Ocean
Point. The same year Thomas E. Marsh
and his brother Samuel A. W. Marsh,
who were engaged in the grain business
in New York City, went to Ocean Point
as developers. Thomas E. Marsh was
the active worker. Together they pur-
chased several farms and acquired land
extending from West Broadway to Broad-
way in one direction and from the Woods-
burgh boundary at Prospect avenue to
the Lawrence boundary at Washington
avenue in the other direction. At that
time Central avenue did not exist. One
of the first improvements was the con-

struction of this important thoroughfare
through the extent of the Marsh prop-
erty, and the value of this work was
greatly enhanced by the continuation of
the new highway through the adjoining
village of Lawrence, which was accom-
plished in that village by Alfred Law-
rence, the owner. Numerous streets were
opened and graded and shade trees were
planted.

In 1872 another railroad route was con-
structed from Rockaway Junction at Ja-
maica to Ocean Point by Oliver Charlick,
president of the Long Island Railroad in
opposition to the South Side route and
the tracks were continued from the vil-
lage to Far Rockaway parallel with those
of the South Side road. This was a
shorter route operated through Spring-
field.

Several houses were then being built
by investors at Ocean Point, but in order

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

to expedite the growth of the place, the
Marsh brothers offered all their unsold
property south of the railroad tracks,
for sale by auction, in small plots, in
1872, and numerous sites were sold to
residents of New York. These buyers
mostly held the plots for investment and
kept them vacant, anticipating a rapid
increase in values.

When the Rockaway Hunt Club was
formed by Charles Cheever and others
in 1884, a post office was established on
the club premises and the members

Many new and handsome houses and
stores were erected by settlers who
sought the blessing of the health-giving
atmosphere in a location easy of access
to the great city, yet within a few min-
utes' walk or ride of the glorious ocean
beaches and of the bay. The real mod-
ern development commenced about that
time.

Realizing the need for street improve-
ments the leading residents applied for
and obtained a charter and the village
was incorporated on September 10th,

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF CEDARHURST VILLAGE.

Left to right: Top row— William D. Reilly, George W. Craft, Albert T. Moon,
Lewis M. Raisig, Fred L. Gilbert. Lower row — Arthur M. Lockhart, David H. Weyant
and John G. McNicoll.

named it Cedarhurst. The few residents
then living in what is now called Cedar-
hurst obtained their mail from Lawrence
Station. In those days the geographical
lines of the village of Cedarhurst included
the present incorporated village and all
the area south of Broadway to the Bay,
taking in the present Rockaway Hunting
Club. This latter area, however, was
taken into the village of Lawrence after
that village was incorporated.

The Town of Hempstead built the
present handsome public school house for
the use of children of Cedarhurst resi-
dents and opened it in 1902. The build-
ing-up of the village was greatly accel-
erated when Althause and Smith of Far
Rockaway and William L. Kavanagh be-
came selling agents of plots of land.

1910, under the name of the Village of
Cedarhurst, whose interests are cared
for by three trustees. The first trustees
were James H. P. Vandewater, president ;
Abram Adelberg and John J. Campbell,
Sr. Mr. Vandewater died May 8th, 1912,
and was succeeded by the present presi-
dent of the village, David H. Weyant,
whose fellow trustees are: John G. Mc-
Nicoll and Arthur M. Lockhart. The
officers of the village are George W.
Craft, treasurer; Albert T. Moon, col-
lector; Lewis M. Raisig, clerk; William
D. Reilly, highway commissioner; Dr.
Robert F. Hutcheson, health officer, and
Fred L. Gilbert, village attorney.

One of the earliest improvements prior
to incorporation had been installed at the
instance of James H. P. Vandewater.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

About ten years ago this gentleman, al-
ways foremost in works of progress,
aided by leading residents, worked for
and obtained the establishment of a spe-
cial lighting district in Cedarhurst.

The first important act of the new vil-
lage board of trustees was to provide for
making, paving and curbing all roads
in the village and laying of storm sewers.
The credit of the village was pledged
and secured by bonds given for the pur-
pose and the present excellent condition
of the village streets, which are well
graded, paved and shaded by fine trees,
is a direct result of the incorporation and
the progressive spirit of the village gov-
ernors.

Up to five years ago there were very
few houses north of the railroad track.
That section, which is bordered on one
side by the old Eockaway turnpike, is
now known as Cedarhurst Park North.
An area of about 100 acres was purchased
by Abram Adelberg, who immediately
caused the old farm lands to be laid out
for a high-class residential building de-
velopment. Roads were cut through and
paved and gas, electric, water and tele-
phone systems were installed. There are
now upwards of thirty fine residences
built and occupied by their owners. To
add to the attractiveness of this section,
iVlr. Adelberg caused the Cedarhurst
Country Club to be erected, and it was
opened on June 1st, 1914. It immediate-
ly became the centre of social activities
and has been the scene of many festive
gatherings. When war was declared bv
this country against Germany, the club
was disbanded and Mr. Adelberg placed
the handsome, well-equipped and com-
modious building at the disposal of the
United States Government. It has been
used as a state armory since. In addi-
tion to furnishing the use of the build-
ing, Mr. Adelberg also pays for its up-
keep and heating, and will do so during
the continuance of the war.

Cedarhurst to-day represents the best
type of a progressive, thriving village.
Excellent and moderate price stores
around, a well-equipped picture theatre,
hoteLs, garages, transportation facilities
are up-to-date; there is a modern post
ofiice (Postmaster John Drum), public
and parochial schools, Roman Catholic
church (St. Joachim's), and a club house.
The population is estimated at 3,500 per-
sons and there is an adequate police
force. The Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire

Department furnishes the village with
fire protection for which the trustees pay
the firemen the sum of $1,200 annually.
The drainage is by the cesspool system.
Streets are well lighted by electricity and
traffic rules are properly enforced.

The assessed valuation of the village
of Cedarhurst for the year 1917 was
$1,593,225, and the present bonded in-
debtedness is $90,000.

Local Landmarks

The most noteworthy landmark in Ce-
darhurst was the old toll gate and gate
house, which was demolished early this
year to make way for widening the an-
cient Rockaway and Jamaica turnpike
road. The old toll gate stood opposite
Burnside avenue and barred the way of
passengers. The last toll gate keeper was
Mrs. Frances Pettit, wife of Stephen
Pettit, but toll charges over the highway
were abolished when the electric trolleys
began to run over the road about twenty
years ago. At the time, several mar-
shals visited the gate house, opened the
gate and fastened the latter back against
the walls of the house, forbidding its fur-
ther use or the charging of tolls. It
had been the practice for years to charge

OLD TOLL GATE AND HOUSE.

tolls and many men living to-day remem-
ber paying 30 cents to pass and repass
through the gate with their vehicles. No
charge was made to pedestrians. As an
instance of the age of the toll gate we re-
produce an entry from the records of the
Town of Hempstead in 1766 :

Toll Gate.

January ye 16th 1766. Whereas there
has been a swinging Gate on the Road
that leads to Far Rockaway for some

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

years past which was put up by the Con-
sent of the Neighbors which of late hath
been pulled down they have made apph-
cation to us Leuit. George Reirson, Cap't
John Williams and Peter Titus Com-
misinois for to Lay out and Regulate
Highways this year and wee having
Vewed and examined into the same wee
do think fit to allow the same to be put
up Againe provided it is kept in good
Order. As Witness our hands,
George Reirson, John Williams, Peter

Titus.

Another place of interest is a small
plot of land on West Broadway near the
corner of Madison avenue, once used as
a burying ground. The plot is about 60
feet deep by 40 feet front, and contains
six headstones recording the burial of

Henry H. Mott and his wife, Mary Bond,
Letty Ann Mott, Elkanah and Abigail
Mott. The dates inscribed are from
1813 to 1844. One of the stones is near
the sidewalk and the plot shows regret-
table signs of consistent neglect. The
place is in a sad state of repair, and
one wonders in passing if there are not
some living relatives of the departed,
whose pride of race, or respect for the
dead, can be awakened to inspire them
to make proper and decent repairs.

Dan Hanlon's house on Central avenue
is a very old building and parts of it are
reputed to have been built more than a
century ago.

A more modern landmark is the Cedar-
hurst Country Club, which no visitor
should fail to inspect.

LAWRENCE

THE beautiful village of Lawrence,
which deservedly possesses a coun-
try-wide reputation as beng a
model and exclusive residential village,
was first heard of about the year 1870.
Up till then, that portion of Rockaway
Neck now occupied by the village, con-
sisted of farms and thickly wooded lands
sloping on the east to the shores of
Woodmere or Brosewere Bay. The open-
ing of the South Side Railroad attracted
the attention of many wealthy New York
real estate speculators, and Newbold
Lawrence and his two brothers, Alfred
N. Lawrence and George N. Lawrence,
chose this spot as the scene of their in-
vestment and operations.

These three men purchased all the
farms in the neighborhood and proceed-
ed to lay out the entire section as an ex-
clusive and high class residential district.
A railroad station was donated by the
Lawrences, located on the property and
called Lawrence Station.

The first important improvement
undertaken was the cutting through of
Lawrence avenue from the station to
Broadway and of Central avenue to Far
Rockaway. The latter was accomplished
with the co-operation of Thomas E.
Marsh of Oceanpoint (now Cedarhurst),

and a new highway between Far Rock-
away and Woodsburgh was thus formed.
It was originally intended for the new
Central avenue to be cut right through
to Broadway at Hewlett, but a house was
built across the proposed new roadway
at Irving place, Woodsburgh, and the
project became unfeasible.

Suitable lots were parcelled out and
offered for sale and wealthy and influen-
tial residents of New York admired the
fine building sites situated amidst such
beautiful surroundings, became purchas-
ers and began to settle in Lawrence.
These included Daniel D. Lord, Albon
Porter Man, Alexander H. Stevens, Dr.
J. Carl Schmuck, William Voss, Harold
Herrick, Samuel P. Hinckley, John F.
Scott, Samuel L. Rodgers, Frederick A.
Marquand, Frank Storrs, George C.
Rand, Alfred Neilson, Anson W. Hard,
Frederick Pinkus, Russell Sage, Middle-
ton S. Burrill, William A. Hazard, Jo-
seph S. Auerbach, George Hewlett,
James R. Keene, Foxhall Keene, Mc-
Pherson Kennedy, Franklin B. Lord, Dr.
Francis W. Murray, Louis Neilson, J. F.
Schenck, A. Clifl'ord Tower and Baron
Rudolph de Wardener.

Numerous noble and costly mansions
were erected and while, in other devel-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

opments, the average "lot" was acquired
for building purposes, in Lawrence home
builders purchased by the acre, although
land was held at a high figure. The
greatest skill and inventive powers of
some of America's most able architects
were employed in the erection of build-
ings worthy of their ideal surroundings
and commensurate with the means and
needs of their owners. The writer ven-
tures to affirm that there are few commu-
nities in America possessing the beauties,
conveniences and attractions of this de-
lightfully-situated and exclusively-peo-
pled village.

This development was, of course, grad-
ual and marked by various events of im-
portance. Considerable impetus was
given when, in 1884, the Rockaway
Steeplechase Association with John D.
Cheever of Far Rockaway, president,
laid out a fine turf race track, and built
a spacious club house on land partly
donated and partly purchased from the
Ocean Point Company of Cedarhurst.
The Steeplechase Association then
leased the house they built to the Rock-
away Hunt Club, (vide chapter on
Rockaway Hunting Club.) The new club
brought many prominent and wealthy
men into the community and some of
them purchased land and built fine
homes in the immediate vicinity.

About the same time the southerly sec-
tion of the village, bordered by the At-
lantic Ocean, attracted the attention of
other developers, and Rufus W. Leavitt
acquired from the Lawrences the prop-
erty called the Isle of Wight, after the
famous English watering place. A large
hotel was erected there about the year
1885. This hotel became the fashionable
summer resort of artists, sculptors, lit-
erary men and dilettanti. Oscar Wilde,
the Irish poet, playwright and wit, whose
fame was then at its zenith, spent an en-
tire summer at the Isle of Wight Hotel
and many times the ample accommoda-
tions of this and the Osborne House, an-
other local hotel, could have been utilized.
An ocean driveway was built to the
beach and storm sewers laid in the prin-
cipal streets.

To expedite building operations in that
section an auction sale was held on the
property October 19th, 1889, and an en-
deavor was made by Mr. Leavitt to divide
the property into small plots and sell for
the building of private residences only.
The sale was not successful. The large

Isle of Wight Hotel was destroyed by
fire about the year 1895 and a few years
later G. Howland Leavitt foreclosed a
mortgage he held on the propertj', took
title and afterwards sold it to a syndi-
cate known as the Lawrence Cedarhurst
Company. This company was formed for
the purpose of retaining the property as
a highly restricted section, which it still
remains. Lawrence Beach, an ideal
bathing beach just off shore, is reached
by a privately owned ferry boat plying
in the summer months from the main-
land of the village.

In the meantime, the main section of
the village was being built up. Streets
were laid out, lighted and sewered, gas
and electric service installed and shade
trees planted. All these improvements
were accomplished by the residents who.

DR. J. CARL SCHMUCK.

in a somewhat informal manner, met,
decided upon them and contributed their
pro rata shares of the attendant expense.
The Lawrence Association was incorpor-
ated in August, 1891, by George C. Rand,
Franklin B. Lord, Dr. J. Carl Schmuck
and others, and at the cost of $35,000
erected the building used by the Law-
rence private school on two acres of land
acquired for the purpose. This building
also contains the public hall, which in
July, 1897, was the scene of a meeting
of great importance to the future of the
village.

As a result of that meeting a petition
for incorporation of the village of Law-
rence was presented to the Town of
Hempstead, which body granted a village
charter. The boundaries of Lawrence
village were then defined by the Long
Island railroad tracks on the north, Ban-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

nister Creek on the south, the Rockaway
turnpike on the east and the boundary
line of the incorporated village of Far
Rockaway at McNeill avenue on the west.
Under the Greater New York City
charter, which became effective January,
1898, the city took in as part of the Fifth
Ward of the Borough of Queens all the
land up to the Lawrence school house,
thereby including with the Fifth Ward
the village of Inwood and greater part
of the village of Lawrence, leaving that
village only a small gore piece between
the school house and turnpike road.

In 1898 the Doughty bill was passed
in the legislature at Albany again taking
from the City of New York all of In-
wood, and that part of the village of
Lawrence which had been included in the
Greater New York Act. These were re-
stored to the Town of Hempstead. Law-
rence then extended its boundaries and
repeated the original boundaries, also
including that portion of the village line
south of Bannister Creek and west of a
line which would be formed by continuing
the turnpike road through to the ocean.
Several years later the village again ex-
tended its boundaries and took in all that
territory south of Broadway east of its
boundary line to Auerbach Lane and in-
cluding the land occupied by the Rock-
away Hunting Club. Later yet, the vil-
lage again extended its boundaries east
of Rockaway turnpike to the centre of
Washington avenue on the east, the Long
Island Railroad on the north and Broad-
way on the south. The foregoing defines
the present boundaries of the incorporat-
ed village of Lawrence.

