228

229

230

The Patchogue Village Administration.

231

The first offices of the Village of Patchogue were in the Wedgewood building on West Main Street. In the 1930s the former Henry Baker home, on the south side of Baker Street, was converted into the headquarters for the village government. This building was located next to the TERA building,

which in 1935 became the new Village Hall. The former Baker home became the YMCA building, which in later years was torn down and the site became the parking lot for the Patchogue Village Hall.

2000 2004 Edward A. Ihne 2004 present Paul Pontieri

232

The Baker home on the south side of Baker Street was purchased by the Patchogue Village in the 1930s and converted into the headquarters of the village government.

The Patchogue Village Municipal building on Baker Street. Originally TERA, the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration, built it for their own use on this village property, but it was turned over to the Village of Patchogue in 1935. The building to the left is the Jarvis Baker home, which was purchased by the village and housed the village departments prior to the acquisition of the TERA building. In 1946 this became the YMCA building, which was torn down in later years and the space became the Village Hall parking lot.

The new Patchogue Village Board, May 1934. From left to right: Trustees William E. Jones, Robert Van Tuyl, Stanley Truman, Village Clerk John P. Losee, Mayor Robert J. Bailey, Charles N. Butler Jr., Arthur Mullin and Michael Prudent. Robert Bailey was the first Democrat to win the office of Mayor of Patchogue. 233

Dedication ceremony of the new Patchogue Municipal Building, September 3, 1935. Mayor Bailey is accepting the ceremonial key. Dr. Foster , the previous mayor, is the second person from the left, Charles Butler, the future Mayor is standing below the left light, Charlie McNeal is the gentleman with the white hat. Ford Hughes, Herb Austin, Phil Hattemer, Ed Jeneck, and Mr. Huttenlocker are some of the other people in this group.

Dr. Agate Foster, the Mayor of Patchogue, is breaking ground for the new incinerator on Waverly Avenue in 1931 The incinerator was erected at the cost of $53,300 and began operating early in 1933.

The incinerator at the Municipal Garage complex on Waverly Avenue could handle all the Patchogue refuse and had enough capacity left to accept refuse from Bellport. Operational in 1933, the incinerator was shut down in the 70s because it could not meet the environmental requirements. In this 1957 picture all the highway department equipment is lined up for the photographer. 234

Another picture of the highway department equipment, now in front of the Municipal Garage. The construction of the Municipal Garage on Waverly Avenue started September 7, 1954. The seven bay garage, which cost $59 000, was capable of housing all of the villages equipment.

A 1960s picture of the Patchogue Village Highway Department crew at work with a snow blower on Terry Street. 235

1962 pictures of Village Officials and personnel

Village Clerk Ronald Blau. Robert Waldbauer, Patchogues Mayor from 1960 to 1976, in his office.

Mayor Waldbauer and the Village Board. Village Police Chief R.K. Wicks and sergeant Chiochiulo.

Judge Mapes in the Village Hall court room. 236

Employees in the Village Clerks office.

Recreation Director Peter Poulos leading the exercise class in the River Avenue Gym.

The Paragon Field on Park Avenue in West Patchogue, which today is the site of an apartment complex.

Arthur (Pat) Rooney collecting parking meter money.

Highway department crew installing pumping station on Lake Street near Ocean Avenue. This section on North Ocean Avenue always had been prone to severe flooding.

Ben Schifferson, incinerator foreman, working in the incinerator plant. 237

Village highway department crew at work on Carmen Street.

The Village of Patchogues seven acre Shorefront Park was developed in 1952 and ready in 1953. A 300 foot channel had to be installed to drain the land north of the park and the park itself to prevent future water damage. Originally this section had been a swamp. A baseball field with a modern backstop, a softball field, playground equipment and later a comfort station completed the park The Village Band Shell was erected in 1966. Mayor Waldbauer saw the Tiparello band shell at the Worlds Fair and secured the plans for the shell through cooperation of Worlds Fair personnel. The foundation and the steel work were completed in August 1966. The shell and other equipment were purchased from the Worlds Fair after the close of the Fair.

Opening of the baseball season at the Shore Front Park, 1962. Mayor Waldbauer is throwing the first ball. 238

The Patchogue Rookies baseball team was sponsored by the Patchogue Recreation Department. This team was the 1962 Suffolk County champions.

Ribbon cutting ceremony at the FINS terminal on West Avenue. The Fire Island National Seashore terminal on the Patchogue River opened June 12, 1980, with Mayor Lechtrecker cutting the ribbon. Also attending are Stanley Allan, Legislator John Foley and Pete Poulos.

May 20, 1965 was Patchogue Day at the Worlds Fair. Special trains were scheduled on this day to take Patchogue citizens to the Fair.

The FINS terminal building, 2005. A greatly enlarged terminal building is planned. 239

240

Patchogues Parking Fields

A Timely Solution To The Growing Parking Problem.

241

In the early part of the century there was enough curbside parking space on Main Street for the few cars then on the road. As the population grew in the 1920s a new way of parking had to be introduced; the diagonal head-on-to-the-curb parking. This worked well enough until about the 1950s, but then this system had to be abandoned because of the increased traffic, which made backing out of the parking space hazardous. To prevent the business district from losing costumers due to the lack of parking space, a new solution had to be found : off Main Street parking fields. The acquisition of property to the north and south of Main Street was started under the administration of Mayor George Lechtrecker and came into full swing under the administration of Mayor Robert T. Waldbauer in the 1960s. The master plan added hundreds of parking spaces to the downtown shopping area, just in time to enable local merchants to compete with the first malls that started to spring up in the area. Following are some statistics for Brookhaven Town, for which Patchogue was the main shopping center, and for Suffolk County, to show the tremendous growth in population in this century. Population of Suffolk County : 1920 110,246 Brookhaven Town : 1920 21,847 1930 161,055 1930 28,291 1940 197,355 1940 32,117 1950 276,129 1950 44,522 1966 960,000 1960 109,900 2005 1,480,000 2004 472,425

1910

1925

1947 242

1950s

The south side of Oak Street, near North Ocean Avenue, before the construction of the parking field. These buildings had to be removed to make room for the parking lot. In 1959 a Master Parking Plan Committee was formed in Patchogue to address the problem of parking and to make the Village a competitive shopping center. After the approval of the plan, the construction of first

parking field, the Church Street field began. This field was completed September 14, 1961. The Oak Street field was completed October 18, 1961, followed by the Lake Street field December 1, 1961. The Terry Street parking field was scheduled for 1962. Patchogue merchants reported a notable increase in business after the completion of the fields.

The Church Street parking lot is ready to be opened, September 1961. This is the South Ocean Avenue entrance, formerly the site of the Olympia Ice Cream Parlor. 243

The north side of Oak Street, near North Ocean Avenue. This area was also turned into a parking field.

Construction work on the Oak Street lot. In the background the Patchogue Theater.

These old buildings on Terry Street were demolished to make room for a large parking lot.

The Terry Street parking field under construction in 1962. South Ocean Avenue can be seen in the background.

Terry Street parking field opening ceremony, 1962. Mayor Robert Waldbauer cut the ribbon 244

Mayor Waldbauer cutting the ribbon at the Lake Street parking field, December 1, 1961. Mayor Waldbauer was the driving force behind the master plan that added several hundred parking spaces to Patchogues downtown area during his tenure from 1960 to 1976.

The fire department practicing on the Lake Street parking field in 1977, which soon would become the site of the elevated parking garage.

The Patchogue Elevated Parking Garage on Lake Street opened the upper level December 16, 1978. 245

A Jim Mooney aerial photo of the center of Patchogue, taken September 2, 1967, shows clearly all the Patchogue parking fields created in the 1960s. In this picture Main Street is running from left to right through the center of the picture and North and South Ocean Avenues are running

from the bottom right corner to the top left corner. The parking fields surrounding the Four Corners are, starting clockwise from the bottom left: the Oak Street field, the Terry Street field, the Church Street field and the Lake Street field.Together they provided several hundred parking spaces.

A birds eye view of the Patchogue Elevated Parking Garage, behind the bank building on Main Street. A Jim Mooney photo, December 29, 1978. The upper tier had to be closed in October 2001 when major structural problems were discovered. The structure was torn down in January 2003. 246

Increased traffic called for an improvement of roads leading into the business district from the north. Medford Avenue and Waverly Avenue were the two roads best suited for improvements. This is an aerial view of Medford Avenue, running from the bottom to the top in the middle of the picture. Sunrise Highway can be seen on the top of the picture and East Main Street on the bottom. The upper part of Medford Avenue has been widened already at this time, showing up in a lighter color of the roadway. This is a Jim Mooney Eagle Eye photo, dated March 8, 1964.

Medford Avenue in 1963, still a tree lined two lane road. This picture was taken from Main Street, looking north. 247

The widened Medford Avenue in 2001, as seen from East Main Street.

Opening ceremony of the West Avenue extension, November 17, 1967. To be able to connect West Avenue to Waverly Avenue, the south end of the Mill Lake was filled in to support the roadbed. This took the load off the unsatisfactory intersection of Waverly Avenue and Main Street. Mayor Waldbauer, in the white coat, attending the ceremony.

248

The first car on the West Avenue extension. West Avenue became only the second street in Patchogue to cross Main Street.

These two Jim Mooney pictures show the changes on the north side of the Lace Mill. In this picture the Patchogue Lake came close to the mill buildings.

