Finally landmarked on June 8, 2011, the Jones-Dengler Farm House in Wantagh can be recognized for its historic beauty. The house sits at 1051 Wantagh Avenue to the south of the Southern State Parkway and across from the early Jerusalem settlement. It adds a nostalgic and calm feel to the busy area of the the community. The house was built in the 1700s and was the home of the Jones family during the 1800s. Later, the Dengler family purchased the residence. The original section was expanded in 1875 to the structure it is today. When brothers Fred and Peter married, it was converted into a two …

Finding history in Long Island seems to be as easy as turning a corner. Upon my little journeys through Seaford and Wantagh, I come upon places people might know and some that are more hidden. Just because a building, home or area is not marked by the historical society that doesn't mean it didn't play its part in the community's history. This past winter I noticed a really interesting historic home while driving down Seamans Neck Road. I had to stop and take some photos. Located at 3875 South St., Seaford is a little colonial cottage that I am sure has plenty of stories to tell. I couldn't …

At 1682 Old Mill Road, sits a house that has called Wantagh home before it was even given its name. Born in 1736, owner Benjamin Birdsall bought the home in 1679 and was a successful farmer. He also owned the grist mill across the street with his brother, Joseph, one of 11 siblings. The Birdsall family originally came from England and had much success in the Long Island area. Most were Quakers who were farmers and merchants and many served time in the military during the French, Indian, Revolutionary and Civil Wars receiving high ranks and status. Birdsall married Freelove Jones in 1763 and …

Located off Wantagh Avenue on what used to be Jerusalem Road is a historical religious landmark that represents new faith and a unique view towards the world. Now owned by the Baptist Church, the Jerusalem Friends Cemetery & Meeting House in Wantagh was the home of a brave number of people who stood for what they believed in. The meeting house and cemetery is now left behind to tell their story. The Society of Friends was an organization that formed in England around the 1600s and quickly spread to America. This religious group consisted of Quakers that were considered to have unorthodox …

Located on Waverly Avenue, the Seaford Historical Museum is the community's treasured time capsule. It is the home of Seaford memorabilia from its early days as a farming community and a true celebration of the antiquity of the area.  Back in 1893, Seaford had about 500 residents. At this time there were already two schoolhouses for the children in the union free district. The need for more space pushed the community to vote for a budget of $3500 to build a new school, which was originally constructed at the corner of Jackson and Waverly Avenue. In 1917, due to the increase of students, the …

Located at 1880 Old Mill Road in Wantagh stands the historic Lawrence House. Built in 1830 and purchased by George Lawrence in 1832, the historic farmhouse holds the same presence today as it did in the height of the 19th century. The home was a place of freedom for George and his wife. Having been freed from slavery from the Quakers, they were able to live a life of love, peace and liberty. The property remained in the Lawrence family until 1934 and still has a few original elements such as the brick root cellar and blown glass within the windows. The details of its construction are easily …

Cedar Creek Park in Seaford is filled with vast fields, playgrounds, areas for sports and more than enough trees for shade. It even has a place your dogs can play too. My visit to this Seaford park was on a cold day and the trees were bare. I can only imagine the beauty that resonates when everything is in full bloom. Part of the Nassau County park system since 1975, Cedar Creek is located just off Merrick Road along the Seaford-Wantagh border. It has 259 acres of fun filled activities for the whole family as well as picnic areas that accommodate up to 100 people. To reserve a space for an …

Wantagh Park, located off Merrick Road on 1 King Road, has been part of the county park system since 1961 and sits on 111 acres of land.  The waterfront views are captivating and the many areas of seating provide the perfect spots to enjoy the park. There are opportunities for a child of every age group to play and provide a lot of activities for children. The playgrounds are set in sand for safety. The play areas are great because the serene environment allows you to relax and catch up with other parents in the community. If you walk or run, you can appreciate the one and two mile paths, as …

Seaman's Neck Park in Seaford brings back a lot of memories for me. At 16, I moved to Seaford to live with my Aunt and felt a little out of place.  However, I made friends fast and got to know the area quite well.  Being that I couldn't drive yet, hanging out in parks was pretty popular. Eventually, Seaman's Neck Park became a place I could call home. My friend lived on the southern side of Seaford so the park, which is operated by the Town of Hempstead, was almost a weekly hangout. There is so much space it has to offer which is great because people can do a bunch of different things and not…

The Seaman-Venier House on 1844 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh was built in the mid 1800's and is designed of the Italianate Revival style of architecture.   This Italianate Revival style became popular in the 1840's by Alexander Jackson Davis. Some characteristics of this type of design are low-pitched roofs with eaves, decorative corbels and the use of belvedere and campanile towers.  It was one of the most popular styles in the 1860s but then was used less when the Colonial Revival style became widely accepted. The house also shares a sense of the Victorian or Queen Anne style of design, which was …