When the village was incorporated in
July, 1897, the first president was Frank-
lin B. Lord, and the first trustees were
George C. Rand and George Hewlett. The
first public improvement of the new vil-
lage was the raising of funds for mak-
ing, sewering, curbing and grading the
roads, and further beautifying the vil-
lage. Bonds were issued and the model
roads now existing were constructed. It
is said that the sum of $25,000 was ex-
pended on the park like approach to the
railroad station.

There are several stores and garages
at the east end of the village, a bank, a
church, a church mission, a well equipped
post office and a handsome well arranged
building recently constructed for the ac-
commodation of high school and gram-
mar school students at an expense of

$125,000. There is a court room and
lock-up in the village and regular court
sittings are presided over by Lewis M.
Raisig, Justice of the Peace for the Town
of Hempstead.

The system of street lighting is elec-
tric and the drainage is the Waring sys-
tem. The police force is adequate and
fire protection is furnished by the Law-
rence Cedarhurst Fire Department, to
which the village pays the sum of $2,100
annually.

The present trustees of the village are :
Charles C. Adams, president; John J.
Wood, Norton Perkins, Joseph Fried and
W. Ellsworth Sprague. The officers are:
J. Russell Sprague, village justice; Petei-
B. Olney, Jr., treasurer; Cornelius L.
Both, clerk; Henry Worthington, tax col-
lector, and Andrew Peterson, street com-
missioner. Dr. Edward H. Pershing is
health officer.

The estimated population is 1,500 per-
sons.

The assessed valuation of Lawrence
for 1917 is $4,777,036. The present
bonded indebtedness is $240,000.

In all its history Lawrence has been
the richest village in point of assessed
valuation for population in New York
State. One village bond of considerable
size was issued by a vote of six qualified
voters.

Lawrence possesses the additional in-
terest of claiming the site of the first
church ever built on Rockaway Neck.
This was in 1831 when McThendre's
chapel was built on the site of the pres-
ent Lawrence Methodist Church on the
turnpike road (vide chapter on local
churches). The first Rockaway post
office was for years located at Jennings
house and country store at the junction
of the old Indian paths of Broadway
and the Jamaica turnpike. Until devel-
opment of the neighboring and interven-
ing villages, all mail for Far Rockaway
residents was delivered from and called
for there. In more recent years a fine
pleasure grove known as Jenning's Grove
was the scene of pleasurable outings en-
joyed by thousands of visitors. This
grove was on property now owned by
Mr. Wicke opposite the old store which
has served its usefulness and day as a
country store, and is now solely occupied
as a private dwelling house by Miss M.
L. Jennings.

The oldest and most famous building
in the Rockaways, Rock Hall, is in Law-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

rence. We refer our readers to the
special chapter on the history of this old
mansion.

Local Places of Interest.
Places of interest in Lawrence include
Rock Hall (built in 1768), the Rockaway
Hunting Club, Lawrence Beach, Law-
rence Private Academy, and the old Jen-
nings Homestead.

Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department

The Washington Hook and Ladder
Company of Lawrence, now popularly
called the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire De-

FIREMEN S HALL, COURT HOUSE AND BANK
OF LAWRENCE.

partment, was chartered about the year
1883. The first chief, or foreman, was
Ebenezer L. Smith.

The company is composed of about one
hundred and twenty members, all volun-
teers, and protects against fire the incor-
porated villages of Lawrence and Cedar-
hurst. In addition to its fire duties, the
company provides many of the entertain-
ments and social events of the two vil-
lages. The large brick building known as
Firemen's Hall, valued at $50,000, is
owned by the company and the building
serves for headquarters, club rooms, hall
and fire house. In addition, a portion is
leased to the Bank of Lawrence and other
parts are leased for court house, lock-up
and village clerks' offices.

The old frame building first used now
stands at the rear of a blacksmith's shop
on Central avenue, Lawrence.

The fire apparatus and equipment of
the department are up-to-date and belong
to the Lawrence Company. There are
two steam fire engines, one automobile
chemical engine and hook and ladder
truck, combined, one hose apparatus, one
Simplex automobile, and one horse-drawn
hook and ladder truck.

The Fire Commissioner for Lawrence
is Assemblyman Thomas A. McWhineny,
and for Cedarhurst, J. J. Campbell. The
fire chief is Edward Horn; assistant
chief, William D. Reilly; treasurer, Ed-
mund Wood ; financial secretary, Edward
Jeal, and recording secretary, Allen J. C.
Schmuck.

ROCK HALL, LAWRENCE

Rock Hall at Lawrence is one of the
oldest and most notable residences on
Long Island. It was built in 1768 by
Josiah Martin, the British ex-Governor
of the Province of North Carolina, a
strong Tory who became obnoxious to the
Whigs of that Province, from which he
fled, leaving a large landed estate which
was confiscated (vide Sabin's Loyalists).

Governor Martin purchased 400 acres
of land at Rockaway from John Cornell,
for two thousand pounds, on September
21st, 1767, and built the famous Rock
Hall. The architect was Timothy Clowes
of Jamaica, who also designed St.

George's Church, Hempstead. Money
was spent lavishly in constructing the
residence with its outbuildings, overseer's
and slaves' quarters, and in laying out
the estate. The house was and is still
approached by a fine avenue lined with
well-grown trees. The interior decora-
tions attracted considerable attention
and many visitors have admired the fine
oil painting by the famous artist. Sir
John Copeley, representing a young boy
playing with a dog. Rock Hall was the
scene of entertainments and the centre
for hunting parties on a lavish scale until
the death of Governor Martin there on

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

November 21st, 1778. His body was
buried at St. George's Church Hemp-
stead. His widow survived him but did
not inherit Rock Hall. She died in 1825

Thomas Hewlett of Hewletts, where she
died. She left all the pictures and works
of art in Rock Hall, which she claimed, to
Thomas Hewlett. Two or three years

in New York City. Governor Martin later the Rock Hall estate was sold by

ROCK HALL IN 1874, SHOWING QUOKKO HOUSE, THE OLD SLAVE QUARTERS, AT EXTREME RIGHT.

left the property to his son, Dr. Samuel
Martin, who lived there and entertained
on a large scale and was a very popular
man. He died, unmarried, on April 19th,
1806, aged 66 years. His remains were
interred at Old Trinity Church, Broad-
way, New York City. He left Rock Hall
to his two sisters, Rachel and Alice.
Alice died unmarried. Rachel married
Thomas Bannister, and their joint title
to the property was confirmed in the Cor-
nell partition suit of 1808. Bannister
creek was named for them. After Alice
Martin's death, Thomas Bannister pur-
chased her half share in the estate for
$.5,425, on September 12th, 1817, thus
becoming the sole owner. Another sis-
ter of Dr. Samuel Martin had a son,
Major Charles McNeill, who served in
the war of 1812. The family appears to
have been in financial difficulties later
and the property fell into a bad state of
repair. Major McNeill deserted his wife
and she went to live at the home of

order of the trustees, Dr. Ebenezer Lock-
wood and Dr. Bannister. These two men
were trustees under Dr. Martin's will.
The sale was by auction in order to pay
the family debts, and Thomas Hewlett
was the purchaser. Portions of the es-
tate have since been sold, but the residue,
not exceeding in all one hundred acres,
still remains in possession of members
of the Hewlett family, who reside at
Rock Hall in the summer time.

The slave quarters, which formerly
stood at the southerly end of the prem-
ises, were removed in 1881.

The illustrations of Rock Hall show
the original building, which is still in a
good state of preservation. The house
is illuminated by the aid of oil lamps, as
the owners have refused to have the old
timbers disturbed by installing gas or
electric services. Two years ago, how-
ever, they allowed a telephone to be in-
stalled.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OP THE ROCKAWAYS

THE ROCKAWAY HUNTING CLUB

The early foundation of the Rockaway
Hunting Club is of great interest. This
event took place one Saturday afternoon
in September, 1877, when twelve riders,
including E. N. Dickerson, Jr., W. J.
Sloane, Arthur Dodge, Nathaniel Jarvis
and others, all wealthy young Rockaway
residents, with John D. Cheever as the
leading spirit, started out from Bernard
C. Reilly's barn near the Jamaica turn-
pike, Far Rockaway. The barn was near
a hill close to the present junction of
the turnpike road and Burnside avenue,
Inwood.

The hunt was on the lines of the old
"paper chase," in which the "hares" led
and dropped paper. After the "hares"
had disappeared the "hounds" chased
them, tracking them down by the pieces
of paper thrown away by the "hares."
This historic chase ended at Valley
Stream, and was greatly enjoyed by the

of Far Rockaway, leased Reilly's house
and barn and hunted over all the local
country side which then had compara-
tively few residents, and these were
mostly farmers. Louis Neilson was Mas-
ter of Hounds. In 1878 the first Rock-
away Hunt Club was organized with
Alexander Stevens, president; William
Voss, treasurer, and Edward Spencer,
secretary. John D. Cheever was Master
of Hounds. A lease of "Aunt Sally
Mott's" homestead on Mott's Lane (now
avenue) was taken from Mrs. Seaman,
and several English hounds were im-
ported.

Many of the members took lodgings
adjoining the club house, which was near
the railroad station, and dined at the
club. Live pigeon shooting was prac-
ticed and became a favorite sport, and
polo was inaugurated, for which sport a
field was leased, where Dr. J. C.

ROCKAWAY HUNTING CLUBHOUSE, DESTROYED BY FIRE, 1893.

riders. The next Saturday afternoon an-
other chase took place and six native
hounds were used. This was a "drag"
hunt, in which a bag treated with ani-
seed, was dragged along by the hare, and
was extremely successful. As a result
a number of the young men, residents

Schmuck's residence now stands, oppo-
site Lawrence Station.

The club organized one steeplechase
meeting each year, the riders all being
amateurs and mostly members of the
club. A rough course was laid out to the
eastward of the club house in Bays-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

water, which was not then built up. One
of the most celebrated race meetings was
that held in 1882, when there were
eighteen starters in the steeplechase, all
being gentlemen jockeys. This famous
race was won by Harry Harwood, on a
horse called "Tonkaway," owned by Ed-
ward Jackson.

In 1883 Frank Gray Griswold was ap-
pointed Master of Hounds, and he
brought with him his own pack, which
he had formerly hunted under the name
of the "Queens County Hounds." This
pack became known as the "Queens
County Hounds of the Eockaway Hunt"
and the hunting grounds were enlarged
to cover portions of Long Island towards
the North Shore, which had formerly
been hunted by Mr. Griswold.

In 1884 a land company, known as the
Ocean Point Company, which owned
large tracts of land at Cedarhurst, of-
fered to give about four acres of land
to the club, provided a company was
formed for the purpose of establishing
a fine steeplechase course. Such a com-
pany was organized with John D. Cheever
as president. Stock was issued and sub-
scribed for, money provided and a club
house, with spacious balconies and pi-
azzas from which the full course could
be seen, was built. The company, known
as the Eockaway Steeplechase Associa-
tion, purchased some thirty to forty acres
of additional land from the Ocean Point
Company. A turf race track was laid out
and racing was established. A railroad
siding for race track trains was built
from Woodsburgh to the course. The
company leased the house they built to
the Eockaway Hunt Club, and the name
was changed to the Eockaway Hunting
Club. The club was to insure the build-
ing and to have the option of purchas-
ing the remaining land of the Eockaway
Steeplechase Association if they so de-
sired.

Mr. Edward La Montagne was the sec-
ond president of the club, and Edward
H. Harriman, vice-president.

The membership of the club, which
amounted to about sixty at Far Eock-
away, had increased in 1884 to about
one hundred, and this accession was due
to the organization of the Eockaway
Steeplechase.

From 1884 to 1889 two Steeplechase
meetings were given yearly, and proved
extremely popular, most of the riders

being members of the Eockaway Hunt-
mg Club, the Meadowbrook club or other
kindred clubs.

The Steeplechase Association was not a
financial success on account of the great
expense attending the meetings, and
the fact that the legislature was engaged
in making laws to abolish betting on
race tracks. In July, 1893, the club house
was totally destroyed by fire and the
Eockaway Steeplechase Association sub-
sequently went into liquidation.

The Eockaway Hunting Club, having
collected inurance on the building, exer-
cised its option and purchased some sev-
enteen or eighteen acres of land which
formerly belonged to the Eockaway
Steeplechase Association. The remain-
ing part of the land left by the asso-
ciation was divided between members
who had advanced money to the com-
pany on certificates of indebtedness.

After the destruction of the club house
a temporary home was leased from Mr.
EHiott. The club added to the house a
kitchen and piazza, and remained there
until the completion of the present club
house on July 1, 1894, when the club was
incorporated, taking possession of thc-
new club house with the following offi-
cers: George C. Eand, president; Mid-
dleton S. Burrill, vice-president; New-
bold Lawrence, secretary, and Eennie La
Montagne, treasurer. Hunting with the
pack was continued until 1899, when it
was abandoned owing to building devel-
opment in the neighborhood.

The membership of the club to-day is
approximately 350, and more land has
been purchased during the past few
years. The club now owns about 90
acres. The nine-hole golf course is be-
ing enlarged by the construction of an
additional nine hole course, a bridge
across Burton's creek has been erected,
there are eighteen lawn tennis courts, a
fine polo field, squash courts and a trap
shooting (clay pigeon) outfit.

Foreign sportsmen of note visiting
America count their visit incomplete un-
less they have seen the famous and beau-
tiful home of the Eockaway Hunting
Club.

The president of the club is William
A. Hazard. The other officers are: H.
Hobart Porter, vice-president; Frederick
H. Hatch, treasurer, and Newbold T.
Lawrence, secretary.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

INWOOD

THE village of Inwood is a well
defined but unincorporated area
of Nassau County adjoining Far
Rockaway proper and has a population
of about four thousand persons.

It was first settled a hundred years
ago by a number of fishermen and at
that time was known as North West
Point, taking that name from its geo-
graphical position in relation to the
more central part of Far Rockaway, of
which it was then a part. The turn-
pike road to Jamaica bounds it on the
east side; the Long Island railroad
tracks and the Village of Lawrence
bound it on the south side, and Jamaica
Bay bounds it on the north and most
of the west side, the remaining westerly
portion adjoining Far Rockaway terri-
tory.

Indians and white men took place as
related in another chapter. The early
settlers were a more or less lawless lot
and although they were not numerous
they were periodically troublesome to
other Rockaway residents. Many inci-
dents in which rough horse play and
harsh physical conduct were the main
features are directly traceable to these
hard North West Pointers. About fifty
j'ears ago the section became generally
known as Westville and participated
in the rapid growth of the peninsula
which occurred with the opening of the
railroad. At that time the few houses
existing were reached by paths con-
necting with old Broadway and the
turnpike road. When the Lawrences
developed Lawrence the Inwood end of
Lord avenue was made, and was the

THE INWOOD COUNTRY CLUB.