This second picture shows the extension of West Avenue curving around the north side of the mill to connect with Waverly Avenue. A portion of the Patchogue Lake was filled in to support the roadbed. 249

250

Sunrise Highway

251

Traffic on the Montauk Highway, running through Patchogue, overloaded the Main Street traffic, and a solution was urgently needed. New York State was persuaded to build Sunrise Highway section from the Veterans Highway to Phyllis Drive before the Oakdale Sayville section, taking the load off Patchogues Main Street.

Construction was started in May 1952. The steel strike in 1953 delayed the completion date of this section till January 7, 1954. The Oakdale Sayville section was completed August 5, 1954. The construction of the East Patchogue to Shirley section was started in 1959 and completed January 7, 1960

This is a picture of Sunrise Highway, the road in the background, looking towards Medford Avenue. The picture was taken from North Ocean Avenue, which can be seen in the foreground.

The intersection of Sunrise Highway and North Ocean Avenue in the 1950s. The four lane Sunrise Highway had only grade crossings controlled by traffic lights in these years. With increased traffic the accident rates rose, and improvements were urgently needed. 252

Temporary improvements on Sunrise Highway included these turn-off lanes running diagonally through the center divider. At the bottom of the picture Phyllis Drive crosses Sunrise Highway and in the upper part of the picture is the Medford Avenue crossing. The large building is the Home Depot. Jim Mooney took this picture April 3, 1991. 253

The intersection of Waverly Avenue and Sunrise Highway from a birds perspective. A 1980s Jim Mooney photo.

The North Ocean Avenue bridge under construction, June 1989.The reconstruction of Sunrise Highway, to turn it into a limited access highway, began in 1988 on the Nichols Road to Phyllis Drive section. Again this section was started before the Oakdale to Sayville section

This picture of Sunrise Highway under construction was taken in 1989 from the North Ocean Avenue crossing looking west. The Waverly Avenue bridge, under construction, can be seen in the distance. 254

Aerial view of the Route 112 intersection, October 24, 1991. In preparation for the bridge construction, the traffic had to be elaborately rerouted around the construction site. In the upper part of the picture the finished North Ocean Avenue bridge is visible. While the section from Nichols Road to North Ocean Avenue was completed by November 1989, the section from Route 112 to Phyllis Drive was not completed till October 1990. This is another beautiful Jim Mooney Eagle Eye Air Photo.

The finished highway, looking west from the North Ocean Avenue bridge. 255

256

Patchogues Churches

257

St. Paul Episcopal Church on Rider Avenue. This is Patchogues oldest church building, built in 1883, of all wood construction with beautiful and unique interior features.

The altar of the St. Paul Episcopal Church.

The unique construction of the ceiling beams and roof supports. 258

The corner stone of the Congregational Church on East Main Street was laid May 14, 1892, and the dedication of this beautiful church took place on May 14, 1893.

The interior of the Congregational Church.

259

The United Methodist Church, on the southwest corner of South Ocean Avenue and Church Street, was dedicated June 1, 1890, replacing the previous church building on the southeast corner of Church Street and Railroad Avenue.

The altar of the United Methodist Church at Christmas time.

Temple Beth El on Oak Street was dedicated March 13, 1932, replacing the former small building on this location.

This addition to Temple Beth El, housing a modern sanctuary and a social hall was added in 1971. 260

The First Baptist Church on North Ocean Avenue, north of Sunrise Highway, was dedicated on September 21, 1958, replacing the former church on North Ocean Avenue, near Main Street.

The interior of the First Baptist Church.

261

The former First Baptist Church on North Ocean Avenue, near Main Street.

A March 3, 1982 fire severely damaged the Emanuel Lutheran Church on East Main Street. The steeple had to be removed temporarily during the time of the reconstruction. In this picture a large crane is setting the steeple back into position.

The Emanuel Lutheran Church on East Main Street in the year 2005, rebuilt and much modernized after the March 3, 1982 fire. The cornerstone for this church was laid August 24, 1914.

The interior of the Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2005. 262

The Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church on West Main Street, opposite Waverly Avenue, was built in 1922 and dedicated New Years Eve 1922 with an impressive ceremony by Bishop Thomas E. Molloy of the Brooklyn diocese. Originally named the Church of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas, it became later known as the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. This is a 1962 picture.

Demolition of the Mount Carmel church, June 30, 1971. When the parish outgrew this church, a new large church was built on North Ocean Avenue.

The Rev. Cyrus E. Tortora was the pastor of the Lady of Mount Carmel Church from 1943 to 1953. He died suddenly of a heart attack May 26, 1953 at the age of 42 years. Father Tortora was not only beloved by his Catholic community, but also by people of all religious faiths for his great caring for all people. 263

The new Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on North Ocean Avenue, north of Sunrise Highway, was built in 1967 and opened May 12, 1968.

A 2005 picture of the Mount Carmel Church.

The interior of the Mount Carmel Church, 2005. 264

The St. Francis de Sales Church on South Ocean Avenue, 2006. This church was built in 1888 on the corner of East Main Street and Conklin Avenue and was moved in the winter of 1906 1907 on skids and rollers to the present location, a move that took three months.

A 2006 picture of the interior of the St. Francis de Sales Church..

265

Reverend Monsignor James J. Cronin, became the pastor of the St. Francis de Sales Church July 3, 1897. His many friends included the Reverend Johnston of the Congregational Church and the Episcopal minister, Reverend Harrington. 1938 marked the golden anniversary of father Cronins ordination. When he died in June of 1946, the village and town hall flags were flown at halfmast in tribute to a great man.

266

Patchogue Hospitals

267

Dr. Harry Unger opened a private hospital in June, 1919 in the West Lyceum Apartment building on Lake Street. This is a 2006 picture of the building.

In 1922 Dr. Unger opened a new private hospital and maternity ward in this building on the northwest corner of Lake Street and Jennings Avenue. This is the building in 2006.

A picture of the Carman residence on the southwest corner of Carman Street and Bailey Avenue in the year 1900. This home was converted in 1923 to become the Patchogue Private Hospital, run by nurse Miss Margaret Hughes. 268

The Patchogue Private Hospital in 1936. The hospital was operated at this time by nurse Miss Bertha Quimet.

The Brookhaven Memorial Hospital

Suffolk County deeded an 18 acre tract in East Patchogue to the Brookhaven Memorial Association July 9, 1952, to be used for the site of a hospital. The corner stone for the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital was laid on November 28, 1954.

An 1955 aerial photo of the nearly completed hospital.

The 96 bed Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, built at a cost of $ 1,300,000, opened August 1, 1956. Patients prior to 1956 had to travel either to Port Jefferson or Bay Shore for treatments in hospitals. The hospital, which was already to small when opened in 1956, was enlarged in November 1960 with an addition for 44 beds. The rapid increase in population in the area served by the hospital called for a $3.9 million expansion, started August 1969 and completed by March 27, 1971. A two story building was added in front of the original building , which increased the capacity of the hospital to 220 beds. A 70 bed surgical pavilion was also added at this time. 269

An artists rendering of the two story addition in front of the hospital.

A 15.4 million expansion in 1974 raised the front two story building to 4 stories, adding 134 beds, to bring the total capacity of the hospital to 350 beds. This expansion opened November 10, 1974.

A December 2005 picture of the hospital, again vastly extended on the north end. 270

A view from the north of the vast hospital complex in 2006.

The new $14 million Clare F. Rose Emergency, Trauma and Chest Pain wing opened in August 2002. Clare F. Rose donated $1 million to the construction of this 27,000 square foot wing. A 2006 picture of the wing.

This new Emergency Pavilion on the north side of the hospital opened in September, 2005. 271

272

Patchogues Schools

273

The Patchogue school district went through a period of rapid expansion and construction of new schools between the years 1871 and 1907, but then the increase in population slowed down. The first new school after this period was the South Ocean Avenue High School in 1924, which replaced the old school on the corner of South Ocean Avenue and Academy Street. The River Avenue School became a total loss due to a fire and was replaced by a new masonry structure in 1926. The next new school was the Medford Avenue Elementary School, which opened in 1931. The Bay Avenue School was replaced with a new school building in 1964. These were the schools in the village limits. All future schools would be build outside the Patchogue Village boundaries. The old Maple Avenue School was closed in the 1930s, became an aviation training school during the war years and was torn down in 1949. The merger of the Patchogue and Medford School Districts was approved by vote of the taxpayers in July 1951. A rapid increase in population in Brookhaven

Town and in the school district after the end of World War II called for the construction of many new schools in the district. The first of the new schools in the newly formed district was the Tremont Avenue Elementary School, built in 1952. The 2.7 million dollar Saxton Avenue High School, which could accommodate 1,000 students, opened September 4, 1957. There were 4,000 students in the district at this time. The 1,000 student Oregon Avenue School opened its doors October 5, 1963. The number of students in the district in 1963 had risen to 6,000, and by 1970 the figure had risen to 9,500 students. The 1,200 student Eagle Drive Elementary School opened March 1, 1966, followed by the Canaan Elementary School September 4, 1968. The dedication of the 1,600 student Buffalo Avenue High School took place on November 21, 1978, after a delay in the construction of this 7.5 million dollar school building. This ended the new school construction, except for additions to existing school buildings.

The construction of the $500,000 masonry structure of the South Ocean Avenue High School began in 1923 and dedication of the school took place on October 8, 1924, attended by 1200 people. This new school replaced the old school on the corner of South Ocean Avenue and Academy Street

274

The gymnasium, 1930.

The high school auditorium in 1930.

The school in 2005, now a middle school. 275

Edmund W. Tuton, principal, 1954.

