Everyone is writing wonderful, inspiring posts about going forward and I'm enjoying them all. This weekend, though, I took a step BACK in time to remember some wonderful memories in Wantagh, Long Island, New York. It's where I was born and raised and certainly where I had an awful lot of fun!
I remembered that we had a few TREASURES left of the OLD Wantagh; the very one I grew up in and loved when it wasn't so modern and busy. And they are preserved. If you'd like to step, just for a moment, back in time with me you'll see a bit of Mayberry.
My old schoolhouse which we called The Little RED Schoolhouse. I'm not sure if that's the official name but now it's a historic site (and I'm feeling a bit PREhistoric writing this! Before we were put in the BIG school, if you lived really close to this one you had the privilege of going here. There were three classrooms-First, Second and Third grade. And a lunchroom. And that was the entire school. We had a huge rope hanging down in the middle and got to ring it every day....it would take two or three of us to get it to ring. Unlike the new, modern playground we had the old steel monkey bars. I didn't often get to play on them because I usually wore a dress. But the times were SO easy, fun and friendly.
They have preverved the Original Post office of Wantagh! Another treasure of Wantagh that has been preserved is its old Train Station. My brother went to Pratt in Brooklyn, a renowned school for artists and often I'd go with my mother to pick him up at the train station-THIS train station, now preserved. It is still fascinating to see and shows a bit of what Long Island used to be. Farmland. Acres and acres of land barely developed.
Wantagh is called The Gateway to Jones Beach and it also borders the famous (or infamous) Levittown where you could purchase a new home for just over $6,000. The returning GI's jumped on it. The two styles were either a ranch or a cape cod and my parents choose a ranch home that borders Levittown but was still in Wantagh. An article in Newsday a few years back claimed that there was only ONE home left in all of Levittown that had not been expanded or modified!
Here's a few shots, welcome to Mayberry:
The name fits: The Little Red Schoohouse; it's a daycare now.
The New, Modern playground.
I DID say little, right?
Sorry about the sign, it's historic as well! The year is 1876 when this farmland was donated by John Virsdall Garner; It was the very FIRST School in Levittown!
This building was the very first Post Office in Wantagh. It has also been preserved as a historic site.
This is the preserved site both the Post Office and the Train Station are on. It's wonderful that we have a bit of true history here.
The Original Station...
Maybe I had to take a step BACK before I could move FORWARD. I hope you enjoyed a little bit of my old hometown, Wantagh, Long Island, New York.
Carole - I really enjoy the tributes to our history that are found throughout the north east - it gives a sense of grounding somehow. Interesting that you went back to move forward, I've been thinking along the same lines...
I think I can honestly say you are the first "younger" person I've met (outside of my grandma) that had attended a little red schoolhouse - at least yours had more than 1 room! :)
Happy New Year!
Jackie
Carole, What an enjoyable post to read first thing this morning. I absolutely love history and learning about the heritage of settlements and this was a bonus because as it was all about the place that YOU grew up !
I wonder if you would consider reposting it and adding it to the Heritage Properties, Historic Sites and Antiques group...I'd like to feature it there.
The schoolhouse and train station are certainly unique and beautiful.
((-:
Jo
Carole - I love the concept of little schoolhouses, old train stations and history in general. When I think of Long Island I don't think of history (sadly) but instead of hustle and bustle forever. Guess I need to adjust my perceptions!
I had some casual friends that lived in Wantaugh - on Lufberry??? Haven't heard from them in a few years, but I still send Christmas cards....
Jennifer, I am so glad they're preserved a few things, so much of the Wantagh I grew up in is gone. Thanks for your comment.
Julie, We didn't have more then 15 kids in each class so the entire school held 45 children at most. I loved it there! Thank you and have an absolutely beautiful New Year!
Jackie, It made me feel ancient to be back but I have the best memories of that little place! Truly the good old days, it really was a great place to grow up! Happy New Year to you, I wish you ALL the best!
Katerina, I'm not familiar with that movie, I must have missed it. This was definitely a trip down memory lane. I hope you have the best of 2008!
Jo, I loved it, too. I wish they could have let me inside. Of course I will post it there and thank you for the suggestion! Happy, HAPPY New Year my friend.
Lisa, Isn't that post office the tiniest one you've ever seen? I love that they preserved that. All my best wishes for a wonderful 2008!
Carol, Wantagh was SO different back when I was growing up. No locked doors, we all knew eachother and everyone watched out for eachother. So different. Lufberry is in the Wantagh Woods, the nicest part of Wantagh in my opinion. I lived on Briard, also in the Woods....here's my first house with my ex:
Carole those pictures were great! They sure couldn't mail many packages from that PO...LOL
Kim, It was a wonderful flood of memories and I remembered ALL my teachers names...which is odd because I don't remember what I did this morning :) Have a wonderful New Year!
Andrew, I seem to step back more then most! I don't always know where I'm going but I figure if I'm not headed in the right direction, I'll find out soon enough :) I don't know what the population is or Wantagh or Levittown, only that they've built on every square foot of land and they've supersized all the houses. SO different from when I grew up! I wish you and your family a wonderful New Year!
Joan, I love your animation, they certainly liven up my posts! I don't imagine there was much activity in that post office either but it's wonderful that they've saved it! I hope you have the best New Year EVER.
Lizette, It was fun to see--I remembered them as small but not THAT small! Wishing you a terrific New Year with everything you wish for.
Diane, I wish they had saved more but I'm thankful these remain. It was such a wonderful area to grow up in. Happy, happy New Year with lots of blessings!
I think a trip down memory lane is a good thing and I enjoyed accompanying you on your journey. You may be right about the necessity of "going back before you go forward". It is amazing how much smaller things look when you go back as an adult.
Candy, It was nice to go back and revisit. And it's amazing when you think how all that time flew by SO fast! I'm fortunate to have grown up in a wonderful time.
Cynthia, It was fun. I wonder how many people can remember their teachers names?? Those little places they preserved are truly treasures for many of us that grew up there and remember them.
Hi Carole,
Nice post! I love remembering the good old days!! When times where much safer then and you could leave your doors unlocked and never worry. Nice pictures I love the old train station. The old post office is so cute.
Hi Carole...History is what Real Estate is all about, New only Lasts until some one moves in then a house becomes a home..Your Old Photos are priceless, I like the Train Car, is it being used for anything?
Cheers
Carole- How wonderful that it is all still there for you to visit and reminisce about. Must help you feel connected.
Fred, Thanks for your comment. It's not used for anything except to be preserved. I love it too, it's a nice reminder how small and uncrowded Long Island used to be!
Eloise, I'm surprised they saved some history. It does bring back some nice memories when I see them (but I don't remember that tiny post office :)! Thank you for your comment.