The "North West Pointers," as the
early settlers were called, were men
who worked on, owned, or operated
fishing boats on Jamaica Bay, which
comes to a head at that part and has
numerous inlets and minor harbors or
docks. The westerly point of Inwood
occupies high land and parts of it are
still thickly covered with woods, the
remnants of a former forest. The place
is the centre of many interesting Indian
legends and stories and it is at Inwood
that the earliest meeting of Rockaway

first road constructed. That event was
the beginning of development and
opened up the section which rapidly
grew from that time on. IMain streets
and cross streets were laid, houses
were erected and a steady influx of
home seekers and builders occurred.

The section covers a considerable
area, parts of which are very beauti-
ful. The spacious Inwood Country
Club is delightfully located in its own
grounds of about 300 acres at the
actual north west point of the

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

peninsula. The extensive golf links of
the club, which has a membership of
about 325, are admirably laid in park
like surroundings.

The first post office was established
on February 25, 1889, and the name of
the village was then changed to In-
wood. The first postmaster was Mr.
J. D. Crosby, who still holds that office.
The post office authorities refused to
allow a post office named Westville be-
cause there was already one existing
in the state by that name, hence the
change from Westville to the present
village name of Inwood. Although
numerous families of the early settlers
still reside at Inwood, it has come to
be known generally as an Italian settle-
ment and a majority of the four thou-
sand residents are Italians. Until re-
cently and for a period of years the
rough horse play of the old baymen
was overlooked on account of the gun-
play of the foreigners and the name
Inwood for quite a while conjured up
thoughts of dark deeds of violence.
The foreign element is of Albano-Ital-
ian birth or extraction, and is quite dis-
tinct from pure blooded Italians, speak-
ing a distinct and separate language.
The lawlessness of the bad parts of In-
wood has been greatly overcome of re-
cent years mainly owing to the zealous
efforts of the priests there who set
themselves the difficult task they
have so well performed and in which
they have been greatly aided by the
local Justice of the Peace, Lewis M.
Raisig.

The community spirit in Inwood is
very strong and it is commonly known
that any social or business affair which
Inwood residents take up as a body is
assured of success and undivided sup-
port.

Nearly all the buildings in Inwood —
which is well equipped with good
stores, a fire department and a post
office — are of frame construction. There
are two large public schools, two
churches and that admirable institu-
tion, the Sage Industrial School, where
boys and girls from the public schools
are taught, without charge, useful
trades in order to equip them to earn
their own livings when they arrive at
suitable age.

The Inwood Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment, consisting of about forty mem-
bers, is well equipped with modern

automobile apparatus and is a most
efficient body of men who have repeat-
edly established records for speedy and
good work. Last year they established
a world's record in a tournament dis-
play. The first Inwood fire company
was the Electric Hook and Ladder Com-
pany of Westville, established about
thirty-five years ago. Some years later
the Citizen's Hose Company was also
formed. These two companies were
later merged and form the present In-
wood Fire Department which owns the
fire house building and equipment. The
officers are: John Grady, chief; Lester
Alger, first assistant chief; Louis
Leder, financial secretary and Solomon
Wanser, recording secretary. The
treasurer is Alexander Wanser, who
has held that office for many years.

The old rendezvous of the baymen is
still the meeting place of a number of
fishermen and is called the "Dock" on
the foot of Bayview avenue at Jamaica
Bay. The interested visitor may even
yet meet some of the old timers there
in their daily work and view with won-
der the physical feats of some of those
hardy old men whose ages in some cases
have considerably exceeded man's al-
lotted "six-score years and ten."

The Inwood Country Club was in-
corporated in 1901 and opened a small
club house at Inwood managed by a body
of twelve directors, Jacob Wertheim
being the first president, and Frank
Lewine, treasurer. The club was well
supported from the outset and has al-
ways been strong financially. The
membership rapidly increased and the
accommodations of the first club house
were taxed to the utmost limit so that it
soon became necessary to plan for in-
creased facilities. In 1914 the present
property of the club, comprising 300
acres of valuable land, was purchased
aud the new and luxurious home of the
club was shortly afterwards built and
occupied.

The present membership of the club
is 325 men and there are 125 associate
lady members. In addition to the at-
tractions of the club house itself there
is a splendid golf course of eighteen
holes, a gun club and tennis courts.
The officers are Samuel Eisman, presi-
dent; D. A. Aronson, vice-president;
Albert T. Steiner, treasurer and I. I.
Lewine, secretary.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

HONOR ROLL OF OUR BOYS

Up to the time of going to press it has been impossible for the writer to
gather a complete list of "OUR BOYS" in the Rockaway peninsula, who have
so willingly volunteered their services on their country's behalf, and are now
risking their lives in the army, navy and aerial service. The following list, how-
ever, gives the names of a considerable number whose names we have been able
to gather and publish on this permanent HONOR ROLL:

Adams, Lewis G.
Arnold, Henry N.
Bannard, J. Augustus
Bentley, Edward M., Jr.
Brasee, Crosby
Bowker, Edward
Bruhn, Harry
Ball, Grosvenor
Burr, Robert
Burr, Winthrop
Bitner, .John Arthur
Bedell, Otis Hudson
Burmann, Otto A. B.
Chauncey, Kaymond
Carney, William
Crocker, Stanley
Cannomara, Louis
Chave, Walter
Cook, Lindley Wilkinson
Carter. Walter
C'unningham, Walter
Charmers, Arthur
Condon, Jas. H.
Dickinson, E. B
Dehnert, Arthur
De Mott, Edward
Dale, C. Whitney
Donnelly, George
De Lacy, George C.
Douglas, John J.
Donaldson, Clark
Davenport, McHugh
Flemming, George
Fleniming, Samuel
Fletcher, Arthur
Fagan, Thos.
Goodman, Eddie
Graham, R. E.
Gallagher, Francis
Gasser, Bernard
Hicks, Howard
Horton, Henry
Hicks, IVIorris
Herrick, Newbold T.

llerrifk, Harold, Jr.
Hazzard, Wm. A.. Jr.
Hewlett, James A.
Hewlett. Willis
Heywood, Milton E.
Hard, De Courcey L.
Ivison, Maynard
.Jacob, Morris
Johnson, Austin
Johnson, Cortland
Johnson, Kenneth Maxwell
Judas, Gerald
Jordan, John F.
Kahn, Alexander
Kelly, Frederick L.
Kiles, Gerard
Klein, Cyril P.
Kleinfeller, John E.
Lund. Wm. Peterson
Lanman. Ludlow B.
Ijcvy, Albert
La Montagne, Wm. A.
Ludlum, HerJiert Jas.
Moss, Johnson Leslie
Marter, Arthur C.
McGinn, Clarence
Marsh, Edward
McNamara, Amljrose
McGuire, Thomas
Millner, Herbert
McGinn, Francis
McGinn, Harold
Maver, .John
Mott, Fred G.
Martin, Jos. N.
Murray, I,awrence
Norton, Walter
Norton, Berge
Olney, ,Sigourney
O'Rourke, Thomtis
O'Callahan
Philips, Kenneth
I-'hilips, John
Philips, Wm.

I'l-att, Wm. R.
Itizzo, John
liydn, Gerald
Jiand, Gordon L.
Rand, Curtis
Itode, Stanley
Resua, Gustave
Rhinelander, Philip N.
.Stephenson, Joseph
Stephenson, Richard, Jr.
Sullivan, Leonard
Stephen, Byron K.
.Schaumloefell, Ernest
,Scanlan, Lawrence
.Scanlan, David
.Smith, Everard
.Schleif, John
.Sla,von, James
Safford, Wm. R.
.Stone, Herman T.
Steiner, Harold A.
Shanley, Patrick J.
Smythe, .John
Schreiber, Fabian
Sterling, .Stewart
Seaman, Everit White
Schmeisin, Henry
Simonson, Eugene
Sunberger, ,John H.
Toleman, Harold
Taylor, Wm. li. K., .Jr.
Taylor, Anson Hard
Thompson, Lionel
Thum, Karl Algier
Van Dine, Merle
Vail, Edward
Van Wicklen, Alvin F.
Walsh, James
Winlock, Herbert E.
White, Thomas F.
Wood, John
Walton, Lawrence R.
Walton, Ernest E.
Wood, Milton Henry

THE 24th company, NINTH COAST DEFENSE COMMAND — ROCKAWAY'S QUOTA.

Captain, Foulke O. E.
Ivnudson; lirst lieutenant,
Walter .Seligman; second lieu-
tenant, Jacob G. Davis.

First sergeant, JJaniel E.
Barry; supply sergeant, Ed-
ward D. Lee.

.Sergeants, Howard S. Sterne,
Jjcwis M. Stewart, William H.
Jjoolittle, AVilliam Jj. Jleissel,
James A. Caffrey, Harold
Levy and William F. Mayer.

Corporals, .Joseph .J. Arneth,
Harold Mott, Frank Kiernan,
Gerald A. Ryan, Stanley A.
Werner, Jei'ome Jje\y, T^eon
R. .Spear, Benjamin J^aw-
rence, ]Mich?iel .J. Barry, .Ir.,
and Richard .J. PJalpin.

Cooks, Samuel Samuels and
I-'rank Andalschek.

^lechanics, Frank A. Scclig
and John J. Devanney.

Bugler, Louis Ji:. Jtaven-
port,

J'irst cbiss i>ri\'ates, .losejth
^r. Baurn, Allen Glenn Chat-
ter. JoJin II. r-\"iber, .lohn L.

Farrington, .John J. Gaffney,
Jr.. J'oster Gunther, Jjconard
H. Gidding, Harry A. Hirt,
Joseph G. JacoJjs, John C. Le
Roux, Jidwin A. J^iebowitz,
Harold T. McGinn, Albert J.
Milan, Howard C. Montgom-
ery, George .J. Morrison,
Howard Richmond. Alexan-
der B. r-lydell and Walter H.
Rose.

I-'rivates, William A. Adams,
Alexander Anderson, LeRoy
E. Andrews, Adam A. Balzer,
Patrick It. Barrett, Bertram
Jiecrman, John H. Jioyle,
William J. Jirand, Elias l>.
Brower, RoJjcrt J. Cahill,
Daniel J. Callahan, Myron
Combs, Walter H. ComJjs,
Harr.\- R Carman. William .J.
t'urtis, .Jr., AlJjcrt Davenport,
I-"rank D. Dolan. I^atrick V.
Jniggan, Jr., Joseph F. Egel,
George A. Featherson, Wil-
liam Ferguson. Charles PJ.
J->y, Tloward Fisher, Gustave
Gbinzman, .Jacpjes H. Herts,

citto Hofl'vitz, Jr., David Jaffe,
Charles J. Kane. Walter F.
Keenan, Itoy J^angdon, Gilbert
F. Lindner, John McCumis-
key, Clarence .J. McGinn,
I'"rank J. iSlcGinn, Harold A.
JIcGrevy, Charles J. Mazzei,
.John Mair, Anthony IMarasco,
J-'rank ^Todica, W^illiam M.
.Alorrison, John E. Mount, .Jr.,
Frederick H. Muller, Charles
H. Murray, Edward A. Mur-
jjhy, Frederick L. Knoll
I<'rank S. Pearsall, William H.
I'feiffer, Jr., Arthur E. Pries-
ly, Mark Ki. Itairden, John
Rizzo, William R. .Safford,
JTenry A. Schilling, J_,eland H.
C. Schmeelk, JjOuis A. .Shea,
Philip Jj. Skelly, Arthur
Smith, Royal Dewey Smith,
Harry C. .Spatz, Adolph C.
Sijitzer, Richard M. Thomp-
son, William J. Walsh, Wil-
liam F. Wilkinson, .Jr., Rich-
ard A. Wolff and John B.
Wood.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

FAR ROCKAWAY

UP to the time of the Cornell parti-
tion suit in 1809, and for a con-
siderable period afterwards, the
Far Rockaway section was the only por-
tion of the peninsula which attracted
serious attention, the westerly section
where Edgemere, Arverne, Rockaway
Beach and Rockaway Park now are, be-
ing used for grazing purposes only.
Here horses and cattle were turned
loose and allowed to roam at will, seek-
ing sustenance from the scattered
shrubs and herbage which decorated
the sandy waste.

The section of the peninsula west of
Wave Crest was all marsh land and
several creeks ran from ocean to bay.
Up to six years ago one of these creeks,
known as the Wave Crest Inlet, was in
existence and connected' the ocean at a
point east of the Edgemere Club with
Jamaica Bay under Norton's Bridge.
This was filled in at that time and the
main boulevard carried over the present
Norton's Bridge.

The first man to recognize the value
of the Rockaways as a summer resort
was John Leake Norton, who in 1830
purchased from the Cornell heirs under
the 1809 partition suit lots 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14 and 15 in the eastern division,
including the whole of Edgemere and
Far Rockaway, and the marsh land
north of lots 14 and 15. In the year
1833 Mr. Norton, who married a sister
of Governor George Clinton, induced a
number of wealthy and well-known New
York men to form the Rockawaj' Asso-
ciation and they purchased a tract of
land and erected upon it a fine hotel.
This was the famous Marine Pavilion
known throughout America at that time.
It cost $43,000 to build, which in those
days was a tremendously large amount
of money to expend on a building of
that character.

The Rockaway Association, of which
Philip Hone, ex-mayor of New York
City; Robert Ray and John A. King
(Governor of New York State) were
trustees, also purchased property from
Benjamin C. Lockwood, on which the
pavilion was built.

We reproduce the purchase agree-
ment verbatim.

Rockaway Association

In consideration of the sum of one
dollar to me in hand paid receipt
whereof is herebj- acknowledged, I
for myself, and in behalf of my Co-
trustees, Philip Hone and John A.
King, do agree to purchase for the
Rockaway Association from Mr. Ben-
jamin C. Lockwood, all his houses,
barns, stables and grounds at Rock-
away, bounded by the road rear of
his Barn, road to the Beach, land
lately sold by him to Jas. G. King and
others — with all the privileges he
possesses for the sum of two thou-
sand five hundred dollars and one
share in the association of five hun-
dred dollars, to give possession on
the first day of May next, and a clear
satisfactory Deed for same on or be-
fore the 15 March next, he deducting
interest at 7% per annum until 1
May.
New York 28 February, 1833.

Robert Ray, Trustee of
Rockaway Association.
Witness
Sam Ward.

The exact site of the Marine Pavilion
was just south of where Norton street
now joins Central avenue. The old yel-
low frame building still standing at the
west side of Central avenue was for-
merly used as the kitchens of the hotel,
v.'hich had a frontage of 230 feet over-
looking the ocean, its easterly end was
about where the fence of Bushel's
American Hotel now is, and Central
Avenue at that part now covers the
same ground as the hotel was built
across. The place was run in a splen-
did manner and became the most fash-
ionable resort on the Atlantic Coast.
It gave the Rockaways the first coun-
try-wide advei'tising this section ever
had, and attracted the attention of
numerous investors and developers who
were quick to see the great possibilities

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

of Rockaway as a summer resort. From
that time on its growth and advance-
ment as a residential section was as-
sured.