Mts. Fannie Furman, teacher and later principal, 1924.

Popular teachers of the Patchogue High School.

1936. acher, y te histor mple, e elma T iss Th M

Mrs. Edit h Fogarty , teacher, 1934

276

The Red and Black newspaper published by the Patchogue High School, volume 7, No. 5, December 1933.

The Record was first published in the form of a bimonthly booklet by the senior class of the Patchogue High School in 1913 and continued in this form till 1927, when it became a yearly publication bound in hard covers. 277

The River Avenue School 1992. At the far end of the school the two story addition is visible, which opened September 10, 1962, adding several classrooms to the school.

Todays River Avenue School. A large addition on the north side added a library, offices and classrooms to the school in 2005.

The new addition on the north side of the River Avenue School, as seen from the parking lot. The section closest to the camera is the library. 278

The Medford Avenue Elementary School opened January 5, 1931. There were no changes to the school by the time this picture was taken in 1992, but in 2005 the school was enlarged by an extension on the northeast corner of the building.

Construction on the new Bay Avenue School started in October, 1963. In this picture a bulldozer is digging out for the foundation of the new school building in front of the old school.

The foundation of the new school is rising. The building was completed by the beginning of the new school year, September ,1964. The old Bay Avenue School building was demolished in July, 1964.

The Bay Avenue School, 2005 279

Monsignor Cronin, pastor of the St. Francis de Sales Church, founded Seton Hall High School in 1937. Classes were held in 4 bungalows on Leo Street, near the foot of South Ocean Avenue. Each bungalow was partitioned into 2 classrooms. In the fall of 1952 the school moved to the new Seton Hall High School building on Roe Boulevard. This picture shows students on Leo Street. Two of the schools bungalows can be seen in the background.

Seton Hall added a combination auditorium / gym building to the school on the northeast corner of South Ocean Avenue and Harrison Street. The dedication took place on November 11, 1942. This auditorium became a YMCA October 6, 1955 and in later years a church. Part of the auditorium can be seen on the left in this picture and some of the bungalows are visible in the background. 280

The ground breaking ceremony of the new Seton Hall High School on Roe Boulevard on May 8, 1949 and the following parade were attended by a crowd of 3,000 people. The school opened in the fall of 1952. This new school replaced the former school buildings on Leo Street.

The new Seton Hall High School on Roe Boulevard. This 1957 Mooney aerial picture shows the high school and school grounds along the left side of the lake bordering on Sunrise Highway. The road crossing the Patchogue Lake in the center of the picture is Roe Boulevard.

281

Seton Hall High School was closed in June 1974 due to lack of religious teaching personnel. The building was leased to BOCES for a few years until St. Josephs College purchased the school in April, 1979. During the following 25 years many large buildings were added to this school complex. This is a picture of the front of the college in 2002, facing Roe Boulevard.

The west side of the college

The John A. Danzi Athletic Center of the St. Josephs College. 282

The St. Francis Parochial School. on South Ocean Avenue bordered on the south side of the Patchogue High School. A large fire May 24, 1951 heavily damaged the building. Today it is the administration building of the Patchogue Medford School District.

The new St. Francis de Sales Elementary School on Division Avenue, opposite the railroad station, opened its doors to the first students in 1960. Today this school is the catholic Holy Angels Regional School.

The St. Francis de Sales Church built this combination auditorium / gym building on the southwest corner of South Ocean Avenue and Division Street in 1952. 283

284

Hurricanes, Storms and Floods

285

Many hurricanes have hit Long Island during the 20th century, but Patchogue was fortunate in receiving only minor to moderate damage during these storms. The hurricane that hit Long Island without warning September 21, 1938 caused $18 billion damage in todays money on Long Island and in the New England states. The center of the category 3 storm passed over West Hampton, causing 50 deaths on Long Island. Patchogue lost many trees and some houses had minor damage. Other hurricanes of the century on Long Island were as follows:

Carol - September 2, 1954, 130 mph winds, loss of trees and glass damage. Donna - September 12, 1960, 90 mph winds, trees, glass and boat damage, 220,000 without power. Belle August 9, 1976. Extensive damage on Long Island, flooding and power loss. Gloria September 27, 1985, category 2 storm, 185,000 homes without power, trees, many homes for several days without power or electricity. Bob August 18, 1991, category 2 storm, brushes east end of L.I, trees, power loss to 380,000 residents

A devastating category 3 hurricane hit Long Islands South Shore on September 21, 1938 with 130 mph winds. The center of the storm passed over Westhampton, causing great destruction and many deaths on the east end of Long Island. Patchogue was spared major damage and loss of life, but many trees were downed and some homes were damaged. This tree came down in front of Captain Valentines home on Carman Street.

The damage caused by the 1938 hurricane on Cedar Street.

286

East Main Street is preparing for hurricane Gloria by taping store widows. The storm caused some glass damage.

Tree damage on Highland Avenue caused by hurricane Gloria.

Even a mighty oak was not safe from Gloria. My daughters Susan and Karen are posing for a souvenir photo. 287

Hurricane Gloria hit Long Island on Friday, September 27, 1985, causing $100 million in damages on the island and leaving 185,000 homes without electricity for several days. Many trees went down in Patchogue, but again no houses received major damage. Repair crews from upstate New York were called in to help LILCO repair the damage to the power lines.

288

The Great South Bay could get rough in stormy weather. This picture was taken from Mickey Felices backyard, looking west towards the Sandspit.

It did not have to be a hurricane to flood the shoreline. A heavy storm with gale force winds, combined with a high tide, caused this flooding of Smith Street in November, 1953.

Another picture of Smith Street under water in December 1962 after a storm. Improvements have been made in the past years to prevent this kind of a problem.

The intersection of North Ocean Avenue and Oak Street always had been prone to flooding caused by heavy rainstorms. Many improvements have been made, including the installation of large pump systems to minimize this problem. 289

290

Patchogue Newspapers

291

The Advance newspaper was founded in 1871 by Thomas J. Dyson and the first issue was published on September 1, 1871. Dyson sold the newspaper to Thomas S. Heatly in 1876. In 1885 the Reverend S. Fiedler Palmer bought the paper, who sold it to H. Judson Overton in 1885. Mr. Overton renamed the newspaper the Patchogue Advance. On May 18, 1888 the paper was sold again, this time to Martin B. Van Densen. James A. Canfield became the new owner and editor in 1892 till the

time of his death in July 1924. John T. Tuthill, his son-in-law, took over the job as editor in 1924 and was succeeded after his death by his son, John T. Tuthill III. The Advance building on North Ocean Avenue became too small and a new building on 20 Medford Avenue became the headquarters of the Advance in the spring of 1957. In May 1961 the Moriches Tribune paper was merged with the Advance and the new name of the paper became the Long Island Advance.

The changing face of the Advance

1877

1897

1938

2006 292

1972

The staff of the Patchogue Advance in 1936. From left to right : Edward Bryan, Margaret Campion, Virginia Rowe, Jerry Cejka, George Cesman, Charlotte Jones, Raymond Buys, John T. Tuthill Sr, Frank P. Johnson, Ronald Pat Dey, John T. Tuthill Jr, Lloyd C. Harris, Gladys Hammer DeVito, George W. Andrews, Mary Campion, Marguerite Henken, Lillie Valentine, Marcel Wagner, and Wallace King.

Clint Stalker, in front, and Art Leffers are working in the printing department of the Advance in this 1950s picture. .

The Argus, another Patchogue newspaper, was first published in 1884 by L. B. Greene. The Argus newspaper operation was bought after L.B. Greenes death by the Patchogue Advance, October 8, 1930 and was published alongside the Advance foe several more years.

293

The Advance building on North OceanAvenue, built in 1908,

The Long Island Advance building on 20 Medford Avenue,

The Advance put out several other newspapers. In 1930 the Advance bought out the Argus paper, put out the Mid Island Mail in 1935 and began the fourth publication, the Moriches Tribune in 1937. The Mid Island Mail was discontinued in 1941 and the Argus in 1942 due to war shortages. In 1961 the Moriches Tribune was merged with the Patchogue Advance and the name of the new paper became the Long Island Advance. The Advance purchased the Long Island News in 1972 and the Suffolk County News and Islip Bulletin in 1985. 294

Frank Mooney was born in Brooklyn February 9, 1906. He moved to Ronkonkoma in 1932. He was the Long Island reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle for a few years and worked also for the Patchogue Advance, where he wrote a column called On Main Street, which he later expanded in his own newspaper. As publisher of the Main Street Press from 1952 to 1990, he was a one-man operation in his office at 9 North Ocean Avenue. Frank was called Mr. Main Street in Patchogue, because he knew everyone and he had his finger on the pulse of the community. Frank J. Mooney died May 16, 1990, and his wish was that the Main Street Press should die with him. 295

Events at the Patchogue Hotel

The annual dinner of the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce in the Patchogue Hotel, October ,1954.

The Elks Grand Ball, Patchogue Lodge # 1323, February, 1954, at the Patchogue Hotel. 296

The Four Corners Group Picture 1993

As part of the 100 Year Anniversary celebration of the Village of Patchogue, a group picture of Patchogue citizens was arranged at the Four Corners. The picture was taken by Jim Mooney with a camera that could take a 360 degree picture. This was a repeat of the picture taken in 1944, which was at that time sent to soldiers from Patchogue. The original picture is ultra wide and it has to be shown in sections to fit the format of this book.

