LONG ISLAND'S HIDDEN HISTORY - REVISITED - SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE 

As a 72yr old person who was born and has lived my whole life on Long Island, I was wondering if you would be interested in researching family amusement parks ( Lollypop Farm,Westbury 1950's and Uncle Mike Grimaldi's Massapequa Zoo and Kiddie Park,1950's, Nunley's in Oceanside(and relocation of the carousel), Adventureland in Farmingdale)...car racing, both large and midget cars,(Freeport, Islip, Riverhead, Bridgehampton) and maybe Flea markets and Farmer's markets. You asked for suggestions, so these are a few that I came up with. Love your programs. God Bless!

Enjoyed all posts. Perhaps some history on Freeport stadium , Island garden.. sunny side, Commack arena, all state parks...all longisland fresh water lakes... thanks

The line of evergreen trees at Belmont estate was used for early aviators to line up for final approach to land on Belmont’s property.

Former Massapequan/history lover here! I just wish to elaborate... I recall when the Southern State Toll booths were taken down in 1975. There was a huge sign that said in effect: Toll Free Southern State Parkway thanks to (Newly Elected) Governor Hugh Carey. The sign did not mention that his brother received the exclusive contract for Mobil stations along the parkway!

I grew up in Floral Park in the 1970’s . The LIRR mainline to Jamaica ran along Atlantic Avenue but a short section of abandoned tracks ran parallel to it beside a large warehouse facility visible from Tyson avenue ( anyone remember Victor Koenig’s restaurant) . I researched it years later as an adult, and discovered that it was the temporary main line constructed during the Floral Park crossing elimination project of the early 60’s that elevated the Jamaica lines. Once it was reopened as an elevated section, this temporary ground level, which was just a construction bypass, was abandoned. I believe the tracks are still there. The warehouse facility is now a self storage facility.

You forgot about Central Islip Psychiatric Center Which also had its own dedicated rairline Branching off from Is the central Islip station

Great content, I enjoy learning more about the place that I live, There is so much information i didn’t even know about. I would love to see an episode on Guglielmo Marconi’s journey, he created wireless radio transmissions, like Nikola Tesla. I know there used to be a mansion in the rocky point woods that my father explored when he was young, but they had demolished it. I’m sure there are many other details of that. Also i would love to see a video about the Vanderbilt and the Bourne family’s. there are many mansions that belonged to them some abandoned. there is an abandoned Vanderbilt mansion in Oakdale, There is also a Bourne mansion in Oakdale too. It would be interesting to see these two story’s take place.

As always, great stuff Christian. You touched on it a bit in the airport video - a survey of some of the oldest cemeteries on Long Island is an interesting topic. The Jones family (for whom Jones Beach is named) has a cemetery originating in the colonial era right on Merrick Rd. in Massapequa - where the family owned a huge tract of the town's land. Old Grace Church in Massapequa just down the road has another one. And there is an old cemetery right next to St. Frances de Chantal Church in Wantagh that is not part of and far predates the Church. Notable people buried in the cemeteries would be a fascinating aspect of a video on the topic. Another one might be the oldest houses on Long Island. I was always fascinated by two Revolutionary houses located in Seaford and Bellmore - sitting unnoticed right in the middle post-war suburbia. The one in Bellmore right off Merrick Rd. still has the original kettle and kettle-stand in the kitchen from the 18th century. Just an idea. Thanks for these videos. Just great.

Thanks for the wonderfully informative documentary... I grew up on Long Island in the 60's and 70's, and my dad was a NY/Long Island historian, that could tell you virtually anything about the area....he would have loved this gem of yours sir. I went to Nassau Community College in 1974 and my Physics Lab was actually in one of those old barracks, and our Cafeteria was that big Airplane hanger... was such a trip to walk around there at the time and see quite a great deal of the military stuff....Used to go to old Roosevelt Raceway as well... thanks again!

Need to have a dvd out there on these fine videos.

I always wondered why the median had those trees that's so cool that it was once a driveway

Many thanks - as a former Greenporter, now living in Baltimore I really appreciate your insight. I need to get back to to South Fork as I haven’t been there in decades.

Mr. Barba, you have done a superlative job of research and development of Long Island. Since you mention Belmont, would you venture into a research project of racetracks and amusement parks from Manhattan Beach area of Brooklyn to the Eastern tip of Long Island? It would be magnificent! Thank you!

Great production!! I have enjoyed all of your videos on long Island as I grew up there in my younger day lol

awould love to see a show on forgotten lighthouses. one currently being restored is the cedar point lighthouse. and one long forgotten and dismantled was the shinnecock lighthouse. pluses you have history of the old fire island lighthouse that was torn down and the bricks from it were used as the foundation of the new fire island lighthouse located just to the east of the original. I am sure there were more. or a show on old abandon beach/summer get aways, like how lake rokonkoma used to be a summer destination...

Thank you! Love this whole series! So cool!

Oyster bay rail line has a turn table that's been recently restored. There was two Spurs that feed local lumber yards. One in locust Valley and the other was on the Huntington line feeding a large lumber yard in North Port.

Good stuff! Glad to see you added the bridge at maxess rd. See it all the time from working in the area.

I grew up in Oakdale, Suffolk county. The old Vanderbilt property had much to explore. There was a building known as the power house. Inside the entire first floor was destroyed by fire. But you could still sneak in. It use to be the Boy Scouts of America club. There was an underground tunnel that use to house steam pipes and power lines to the mansion. We would take our flashlights and get into the tunnel. It ran about maybe 200’ till it was blocked off. Many bats inside. Scary but fun till we were chased out of there by a neighbor. There was also another place called Pepperage hall. Located at the end of Lincoln drive. That mansion was knocked down in the 40’s. But there was a small opening with a concrete slab over it. A wine cellar. The kids in the neighborhood got together and worked for days moving chunks of brick and concrete to get the door area open. Only to discover a small empty room with a floating bottle. LOL!