In his history of Long Island pub-
lished in 1839 Thompson, the historian,
says of the Marine Pavilion:

"It is a large and splendid edifice,
standing upon the margin of the At-
lantic, and has hitherto been kept in a
style not excelled by any hotel in the
Union. The main building is 230 feet
front with wings, one of which is

There is a poem known as the Ode
to Rockaway, written by Morris and
dedicated to this section, which is sup-
posed to have been inspired by the
measured rhythm of the breakers on
the shore. Morris is said to have writ-
ten the well-known lines on the Marine
Pavilion porch.

On old Long Island's seagirt shore
Many an hour I've whiled away,
List'ning to the breakers roar
That wash the beach at Rockaway;

ff'^ ^

THE MARINE PAVILION 183-3-1864.

seventy-five and the other forty-five
feet long. The peristyles are of the
Doric order, the piazza being 235 feet
in length by 20 in width. The sleeping
apartments number 160. The dining-
room is eighty feet long and the draw-
ing-room fifty. It was erected by an
association of gentlemen of the City of
New York, the cost, including the land
and standing furniture, $43,000, and
was sold to the present owners, Stephen
Whitney and Charles A. Davis, for
$30,000. The atmosphere here is fresh,
cool and delightful; invalids soon find
themselves benefited, and all experience
fresh inspiration and increased vigor
by repeated plunges in the ocean."

The Marine Pavilion was completely
destroyed by fire on June 25th, 1864.
During its existence many men of note
were visitors. Longfellow, Washington
Irving, Trumbell, the artist, and Gen-
eral George P. Morris are known lo
have been frequent guests.

Transfixed I've stood while nature's

Lyre
In one harmonious concert broke
And, catching its Promethean fire.
My inmost soul to rapture woke.

Oh, how delightful 'tis to stroll
Where murmuring winds and waters

meet.
Marking the billows as they roll
And break resistless at your feet;
To watch young Iris, as she dips
Her mantle in the sparkling dew.
And, chas'd by Sol, away she trips
O'er t'ne horizon's quiv'ring blue.

To hear the startling night winds sigh,
As dreamy twilight lulls to sleep;
While the pale moon reflects from high
Her image in the mighty deep;
Majestic scene where Nature dwells,
Profound in everlasting love.
While her unmeasured music swells.
The vaulted firmament above.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

The same company — the Rockaway
Association — which built the Marine
Pavilion also formed a Turnpike Com-
pany (under a special act of legisla-
ture) called the Jamaica and Rockaway
Turnpike Company, which caused to be
built a shell road across the meadows
shortening the distance between the
city and Jamaica and Rockaway by
about eight miles. This road is today
known as the Jamaica and Jericho
Turnpike over which the trolleys be-
tween Far Rockaway and Jamaica op-
erate. The road is in bad repair and
not fit for fast traffic. The city, county
and state have pledged themselves to
construct a fine modern road there and
work upon its reconstruction is now
proceeding.

Up to the end of last year a pic-
turesque old toll house and gate stood
on the turnpike road, but has been torn
down to make way for widening of the
thoroughfare. JVIany persons now liv-
ing well remember passing through this
gate and paying toll to do so. The last
toll gate keeper was Mrs. Stephen
Pettit.

There are many persons in Rockaway
today who remember the destruction of
the Pavilion. Gunpowder was used to
blow up adjoining structures to prevent
the fire spreading.

The daily arrival of the stage coach at
the Pavilion was an event of consider-
able importance, and the crack of the
driver's whip as he wheeled his four-
in-hand team driving up in style to the
imposing entrance, was the signal for
all hands to turn out to welcome the
guests.

It was after the Pavilion was opened
that sea bathing became fashionab'e
and the first caterers to this rejuvenat-

ing exercise were Benjamin C. Lock-
wood and John L. Norton. They provid-
ed bath houses on wheels after the Eng-
lish style. In these, bathers changed
their dress, were pulled into the surf
by horses hitched on for the purpose
and when the bath house was hauled in
to a suflicient depth, the horses were
taken ofi: and the bath houses left in
the water until bathers signified their
desire to be hauled back to the beach.
This method of bathing, which enabled
persons to enter the water direct from
bathing houses, would probably not find
much favor today with the large num-
ber of bathers who seem to find more
delight in the sun and sand bath on the
beach in scanty attire than in the real
and healthful ocean bathing. The old
ways have changed and instead of the
old cumbersome house on wheels the
ocean front is provided with many
thousands of bath houses used in the
summer months and built row after row
on land adjacent to the beach.

The Marine Pavilion attracted atten-
tion to the Rockaways throughout the
Union. Other commodious hotels were
built here and included United States
Hotel, Caffrey's Hotel, Wynn's Alham-
bra, Maguire's Ocean Hotel, New
York Hotel, Roche's Union Surf, the
Pavilion, the Brunswick, the Hoffman,
Foss', Finucan's Mansion House, Fa-
ber's Manhattan Hotel, Ducher's, the
Arlington, the Madison, National,
Grove, Grand, Waverly, St. James, the
Shirley House and several others; in
fact the place became a village of hotels
catering to the needs of summer visit-
ors. It was about the middle of last
century that it was first called Far
Rockaway to distinguish it from Near

A DIP IN THE OCEAN AT ROCHE'S BEACH, FAR ROCKAWAY.

EELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Rockaway, which is now called East
Kockaway.

The steam railroad constructed to Far
Rockaway in 1869 superseded the old
stage coach and advanced values and
development wonderfully. It was first
intended for the railroad to enter Far
Rockaway through woods about where
Oak street is now cut, and so on dovv'n
to the beach in a line parallel with what
is now Greenwood avenue. Mr. Wynn,
who kept the Alhambra Hotel, antici-
pating the line passing his place, paint-
ed a sign calling it "Railroad Hotel,"
but owing to the gift by Benjamin Mott
of the site of the present station and
seven acres of land, the direction of the
route (and as many persons think the
whole future of the village) was
changed.

Up to a little before this time the only
roads in Far Rockaway consisted of
Broadway, being the old turnpike lead-
ing through to the beach as it does to-
day, Greenwood avenue, Cornaga ave-
nue, Mott's lane and Catherine street.

WILLIAM CAFFREY.

William Caffrey, who was 19 years
old when he came from Ireland in 1834,
first worked as a laboring man, but in
1844 opened Far Rockaway's first store
on Greenwood avenue and later ran the
Transatlantic Hotel on the same avenue.
There were then only about half a dozen
houses besides the Pavilion. Mott
avenue, from Broadway to the present
railroad crossing, was called "Dan

Mott's" lane, and from there to Jamaica
Bay "Aunt Sally's" lane, after Sally
Mott, who resided in the old house, now
the Seaman cottage, and which later
came to be known as "Aunt Sally's but-
termilk house," on account of that re-
freshing liquid which she sold there to

DAVID ROCHE ("UNCLE DAVE") .

visitors. This is the oldest house in
Far Rockaway.

Catherine street was that portion of
the present Central avenue starting at
Mott avenue proceeding to the ocean
and ending at the first Catholic church
field and was named after Mrs. Cath-
erine Finucan. Another early store was
kept by E. A. Darragh, in the woods,
where Cornaga avenue is now, and
White street was named after his wife's
mother, Mrs. White.

Simultaneous with the coming of the
South Side Railroad, Central avenue
was cut through from Mott's lane to the
city line, about 1871, and connected with
Lawrence. The first railroad stop in
Far Rockaway was on the present
siding close to the National Bank.
There was no shelter or platform of any
kind until the present line was used and
the extension made to Rockaway Beach.
The railroad siding passing in a line
parallel with and between Grove street
and Central avenue led to Lockwood's
Grove, a famous pleasure park, which
was later laid out in plots with the
beautiful Wave Crest development.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Far Rockaway at that period had two
churches, a school, a number of hotels
and a few stores and cottages.

The following is a complete list of
residents about fifty years ago : —

Daniel Mott, Benjamin B. Mott (Lit-
tle Ben) , Samuel Mott, Lucy Mott, Sally
Mott, Joseph Stringham (the hermit),
Lawrence Duncan, Calvin Mott, Richard
Mott, John Mott, "Pop" Finucan, Mar-
tin Zingzam, Thomas D. Smith, John
Wynn, David Roche, Patrick Mulry,
William Caffrey, James McCarthy,
James Hickej', John Bell, "Long" Ben
Mott, John Kavanagh, Julius Foss,
Joseph McKim, James Sadlier, John Mc-
Kune, John Kelly, Patrick McTigue,
McCale, Norton Carroll, John H. Chee-

then it all formed part of Far RocK-
away.

The physicians practising in the
Rockaways then were Dr. Julius Auer-
bach. Dr. Robert Hutcheson and Dr.
Robert Bazeley of East Rockaway.

Definite sections were soon mapped
out and development proceeded rapidly.
The headland, overlooking the ocean,
was laid out as a private park, called
Wave Crest, and numerous fine resi-
dences were built there. In this section
such well known men as Horace F.
Clark, Edward N. Dickerson, E. A.
Erinkeroff, Miles O'Brien, Martin B.
Brown, John H. Cheever, Henry D. Bab-
cock, and School Commissioner William
Lummis, made their homes. Other sec-

ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, FAK ROCKAWAY.

ver, Edward N. Dickerson, Horace F.
Clark, Judge Charles A. Donahue,
Thomas Casey, Andrew Brady, Robert
Elderd, Philip Hone, Richard Bain-
bridge, John S. Crary, James M. Brown,
Mrs. Bull, William H. Bolton, David
Jennings, David Andrews, Mott Pettit,
Gilbert Craft, Venus Hewlett, John
Abrams, Mrs. Margaret Hartford, John
J. Healy, E. A. Darragh, Patrick
Griffin, Patrick Kane, Firman Pearsall,
John Lyons, James Mooney, George
Hicks, Charles McNeill, John Lott and
Franklin D. Lord.

A few of these residents lived in what
v/e now call Inwood and Lawrence, but

tions grew rapidly; several magnificent
residences were built along Broadway
ajid in the Cedar Lawn section, near
Jarvis lane; several lakes, including
Cutting's Pond, near the present gas
house and Isaac Remsen's ice ponds at
Chanler and Butler avenues, were filled
in; the school house was enlarged and
land in all parts of the present village
which was then thickly covered with
trees, was cleared for the building of
houses and roadways. Most of what
is now known as the Bayswater section
was laid out about 1878 by William
Trist Bailey, who purchased the prop-
erty from J. B. and W. W. Cornell.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Here it was that the first Rockaway
Hunt with hounds started and the first
yacht club was organized. John Cor-
naga, who served under the British in

EX-JUDGE EDMUND J. HEALY.

the Revolutionary War, had settled in
the same section. His son sold in 1848
to Calvin S. Mott, who in turn sold to
John J. Healy. This is property now
called Salomon's Castle, and the former
site of the largest of the shell banks.

In addition to the prosperity brought
by the large number of summer visit-
ors, building activities on all sides add-
ed many workmen and employers, either
temporarily or permanently, to the win-
ter population and stores and small cot-
tages began to be built to accommodate
the growing needs. It had been the
practice of some residents in previous
years to order food and other necessary
articles to be brought by stage. Others
obtained a weekly supply brought by
boat. Several Inwood boatmen for
years supplied most of the needs of
the section. They visited Brooklyn and
New York weekly in their steam
launches and returned with ample sup-
plies.

The first combined effort for improve-
ments was an association formed in
1880 "to plant trees, improve streets
and walks, water streets, etc." In that
>ear Edmund J. Healy, who was Justice
of the Peace for the Town of Hemp-
stead, built a court house on Mott

avenue, where justice was administered
by him. The system of water supply
by individual wells began to be super-
seded when the first water company's
supply was established in 1885. The
village had by that time grown so large
that a charter of incorporation was ap-
plied for and issued in 1888, when the
following village officials were chosen:
Edmund J. Healy, president; Benjamin
B. Mott, F. L. Richmond and Joseph P.
Kelly, trustees; William A. Wynn, treas-
urer; Benjamin C. Lockwood, collector,
and J. Joseph Mott, village clerk.

At the time of its incorporation the
village had a lock-up and two police-
men and was lighted by oil lamps in the
thoroughfares where stores existed.
Otherwise there was no lighting sys-
tem. Cesspools were the only means
of drainage. Streets were not graded
or paved and while the summer time
provided a golden harvest for all, win-
ter weather provided many real hard-
ships. The Volunteer Fire Department
consisted of the Protective Hook and
Ladder Company and the Oceanic and
Mohawk Hose companies. The Atlan-
tic Hose Company No. 1 of Far Rocka-
way was the first fire company in the
village and is shown on the picture
illustrated, which was taken in 1879.
Shortly after incorporation a sewer

G.\S COMPANY'S OFFICE.

system was urged, to be paid for by
funds raised on village bonds and ex-
pended under the supervision of the
Sewer Commission. Local politics pre-
vented the adoption of any such sys-
tem, for several years, and it was not
until 1897 that a sewer system was laid
and disposal plant built. The village
trustees also contracted with the gas
company for the main streets to be
lighted with gas, and various main
thoroughfares were paved and curbed
by the village officials after incorpora-
tion.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Judge Healy served three consecu-
tive years as village president and was
succeeded in that office by William
Wynn, Andrew McTigue, Philip Scott
and Brockholst Carroll.

The first post office in Far Rockaway,
after Jennings' corner ceased to be
post office for the village, was at Bran-
denberg's Swiss cottage, opposite Clark
avenue, on Broadway. James Branden-
berg was first village postmaster. Oth-
ers who followed him were Eugene
Frank Cole, Edward Nostrand, David

Far Rockaway, with the incorporated
villages of Arverne-by-the-Sea and
Rockaway Beach, were made the Fifth
Ward of the Borough of Queens, gov-
erned by the Mayor of New York.

Justice of the Peace Edmund J.
Healy was appointed city magistrate,
and it is interesting to note that
Thomas I. Conerty, who was then ap-
pointed magistrate's clerk: Harry
Vaughn, court interpreter, and John J.
Healy, assistant clerk, still hold those
positions under the city.

hidt^i^ .-r-^^',, .

^^^^-^•&.' -.#J^

M^f

i^-^^^B

ATLANTIC HOSE COMPANY NO. 1 IN 1879.

Left to right: B. L. Carroll, R. H. Griffin, Ben West, J. Caffrey, Edward Roche,
Jack Mimnaugh, .J. Spellman, -James Brandenberg, M. Dwyer, Ben Harnett, Mike
O'Brien, Edward Canning, J. Coleman and Thomas Prendergast.

Jennings, Thomas Henderson, Andrew
McTigue and Dr. Henry J. France.

After incorporation the civic spirit
and advancement was the cause of
many community improvements. A
local bank was established; stores and
storekeepers became very progressive;
the local newspaper, the "Rockaway
Journal," under the late Watkin W.
Jones' management, was a real help
to the village; the first part of the
present fine school house was built, re-
ligious bodies of various denominations
organized and enlarged their spheres
of action ; transit facilities were im-
proved with the growing demands;
water and gas companies were formed;
telephone services generally were in-
stalled, and the essentials of local gov-
ernment and the locally governed be-
came established and created a real,
if small, city by the sea.