297

A Jim Mooney photo

298

The Patchogue Lakes

The three lakes in Patchogue were created about 200 hundred years ago by the damming of the three streams in the village, to provide waterpower for mills. The mills are long gone, but we have three beautiful lakes left that are a pleasure to look at.

The Patchogue Lake, looking east. Across the lake lies the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

The Swan Lake in East Patchogue.

The West Lake. 299

300

Well Known Places of Business in Patchogue

301

Felices restaurant on Waverly Avenue started out as a small restaurant in 1918, but was gradually expanded over the years. This restaurant also had a bowling alley on the premises and could boast to be the first restaurant in Patchogue to have a television. This place was destroyed by a fire on April 21, 1960.

Mickey Felice opened a restaurant on the former Mascot Hotel site at the foot of South Ocean Avenue in 1961. This is an aerial picture of the restaurant in 1962. 302

A thriving business called for the expansion of the restaurant and a large extension was added in 1975. The small building on the left is Mickeys Clam Bar.

The V.I.P. Room in the new addition.

The enclosing of the porch enlarged the seating capacity, creating this dining area, the Oak Room.

Mickey Felices restaurant at the foot of South Ocean Avenue, next to the water, was especially vulnerable to flooding, as these pictures show, but surprisingly not a drop of water entered the restaurant during hurricane Gloria. 303

In 1990 Mickey Felices restaurant was torn down, and the site is now occupied by the large King Louis the XVI restaurant.

Mickey Felice opened this Restaurant on West Main Street, just west of the West Lake, in 1998. He took a few years of well earned rest after he closed the restaurant on the bay.

304

Louise Staudinger started in business in 1935 in Greenport, opening a knitting shop. In 1946, she moved to Patchogue, opening a store east of the theater with a partner. She opened her own shop on the north side of West Main Street in 1955 and moved to the well known location of her Colony Shop on the south side of the street in 1962. The Colony Shop, specializing in children clothing, stayed in this location till 2005 and then moved to the north side of East Main Street. This is the Colony Shop building on West Main Street.

The inside of the Colony Shop.

305

Costumers travel great distances to shop here because of the large selection of childrens clothing and the quality of the merchandise.

A rare inside picture of the Swezey store and the employees, taken in the 1930s. Swezeys, founded in 1894, was the oldest and best known store in Patchogue.

The Swezey store in 1990.

Always a pretty sight during the Christmas season. 306

Swezeys operated several other stores in Patchogue. This Gift Corner on the northeast corner of Main Street and Ocean Avenue was open for several years in the 1970s. Today it is the ONeill store.

Across from the main store on West Main Street was Swezeys Home Fashions store.

Swezeys held many promotions with prizes to attract new costumers. Here is the lucky winner of what looks like a trip to Arizona. On the left is Jack Luchsinger, the gentleman in the middle is Mayor Waldbauer, and on the right Kim Swezey. 307

The occasion seems to be the opening of another Swezey store. From the left: Governor Mario Cuomo, Kim Swezey and NYS Assemblyman Bill Bianchi.

The last days of the Swezey store on the Four Corners, before the move to the new store on the former Lace Mill site , October 2000. This is the linen store on the south side of Main Street.

The lower floor of Swezeys main store on Main Street, October, 2000. 308

The Frank Romeo Construction Company did many road and other construction jobs in the Patchogue area from the 1920s to the 1950s.

309

The new Floyd Bennett store on the northeast corner of Medford Avenue and Sunrise Highway opened in 1960. This Jim Mooney aerial picture was taken September 27, 1960. The Floyd Bennett store later became the Great Eastern store, then Modells and finally the Home Depot.

Behmes Sunlight Bakery on 197 Medford Avenue was a well known bakery from the 1940s to 1960s.

The Behme family in their bakery store. 310

Molly and Arthur Blums corset shop, 23 South Ocean Avenue. The people in this picture of the interior of the store are, from left to right : Hanore Maler, Irene Godsowski, Arlene Barber, unidentified, Molly Blum, and Arthur Blum. Shortly after their marriage in 1927, Molly and Arthur moved to Terry Street in Patchogue and then opened the store on South Ocean

Avenue. A fire on February 10, 1956, forced them to move to a new location, just west of the Congregational Church on East Main Street. In 1968 they bought the building on 13 15 East Main Street, their present location, and added 8 000 square feet to the store. Today their daughter Bernice, her husband Abe Siegel, and their son Marc are the owners of the store.

Molly and Arthur Blum in front of their store on East Main Street. The lady in the center in this 1968 picture is Mrs. Rosenblatt from Rose Jewelers. 311

Blums store on East Main Street, 2001..

The interior of Blums store, March 2001.

312

Claire Rose Distributors first store on West Main Street in 1936. Today this building is a restaurant, next to the 6th District Court. Claire Rose was a dealer for Mission Soda in 1936.

Claire Roses first delivery truck, loaded with Mission Soda, 1936.

A great difference from the beginnings in 1936, the Claire Rose office and warehouse complex on West Avenue. No more Mission Soda nowadays, but mainly Budweiser Beer. Claire Rose is one of the largest distributors in this section of the country. 313

The Reich Brothers Trucking Company office building on the south side of East Main Street, between Evergreen and Grove Avenue, was built in 1928 and demolished in 1981, when the property was sold.

In 1919, George Reich Sr. and his sons August and Ralph started their trucking business with a 2-ton truck, hauling produce from the farms on the east end of the island to New York City. One brother would pick up farm produce in the daytime, and the other would drive the truck at night to New York. When the oldest brother, George Jr., returned from the Army, the firm began hauling seafood to Fulton Market. After George Sr. retired, the firm became the Reich Brothers Long Island Motor Freight. The business grew to become the largest trucking company on Long Island, with a warehouse in NewYork. In the 1970s the business gradually declined and finally closed down.

This is one of the early trucks of the trucking company in the early 1920s. It must have been a rough ride into New York on a truck with solid rubber tires. The large fleet of red and green painted trucks of the company in later years became a familiar sight on Long Island. 314

Popular Orchestras in the Forties and Fifties

Patchogue had several popular orchestras that provided the entertainment at parties and dances fifty years ago.

The Mike Greco orchestra, ca. 1950. From left to right: Mike Greco, Al Chiuchiolo, Paul Williams, Vern Greco, Phil Carlin.

Another popular orchestra was the Don Lane orchestra. The members in this 1947 picture are, from left to right: Don Lane, Ed Mariella, Frank Destotano, Al Chiuchiolo and Dick Phelan

The Mike Greco orchestra again, in the 1950s. From left to right: Phil Karlin, Al Chiuchiolo, Vernon Greco, Mike Greco. 315

Justus Roe, a surveyor by profession, started his business manufacturing tapes in 1876 in Patchogue with his son Howard under the name Justus Roe and Son. Although he was not the first to make tape measures, he could produce tapes at half the price than the tapes of his competition from England. They started their business on the second floor over Mc Brides Drugstore on the corner of Main Street and Ocean Avenue. The tapes were manufactured in Brooklyn and New York. By 1890 his sons Austin and Henry joined the firm , and the name of the firm became Justus Roe and Sons. A few years later the youngest son, Nathaniel also joined the firm. The tapes were selling well and the company built their own factory between

East Main Street and Terry Street in 1900. During World War II, the company supplied the Army and the Navy with their products. After the war, the business was expanded with overseas operations in Australia, England, Russia, Israel and India. In 1960 the company moved to bigger facilities on River Avenue, bordering the Patchogue River. In 1976, on the 100 year anniversary of the company, the name was changed to Roe International. The company was sold to the Irwin Tool Company April 23, 1981. The company again was sold May 28, 1990 and renamed U.S. Tape. U.S. Tape was sold in 1998 to RAF Industries, keeping the name U.S. Tape.

The Roe Tape Measure factory in the parking lot on Terry Street. The factory consists of the white building with the dark roof and the many windows and the long, white, windowless building to the right of it. This building was added to the original building when an expansion was necessary. The long shape of the buildings was dictated by the length of the tapes produced here. The tape measures needed to be checked on a continues flat surface, so the 100 foot tapes required this 103 foot long building. In this picture Main Street can be seen on the top right corner and Terry Street on the bottom left corner. 316

1962 pictures of the production line in Roes Tape Factory

The parking lot and factory, 1962.

The original Roe Tape Measure factory building in Roe Court on Terry Street, built in 1900. 317

318

Patchogue at the beginning of the st 21 century

319

A view of Patchogue from the air

Medford Avenue

East Main Street

North Ocean Avenue

West Main Street

North Ocean Avenue - Reeses restaurant

South Ocean Avenue 320

The Library

Patchogue Manor catering hall on Railroad Avenue formerly the K of C Hall. This building had various uses in previous years, like a manufacturing plant for clothing items and a roller skating rink.

The shore line, west of the South Ocean Avenue dock.

The Sandspit Park, as seen from the Ocean Avenue.

East Main Street at night

The North Fork Bank, East Main Street.

Medford Avenue, north end. 321

Medford Avenue, south end.

322

Events in Patchogue at the turn of the Century

323

Many events are organized in Patchogue every year by the Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Patchogue Foundation to attract people to Patchogue. For many of these events, Main Street in the village is closed for the duration of the event. There are craft shows, art shows, Fourth of July

fireworks, Holiday Parades, Christmas Holiday Boat Parades and the Blessing of the Fleet events on the river and the annual Sea Fair and Boat Show on the grounds of the National Parks Terminal and on the Patchogue River. All these events are attended by thousands of people.

