Massapequa's Historic Markers

MASSAPEQUA'S MARKERS

The next several history blogs will focus on the markers

that exist throughout the Massapequas. These blue markers with yellow letteringare New York State-approved notices of historical sites that existed here at some point during the area's 300+ years of recorded history. The markers were
designed, sited and erected by the Historical Society of the Massapequas as an example of its stated purpose to preserve the area's history. The first markerwas erected in 1985 and the Society has placed fifteen markers to date. The one highlighted in this blog was dedicated in 2011.

The marker which stands on Merrick Road directly across from Cedar Shore Drive highlights the three buildings that make up Massapequa's Historic Complex:

•  Old Grace Church, built in 1844 under the direction of Elbert Floyd-Jones;
• The Floyd-Jones Servants' Cottage,  dating from 1870 and originally part of Elbert Floyd-Jones's estate; and
• The Delancey Floyd-Jones Free Library, named after its creator and the first public library in the area for fifty years from the time of its opening in 1896.

OLD GRACE CHURCH - Elbert Floyd-Jones was a direct descendant of Thomas Jones, the first white settler of this area. He wanted to create a church for his family, who were among the few settlers of the Massapequas (then called South Oyster Bay) in the early 1800s, to spare them the arduous journey to St. George's Church in Hempstead. He raised funds and organized a building committee in 1844 to design and build a structure that would hold about 70 worshippers. The church was expanded several times, most notably in 1905 as the local population grew. It clearly became too small as a result of the post World War II population explosion. The new church across the street, dedicated in 1962, became the center of Episcopal worship and the old church fell into disuse until 1981, when the Historical Society rescued it from deterioration or possibly destruction by leasing it for $10.

FLOYD-JONES SERVANTS' COTTAGE - Elbert Floyd-Jones built an estate for his wife and growing family in 1870 in the area near today's Bar Harbour Library. There was a main building and several outbuildings, including a small servants' cottage. The estate building burned in 1926 during a Fourth of July fireworks accident and the other buildings eventually came down - all except the Servants' Cottage, which became a private residence rented out by several different families, most notably the Baldwins (Alec,Stephen, Daniel and William), who lived there while their home was being renovated.

The building was fitted with running water and electricity in the 1950s, but eventually deteriorated after being left vacant for several years. When the Cummings family bought the property in 1985, Historical Society Officers asked for time to raise money to relocate it. The family agreed and waited graciously untilenough funds were found to move it across Merrick Road in July 1986 to its current location east of Grace Church. Visitors can view albums that show how fragile the structure was and how much time, energy and money was spent by the Historical Society to repair and redesign it. It stands today as an example of an early twentieth century private home.

DELANCEY FLOYD-JONES FREE LIBRARY -

Colonel Delancey Floyd-Jones was a West Point graduate who served in the Army for twenty-five years and fought with distinction in the Mexican War and the Civil War. Toward the end of his life, he wanted to create a library in the
Massapequas and persuaded his relatives to donate a site and erect a small building at the southeast corner of Grace Cemetery, where residents could come to read, borrow books and hold social or business meetings. The library was
open to the public during normal business hours, or a patron could purchase a key for $10 and have unlimited access. The Library was used by residents and their children, who attended the area's first school on Park Boulevard and,
after 1925, the first public school in newly created District 23 (Massapequa School, later renamed Fairfield). As the area became heavily populated,  it became clear the small building could not meet residents' needs and two public libraries were built, Central Avenue in 1955 and Bar Harbour in 1960. The Floyd-Jones Library has remained open as a historic building and a source of information about Massapequa's history.

The Historical Society began to erect markers in 1985, highlighting the many mansions that existed here as well as some unusual  features of our history (Carman's Mill, Fitzmaurice Flying Field). The Officers and Trustees decided recently that the Historic Complex was worthy of recognition and dedicated the marker shown in the accompanying photo during the Society's Apple Festival in October 2011. The buildings will be open to the public the third Saturday of every month beginning in April.