At the height of its properity the
village lost its individuality and was
absorbed in Greater New York when
that city was created on January 1st,
1898. Most of the local officials re-
tired to private life and the village of

The old school house, the site of
which had been given solely for that
I'urpose by Benjamin B. Mott, was re-
leased from this restriction in 1893
when the Union Free District school on
State street was built, and was used
as a village hall until consolidation,
then for a few months as a police sta-
tion, and after August, when the pres-
ent police station on Broadway was
used, it became the Magistrates' Court,
and so remains.

Since consolidation the prosperity of
the village has not increased as in
former years. All the sections have
become built up with cottages, resi-
dences and hotels ranging in value
from $3,000 to $50,000; transit facili-
ties leave little to be desired, beyond
elimination of the dangerous grade
crossings ; the permanent population
and the number of summer visitors
have increased greatly; amusements
and entertainments are plentifully pro-
vided ; there are many more stores ; yet,
the spirit of civic pride has greatly
waned. The more intelligent, and
those who have the best interests of

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

the place really at heart although al-
ways working hard for betterment, are
apathetic in local elections, knowing
the futility of trying to make them-
selves heard or being properly repre-
sented in the councils of the Greater
City, in order to secure greatly need-
ed improvements. The consequence is
that the old spirit of emulation and in-
terest in affairs of the village, does not
exist with the class of men needed and
the same class as formerly, so that lo-
cal politics are in the hands of men
whose mentality and ability are not
of the highest order.

There are no large employers of la-
bor in Far Rockaway, which is a resi-
dential village. Some of the perma-
nent residents work in New York City
and "commute" daily; others are in-
dependent, and a large number own
houses which they rent out in the sum-
mer time and occupy during the win-
ter. There are four churches, two
synagogues, a splendidly equipped and
spacious hospital conducted by the Sis-
ters of St. Joseph; two banks; three
newspapers; many spacious and elab-
orate hotels; a cable terminal where the
Atlantic cables reach the shores of
America; the Ocean Country Club and
golf clubs ; the Bayswater Yacht and
Golf clubs; numerous tennis clubs; nu-
merous public garages; moving picture
theatres; numerous splendid stores
offering a complete market center, and a
post office.

The 279th precinct police station and
lock-up are located at Broadway oppo-
site Mott avenue, and 44 men, including
captain and lieutenants, are permanent-
ly stationed there and the precinct ex-
tends from the Lawrence and Inwood
boundaries to Cronin's crossing at
Arverne.

The city fire department is housed
in a fine brick building on Central
avenue and has the latest motor appara-
tus as well as horse drawn equipment.
Twenty-three firemen are always sta-
tioned at this fire house.

The estimated permanent population
of Far Rockaway (including Edgemere
and the Half Way House sections) is
11,000 persons.

Local places of interest are the vari-
ous churches, public library, St. Mary's
Star-of-the-Sea Academy, St. Joseph's
Convent, the Seaman cottage on Mott
avenue, the ancient Cornell Burying

Ground on Greenwood avenue, and the
beautiful beach.

The Indian Shell Banks.

Up to twenty years ago there was a
number of shell banks in the peninsula.
There are still signs of the banks on
the marshes of Woodmere Bay. Other
banks existed at Inwood, Hog Island
(Barnum's Island) and Far Rockaway.

The Far Rockaway shell bank was
enormous and must have contained
many thousand tons of clam shells. It
was located at Bayswater on Judge
Healys' property, but was carted away
and used for filling in purposes and
road making.

The belief exists that these shell
banks mark the former feasting places
of the Indians, who consumed, on those
occasions, tremendous quantities of
clams. When dried, these clam shells
were made into wampum, which was the
Indian equivalent for money.

Secret Ballot First Tested in Village.

Far Rockaway achieved state wide
fame on September 9th, 1890, when it
was the scene of the first test of the
new election law which enforced secret
ballots. Judge Healy was the first
voter, and the voting took place in the
Court room (now Hetzel's Old Court
House Hotel), on Mott avenue. Rep-
resentatives of all the great daily news-
papers of New York were present, as
well as many politicians of note at that
day, and we copy extracts from news-
paper reports which give a fairly vivid
relation of the scenes which took place:
"The first election under the new
Ballot Reform law was held yesterday
in. the incorporated village of Far
Rockaway, in the town of Hempstead,
Queens County.

"A large number of New York poli-
ticians went down to see how the re-
form worked, and the whole village,
including the babies, were more or
less present to see the important
voters do the important act.

"Yesterday's election may be called
an experimental election in this State.
The provisions of the law were not
strictly observed. The public was al-
lowed to occupy the space in front of

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

Some Pioneers in Civic Development of the Community

WILLIAM S. PETTIT.

H. G. HEYSON.

CHARLES R. BETTES.

VALENTINE W. SMITH.

SAMUEL R. SMITH.

CARLETON MACY.

ANDREW McTIGUE.

THOMAS I. CONERTY. WILLIAM J. MCKENNA.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

the bar. Moreover the act says that
no electioneering- shall go on within
one hundred and fifty feet of the poll-
ing place, and that was utterly disre-
garded. It must be so in every local-
ity where there is no police to see that
the law is carried out.

"It was very curious to see the can-
didates who were running for office,
acting as inspectors, clerks and can-
vassers. It is according to the village
charter and the same system prevails
in some other towns. It is an anom-
aly and the attention of the Legisla-
ture may be called to it next year.
Not that there was anj' 'crooked' work
yesterday, for the contest seemed to
be carried on fairlj' and squarely,
though with warmth. Still there was
nothing to prevent ballot box stuffing
or doing the 'three card monte' act
with the ballots. At times there was
considerable confusion when chal-
lengers at the bar were shouting to
the ballot clerk, and at these times it
would have been easy for the receiver
to have deposited the wrong ballot.

"The Ballot Clerk was F. L. Rich-
mond, the Poll Clerk Joseph J. Molt;
the Chairman, Nathaniel B. Day.

"At 1:13 President Healey an-
nounced: 'Gentlemen, the Trustees
have given me the courtesy to cast the
first ballot under the new law.' He
selected a ballot and repaired to the
booth. Immediately after ex-Assem-
blymen Hines and Cronin followed,
nines reappeared within half a min-
ute and deposited his vote. Cronin
was in the booth only thirty-five sec-
onds. Healey was slow. He was in a
minute and a half. Then he appeared,
and, discovering that he had made a
mistake, he disappeared again for
half a minute to perfect his ballot. It
was then learned that the inspector of
election had failed to put his initials
on Mr. Healey's ballot. Hines ambled
back to the booth and Cronin discov-
ered he had left his ballots on resolu-
tions behind him. No attention what-
ever was paid to the printed instruc-
tions. The rule making it obligatory
for every voter to remain in the booth
three minutes was flagrantly violated.
Not one voter for the first half hour
had the faintest idea how to fold his
ballot. Voters would saunter out
with ballots in their hands, walk
around the room, consult with their

friends, and end the proceedings by
presenting the ballots to the inspec-
tor.

"A man named Smith had been
making himself conspicuously noisy
for half an hour. He had been eject-
ed from the space inside the rail and
taken up a reclining position on top
of it, where he held forth, assisted
now and then by his cronies, Hines
and Cronin. He now demanded to be
allowed to enter a booth and prepare
a ballot for one James Finley, the
ancient mariner of Hog Island, a
modern reproduction of Capt. Cuttle,
on the ground that Finley was physi-
cally incapable. The only thing the
matter with Finley was that he was
drunk and had lost his sea legs. But
he could read and write, he informed
the Commissioners, and he was given
a ballot. An old fellow named Mullin
now boisterously forced his way into
the voting space and proceeded to
make a speech. He proceeded as far
as 'it is my ambition,' when he was
grabbed by the throat and hurled bod-
ily out.

"Smith again became offensive. He
was manifestly against Healey, and
lost no opportunity to display his an-
tagonism. He brought forth three
men, Finley, Martin Welch and
Thomas McTigue. 'These men can't
write and they want my assistance.
They are physically incapable.' The
inspectors claimed that they must
vote without Smith's assistance. Old
Finley had in the meantime stumbled
out of the booth. Smith called him
over and talked for a minute or two.
The voter finally left him, tacked
toward the ballot box, changed his
mind, and, ballot in hand, staggered
out. Smith's other friends had ob-
tained their ballots, but when the in-
spectors refused to allow him to ar-
range them. Smith ordered them to
leave the room. To the most dis-
interested observer it was apparent
by this time that nothing would be
left undone to frustrate the opera-
tions of the law.

"Within twenty minutes this con-
tingent, with Finley at their head,
had returned. They had been taken
out and instructed. Each held in his
hand a crumpled ballot. Finley stag-
gered in first, and threw his ballot in
front of the inspectors. 'There it is,'

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Some Pioneers in Civic Development of the Community

WILLIAM A. WYNN. BENJAMIN C. LOCKWOOD. BROCKHOLST L. CARROLL.

WATKINS W. JONES.

SMITH M. DECKER.

DANIEL BROWN.

THORNDYKE C. McKENNEE.

WILLIAM J. BUCKLEY.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

he stammered. 'Great Heavens!' ex-
claimed Smith, 'he's giving up the
ticket we marked for him!' Then,
turning to the other men. Smith
yelled : 'Vote the ticket with the paster
on.' And again : 'Put your paster on
one of those tickets. Go back in the
booth and use your paster.' By this
time the inspectors' patience was ex-
hausted and they forthwith ejected
Finley and his three confederates.

"When it came to the counting of
the votes, the simplicity of the con-
ditions of this trial was again in fa-
vor of the election officers. They can-
vassed the five-name tickets by offices,
handling each ballot five times, and
announcing the result of the contest
for each office as soon as it was
reached. They were two hours count-
ing the 306 votes that were cast in five
hours and six minutes, of which fifty-

five were cast in the first hour. The
result was:

"For President — Edmund J. Healy,
163; Joseph McKim, 140; blank, 3.
"For Trustee, two years — William

A. Wynn, 295; blank, 8.

"For Trustee, one year — Nathaniel

B. Day, 120; Andrew McTigue, 180;
blank, 4.

"For Treasurer — Samuel B. Alt-
hause, Jr., 163; L. T. Mulhearn, 155;
blank, 6.
For Collector— B. C. Lockwood, 304.

"One of the resolutions, for raising
a tax of $15,000, was carried by a ma-
jority of one.

"The watchers at the canvass were
D. L. Starks, W. W. Jones, B. Smith
and Louis Walters.

"Judge Healy said it was one of the
quietest elections they had had and a
great improvement on the old sys-
tem."

THE OUTER BEACH CALLED HOG ISLAND

The beach at Far Rockaway, and for
many miles east and west, is undergoing
frequent local changes. Many times the
surf washes away several rods in width
during a single storm, and perhaps the
next storm adds more than has been re-
moved by the preceding one. The sea
often makes inlets to the bays and
marshes, and as often fills up others,
and for this reason, if no other, it is
impossible to correctly give a geographi-
cal history of this section. The flow of
the ocean is from east to west and while
thousands of tons of sand are frequent-
ly washed away at easterly points and
entrances to inlets and small harbors,
this sand is deposited on and adds to
the westerly portions of the same
places.

The bathing beach of the village
Avhich, of course, is the greatest at-
traction to the enormous number of
summer visitors, was not always as it is
today. Up to fifteen years ago the bath-
ing beach v\-as separated from the vil-
lage beach proper by Far Rockaway Bay
and Inlet, and it was on this outer

beach, or Hog Island as it was called on
account of its resemblance to a hog's
back, that a large number of bath
houses, owned variously by Friel,
Wynn, Caffrey, Gipson, Lockwood and
Smith, were erected. The outer beach,
about one thousand feet off shore, was
reached from the mainland by ferry
boats. One of these was operated along
a cable and another by sailboats, each
being run by the bathing house proprie-
tors, a fare of five cents per passenger
being charged.

The outer beach was formed grad-
ually by the ocean depositing sand on
its westward sweep from Long Beach.
Years ago the ocean came up to where
Mr. Roche's tennis courts now are and
laved the shore adjoining Roche's
Tack-a-pou-sha Hotel, Caffrey's "Ku-
loff" and the United States Hotel.
When the outer beach became perma-
nent enough, its commercial possibili-
ties were quickly taken advantage of,
and, in addition to its bathing and pic-
nic attractions, two or three restau-
rants furnishing refreshments and en-

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE EOCKAWAYS

tertainment were established. One
such place, owned by Patrick Craig,
was much frequented by Tammany
Hall politicians who, in the summer
time, made Hog Island the scene of their
deliberations, as the Indians of old
time had made the other Hog Island,
now Barnum's Island in Woodmere
Bay, the scene of their pow wows. Many
conferences of great import to New
York Citj^ took place in this out-of-doors
annex to Tammany Hall, and it was at
this time that the village was called
familiarly in certain political circles,
the Irish Saratoga.

During a great storm in the fall of
1893, the outer beach disappeared be-
neath the waves and every vestige of
it and of all the buildings upon it was
totally destroyed. Where one day had
appeared this excellent pleasure resort
of many thousands of people, which
thousands of dollars had been invested
upon, next day nothing was to be seen
except an unbroken surface of water.
Father Neptune had claimed his own
again, but fortunately had taken no toll
in human lives.

The beach is again forming, however,
and may yet be used as it formerly was,
but now there is no Inlet, as then exist-
ed, flowing through Wave Crest and
into Jamaica Bay. The beautiful Wave
Crest lake, as it was termed, was filled
in about ten years ago when Frederick
J. Lancaster's company opened up the

principal establishment is that of Ed-
ward Eoche and is illustrated herewith.
It has two thousand modern sanitary
bathhouses located directly at the
beach and every comfort and conven-
ience of bathers, old or young, male or
female, is thoughtfully catered to. On
the beach itself are comfortable chairs
and shades, refreshment and cigar

AFTER THE STORM IN 1903 AT FAR ROCKAWAY
BEACH.

booths, shower baths, manicuring and
hot salt water baths; there is a large
parkway for automobiles ; several splen-
did tennis courts, and above all a great
stretch of glorious sandy beach. At
certain times a small steamboat, the
Oysterette, takes bathers without
charge to the new sand bar now form-
ing out in the ocean. And lastly, the
pleasure seeker, gently tired from the

ROCHE'S BATHING ESTABLISHMENT, ONE OF THE BEST EQUIPPED ON THE ATLANTIC COAST.

Edgemere section as a real estate de-
velopment.

The bathing facilities formerly af-
forded on Hog Island are far outclassed
by the splendid modern bathhouse
plants at Far Rockaway Beach. The

day's enjoyments in the health-giving
ozone, may board an electric trolley car
almost outside his bathing house and
in a few minutes be transported to the
main part of the village or to the rail-
road depot.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCK '

EDGEMERE

The Edgemere section of Far Rock-
away was first opened up and developed
by Frederick J. Lancaster in 1892, The
road between Arverne and Far Rocka-
way had then been made, but only two
or three houses existed in the whole
area, which was a sandy waste, the
only building of any pretension west
of Wave Crest being the Half Way
House, a hostelry.