Outstanding series, great job. I have noticed you used many USGS maps in your research, where did you access them?

Quite enjoyable. I know that Long Island residents don’t consider Queens or Brooklyn a part of the Island but your outline of the Island certainly include these 2 counties. Nonetheless I was disappointed that Floyd Bennet Field wasn’t included in your presentation. Perhaps in future episodes?

Thank you very much. Great footage and information. Learned a lot from your videos. Made me appreciate LI a bit more since its still fairly new to us.

Watching right now, looking good 👍

I am almost 81 years and lived 34 yearson Long Island, and I have a lot of nice memories, even though I'm not there right now. Jones Beach was especially a favorite with my family when we live there. Thank you for a nice video😊

Excellent series. As for dedicated state mental hospital rail spurs, the one in Central Islip was omitted.

I’m old enough to remember thosetoll plazas, lol. But I’m also old enough to remember when there is a service area with a gas station in the middle of the southern state Parkway just east of exit 32 for route 110, you can still see there’s a third underpass in the middle of the road, which is where the ramp to the gas station was.

Great series! I enjoyed every episode. I didn't know any of this history!

Great series I thoroughly enjoyed each episode and the history of Long Island Thank you so much for making these

A little info, about the runway in Coram, it was on the south side of Rt. 25, and about 1/4 mile east of Rt.112 My father, said it was called Davis' Airport, because the Davis Dairy Farm, was on the North side of 25, and the Davis Peach Farm, was just East of the runway. And I think the property was owned by Gordon Davis. The Davis family, owned a LOT of property, up to Mt.Sinai.

Thanks for your efforts in creating this series -- and interestingly, my view of this episode was number 516 😉

One of the state hospital spurs you didn't mentin was Central Islip state hospital. The srur came off the main Ronkonkoma branch where the CI station is now and ran paralel to Lowel ave to the station for passengers as well as a coal train that delivered coal to the power station. The power station is now the ball field.

I remember the day they demolished the old Edgewood building in Deer Park! It was on Commack Road, and to this day, I have never seen a creepier building in my life!

You talk about them a bit, but I'd love to see a detailed history, in the way only you can, sir, on the Vanderbilt motor parkway. Sniff around Tri-County for weed and follow that guy to "the trails." You won't be sure if you regret it for 40 years.

Yes, that southern state parkway state police building was the old toll collector administration building. The old local NYS Parkway Police building was a few hundred feet west of that, right at the parkway entrance from central Avenue. It was located right in that clearing that is still there. The NYS Parkway police was disbanded and absorbed by the NY State Police in the early 1980’s. They vacated their building snd moved a few feet up the highway.

How about a Mitchel field video? There's still a lot left.

I believe it would be awesome if you could shed some ‘light’ on William Floyd and his estate in Shirley/ Mastic Beach. I just have a feeling he has a big story to tell being a resident on that part of Long Island once ago..🔥☝🏽💯

Very well done. Thank you

Can you do one on the Wooden park!!!!

Very interesting series. I too like exploring long island. I definitely learned some new stuff. Keep it up.

This is great!!

Wow I had wondered for years why that bit of the parkway had the trees in the median.

On the rail system, you forgot to mention the line that use to run though Rocky Point.

Belmont State Park was built by the WPA that is why the trees in the middle of the road. Also the park was built in the cold winter My Father worked on it.

Fantastic

Such a damn good show. 👍

Regarding the US Naval Station at Lido Beach: The complex was used to house members of the US Navy's Armed Guard. Along the beach itself, anti-aircraft weapons were installed for practice shooting at targets towed by airplanes. I'm certain an excavation may produce a large number of spent shells (perhaps a bio-hazard)! In 1945, Naval Station Lido was made into a separation center, the last stop before Discharge from the Navy. All the Best to Long Islanders past and present!

You forgot.that Pilgrim State was an Military Hospital during W W2. And the first Drive Inn Movie in Green Acre of Valley Stream.And.the many small airports that covered Long Is!and.There were Two in Levittown alone.

i seen the foundations of long beach ww2 fortifications at the boardwalk. but not the lookout tower. and we would play in the foundations in the 70"s

I remember the old VS tollgate.

10:01 Thank you for the great video. Please can you delve into the Montauk Indian history?

I’ve heard of a sea plane place in island park(Reynolds channel) back in the 50s not sure if true

The editor of the video got the order wrong for Edgewood and the USGS map of Pilgrim State Hospital. The narrator was speaking about Edgewood Preserve, but then at 4:45 up pops the map of the Pilgrim State Hospital site, a site the narrator spoke about 45 seconds earlier. 😮 Oops.

Eisenhower park has you exit to Hempstead tpke in east meadow on the right side wall there is a red emergency light why?

1:11 vagabonds trail

East Garden City is a fictional name. It's real name is Unuondale

Good job. There is always more. There was also a psychiatric center in Central Islip with it's own power plant and rail spur. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Islip_Psychiatric_Center . It looks like you are sticking to Nassau and Suffolk county's. It you also include Queens there is Creedmore that also had it's own spur line. For airports in Queens there was also Flushing airport in College Point, just south of 20th Ave. When I worked in the area 20 years ago the hangers were still standing, barely. You also have to remember that Nassau county used to be part of Queens until 1899. Keep the good stuff coming.