Arts and Craft Show on East Main Street, September 1995.

Art dealers and artists displaying and selling their artwork on East Main Street, September 2005.

Arts and Crafts show, September 1995.

324

Alive after Five on Main Street, 2006. Between July and September every year, Main Street is closed every other Friday from 5 oclock on for the Alive after Five events. Two to three bands perform at every event and there are many merchandise and food concession booths or tents between Havens and Maple Avenue for the visitors.

Alive After Five 2006. The Brick House Brewery has set up many tables and chairs in front of their building and every seat seems to be taken.

Alive After Five, 2006. The Four Corners. 325

The Clam And Crab Festival.

The Clam and Crab Festival was held for three years in the late 1990s in the parking lot of the National Sea Shore Terminal. Bands, food concessions and entertainment for the children were provided for the visitors.

The 2004 Optimist National Championship Regatta.

The Bellport Bay Yacht Club sponsored the regatta, which was held at the Great South Bay in the last week of July, 2004. 430 competing young sailors come from as far away as Australia. The fleet of boats assembled at the Patchogue Shore Front Park. The Kiwanis Club of Patchogue members helped the young sailors launch their boats and provided a barbeque for a 1,000 visitors. The regatta was a huge success. 326

The Sea Fair, 2006

2006 was the third year for the Sea Fair, held at the National Sea Shore parking lot on the Patchogue River, organized by Mike Bruemmer and the Patchogue Riverfront Committee. It was a great success, attended by 12,000 people. The many activities at the fair included carnival rides, concerts, an Antique and New Boat Show, live pirate shows, pirate treasure hunt, craft bazaar, blessing of the fleet and food concessions.

327

328

Entering the 21st. Century

Great Changes in Patchogue Condominium Projects.
The Patchogue Village Administration under the energetic leadership of Mayor Paul Pontieri has taken great steps to re-vitalize Patchogues downtown. 8 condominium projects are either in the planning stages, under construction or finished. The first section of Don Felices Sea Crest Village on South Ocean Avenue is finished and occupied and the second section is near completion. The old former Smithport Hotel and adjoining homes on South Ocean Avenue have been razed to make room for the Bay Village condominiums. The land has been cleared for the Northwood Village project on Waverly Avenue and the land for the Copper Beach condominiums, a Workforce Housing Project, on South Ocean Avenue and Gerard Street, has been cleared as of July 2006. The other projects are in various stages of planning.

329

The Sea Crest Village Condominiums

A 2004 picture of the first section of the Sea Crest Village condominium on the Felice property on South Ocean Avenue, between Terry and Academy streets.

Don Felices Ocean Avenue service station on the corner of Academy Street in the Fall of 2005. These buildings would be soon torn down and replaced with the second section of the Sea Crest Village.

The second section of the Sea Crest Village is nearing completion. This is the corner of Academy Street in January, 2006. This picture was taken from the same angle as the above picture. 330

The Copper Beach Village Project

This is the corner of South Ocean Avenue and Gerard Street. The old Copper Beach in this picture gave the name to this condominium project. The former Unique Theater building on the right and the home in the background soon would fall victim to the wreckers ball.

This is the same corner as in the above picture, only one hundred years ago. It is the home of Dr. Foster. The little tree on the left most likely is the same Copper Beach we see today on this corner.

A picture of Gerard Street , December 7, 2005. All these buildings were demolished after negotiations with the homeowners were completed. 331

The site plan of the 80 unit Copper Beach Village and the proposed look of the housing units. This is the first Workforce Housing project in Suffolk County. There is an acute shortage of affordable housing in Suffolk County and Patchogue Village

was the first municipality to address this problem. 40 units of the project will be sold to first time homebuyers at reduced prices under the Workforce Housing program, the other 40 units will be sold at market prices.

332

Ground breaking ceremonies for the Copper Beach Village project, July 6, 2006. Many dignitaries attended the ceremony. From left to right : Brookhaven Town deputy chief of staff, Susan Henke- Brinkman, Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning, Suff. Co. Legislator Jack

Eddington, NY. State Assemblyperson Patricia Eddington, Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, Exec. Director L.I.H.P. Peter Elkowitz, Suff. Co. Executive Steve Levy, NY. State Att. General Elliot Spitzer, Patchogue Trustee Stephen Mc Giff and Suff. Co. Legislator Rick Montano.

333

A view of the work in progress. The buildings on the right are on South Ocean Avenue and the Methodist Church is in the background.

A picture of the site, taken from South Ocean Avenue. All homes on Gerard Street have been removed by the time this picture was taken, July 6, 2006.

A picture of the future Northwood Village site on Waverly Avenue, just south of the Municipal Garage property The property had been cleared and leveled at the time of this June 29, 2006 picture. 334

The Bay Village Condos

For many years the former Smithport Hotel and former White House Hotel on South Ocean Avenue have been an eyesore and the subject of many complaints and code violations, These building were finally condemned, and together with several homes to the south of the former Smithport were demolished in 2006 to clear the site for the Bay Village Condominium project.

The White House , in the foreground, and the Smithport in January 2006.

January 23, 2006, the last moments of the Smithport. 335

These homes south of the Smithport Hotel also were demolished in June 2006.

On June 29, 2006. only one home remains, and it will be removed soon.

A computer generated proposed look of the future Bay Village Condominiums. 336

Patchogue Events th in the 20 Century

Headlines taken from the archives of the Patchogue Advance and the Long Island Advance, broken down decade by decade. 1900 1910
The Patchogue Fire Department awarded a contract to Clarence H. Vrooman on July 5, 1904 to build a new firehouse on Lake Street for $8,795. The building was finished in 1905. The Patchogue Electric Light Company extended their service to Blue Point in 1902. Patchogue library officials, operating for years out of rented spaces, applied for and received a $10,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie for the construction of a new, permanent building. A second $5,000 grant was received after cost overruns. The library was built on Lake Street on a lot donated by Edwin Bailey. The architect was John V. Von Pelt. The library was opened on March 8, 1908 to the public. Edwin Bailey built a large three-story brick building on West Main Street in 1905, which he sold to the Masonic Lodge at cost for $15,000. The dedication of the Masonic Lodge was held January 10, 1906. The Mascot, one of Patchogues oldest shoreline hotels, located at the foot of South Ocean Avenue, was moved by barge in 1905 several hundred feet to the east to serve as an oyster shed. Baileys Lumber Mill continued to expand, now employing 150 people. School officials had to construct several new classrooms to accommodate an influx of additional students. Four new classrooms were added to the Maple Avenue School in 1904, while two more classrooms were added to the River Avenue School in 1906. The new Wilmot M. Smith School on Bay Avenue opened in 1908. It was the first Patchogue school building constructed of brick. Officials of the St. Francis de Sales Church, located on East Main Street, decided to move their church to the center of Patchogue, to a new location on South Ocean Avenue. The move started on December 8, 1906, and it took three months during a bitter cold winter to reach the new location. On March 7, 1907 the church was set on its new foundation. Another church was relocated in 1910. The Baptist Church on Academy Street was moved to North Ocean Avenue. It took six days for the move.

337

 After years of planning and negotiations to open a trolley line in Patchogue, the first tracks were laid on Main Street and South Ocean Avenue. It would take three more years for the trolley line to start operations. Almost 200 new homes were built in Patchogue between 1906 and 1907. The Patchogue Advance moved into its new building on North Ocean Avenue in 1908. Edwin Bailey Sr., a well known Patchogue citizen, died January 11, 1908. He was a successful business man and served also in such positions as supervisor, fire chief, bank director, school trustee and overseer of the poor. Thousands attended his funeral on January 13, 1908. The Patchogue Electric Light Company extended their service to the Moriches area in 1909.

1910 1920
The Suffolk Traction Company began operations on July 1, 1911, after clearing up financial problems. To save on expenses, three used battery powered cars were purchased, eliminating the costly installation of poles and overhead wires for power supply. The cars traveled from the dock on South Ocean Avenue to Blue Point and Sayville and north to Holtsville. The Union Savings Bank, established in 1896 and conducting their business from the Syndicate Building, built a new bank on the corner of South Ocean Avenue and Church Street, completed in May 1912. James G. Shand bought the grocery and general merchandise store from John S. Havens in 1914. A new large ferry boat was purchased for the Fire Island service in 1912. The 106 foot long ferry, named Patchogue could carry up to 300 passengers. Business was not as good as expected however, and the boat was sold in 1914. The new Star Palace theater was built in 1913 on West Main Street, near the Four Corners. The theater showed movies, featured vaudeville shows and also performances of local talents. During World War I, Irving Berlin staged the pre-Broadway tryouts of his Army show Yip, Yip, Yaphank in the Star Palace while he was stationed in Camp Upton. On June 12,1913, the Patchogue Fire Department hosted a large fireman tournament, which drew large crowds of spectators. On February 22, 1913 the large Carman Estate on Rider and Bay Avenues was auctioned. Eight residences and 150 building lots were auctioned off. The Suffolk Traction Company extended their service to Bayport and Sayville in 1913, the first trolley traveling on this extension September 7, 1913. A large clock was installed in the tower of the Swezey and Newins building in 1914. The four large dials of this clock could be seen from any direction.