Mr. Lancaster first called the place
New Venice, but this was later changed
to Edgemere, and is so called today. In
addition to filling the marsh lands in
and making roads, the magnificent

parish of St. Mary's at Far Rockaway.
A large area of land north of the rail-
road tracks has been filled in, graded
and sold ofi: in building lots.

The Edgemere section is greatly ex-
posed and although that fact renders
it a most desirable summer resort and
many fine houses have been built, there
are very few winter residents.

The Half Way House section, extend-
ing from a point west of the railroad
station to the Arverne boundary, was a
summer tent colony up to five years ago.
Since that time various real estate de-
velopers have filled the land in on the

ST. MARY'S LYCEUM, BROADWAY, FAR ROCKAWAY.

Edgemere Club or Hotel was built. This
was at the ocean front and near the In-
let. The hotel was equipped and fur-
nished on a lavish scale and opened in
1894. At that time the beautiful Wave
Crest lake existed and connected Far
Rockaway Bay with Norton's Creek and
Jamaica Bay. The lake and the Inlet
were later filled in to make more build-
ing lots. The early development of
Edgemere was slow but during the past
few years there have been numerous
sales, and a large number of houses, a
few stores, and several high-class sum-
mer hotels, erected. The Roman Cath-
olic Mission of St. Gertrude was opened
at the pretty church built in 1911 near
the railroad station, and is part of the

ocean and bay sides of the railroad
ti'acks, and there are now hundreds of
small frame houses and bungalows and
a chain of stores. Those on the ocean
side are essentially for summer use, but
many of the houses on the Boulevard
side of the track are occupied during
the summer and winter. There is a fine
modern hotel, the Half Way House,
owned and conducted by Richard N.
Noland, who is also the leading and
most aggressive worker for the sec-
tion. He originated the Half Way
House Improvement Society which suc-
ceeded in getting the Long Island rail-
road trains to stop at that station
during the summer months.

DEI

T'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

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BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

ARVERNE

PRIOR to the year 1882 there
were no houses in the sec-
tion now known as Arverne,
excepting two or three fishermen's
shacks. In that year four men erect-
ed houses. William Scheer built the
first house, and soon afterwards Freder-
ick Bessler, Martin Meyer and Reming-
ton Vernam built two more houses each.

The first house built by Mr. Scheer
stood about 500 feet south of the present
boulevard on Cedar avenue, which, with
Wave Crest avenue, became the first
street in Arverne. At that time the
section was a sandy waste, in parts of
which grew a number of cedar trees.
The gentlemen named, like others, had
purchased land in Arverne, being at-
tracted by its wonderfully vitalizing
atmosphere and easy accessibility to the
city. In those days a clear title to prop-
erty in the section was a very scarce
thing, and the services of lawyers were
in great demand to clear up the difficul-
ties. It is well known that many law-
yers made a great deal of money by spe-
cializing in clearing up "cloudy" titles,
and some of them became both owners
and lawyers in the same transactions.
Remington Vernam, a New York attor-
ney, was apparently one of the latter
class, and he had a great deal to do with
the development of Arverne. The place
was named after him, "R. Vernam."

Several purchasers of property in Ar-
verne, including Mr. Scheer, paid for the
same property more than once. This
was occasioned by their having been in-
duced to buy property from "squatters,"
only to find, after parting with their
money, that their title was not market-
able, and they would have to buy from
persons deriving title under the Cornell
partition suit.

The section now known as Arvern3,
and Edgemere were the last parts of the
peninsula to be improved. Remington
Vernam took up his residence at Ar-
verne, and, after much bartering, bar-
gaining, compromising and suing, be-
came the owner of considerable areas
which he speculated in, and sold off in
smaller lots.

William Scheer, a wealthy resident, in

straightening out the title to land he had
already purchased, became, somewhat un-
willingly, purchaser of a large area. He
aided his early neighbors who had faulty
titles to substantiate them. He retained
and built up about two blocks for him-
self and then sold the remainder to Ver-
nam for a nominal sum.

Another early developer was William
H. Amerman, who unexpectedly discov-
ered that he owned a strip of land 800
feet in width running from ocean to bay.
It appeared that in 1837, during the
plague of cholera then prevalent, Mr.
Amerman's father had purchased this
land from the Cornell heirs, laid in a
stock of food and isolated himself and
returned to New York and apparently
forgotten he ever owned the land. Many
years later, when attention was attract-
ed to the seashore, Mr. Amerman was
attracted with it and discovered his own-
ership. He built several houses and still
owns a portion of his father's original
purchase.

Vernam and other owners set men to
work leveling sand dunes, filling holes,
clearing up and straightening the old
sand path and making the property more
attractive to intending purchasers and
home seekers.

The Rockaway Railway, a steam route,
branch of the South Side Railroad, was
running an infrequent train service
through Arverne between Far Rockaway
and Rockaway Beach, on tracks laid par-
allel with and near to the ocean front,
about 100 feet south of the present bou-
levard.

Numerous wealthy residents of New
York were attracted to Arverne and built
fine houses. Gas and water mains were
laid and streets mapped out. Ocean ave-
nue was the name given to the main thor-
oughfare, and in 1887 the Long Island
Railroad Company, which succeeded the
South Side, was induced to remove its
tracks to the present track bed, and a
station called Arverne was located at
Gaston avenue which became the centre
of the village. The former nearest stop
was Atlantic Park, a seaside hotel run
by Mr. John Kreuscher. The railway
company had been promised a quit claim

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

to the site by Vernam, but it was not
delivered to them and they erected an-
other station further east at Straiten
avenue, where all trains stopped instead
of at Gaston avenue. This expedited the
development of the easterly end of the

vious to this the inlet at Wave Crest, and
the boggy land intervening, rendered
communication between these places dif-,
ficult, and sometimes impossible. A
boardwalk three feet above the beach
level, was also constructed by property

REMINGTON VERNAM.

WILLIAM SCHEER.

LOUIS J. SOMERVILLE.

village very greatly. The old residents
objected to the stoppage of trains at
Gaston avenue, and retained the services
of the late Mayor of New York City, for-
mer Judge William J. Gaynor, to fight
for a renewal of the service. Judge Gay-
nor waged a sharp but successful fight
against the railroad company, which was
ordered to renew the interrupted service.

owners about 300 feet north of the pres-
ent boardwalk. This walk held the sand,
became covered and made more beach for
the owners, who soon afterwards erected
another similar walk nearer the ocean,
which again made more beach.

An ambitious project was the building
of the Arverne Hotel in 1888. This was
an imposing structure located on Rem-

5 - '~-

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jj «Sf!

THE ARVERNE HOTEL.

The Gaston avenue station continued to
be the main station until 1912, when the
present station was built.

About the same time, in 1886, a road-
way was built connecting Far Rockaway
with Arverne and Rockaway Beach. Pre-

ington avenue at the ocean front. The
building was, and is, one of the largest
in the Rockaways. It was estimated
to cost $60,000 but before it was com-
pleted it is said the total outlay was
iibout $200,000.

100

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

The summer train service was gradu-
ally improved and the place became a
fashionable summer resort. Many
wealthy families occupied summer homes
find building proceeded in all directions.
Stores were erected in the vicinity of the
two railroad stations, and in 1888, a
Protestant church fronting Ocean ave-
nue was built with funds raised by pub-
lic subscription, on land given for that
purpose exclusively, by William H. Amer-
man. The church was known as the
"Union Church," erected for the use of
any and all Protestant denominations,
who were ministered to during the sum-
mer months by visiting clergymen. This
was the only Christian church ever in
Arverne. With the influx of the He-
brew population the church fell into dis-
use, and the structure was moved to the
Crippled Children's Home in Summer-
field avenue some months ago and con-
verted into an extension of the home.

The delights and benefits of surf bath-
ing became increasingly popular and the
beautiful Arverne beach, clean and gently
sloping, free from treacherous currents,
became the chief attraction. To accom-
modate the thousands of bathers of both
sexes, numerous large bath houses were
erected on and adjacent to the beach, and
formed one of the principal sources of
revenue.

With the advance of the place, and a
corresponding increase in the number
of residents, a sense of civic pride im-
pelled them to combine in order to ef-
fect permanent improvements.

Towards the end of 1895 a meeting of
residents was held at the house of the
late Benjamin Lichenstein for the pur-
pose of voting on a petition to incor-
porate the village. There were then
about 125 residents and they decided to
incorporate. A charter was granted the
same year under the name of Arverne-
by-the-Sea. The officers elected were:
John R. Waters, president; William
Scheer, Isidor Stern and Henry Toste-
vin, trustees; Henry E. Knight, treas-
urer, and Adolphus E. Karelsen, village
clerk. The same gentlemen remained in
office until the village was consolidated
with the remainder of the Fifth Ward
in Greater New York, January 1st,
1898. The most important work accom-
plished by the village board was in 1897.
when they raised, by issuing bonds, the
sum of $200,000 with which they e.stab-
lished grades at all street crossings, laid

sewers, curbed streets, lighted them by
gas lamps, and made and extended Ocean
avenue beyond Storm avenue toward
Edgemere. Arverne streets are laid on
a model plan, running north and south,
200 feet apart.

In the years 1900-1901 the Arverne
boardwalk was built by the various ocean
front owners, with one or two exceptions
and these were made up by the other
ocean front owners. This was an ele-
vated timber structure built on spiles
high above the water at high tide, and is
a famous ocean promenade. It is about
three-quarters of a mile in length and
has fronting it several blocks of stores,
bathing houses and open beaches. Many
people there are who claim that the
boardwalk was always Arverne's greatest
asset. It is a delightful place, affording
views of the broad Atlantic ocean and
enjoyment of the pure ozone wafted in.

Arverne came into the heyday of its
popularity about this time. Pleasure and
familyhotels and boardinghousessprang
up all around, a greatly accelerated train
service was secured, private coaching
parties from Brooklyn and Long Island
made the village their resort, ^and a
large and handsome theatre was built
south of the boardwalk over the ocean.
This theatre, which had a seating ca-
pacity of 800, and was thoroughly
equipped with a large stage, was com-
pletely washed away on the night of
January 5th, 1914, during a violent storm
which tore up the ends of many streets,
washed away several houses and par-
tially wrecked the boardwalk. Persons
who had seen the theatre intact on the
preceding night were unable to find a
vestige of the structure next morning,
excepting half a dozen of those spiles
which supported it.

The boardwalk has many times suf-
fered damage by violent storms, and al-
though always repaired, should be re-
placed with a new walk.

As the section south of the railroad
tracks rapidly filled up, Vernam turned
his attention to the marsh lands north
and running to Jamaica Bay. This tract
was considerably larger than the older
section of Arverne. Filling in opera-
tions were commenced and the task
proved to be a gigantic one. Vernam
died in 1907, after having shortly be-
fore his demise sold the entire section to
the Somerville Realty Company, which
immediately proceeded to bulkhead the

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

101

property, fill it in with sand pumped
from the bay, and lay out modern streets
with parkways. This property is now
known as Somerville Park and is so
named after its developers. Where ten
years ago existed swamps and marsh
lands there are now stores, upwards of
two hundred cottages and valuable com-
mercial dock front lots.

Five years ago, William Scheer caused
a large tract of land owned by him north
of the tracks, adjoining Somerville Park,
bounded by Jamiaca Bay on the west
and Somerville Park on the east, to be
bulkheaded and filled in to a high grade.
The immediate future of this section is

There are no manufactures or indus-
tries and the prosperity of the place de-
pends entirely upon the patronage from
summer visitors who are attracted by the
bathing, boating and fishing but above
all by the wonderful health-giving and
invigorating climate. The summer car-
nivals, until recently held at Arverne,
were among the earliest, most elaborate,
and best-known throughout the country.

There has been a government life-sav-
ing station at Arverne for more than
forty-five years past, the first keeper hav-
ing been Daniel B. Mott. It is now
termed the Coast Guard Station and is
at the easterly end of the village. There

pregnant with large commercial possi-
bilities, as much of this property has
frontage to deep and navigable water.

The Somerville Improvement Society
efficiently looks after the territory north
of the tracks. Its officers are Frederick
W. Avery, president; Arnold Wetzler,
vice-president; Howard Hosmer, treas-
urer, and Charles R. Minnis, secretary.

Credit should be given to the Women
of Arverne, who have been well to the
front in its civic affairs and have raised
funds to pay for cleaning the streets
and lighting the boardwalk.

Although Arverne is essentially a sum-
mer resort, there are now several hun-
dred permanent all-year residents. In
addition to the public school and two
railroad stations, there are a post office,
numerous stores, a synagogue, moving
picture theatre and public garages.

is a keeper, Joseph D. Meade, and nine
men are stationed there. They, and the
men at Rockaway Point, are in charge
of this section of the coast. The station
is well equipped, having two boats and
all apparatus for rescue work. Several
of the old mortar guns from which life
lines were fired out to wrecks in stormy
weather may be seen at the station.

The train service is excellent and the
system, like all others on the Rockaway
branch, is electrified. Direct connections
are had with Flatbush avenue, Brooklyn,
and Pennsylvania Station, IManhattan.
The running time is only about thirty
minutes.

The winter population is estimated at
1,000 persons.

Among the early developers and retsi-
dents of Arverne should be mentioned
0. K. Eldridge, S. E. N. Derickson,

102

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE KOCKAWAYS

Henry E. Knight, H. M. Tostevin,
Charles Dunham, Straiton, Storms, Wal-
ter Schifter, Benjamin Liehenstein, W.
H. Amerman, M. J. Mulqueen, Florian
Rohe, William Scheer, Martin Meyer,
Henry Shultheis, Ernest Ochs, John B.
Summerfield, B. A. Hard, Miss A. Bar-
rett, Nathaniel A. McBride, Arnold
Sampter, A. B. Ansliacher, Samuel Mos-
hacher, Joseph P. Powers, Captain

Kaiser, William Soramers, Arnold
Behrer, Kuttner and Sidel Tilghamn.

The central fire house of the Fifth
Ward is situated at Arverne. Battalion
Chief William E. Lawrence is in charge
of the section. The Arverne equipment
includes up-to-date motor and horse-
drawn apparatus and is handled by a
force of fourteen men.

ROCKAWAY BEACH

THE pioneer developer of Rock-
away Beach was James S. Rem-
sen, the popular and affable
"Uncle Jim" of Jamaica, who in 1853
with John M. Johnson purchased from
Charles G. Covert two-thirds of plot
No. 1, referred to at length in the chap-
ter on Sales and Division of Lots. Rem-
sen and Johnson's purchase was then
between the United States land at the
western end of the peninsula and the
Stringham tract. Two years later, in
1855, James S. Remsen bought another
plot of 300 acres from Lewis and Abram
Hewlett for $485.50, being about $1.62
an acre. In 1858 Remsen gave Johnson
$20,000 for the latter's interest, and
thereby became the sole owner.