Thanks to the Seaford Wellness Council, the gazebo located at the Seaford Long Island Rail Road station was recently constructed and restored.  With grants from Senator Charles Fuschillo Jr., R-Merrick, and Assemblyman David McDonough, R-North Merrick, the restoration project was successful.   The gazebo restoration process began Oct. 5, 2009 and the ribbon cutting ceremony was held only 24 days later. The Seaford Wellness Council did an outstanding job taking this project on and as a result enhanced the area for local residents. Now the gazebo can serve as a place to relax as well as have …

The Harold Avenue Cemetery, also known as the Jackson Cemetery, is located on Wantagh Avenue and is the home of 63 historic residents. The cemetery, which is fenced in and sits next to St. Frances de Chantal Church,  serves as a final resting place for the ancestors of the historic Jackson family, which has sixth and eighth generation relatives who have called Nassau County home for over 100 years. There are also members of the Seaman and Althause families at the cemetery, which last month was designated by the Town of Hempstead as a landmark to protect a centuries-old African American …

Being a nature lover you can count on me feeling at home at a place like Tackapausha Preserve. Located behind the Tackapausha Museum on Washington Avenue, it brings beauty in its purest form to Seaford.  If you need a place to escape from the rest of the world, this is it.  The preserve is free to enter and closes at sunset. It's a great place for nature walks and exploring. Make sure you take note of the rules before you continue into the preserve, which are stated clearly at the gate entrances. You can also pick up a trail map at the museum to help guide you. Taking good care of the …

The Jackson family played a valuable part in the history of Nassau County, particularly in Wantagh. Robert Jackson came from Connecticut around 1644 and had acquired land in the area and for three centuries it remained in the family.   Although many Jackson family members were important figures in the Town of Hempstead they were also farmers. The Jackson homestead, which sits on 1542 Wantagh Ave., was built by Samuel Jackson in the mid 18th century and was the main house on the farm. The home was a one and one-half story structure designed in simple colonial fashion. The home features a main …

Although I love big parks that offer a lot to the community, I appreciate the small ones as well. Parks are good for recreation and sports but also relaxation and Aron Drive Park in Seaford is just that. A place where you can sit, relax and enjoy the view.  Children can also play in the meantime. The park has a playground, swings and a cool play area that should keep one's children busy for awhile. Like with most Town of Hempstead parks, there are signs that state the appropriate age group for different areas.  A little guidance is always helpful. While the children play, parents can sit and …

I feel parks play an important role in creating a wholesome neighborhood.  Being a nature lover, I have always been attracted to areas that have lots of trees and tons of grass to play on.   Without parks where would our children play with friends, go on nature walks or have their games held? Lets face it, parks bring us all together and provide a safe, inspiring place for everyone to have fun, exercise and enjoy Mother Nature. When I arrived to the building entrance of Forest City Community Park on Morgan Drive, Wantagh I was greeted by some friendly bunnies who didn't budge when I walked by…

At age 16 I moved from New Jersey to Seaford to live with my aunt at her house that was located right off Washington Avenue. While I passed Washington Avenue Park many times over the years, I never stopped by to check it out until recently. After my visit  I was really impressed with how much this neighborhood hot spot has to offer. Upon entering the left gate of this Nassau County-owned park, I noticed tons of oak trees and lots of shade.  With four acres of natural beauty, this was already what a park should be.  There are two playgrounds that accommodate every age and a swing set that …

I happen to love trains, especially antique ones.  Right here in Wantagh you can visit a historic place where you can step back in time and envision history as it once was.   The Wantagh Railroad Station on Wantagh Avenue was made into a museum in 1982 and opened to the public.  The year after, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and remains an important historic element of the area. It was built in 1885 and was later moved in 1966 when the stations for the Atlantic and Babylon Branches were getting reconstructed.  Most of the stations at that time were required to get …

Nothing against big parks but who can't resist a neighborhood spot that is close to home, safe and filled with beauty.  I stopped by Estella Street Park in Seaford the other day and was really impressed. Places like Estella Street Park where you can walk and ride your bike to are great because they become a part of your daily lives.  That is why this neighborhood park is special. Located on Estella Street, just seconds from Merrick Road, the park is surprisingly quiet.  With plenty of places to sit and relax this town of Hempstead park offers a nice space for you to take in nature and breathe…

Knowing the community one lives in is important in order to to be able to view your surroundings in a different light and appreciate them a lot more. Luckily, there are numerous historic sites in both Wantagh and Seaford with unforgettable stories and history. That's the case with Wantagh's St. John of Jerusalem Cemetery on Wantagh Avenue. The building is very aged, but stands with great pride. The rock foundation and large windows of the cathedral really invites you in, even though it's borded up. In the mid-1800's, German immigrants came to Jerusalem (before it was called Wantagh) from New …