338

 The corner stone of the Emanuel Lutheran Church on East Main Street was laid August 23, 1914. The dedication of the church took place on November 15, 1914. The corner stone of the West Patchogue Fire Department on River Avenue was laid on October 14, 1914. In 1913 the large 70 acre Gilbert estate on the east bank of the Patchogue River was auctioned. The Patchogue Post Office was moved from the Syndicate Building on West Main Street to the Uscher Building on the southeast corner of South Ocean Avenue and Terry Street. in 1917. After the United States entry into World War 1 in 1917, the Patchogue Plymouth Mill switched production to war materials, including camouflage netting, for the government. The mill employed 700 to 800 people at this time. A reorganization of the mill occurred in 1918, when it was merged with a Lawrence, Massachusetts based company. The mill continued under the new name of Plymouth Mill Corporation. For the first few years of operation the Suffolk Traction Company trolley line did a brisk business, but financial problems and competition of motor bus lines forced the company to cease operations on October 10, 1919.

1920 1930
Due to a diminishing demand, the Custom House on South Ocean Avenue was closed in 1922 and Patchogue ceased to be a Port of Entry. The Patchogue Electric Light Company, or Pelco, doubled the capacity of its power plant in 1923. On New Years Eve 1922 the new Roman Catholic Church of The Saints Perpetual and Felicitas on West Main Street, later known as Mount Carmel, was dedicated by Bishop Thomas E. Malloy of the Brooklyn Diocese. By April, 1923, there were 122 houses built on the lands of the former Gilbert Estate in Patchogue. A report of May, 18, stated that the Patchogue boat yards were rushed with work and are experiencing a big boom in business. Ward and Glynnes new Patchogue Theater on East Main Street opened on May 23, 1923. The Patchogue Advance newspaper installed a new Goss Comet high speed press in 1923 to keep up with the demand. The circulation increased from 1750 copies a week in 1919 to 3200 a week in 1923. A new Patchogue hospital was established in 1923 in the former Carman homestead on Carman Street. 339

 A new American Legion clubhouse on Baker Street was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1924, followed by a large parade. On March 3, 1924 250 people attended a meeting to organize the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce. $6200 was raised at this meeting. The chamber had 357 subscribers and more than $10,000 in funds by mid-March. James A. Canfield, longtime editor of the Patchogue Advance, died after a brief illness July 21, 1924. Over 1,200 people attended the dedication ceremonies of the new Patchogue High School on South Ocean Avenue, October 8, 1924. A group of Patchogue men founded the Peoples National Bank in April 1925. Starting capital of the bank was $100,000 with a surplus of $37,000. A fire destroyed the River Avenue School, April 30, 1925. The children were temporary transferred to the Bay Avenue school. The new River Avenue school building, a modern three story brick and concrete structure opened on Wednesday, September 28, 1926. The new Citizens Trust Company Bank building on West Main Street opened its door to the public on Saturday, June 20, 1925. Regular banking hours started Monday, June 22. The local KKK chapter of Patchogue hosted a rally and held a parade August 1, 1925, which was attended by 3,000 people. L.B. Greene, editor of the Patchogue newspaper The Argus, died August 21, 1925 after a short illness. The Boyle Estate, the last large estate in Patchogue, was auctioned on Saturday, September 5, 1925. In less than three hours the 16 acre tract, consisting of 182 lots, was sold for a total of $85,000. The Rialto Theater on South Ocean Avenue, owned by Ward and Glynne, was destroyed by a fire December 5, 1925. The estimated damage was $ 30,000. Proprietor Mike Glynne expected to rebuild the theater immediately. In December, 1925, Mrs. Ruth Litt sold her beautiful 120 acre estate in East Patchogue to a Brooklyn real estate company for $150,000. The property was auctioned July 23, 1927. The new home of the Elks Lodge, which later became the Patchogue Hotel, was formally dedicated on Wednesday, March 24, 1926. The beautiful rebuilt and enlarged Rialto Theater on South Ocean Avenue re-opened its doors May 26, 1926. Building operations in Patchogue set a new high-mark in 1927. 136 different building activities were reported, including 36 new homes and 2 factories. Work on the new Granada Theater on West Main Street started July, 1928. On November 28, 1928 the theater opened its doors to the public. The interior of the theater was styled in a charming Spanish Garden effect. The seating capacity was between 800 to a 1,000 people. 340

 On July 4, 1929, thousands of people watched a race between a speed boat and a plane of the Suffolk Flyers Club from Patchogue to Cherry Grove on Fire Island. It was a challenge between two Patchogue citizens of who could deliver a sack of mail faster. The plane won by seconds. The dedication of the new $47,000 Town Hall building on the corner of South Ocean Avenue and Baker Street took place on June 5, 1926. Ward and Glynne sold their Patchogue Theater and the Rialto Theater to the Prudential Theater chain in 1929.

1930 1940
The Patchogue Oil Terminal Corporation built a large storage facility on the west bank of the Patchogue River in 1931. The 12 large storage tanks had a capacity exceeding 2,000,000 gallon. Tankers, some over 200 feet in length, delivered oil to these storage tanks. The new Medford Avenue School, a large brick building, opened in January 1931. On April 24, 1931, a fire destroyed the old Swezey gristmill on Swan Lake, which was built in 1814. The large new Jewish Center on Oak Street was dedicated March 13, 1932. New York Governor Lehman was the main speaker. The Clifton Hotel was sold to a realty company in 1933, but stayed open for business under new management for several more years. The New Mascot Hotel on South Ocean Avenue became a total fire loss on July 20, 1933. The Ocean Avenue Hotel property was auctioned off in 1933. In 1932 the State Park Commission employed 6,400 people in the Work Relief Program in Suffolk County. Some of these men worked on several sewer projects in Patchogue. More than $1,000,000 was spent on work relief programs in Suffolk County. The dedication ceremony for the new Patchogue Post Office was held August 31, 1933. This beautiful building, designed by the Patchogue architect John V. Von Pelt, was the first federal building to be erected in Suffolk County. On March 7, 1934, a fire destroyed most of the large Roe Hotel on East Main Street. The loss was estimated at $100,000. On September 3, 1935 the new Patchogue Village Municipal Building on Baker Street was dedicated. The Patchogue Lace Mill, having experienced a business slump during the Depression, had an early recovery and was very active, starting with the second half of 1935. 341

 On September 21, 1938 a devastating hurricane struck Long Island without much prior warning, with the center passing over West Hampton. Over 50 lives were lost on Long Island and the property damage was in the millions. In comparison with other storms, including the present time, this was the sixth most damaging hurricane in the United States. Patchogue escaped with tree losses and some damages to buildings. The last parts of the Ocean Avenue Hotel were torn down in 1939.

1940 1950
The Elks Club on East Main Street, dormant since 1936, was re-opened as the Patchogue Hotel in November 1940. Leos Inn on the West Lake was consumed by a fire on May 20, 1940. The first groups of volunteers for the draft started leaving Patchogue in 1940 and 1941 to enter the Armed Forces. Approximately 550 workers of the Patchogue Plymouth Mills Corporation, seeking a pay raise, walked out on strike June 2, 1941. Although a few workers returned to work after a few weeks, the mill strike lasted for 18 weeks. The management closed the mill at 5 p.m. June 27, 1941 after negotiations with the workers failed. By November 14, 1941, 470 mill workers had returned to their jobs. A new mill contract was negotiated in August 1944, and part of the deal was the payment of $125,000 in back wages. The Maple Avenue School in Patchogue, dormant since 1939, was re-opened as a Aviation Trade School in August 1941. Part of Baileys Mill was leased to Bruns, Kimball and Company. The firm built boats for the Army. The first three boats were delivered by December 16, 1941, With the entry of the United States into World War II, a potential blackout toward the sea was imposed on the Long Island South Shore in April 1942. Sugar rationing also went into effect at this time. The new Seton Hall school building on South Ocean Avenue was dedicated on November 11, 1942. The Patchogue USO Club was opened February 11, 1943 on East Main Street in the building which later became the Elks Lodge. Patchogue Village bought the property of the former Ocean Avenue Hotel in April 1944 for $18,000. The Bossert Firm, operating in the former Bailey Mill complex, employed 253 people in 1944 making prefab homes for England under contract of the US. Land- Lease Program. The original order was for 30,000 pre-fab homes. About 320 homes were completed before the halt of the Lend Lease Program and the cancellation of the order. A large fire on January 9, 1946 destroyed the upper floor and the tower of the Swezey and Newins building on the Four Corners. The fire also caused severe damage to the rest of the building.. 342

 The Wingerath Lumber Company, located opposite Swan Lake, also became a fire loss on January 3, 1946. The Adirondak Log Cabin Company, a subsidiary of the US. PreFab Company, started building pre-fab Cape Cod homes in the former Bailey Mill. Saturday, July 19, 1947, was the day of the grand opening of the Mt. Carmel Beach on the east side of the West Lake. The Advance reports the largest ever tournament sponsored by the Patchogue Fire Department. The event, around the Fourth of July holiday in 1947, lasted three days. The Plymouth Mill reported a work slow- down due to a decreased demand for the mills products. 450 workers were idle by November 1948. A large fire on January 6,1949, destroyed the Connelly Ship Yard on the Patchogue River. A crowd of over 3,000 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony and the following parade of the new Seton Hall High School on Roe Boulevard on May 8, 1949. In July, 1949, the 11 acre site of the former Clifton Hotel at the foot of Bay Avenue was divided into 50 home sites. The Maple Avenue School was demolished in 1949 and the site was sold for $10,000. A $1 million apartment complex would be erected on the property in the future. On December 8, 1949 the cornerstone was laid for the new Lutheran Church of Our Savior on 231 Jayne Avenue. The dedication ceremony was held on October 5, 1950.