Michael P. Holland, also of Jamaica,
purchased the section of Rockaway
Beach named after him in 1857 and
soon afterwards Louis Hammel ac-
quired the tract to the east of Holland.
Sixty years ago, Rockaway Beach was
known as the Lower Beach (from Far
Rockaway) and extended a little be-
yond the present entrance to the Belle
Harbor section. Land was valued only
for the salt hay it produced. It was
reached either by boa.t across Jamaica
Bay or from Far Rockawa,\' by a rough
wagon road across the meadows and
marshes where Edgemere ami Arverne
now are. The deep inlet which for-
merly swept straight between the point
of the beach and Barren Island was
moving in a westerly direction year by
year, and the peninsula was rapidly
being added to !jy the enormous sand

deposits made by the ocean. Many mil-
lions of dollars' worth of property have
in this manner been added to the west-
erly end of the peninsula and of late
years modern dredging and filling in
appliances have been brought to work
by real estate operators, who have
availed themselves of Dame Nature's
kindness and augmented her efforts to
give them land by bulkheading it, in
order to prevent it getting away again
and, by filling in sand from ocean and
bay, made it up to a suitable building
grade.

When the first post office was
opened at Rockaway Beach the sec-
tion was called Oceanus and that
name is still used by some post offices
today.

The oldest house is the old Dodge
Homestead on the Boulevard at Dodge
Avenue, and this is now being demol-
ished. In addition to this, there were
only four fishermen's houses, little bet-
ter than shacks, .vhen Remsen, Holland,
Hammel and others came. They real-
ized the conmiercial possibilities of the
place, which was a very narrow neck of
land with a slightly curving southerly
frontage to the Atlantic Ocean, and a
much indented northerly frontage to
Jamaica Bay, and the earliest efforts
were directed towards securing good
transportation from New York City and
New Jersey. The beach then formed
part of the Town of Hempstead.

In 1863 Remsen conveyed all the land,
excepting a strip 1,150 feet in width
running from ocean to bay, which he

EELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

103

Some Pioneers in Civic Development of the Community

JIICHAEL P. HOLLAND.

PHILIP CLOSS.

JAMES S. REMSEN ("UNCLE JIM").

JOHN W. WAINWRIGHT.

DAVID J. FELIO.

104

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

named Seaside Park, to Dr. Thompson.
In doing this Remsen's chief considera-
tion was to secure a railroad connecting
with Seaside Parlt, and Dr. Thompson
agreed to build a railroad from East
New York to Canarsie and maintain a
steam ferry route between Canarsie and
Seaside Park landing. This ferry route
was established and, although faulty in
its service, was the beginning of big
things for Seaside. In the meantime
other sections were undergoing changes.
As early as 1872 a steam railroad ex-
tension was run from Far Rockaway
along the ocean front through Edge-
mere and Arverne, and as the places
were built stops were made at Kreus-
cher's Atlantic Park (now Park Ave-
nue, Arverne), Eldert's Grove, the Hol-
land House, Remsen and Wainwright's
Seaside House and the Neptune House.
At that time the entire beach was
covered with groves of fine cedar trees
and, in addition to these shading de-
lightful pleasure grounds, they fur-
nished material for Ijuilding many
structures.

William Wainwright joined Remsen
in various enterprises at the beach
when he went there in 1874 and their
first important project was the build-
ing and opening of the Seaside House,
a fine hotel directly at Seaside landing
on Jamaica Bay. Other hotels were
erected and Rockaway Beach attracted
thousands of visitors and became flrmlj^
established as a popular summer re-
sort. The first hotels included the Surf
Pavilion, Metropolitan Hotel and grove,
Atlas Hotel, Mammoth Pavilion Ruland's
Seaside Pavilion, Hillyer's Surf House,
Grand Repubic Hotel, East End Hotel,
Hammel's Hotel, Atlantic Park Hotel,
Holland House, Eldert's Grove and
Hope's Centennial, all being located in
the Seaside, Holland and Hammel sec-
tions of the beach.

To Mr. Wainwright must be given
considerable credit for the early suc-
cess of Rockaway Beach as a summer
resort. Chiefly through his efforts and
perseverance num.erous large pleasure
steamers brought thousands of visitors
daily and they all landed at Seaside
landing, where three piers were built.
Seaside Avenue was the first street laid
out, and the site was chosen because it
was the shortest distance from bay to
ocean and the channel was deep close
inshore, rendering dockage economical

and enabling steamers of heavy draft
to dock easily.

Among the boats which docked there
were the Grand Republic; the Plymouth
Rock, being the old Boston boat; the
Neversink; the Americus, built by Wil-
liam Tweed ; the Tammany Tiger ; the
William Cook and the Twilight, all
from New York; the Majenta, from
Newark, N. J.; the Marion, from Jer-
sey City; the first Iron steamboat from
Yonkers, being the Francis; and the
Blackbird and General Sedgwick.

Houses were built everywhere to ac-
commodate and cater to the needs and
pleasures of the many thousands who
visited the beach; countless bath houses
were erected on or near the beach front
to accommodate the bathers desiring a
dip in the ocean, and many amusement
centers were originated.

In 1878 Remsen and Wainwright
gave to the New Y^ork, Woodhaven and
Rockaway Railroad Company, all the
land forming the present Seaside Sta-
tion. About the same time Michael P.
Holland gave to the same company the
site of the present Holland Station, and
Louis Hammel gave the site of the
Hammel Station. The Rockaway
Beach Park Association, of v/hich
Henry Y. Attrill was president, gave
the site of the present Rockaway Park
railroad station. A condition of the
gift in each case was to the effect that
the stations should always bear those
names. In August, 1880, the first train
ran over the five-mile length of wooden
trestle which had been built by this
railroad company across Jamaica Bay,
reaching the beach at Hammel Station
and then proceeding westerly on a new
line laid connecting the stations named.
The old line nearer the o.cean front was
later taken up.

The opening up of this new steam
line made traveling to and from New
York and elsewhere very easy. Instead
of being a sparsely settled section,
building development proceeded evci-y-
where and lots rapidly increased in
value and demand. Speculators turned
their attention to the wonderful new
seashore development, and among other
schemes, one, which ended disastrously
for those financially interested, was the
construction of the largest hotel in the
world, known as the Rockaway Beach
Hotel and sometimes as Attrills Hotel.
This hotel was built by the Rockaway

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

105

Park Association at a cost of $1,250,000.
The plumbing in the building cost
$90,000. It stood facing the ocean and
covered a site from the present First
Avenue to Fifth Avenue. The hotel was
described in the year 1881 as follows :

"The Largest Hotel in the World.

"In 1881, while not yet completed, a
part of it was opened to the public
about the 1st of August. The building
is about 1,188 feet long by 250 feet
wide. It has several hundred rooms
and over 100,000 square feet of piazzas.
Near the hotel are a large number of

men on the building were never paid
and threatened to burn it down, but
later on they received certificates in the
assets of the association in lieu of
wages. James W. Husted had been ap-
pointed Receiver by the Court, and
John W. Wainwright, then a youth, was
his clerk or secretary in connection
with the affairs of the hotel. The struc-
ture was sold for $30,000 in 1884 and
torn down, parts of the material being
purchased by local men and utilized by
them in building hotels and other
houses.

THE MAMMOTH ROCKAWAY BEACH HOTEL.

bathing houses. The water and gas
supply is furnished from the company's
own works, a Holly pumping machine
forcing the water from a large well to
all parts of the hotel. The drainage
system is complete; all the refuse mat-
ter is discharged through massive iron
pipes at a point distant from the hotel,
and is carried by direct currents into
Jamaica Bay. The rooms are heated by
steam. The observatory on the top of
the hotel is two hundred feet square
and there are two elevators to it. An
unobstructed view of the ocean, the bay
and the Long Island country for miles
around is obtained from this elevation."
The hotel was never opened, with the
exception of one wing for about a
month in August, 1881. It was sump-
tuously furnished. Forty average per-
sons could have walked up the main
stairway arm in arm. Many of the work-

Another ambitious project was the
famous iron pier constructed at Seaside
by Theodore Havemeyer. It was then
the largest pier in the United States
and extended about 1,300 feet into the
ocean, afliording landing, at times, for
steamers. The pier head was 82 feet
wide and the pier itself 32 feet in width.
A portion of the pier still remains, but
the greater length of it has been washed
a.way by violent storms during the past
few years.

Among the early settlers and devel-
opers of Rockaway Beach, in addition
to those already mentioned, i. e., Rem-
sen, Johnson and Wainwright, are the
following: Garret Eldert, Luke Eldert,
Michael P. Holland, John Jainieson,
John Bond, Louis Hammel, John Waters,
Peter McGirris, Al. Buland, Harper &
Strumpf, E. E. Datz, Harry A. Failing,
Louis Phillips, Charles A. Schilling,

106

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

Edgar L. Morrison, Sam Myers, Henry
Hilmyer, David J. Felio, George
Burchell, John Healy, Phillip Gloss,
Dr. Brandreth, Henry W. Isaacs, John
J. Curley, Jacob Kohn, Emanuel Arnold,
Richard A. Simpson, John Barry, Henry
Schonke, Alfred G. Bedell, Benjamin
Ryder, William Henne, L. A. Wollen-
weber, Frank Sheppard, John R. Mur-
ray, Theodore Kruse, Martin Meyer,
George Bennett, John R. Vail, John J.
Kelly, AxUgu.st Wiedeimann, John Han-
ley, Gharles Crabbe, Albert Meisel,
Gharles A. Dashby, Valentine Seaman,
George L. Lambert, Thomas J. Gorning
and William E. Meissner.

In 1886 the boulevard connecting
Rockaway Beach with Far Rockaway
was completed. The permanent popu-
lation at the beach at that time was
estimated at one thousand persons.

About the same time First Gongrega-
tion Ghurch and shortly afterwards the
Roman Gatholic Church of St. Rose of
Lima were built.

A great fire occurred at Seaside on
September 20th, 1892, when a large part
of the main section, including all build-
ing from ocean to bay between Henry
Street and Gentre Street, were de-
stroyed. The fire occurred after the
close of the season's Imsiness, but its
effects were most disastrous. The dam-
age by fire and water was estimated at
half a million dollars

In the following year the section was
rebuilt and many more places of enter-
tainment and amusement soon sprang
up. An elevated ocean front boardwalk
from Holland to Seaside was erected
and added greatly to the attractions of
the place, which soon came to be one
of the best known summer resorts in
the country.

On July 1st, 1897, the Village of
Rockaway Beach, Queens Gounty, New
York, was incorporated with the follow-
ing officers: John W. Wainwright,
president; Louis Kreuscher, John J.
Kelly and David J. Felio, trustees;
Thomas J. Gorning, treasurer; Clarence
W. Sherwood, collector; Harry A. Fail-
ing, clerk; Sanford Murray, street com-
missioner, and Dr. Obed L. Lusk, health
officer.

The Board of Health consisted of
William G. Wainwright, president;
Gharles Crabbe, John J. Curley, Michael
P. Holland, and Albert Meisel, secre-

tary. James M. Wainwright was village
constable.

At that time the assessed valuation
of the village was $570,000 and imme-
diately after incorporation village
bonds for $57,000 were issued and that
amount of money raised and expended
in street construction and paving.

The village was absorbed in Greater
New York on January 1st, 1898, and
lost its individuality thereby.

During the years of the development
of the older sections of the beach the
ocean was constantly adding land at a
rapid rate to the westerly end and since
consolidation the newer districts of
Belle Harbor and Neponsit have come
into being.

These two districts are high class
real estate developments formed by the
filling in and bulkheading of the west
end. In the year 1897 an electric trol-
ley line was constructed from Far
Rockaway running through Edgemere,
Arverne and all of Rockaway Beach,
including Hammel, Holland, Steeple-
chase, Seaside, Rockaway Park, Belle
Harbor, and terminating at Neponsit.
The fare charged is only five cents for
the entire distance and this line greatly
aided the development of Belle Harbor
and Neponsit, the nearest railroad sta-
tion to which places is at Fifth Avenue,
Rockaway Park. Many fine residences
are now built there and, in addition, the

p^msttltiii^*0li

HfeSHfeflEBU'.,n^

ON .JAMAICA HAY.

Episcopalian Church of St. Andrew,
and the Roman Gatholic Church of St.
Francis De Sales with its parochial
school, are located at Belle Harbor.

The city owns a large area acquired
for a seaside park and has erected a
huge hospital near the ocean front.
The United States Government has re-
cently constructed Fort Tilden near the
same point, and has, also, a life saving
station there. The peninsula terminates

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

107

Some Pioneers in Civic Development of the Community

JOHN A. RUTH

ANDKEW J. KENNY.

WILLIAM SCHONCKE.

108

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

at Rockaway Point, a little west of the
summer colony of Roxbury.

Rockaway Park is v/ell equipped with
numerous fine hotels, boarding houses,
modern stores, residences, garages, pub-
lic school, fire house and picture thea-
tre, in addition to which the beautifully
clean, wide beach, ideal for bathing
purposes, is overlooked by a wide
boardwalk. St. Malachy's Home for
Boys and the Hebrew Home occupy
large sites near the ocean front, and
educate and clothe a large number of
children.

The Seaside section is the summer
amusement section, and there are
located Morrison's Theatre, Wainwright
& Smith's Pavilion and Hotels, Felio's
New York Hotel, the Seaside House,
Healy's, Cunningham's, Schilling's,
Poggi's and numerous others, as well
as the innumerable attractions on the
Bowery and the Steeplechase section of
the boardwalk, v/here roller coasters,
picture theatres and the dark caves
offer ample means of passing the time
pleasantly at the ocean front.

The Holland and Hammel sections
have a more permanent population, and
the Boulevard is lined with stores from
one end to the other. In these districts
there are three churches; a Jewish

Synagogue; a large public school a
branch public library; a splendid free
hospital well equipped with a staff of
doctors, nurses and an ambulance; the
Rockaway Beach post office; two weekly
newspapers, the Wave and the Argus;
numerous summer and winter hotels;
boarding houses, garages and thou-
sands of bathing houses at the ocean
front, as well as many private resi-
dences. These sections are almost sol-
idly built up. A cable station for re-
ceiving Transatlantic messages is at
Fairview Avenue.

The Jamaica Bay shore between
Hammel and Neponsit is lined with
docks used by private yacht clubs, or
where boats of all descriptions maj'' be
hired. Some of the clubs have elabo-
rate quarters and great memberships,
the two best known being the Jamaica
Bay Yacht Club and the Belle Harbor
Yacht Club.

The 281st Precinct police station and
lockup are now in the old school house
at Boulevard and Academy Avenue,
Holland. The first station house (1898)
was in a brick building near the ocean
in Henry Street, Seaside, but a move
was made to the present quarters in
1901, when the public schoool was
opened across the Boulevard. There

DISTRICT ATTORNEY DENIS O'LEARY.

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

109

are fifty-two men, including captain
and lieutenants, permanently stationed
there, and the precinct includes all
the territory from Cronin's crossing,
Arverne, to Eockaway Point.

