Historical Time line Lynbrook

2020 - 2021 LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY GUIDE

Lynbrook HISTORICAL TIMELINE

•1643

The Rev. Robert Fordham and John Carman swindled the Rockaway Indians into deeding them a tract of land from the Hempstead Plains to the Atlantic Ocean, including what is now Lynbrook.

•1814

First schoolhouse was built at Rocklyn Avenue and Merrick Road.

•1840

A marble monument was erected on Oct. 26 in memory of the victims of the wrecks of the Bristol and Mexico, which still stands at the Rockville Cemetery.

•1873

“Rockaway Church War” — Old Sand Hole congregation split into three Methodist groups: Old Sand Hole (staying in the old church), St. James (in Lynbrook) and St. Marks (in Rockville Centre). Pearsall’s Post Office established. Sylvester Pearsall named first postmaster; his sister Julia named assistant postmaster. St. James Church built on St. James Place, which burned down in 1925.

•1892

On May 11, Union Free School District 20 formed. Lyceum Building, a community entertainment center and movie house, was built.

•1897

The South Shore Telephone Company installed the first phones in Lynbrook.

•1912

Lynbrook Police Department was created.

•1790

A 20-by-30-foot Methodist church building (the first Old Sand Hole Church) was constructed on land near the corner of Merrick Road and Ocean Avenue (then known as Long Lane). The area was called Parson’s Corners.

•1836-1837

The ships Bristol and Mexico were wrecked off Rockaway Beach and Long Beach with the loss of 215 Irish, Scottish and English immigrants. A mass grave was created for the victims in Lynbrook’s Old Sand Hole Cemetery.

•1853

Wright Pearsall established a general store at the Five Corners and bought 50 acres of land nearby.

•1879

Rescue Hook & Ladder Fire Company was established.

•1894

The name Lynbrook was voted on to replace Pearsall’s on May 1.

•1911

Lynbrook was incorporated on March 15.

•1916

First mail delivery service to homes.

•1920

Granite World War I Doughboy Memorial dedicated on Oct. 12 at Blake Avenue and Merrick Road.

•1929

Library built on Eldert Street.

•1996

“Everybody Loves Raymond” sitcom aired for the first time. Fictional characters Marie and Frank Barone were said to live at 319 Fowler Ave., and their son Ray and his family lived across the street at street number 320. Though the street was real, the addresses were not.

•2008

Homes at 251 Rocklyn Ave., 474 Ocean Ave., and 73 Grove St. were added to National Register of Historic Places.

•2012

An episode of “Impractical Jokers” that was partially filmed at White Castle on Sunrise Highway aired.

•2016

Old Lynbrook movie theater closed in January and was razed in August.

•2018

State-of-the-art Regal movie theater opened in June.

Courtesy Art Mattson/ History of Lynbrook book A flashback to what the west side of Atlantic Avenue looked like in 1916.

•1922

Lynbrook High School was built.

•1970

Village Hall was dedicated at 1 Columbus Drive, where meet- ings are still held.

•2007

An episode of “The Sopranos” aired on June 3 featuring scenes filmed inside and outside of Lynbrook’s Trainland on Sunrise Highway.

•2011

Lynbrook celebrated the 100th anniversary of its incorporation.

•2015

Rockville Cemetery added to National Register of Historic Places.

•2017

Current Mayor Alan Beach took office after the sudden death of William Hendrick in October.

•2019

Lynbrook American Legion Post 335 celebrated its 100th year in 2019. Founded in 1919, the post was one of the original 16 that were formed in Nassau County