1950 1960
The new Veterans Highway opened to the public January 26, 1950. In July 1950 the American Legion held a two- day convention in Patchogue. Approximately 2,000 marchers participated in the parade and the convention. A fire destroyed an old Patchogue landmark, the Old Oak Hotel, located on East Main Street, on September 24, 1950. A strong hurricane passed over the Long Island area November 25, 1950. Damage in Patchogue was mostly to trees, but Toad Conklins boat yard lost two buildings. The Brookhaven Airport and Davis Field in Bayport lost several planes. The Hempat Manufacturing Company, working in the former Roller Skating Rink on Railroad Avenue, received an Army contract for 16,000 trench coats on February 8, 1951. The same company, now under the name RBFD, received an additional order for 60,000 trench coats on March 29, 1951. 343

 Rollic Inc., owned by Alexander Pfeiffle, employing over 200 people in a large building on the corner of East Main Street and Grove Avenue, manufacturing childrens clothing, reported $2 million in business for 1950. On May 24, 1951, a fire seriously damaged the St. Francis Parochial School on South Ocean Avenue. In 1951 a new Sears Store was built on the corner of East Main Street and Rider Avenue. New York State approved the Patchogue Medford School merger in July 1951. The corner stone for the new PELCO building on the corner of East Main Street and Conklin Avenue was laid on July 16, 1951. The dedication of the building took place on January 27, 1952. Patchogue Village celebrated the opening of the Shore Front Park near the foot of South Ocean Avenue on September 14, 1951. A fire destroyed two buildings of the former Bailey Mill, a $500,000 loss. Three firms, renting space in these buildings, were wiped out. The Liberty Restaurant on West Main Street received heavy fire damage on January 3, 1952. The Gil Smith Boat Yard, located on the east side of the Patchogue River, was sold to Bob Ritchie in September 1951. The construction of Sunrise Highway reached Patchogue in May 1952. It was decided to construct the section from Veterans Highway to Phyllis Drive first, before the Oakdale to Sayville section, to take the heavy traffic load off Patchogues Main Street. A fire in the Roe Tape Measure factory on Terry Street caused $75,000 damage on July 18, 1952. The well known Olympia Luncheonette and Ice Cream Parlor on South Ocean Avenue was totally destroyed by a fire December 28, 1953. The Fabric Shop and the Economy Drugstore located next door sustained water and smoke damage. The construction of Sunrise Highway was delayed in 1953 because of a steel strike. The section of Sunrise Highway from the Veterans Highway to Schoenfeld Boulevard was opened January 7, 1954. The Oakdale to Veterans Highway section was opened August 5, 1954. The 1954 Fourth of July Parade in Patchogue attracted 35,000 people. From this year on until 1961 between 30,000 to 50,000 people attended this annual parade. In 1962 the number dropped to 15,000. Hurricane Carol hit Long Island on September 2, 1954, uprooting trees and causing glass damage in Patchogue. Bayport Aerodrome lost 7 planes. The new Patchogue Municipal Pool on Maiden Lane opened June 5, 1955. The Patchogue Plymouth Mills Corporation was forced to cease operations at the end of 1954. Production had fallen off to one-third of the 1948 volume and employment had steadily declined. 344

 On July 12, 1955 the mill was sold to a Brooklyn engineer, Eugene F. Martin. The new company planned to rent spaces in the mill buildings. The Seton Hall School gym building on South Ocean Avenue was sold and became the YMCA in October 1955. The corner stone for the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital was laid on November 28, 1954, The new 120 space Terry Street parking lot opened January 16, 1955. The largest fire in Patchogues history destroyed the Mills building complex on the southeast corner of Main Street and Ocean Avenue February 10, 1956. Eight stores were lost in this $1 million fire. The new $1 million Bee Hive building on East Main Street opened August 21, 1957. The Brookhaven Town Sandspit Park at the mouth of the Patchogue River opened June 29, 1956. The Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, or BMH, opened August 2, 1956. The 96 bed hospital cost $1.3 million to complete. The money was raised through fund drives, spanning several years. The Four Sisters Recreation Center on South Ocean Avenue opened June 16, 1957 in the former New York Telephone Company building. The new 1,000 pupil Saxton Avenue Senior High School opened September 4, 1957. The cost of the building exceeded $2.7 million. There were now 4,000 pupils in the Patchogue Medford School District. The T&S Lumber Company on the corner of East Main Street and Grove Avenue became a total fire loss. Damages were estimated at $250,000 The Peoples National Bank opened the doors of its new bank building on February 15, 1958. The bank is located next to the Congregational Church.

1960 1970
Construction was started on the Patchogue to Shirley section of Sunrise Highway in 1959. This new section opened on January 7, 1960. Hills supermarket opened a new store on the site of the Old Oak Hotel on East Main Street in April 1960. A fire destroyed Felices Restaurant on Waverly Avenue April 21, 1960, claiming the life of a woman. Hurricane Donna hit Long Island September 12, 1960 with 90 mph winds. Patchogue damage was limited to boats, trees and glass. The South Fork was hardest hit. The new telephone company building on North Ocean Avenue, north of Sunrise Highway, opened in September 1950, starting with 131 employees. This figure expanded gradually to 500 employees. 345

 The Furman building on the southeast section of the Four Corner was heavily damaged by fire. The Bonnie Mart restaurant, Roberts Stationary, Richard York Shoe Store and several offices were destroyed. The winter of 1960 61 was severe with many snowfalls and low temperatures. The seventeen inch snowfall in the beginning of February brought the winters total to 51 inches. The Oak Street parking lot, under construction since June 1960, was opened in October 1961. A strong northeast winter storm hit the South Shore of Long Island March 7, 1962, causing $10 million in damage and destroying 100 homes on Fire Island. The new addition to the River Avenue School was opened September 10, 1962. Barton Avenue School also was enlarged in 1962. In May 1963, the 74 year old Patchogue Rail Road Station and the Express Agency building were razed to be replaced with a new station building, which was completed in September 1963. The new 1,000 pupil Oregon Avenue School of the Patchogue Medford School District opened October 5, 1963. Ground was broken for the new Bay Avenue School in October 1963. The building was completed by September 1964. The old Bay Avenue School building was demolished in July 1964. The new Plaza Movie Theater on East Main Street opened in October 1963. The Island Industrial Park complex was sold for $I million to a group headed by George E. Lechtrecker in January 1964. A raging blizzard, featuring 60 mph. winds and 12 inches of snowfall, hit Long Island on January 12, 1964 and did not stop until Tuesday, January 14. The widening of Medford Avenue from Montauk Highway to Sunrise Highway started in February 1964 by removing the trees lining the road. April 23, 1964 was the first Patchogue Day at the Worlds Fair. Special trains of the LIRR took large groups of people from Patchogue and the surrounding area to the Worlds Fair. The new 5th Precinct headquarters on Waverly Avenue opened August 3, 1964. Hurricane Gladys, which was feared would hit Long Island , bypassed the island in October 1964. High tide and large waves caused three breakthroughs on Fire Island near Smith Point. The new $850,000 Bay Avenue School opened its doors on September 9, 1964. The dedication of the school took place December 6, 1964. The new Prudential Sunrise Highway Drive In Theater opened on September 7, 1965. The big Northeast Blackout, which created a power loss over the whole northeastern United States on November 9, 1965, fortunately only caused a 6 hour power loss in Patchogue. 346

 The new 1,200 pupil Eagle Drive Elementary School opened March 1, 1966. Waverly Avenue was widened in 1967. West Avenue was widened also and extended across Montauk Highway by filling in part of the Patchogue Lake behind the Lace Mill and then connecting it to Waverly Avenue. The extension was opened November 17, 1967. A fire destroyed the upper floor of the Wedgewood Building on West Main Street September 10, 1967. The new Grant Store on Hewlett Avenue in East Patchogue opened August 17, 1967. The new large church building of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel on North Ocean Avenue, north of Sunrise Highway, opened on May 12, 1968. The Canaan Elementary School building opened September 4, 1968 and was dedicated Sunday, November 17, 1968. The Patchogue Hotel, dormant since 1961, was torn down in December 1969.