The City Fire Department has a sub-
stantial brick fire house at Fifth Ave-
nue, Eockaway Park, with motor and
horse-drawn apparatus handled by

twenty-two men ; an engine company
and fourteen men at Seaside; a hook
and ladder company with fourteen men
at Holland, and an engine company
with fourteen men at Grove Avenue,
Hammels.

There are no factorie.? at Eockaway
Beach, the total permanent population
of which is estimated at 12,000 persons.

THE SECESSION MOVEMENT

Prominent residents of the area occu-
pied by the former incorporated villages
of Far Eockaway, Arverne and Eock-
away Beach, which now form the Fifth
Ward of the Borough of Queens, have
during the past few years made stren-
uous attempts, well supported by a ma-
jority of the residents and property
owners, to secure more recognition from
the Greater City, and an expenditure of
money on this section in return for the
annual taxes paid in.

This area is assessed for the year
1917 for taxes at the sum of $60,301,710
and residents claim they do not receive
adequate attention to their needs in
return. They point out that an up-to-
date sewer system; an . ocean front
boardwalk from Far Eockaway to
Neponsit; a better highway or boule-
vard through their territory; better
main roads and a highway connecting

the Eockaways with Brooklyn, across
Jamaica Bay, are needed.

To secure these improvements they
claim they must again have local self-
government, and accordingly in the
spring of 1915 a bill was presented and
passed in the legislature at Albany
creating of the Fifth V/ard a separate
city called Eockaway City. At the time
of the presentation of the bill a great
delegation went from Eockaway on
special trains to Albany and a public
hearing was given in the Assembly
chamber. Hopes of success ran high
until the bill, which passed in the Sen-
ate and Assembly by very large major-
ities, was vetoed and thereby defeated
for that year by John Purroy Mitchel,
Mayor of New York City, after a public
hearing in City Hall.

The next year another bill was drawn
and presented, but was not pushed for

NATIONAL BANK, FAR ROCKAWAY.

110

BELLOT'S HISTORY OF THE ROCKAWAYS

passage. In 1917 the third measure was
strenuously urged and again success-
fully passed both houses and was again
sent to Mayor Mitchel Jor signature or
veto. The Mayor again vetoed the bill,
leading residents are hopeful that un-
der the administration of John F.
Hvlan, whose term of otfice as ]Mayor

commences on January 1st next year,
their needs will be better looked after
iind some serious attempt made to fur-
nish the most urgent of their require-
ments. In that event they express them-
selves willing to remain a part of the
greatest city in the world and forego
their applications for local autononfiy.

LONG ISLAND

NOTIC E

COPIES OF THIS BOOK

MAY

BE OBTAINED FROM

BELLOT'S HISTORIES. Inc.

FAR

ROCKAWAY, N. Y.

THE HARVEY PRESS, Inc.

New York City

The reliable news of the Rockaway Branch
from Hewlett to Arverne, each Friday

IN THE

Far Rockaway Journal

\V. HARVEY BEEGLE, Ediior
JAMES LOUCHEIM, Associate Editor

THE PRINTING PLANT

of the Journal is the

MOST MODERN ON LONG ISLAND

with type-setting machines, automatic presses
and other equipment. All kinds of printing
handled with dispatch.

BEEGLE PUBLISHING CO., props

341 Central Avenue, Far Rockaway, N. Y.

Telephone Far Rockaway 1056

Bank of Lawrence

CAPITAL AND SURPLUS - - $110,000.00

Special attention given to deposits hy n/aii
PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE

Lawrence New York

Established 1892 Telephone 245 Hammels

AMERICAN

STEAM LAUNDRY

The Laundry That Serves
You On Time and Right

LECHTMAN
LAUNDRY COMPANY

The Largest Laundry Plant on Long Island

469-471 Boulevard
Rockaway Beach, New York

FRANK F. BASSETT

Distributor and Service Station

For the

ROCKAWAYS

For

MOTOR CARS

CENTRAL AVENUE

LAWRENCE

Telephone, HAMMELS 4

THE JAMIESON & BOND CO.

ICE, COAL, WOOD

MASON MATERIALS
HAY AND FEED

CEMENT BUILDING BLOCKS
ROOFING SLAG

FOOT OF BOND AVENUE,

ROCKAWAY BEACH

Phone, Hammels 244

F. J. STAEHLE

and SONS
New Seaside Market

Meats

Poultry

Provisions

177 Boulevard,

Rockaway Beach

Tel. Call 173 Far Rockaway
P. O. Box 449

Far Rockaway
Ice Co.

J. J. MICHELS, Treas.

• • • M, \,^ Cj • • •

20-22 CORNAGA AVENUE

FAR ROCKAWAY, - - - N. Y.

Telephone 4*) Far Rocka^vay

GEORGE M. DIERINGER

jFuncral JBirector

CENTRAL AVENUE

FAR ROCKAWAY, N. Y.

A. V. JONES, President and Treasurer
H. E. SHARP, Secretary

Phone 17 Far Rockavvay

WATKIN W. JONES

(INCORPORATED)

Oldest Established

Real Estate and Insurance Agency

in the Rockaways

1919 MOTT AVENUE

FAR ROCKAWAY, L. I.

THE

PLAYHOUSE

Management of LLOYD L. CRAFT

Cedarhurst

The Home of Quality

PHOTO PLAYS

Cedarhurst's Only
Recreation and
Amusement Centre

EVENING and MATINEE PERFORMANCES

Outside Inn

JOHN A. EKENBERG
Lawrence Long Island

'Phones Far Rock. 573-4

VOEHL BROTHERS

Choice Meats and Poultry

282 Central Avenue

Far Rockaway

'Phone. Woodmere 3128

William Kerr Macdonald

BROADWAY, WOODMERE
REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE

HOUSES OF THE BETTER SORT FOR
SALE AND FOR RENT

ACREAGE FOR SALE AT WOODMERE
AND HEWLETT

Ocean House
Crest Hotel

Open from May 1st to October 1st

Belmore Hotel

Open all Year

Management

of Mrs. E. Fitzsimmons

Proprietor

Central Ave., Far Rockaway, N. Y.

RICHTER'S

HALCYON
CASINO
BATHS

AND

Bachelor Apartments

ADAM RICHTER, Proprietor

Boardwalk at Jessica Avenue
ARVERNE

TELEPHONE, FAR ROCKAWAY 595

Decker's Queens County
Ice M'f g Company, Inc.

R. B. and S. I. DECKER, Props.

FAR ROCKAWAY, N. Y.

Prompt Deliveries to Far Rockaway,
In wood, Lawrence and Cedar hurst

We Guarantee Our Ice Free from Disease Germs

Eitablished by I. B. Remsen 1880

Succeeded by S. N. Decker 1888

Succeeded by R. B. and S. I. Decker 1910

'Phone Far Rockaway 494

Thomas J. Nolan

PLUMBING

HEATING
METAL WORK

Estimates Furnished

25 Cornaga Ave., rockaway

CHAS. SMITH, President J. EZRA SMITH, Treasurer

Smith Bros. Plumbing Co.

Tels,, 1596 and 1597
Far Rockaway

PLUMBING, STEAM
and HOT WATER

HEATING

FURNACE WORK
SHEET METAL WORK

239 Central Ave. FAR ROCKAWAY, N, Y.

JOHN J. McCarthy

Sanitary Plumbing

'Phone, Far Rockaway 580

ESTABLISHED 1906

Steam and Hot Water Heating
Copper and Sheet Metal Work

Branch at Far Rockaway

! Broadway

«7 J I I 1 J

Woodmere, Long Island
Tel, 2'I57 Woodmere

Stephen A. Kelly

The PLUMBER

who personally superintends
every job he undertakes

Get an estimate
25iy2 CENTRAL AVE.

(Near Cornaga Avenue)

FAR ROCKAWAY

Telephone Connection

CEDARHURST
STORAGE

WILLIAM D. REILLY, Proprietor

Furniture Removed
and Stored

GENERAL CONTRACTING

'Phone, Far Rockaway 1118

Offices: Spruce Street, Cedarhurst

C. A. Schiffmacher

INC.

Contractors and Build

ers

Manufacturers of high grade

rustless Door and Window

Screens

Also dealers in

Sash, Blinds, Doors and Trim
MILL WORK A SPECIALTY

WOODMERE, L. I.

Telephone 2564 Far Rockaway

Hensler and Callister

BAKERS . . .

Lawrence

Long Island

'Phone Far Rockaway 21 14

FAR ROCKAWAY MIRROR WORKS

MAX LEVENE. Prop.

GLAZIER

PLATE GLASS TOPS FOR EVERYTHING

706 Central Ave. Far Rockaway

SOLOMON'S

Department Store
FAR ROCKAWAY

Established 1893

Joseph Gottlieb
Department Store

Everything for Everybody

172-174 BOULEVARD
SEA SIDE STATION

ROCKAWAY BEACH

John G. McNicoll

FLORIST

Cedarhurst, L. I.

Coal andWood

C. and H. T. WHITSON

INC.

237 Central Ave.
FAR ROCKAWAY

Phone, Far Rockaway 2392

A. J. TANOUS

REAL LACES

Hand Embroideries

1032 CENTRAL AVENUE
FAR ROCKAWAY

J. J. KELLY

<J)C «4*

Everything
good to eat

Half -Way House

RICHARD N. NOLAND

PROPRIETOR

77je first house to be built
in Edgemere

Many changes have since then been

effected, and the Half -Way

House now stands out as

one of the best equipped

hostelries from

Jamaica to

Neponsit

FELIO'S

New York Hotel

Established in 1878

OLD SEASIDE AVENUE
and BOULEVARD

ROCKAWAY BEACH

Telephone Hammels 77

\ Phone 375 Hammels

William Schoncke

LUMBER
MOULDINGS
SASH

DOORS

Wall Board Weather Strips

FOOT OF LINCOLN AVE.

(Beach 77th Street)
Rockaway Beach, New York

HIGH GRADE

COAL

Hay and Grain
Wood and Charcoal

JOHN H. FERRIL COMPANY

ANDREW J. KENNY, President

Foot of Kane Ave.

ROCKAWAY BEACH

'PHONE, FAR ROCKAWAY 1046

F. H. Weyant and Son

COAL, WOOD, HAY, STRAW

Grain of Every Description
CEDARHURST, L. I.

Foot Spruce and Chestnut Streets

\ I

I F H \A/^,ro«f -.rirl Sr^ri i

i DEALERS IN I

I Telephone Connection |

! I

I HEWLETT BROS. !

I Coal and Wood |

I Hay, Straw, Feed i

I POTATOES FLOUR I

! MASONS' M ATE RIALS \

I !

j Bricks Lime Cement Sewer Pipe Flue Linings !

I I

' Irving Place and ..,^^,^...,,,„ I

! Railroad Ave. WOODMERE, L. I. |

! .-o-,.-o — .,_„^o»„-..-. . . „ — .-_„ i

Far Rockaw^ay's
Famous Bathing Beach

ROCHE'S BEACH

EDWARD ROCHE, Proprietor

2,000 MODERN BATH HOUSES
Special Season Rates

Transients Accommodated

Efficient Life Guards Always on Duty

RESTAURANT

FAR ROCKAWAY

TELEPHONE, FAR ROCKAWAY 56

Andrew McTigue Co., Inc.

REAL ESTATE
and INSURANCE

FAR ROCKAWAY, N. Y.

ANDREW McTIGUE, Pres.

A. C. HAYNES, Sec. and Gen. M'g'r

ROBERT T. PAINE

INSURANCE

OF EVERY DESCRIPTION

His History is

EFFICIENCY

Prompt and Liberal Settlements
and an Established Reputation for

RELIABILITY

O^Kane Building Far Rockaway

I Natural Attractions p

i PLUS I

I PLUS I

I Excellent Train Service \

I HAVE MADE p

I THE ROCKAWAYS |

I what they are to-day

I Aside from being the foremost watering place for |
p NeAV York's millions, they are noAVtJie all-year-round |
I homeplaceof numerous New York City businessmen. I

Wainwright & Smith Co.

FACING THE OCEAN AT

SEA SIDE, ROCKAWAY BEACH
N. Y. CITY

J. W. Waixwright, President and Generai. Manager

FOUNDED 1875
INCORPORATED 1883

SEA SmE BATHING PAVILION RESTAURANT AND CAFE

2700 BATH HOUSES CLAMBAKES A SPECIALTY

CONCRETE SWIMMING POOL SUPERIOR SERVICE FOR DINNER
SUITS SCOURED BY STEAM PROCESS PARTIES

THE COLISEUM GRAND OCEAN DANCING PAVILION
LUNCH PAVILION (Formerly Murray's)

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR OUTINGS ACCOMMODATED

PICNIC PARTIES GRAND REVUE DAILY

FOVR LARGEST ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE BEACH

A Bank of
Strength and Character

GROWTH

RESOURCES

November 16th, 1903 $3,441,945.40

November 16th, 1907 5,447>665.88

November 16th, 1912 7,523,086.02

November i6th, 1917 15,700,423.92

We cordially invite business on this record.

BANK OF LONG ISLAND

Financial Preparedness

in the United States really began two years ago when
the Federal Reserve System was organized. It will be
complete when every citizen is doing his share towards
the maintenance of the system.

By depositing your money with us you can help directly
in developing and strengthening it, as we are required to
keep on deposit with our Federal Reserve Bank in New
York a portion of your balance with us.

At the same time, and without cost, you benefit directly
from the protection the system affords us.

The National Bank of Far Rockaway

Historian of Rockaway Beach for 25 Years

PUBLISHED WEEKLY
$1.50 Per Year

©IlF Wnm

LOCAL INTERESTS
LOCAL NEWS

A SUPERIOR PLANT for BOOK and JOB PRINTING

D. W MURRAY, Pres and Mgr

405-407 Boulevard

Rockaway Beach, N. Y

Telephone 15 Haramels

CHARLES CRABBE CO.

MARY E. CRABBE, President and Treasurer
HARRY H. HICKS, Vice-President
EDWARD R. MURRELL, Secretary

Lumber and Mill Work

Beach 80th St. and Railroad
ROCKAWAY BEACH

afe

atisfactory

ervice

Assured by the Use of

Gas and Electric Appliances

And proven by the wonderful increase in the
number installed during the past fifteen years.
The following comparisons are made between
the years 1902 (the year this company took
over the Gas and Electric business in the
Rockaways) and the present year, 1917.

GAS:

Ranges

Water Heaters — Circulating Type

Water Heaters — Automatic T,vpe

Heaters and Logs .

Laundry Stoves

Flat Irons ....

ELECTRIC:

Flat Irons
Vacuum Cleaners
Toasters .
Fans

Radiators
Washing Machines

The results shown above indicate clearly the rapid!}' growing demand
for Gas and Electric Appliances.

Rc'aH;.t' Real Com\ort and Economy — Equip Your Home Now

Queens Borough Gas and Electric Co.

1902

1917

550

9000

4000

600

100

20,000

100

3000

400

2190

501

377

562

158

107

FAR ROCKAWAY

LYNBROOK

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