1970 1980
The Brookhaven Memorial Hospital added a two story building in front of the original main building, bringing the total capacity to 220 beds. A 70 bed medical surgical pavilion also was added. The dedication of the new wing took place Saturday, March 27, 1971. The new $7.5 million Buffalo Avenue High School, which has a capacity of 2,000 pupils, opened January 28, 1971. The Patchogue Fire Department celebrated its 90th anniversary September 17, 1970. Representatives from 36 fire departments attended the celebration. More then 1,000 people attended the dedication of the new department headquarter building on Jennings Avenue, October 11, 1970. The dedication of the new addition to the Temple Beth El on Oak Street took place October 28, 1971. The largest fire in Patchogues history occurred January 17, 1971, when two large buildings of the Industrial Park, formerly part of the Patchogue Plymouth Mill complex, burned to the ground. Thirtythree fire departments from the surrounding area helped fighting the fire, which lasted for 29 hours. Captain Tuthill, the publisher of the Patchogue Advance newspaper since 1924, died June 17, 1972. In November, 1972 Seton Hall High School announced that the school would be forced to close by June 1974 due to the lack of religious teaching personnel. The energy crisis, starting at the end of 1973 and lasting into 1974, created long lines at the gas pumps and a severe shortage of heating oils. Some plants had slowdowns and lay- offs. Coal and wood became alternate heating sources. 347

 BMH started a 15.4 million expansion program in 1974. The front two story building was expanded to four stories and three intensive care units were added. This added 134 beds to bring the capacity to a total of 350 beds. This new additions opened November 10, 1974. The new Holtsville Park Pool opened July 20, 1974. The Masonic Temple building on West Main Street became a total fire loss on November 7, 1974. Stanleys Furniture Store on East Main Street, which burned at the same time, also became a total loss. The Suffolk Health Center opened on October 1, 1974 in the former Hills Supermarket building on East Main Street. The Grant store on East Main Street closed in December, 1975 and the Grant store on Hewlett Avenue in East Patchogue closed in February, 1976. The Fire Island Ocean Beaches had to be closed for periods of time in 1976 because of garbage washing up onto the shoreline, caused by careless dumping of New York City garbage from barges. Hurricane Belle struck Long Island on Monday, August 9, 1976, causing extensive damage, flooding and power outages. A $1.5 million fire damaged the Leitner Pontiac Agency on Medford Avenue, December 27, 1976. Our area recorded the coldest winter in 50 years during the winter of 1976- 77. The Great South Bay froze over and many cars could be seen driving on the ice of the bay. The south shore of Long Island had an 18 inch snowfall on January 19, 1978 and the blizzard of 1978 dumped another 25 inches of snow over a 36 hour period February 5-6 1978. A fire destroyed the 55 year old Rialto Theater on South Ocean Avenue February 16, 1978. The YMCA Norman Roe Family Center on Buckley Road opened on Sunday, October 15, 1978. The $850,000 center offered an olympic size pool. The Patchogue Elevated Parking Garage on Lake Street opened the upper level on Friday, December 16, 1978. A dangerous fire developed on the premises of the Glover Bottle Gas Company on Route 112 in North Patchogue The fire sent small gas containers with bomb- like explosions high into the air. A 1.2 mile area had to be evacuated because the fire threatened to explode a nearby 10,000 gallon tank. Heroic efforts of the fire departments brought the fire under control. In April 1979 St. Josephs College purchased the Seton Hall High School on Roe Boulevard with plans to start operations in September, 1979.

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1980 1990
The Great Gold Rush of 1980 created long lines of people selling their gold possessions to certain dealers and stores to the tune of $800 an ounce. The Patchogue Medford Library opened February 1, 1980, at its new location in the former Grant store on East Main Street. On Friday, June 12, 1980, the new Fire Island National Seashore terminal on the Patchogue River was inaugurated. The 90 student Briarcliffe Secretarial School celebrated its grand opening on September 21, 1981 in the former Library building on Lake Street. A fire, March 3, 1982, heavily damaged the Emanuel Lutheran Church on East Main Street. A late season blizzard dropped 12 inches of snow in our area on April 6, 1982. On February 18, 1983 the new United Artist Triplex Theater on Sunrise Highway opened. The new Sixth District Court building on West Main Street was nearing completion in August, 1983. The group of buildings on the west side of South Ocean Avenue, just north of the railroad tracks, were used for a practice burn by the Patchogue Fire Department in February 1984. The area was cleared for the construction of a new office building. Hurricane Gloria hit Long Island on Friday, September 27, 1985, causing $100 million in damage on the island and leaving 185,000 homes without electricity for several days. Brookhaven Town suffered $4 million in damage. September 7, 1985, a large fire at the SGL Marina on the Patchogue River destroyed a large boathouse and 21 boats. 250 firefighters battled the blaze. Lace Mill Associates sold the Lace Mill property to George Samerjiohn in October 1985. The RKO Plaza Theater on East Main Street closed in March, 1986. Brookhaven Town moved several offices from South Ocean Avenue to a new location on Route 112 in Medford in October 1986, followed by the Town Board and the Supervisors office in February, 1988. In May, 1988 the $34 million project to widen and bridge Sunrise Highway in the Patchogue area was started. On Sunday, August 6, 1989 a fire set by an arsonist caused $600,000 damage in the River Avenue School . In August, 1989 ground was broken for the Breslin Building on West Main Street. 349

 In the later part of 1989 Home Depot remodeled the former Modell Store on the corner of Route 112 and Sunrise Highway for use as its future store. The Waverly Avenue and North Ocean Avenue bridges over Sunrise Highway were completed in November 1989. The owners of the Shand store on West Main Street announced their decision to close the store in the beginning of 1990. The store, owned and operated by John S. Havens from 1850 to 1914 and from 1914 to 1989 by the Shand family, is an old Patchogue landmark. The Patchogue Theater on East Main Street closed in 1988. The building was purchased by TCI Communications.

1990 2000
Mr. Main Street, Frank Mooney, the well known Patchogue editor of the Main Street Press, died May 17,1990. The remodeled section of Sunrise Highway, from Nicolls Road to Route 112, opened in October 1990. The last section, including the Route 112 bridge, was not completed until the end of 1992. The corner stone to the Breslin Building project on West Main Street was laid on November 13, 1990. Started in January 1991, the building process was delayed for several years because of disputes between the Patchogue Community Development Agency and Mr. Breslin. A fire damaged the large Colonial Office Building on East Main Street on June 11, 1991. A fire destroyed the Newmark & Lewis Appliance Store on Medford Avenue July 25, 1991. August 19, 1991 Hurricane Bob downed trees on Long Island and caused a power loss to 380,000 residents. Lace Mill Associates, owned by George Samerjian, filed for bankruptcy in March 1992, owing $335,000 in back taxes, $37,000 of which were owed to the Village of Patchogue. On March 14 and 14, 1993, a winter storm with winds of up to 100mph on Fire Island and 80mph on the South Shore caused severe damage. A snowfall of nine inches was followed by a two inches of rain. 157,000 homes on Long Island were without power, 31,000 of these in Brookhaven Town. On March 21, 1993 another fire in the Lace Mill, set by an arsonist, caused $10,000 damage. The Village of Patchogue celebrated its 100 Year Anniversary in 1993. A group picture of Patchogue citizens was taken on the Four Corners on May 2, 1993. A display of Patchogue memorabilia and pictures was shown in the Patchogue Fire House on June 13, 1993. A large parade with many floats and marchers celebrated Patchogues Anniversary on September 11, 1993. The parade was followed by festivities at the Shorefront Park.

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 The twin water towers in West Patchogue had been an navigational point for boaters on the Great South Bay for many years. The cylindrical water tower, built in1911, was dismantled in June 1993. A large fire destroyed the large building on the north side of the Lace Mill complex June 3,1994. In August 1995 Hurricane Felix passed 300 miles east of Long Island, but 12foot waves caused the beaches on Long Island to be closed for a week. The largest brush fire in New York State in over 100 years destroyed 6,000 acres of wooded area in August 1995. Over 2,000 volunteer fire fighters fought the blaze for days and through their tremendous efforts only one house and one business were lost. The widening of Medford Avenue Route 112 from Sunrise Highway to Woodside Avenue, a $1.2 million project, began in October 1995. A northeast storm in November 1995 damaged the Davis Park Casino, washing out the sand around the pilings. A blizzard on January 7, 1996, with a snowfall of twenty inches, finished the job of destruction. The casino and three houses from Davis Park were washed out to sea. Another fire in the Patchogue Lace Mill, the fifth major one, caused another $100,000 damage in February 1996. A record total snowfall of 78.3 inches was recorded in the winter of 1995- 1996 on Long Islands South Shore. The new Davis Park Casino was built on the Patchogue River and floated by barge to Fire Island in April 1996. The Brick House Brewery opened on June 6, 1996 in the former Shand store on West Main Street. In June 1996, Israel Roisman, a Pennsylvania developer, proposed a $30 million project for 250 affordable apartments on the Lace Mill site. Fiery debates developed over different site proposals. TWA flight 800 exploded over the ocean near Smith Point Beach Wednesday evening, July17, 1996. Patchogue Village, now owner of the Patchogue Theater, received a $400,000 loan from three local business men in August 1996 to begin rehabilitation of the theater. Developer Breslin and the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital reached an agreement for the sale of the West Main Street building for $1.765 million in September 1996. Patchogue Village bought the Lace Mill site in February 1997.. Patchogue Village had reached an informal agreement in June 1997 with Sweezeys for the development of the site. The deal was finalized two years later. The Patchogue Theater, under re-construction, held a 75th Anniversary and preview and fundraiser on the premises in May 1997. Brookhaven Memorial Hospital held a ground- breaking ceremony on July 8, 1997 at the newly

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acquired West Main Street site. This $6 million project turned the 27,000 square- foot building into a 24- station dialysis center, a home care agency and a financial office. More than 100,000 visitors a year are expected to use the facilities. The Iglesia Roca de Salvation Church, located in the former YMCA building on South Ocean Avenue, became a total loss due to a fire January 12,1998. On May 22,1998, the last section of the reconstruction and bridging project of Sunrise Highway, between Oakdale and Sayville, was completed. Gateway Playhouse used the partially completed Patchogue Theater for the Nutcracker On Ice show performed by the St. Petersburg Ice Ballet. The very successful show was performed from December 17 through December 29, 1998. The final deal for the Lace Mill site purchase between the Village of Patchogue and Swezeys was signed on May 27, 1999, after the ironing out of several details. The construction of the new store building began in the summer of 1999. The reconstruction of the Fifth Police Precinct on Waverly Avenue was completed in June 1999. Gateway Playhouse signed a five month contract with the Village of Patchogue in June 1999 to stage 50 shows in the Patchogue Theater between September 1, 1999 and January 30, 2000. The theater opened with the performance of Titanic on September 15, 1999.

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