A GUIDE TO THE LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION AT THE BELLMORE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

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1 A GUIDE TO THE LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION AT THE BELLMORE MEMORIAL LIBRARY COLLECTION SUMMARY Collection Title: The Local History Collection at the Bellmore Memorial Library Date Range: 1787-present Bulk Dates: 1870-present Size: 20 linear feet Source: Gift of the Historical Society of the Bellmores, Bellmore Life, Trudi Cowan, Valerie Skelly and other donors from the community. Repository: Bellmore Memorial Library Processed by: Chryssa Golding, 2016 Collection Abstract: Originating from a number of sources, this collection consists of artifacts, photographs (includes copies and originals), postcards, original documents, newspapers, bulletins, maps and ephemera primarily relating to the history of the Bellmores (Long Island, NY). RIGHTS AND ACCESS Access restrictions The collection is open for research by appointment. Physical access restrictions Researchers may be asked to wear gloves when handling items in the collection. Some photos, documents and maps are in delicate condition and are restricted from handling. Digital images will be provided for these items. Publication rights Copyright has not been assigned to the Bellmore Memorial Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Local History Department. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Bellmore Memorial Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

2 INFORMATION FOR RESEARCHERS Preferred citation [Accession #] Local History Collection, Bellmore Memorial Library, Bellmore, NY Preferred attribution for photos & images: Courtesy of the Local History Department at the Bellmore Memorial Library. A Note about copies: In certain cases, where the location of originals is unknown, our copies are the best representations. We maintain these copies in our collection for their value as information sources for researchers. Publication note: A Profile of the Bellmores by Ken Foreman, An Historical Tour of the Bellmores by Michael Foreman for the Historical Society of the Bellmores, 245 Oak: A Memoir by Valerie Skelly and The History and Development of the Bellmore (N.Y.) Memorial Library from its Establishment in 1948 to 1970, a thesis by Deborah Davidoff. ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY Organized in 1948 by civic-minded residents, the Bellmore Memorial Library started in one room of an old wooden schoolhouse with 150 volumes borrowed from the NY State Library and a handful of donated books. Over 65 years later, the Bellmore Memorial Library is a vibrant community center, serving the information, cultural, and recreational needs of more than 16,000 residents. SCOPE AND CONTENT The collection is comprised of a variety of materials relating to the history of Bellmore and North Bellmore dating from 1787 to the present day. The collection is comprised of and organized by material types including ephemera, correspondence, original documents, photographs and postcards, bound volumes and booklets, bulletins, newspapers, yearbooks, artifacts and some original maps of Bellmore and the surrounding vicinity. Topics covered include the history of the Bellmore Memorial Library, the Long Island Railroad, Sunrise Village, High Hill Beach, the 1976 Tricentennial of the Bellmores, the Baldwin-Southard Cemetery, Bellmore schools and houses of worship. The collection features the legal documents and Long Island Railroad materials of Thomas D. Smith, a prominent Bellmore resident who was justice of the peace and the Town of Hempstead supervisor in the late 19 th century. Also of interest are the local high school yearbooks (Kennedy, Mepham and Calhoun), and local newspapers including Bellmore Advocate (1934), Bellmore Home News ( ) and Bellmore Life ( ). The collection is organized into 11 series. SERIES 1: Ephemera/ Memorabilia SERIES 2: Correspondence ARRANGEMENT

3 SERIES 3: Documents SERIES 4: Bound Volumes, Booklets, Pamphlets SERIES 5: Periodicals SERIES 6: Maps SERIES 7: Bulletins, Newsletters SERIES 8: Yearbooks SERIES 9: Directories SERIES 10: Photographs/ Postcards SERIES 11: Objects/ Artifacts COLLECTION INVENTORY SERIES 1: Ephemera/ Memorabilia This series contains ephemera from the community such as a Bellmore Memorial Library card from the early 1990s, a WWII fuel coupon from 1944, and an 1895 LIRR monthly ticket. The collection contains memorabilia from the Tricentennial Celebration in 1976 and a Sunrise Bavarian Village paper mug from [Tricentennial of the Bellmores Memorabilia, 1976] [1] [1] [Bellmore Memorial Library Ephemera, ] [1] [2] [Calendars, ] [1] [3] [Businesses/Commercial 1936-present] [1] [5] [Long Island Railroad Ephemera, ] [1] [6] [Historical Society of the Bellmores Ephemera] [1] [7] [Memorabilia from Bellmore Schools, ] [1] [8] SERIES 2: Correspondence Includes the correspondence between Thomas D. Smith and Jno B. Merrill, various letters to Trudi Cowan, the editor of Bellmore Life, regarding the Baldwin Southard Cemetery, and administrative correspondence of the Historical Society of the Bellmores. Also within this series are a few correspondences of Paul J. Roche, who was a developer in Bellmore in the 1940s responsible for building Stephen Manor, the area between Newbridge Road and Kenneth Ave. [Thomas D. Smith, ] [1] [9] [Bellmore Memorial Library, ] [1] [10]

4 [Bellmore Life, ] [1] [11] [Historical Society of the Bellmores, ] [1] [12] [Business/ Commercial, ] [1] [13] [Paul J. Roche, ] [1] [14] SERIES 3: Documents Deeds, checks, contracts and other legal documents belonging to Thomas D. Smith, notes and bylaws from the Historical Society of the Bellmores, Deborah Davidoff s thesis on the History of the Bellmore Memorial Library, documents relating to various businesses in the area such as the Rest Inn, and a few wills of Bellmore residents from the early 1900s. [American Legion/ Military, ] [1] [15] [Benjamin Birdsall] [1] [16] [Bellmore Memorial Library, ] [1] [17] [General History of Bellmore, ] [1] [18] [Houses of Worship, ] [1] [19] [Advertisements, ] [1] [20] [Financial/ Commercial, ] [2] [1] [Landmarks, ] [2] [2] [Fire Departments, ] [2] [3] [Schools, ] [2] [4] [Baldwin- Southard Cemetery] [2] [5] [Thomas D. Smith, ] [2] [6] [Oversized 1] [1] [Genealogy] [2] [7] [Long Island Railroad, ] [2] [8] [Long Island History, ] [2] [9a] [Local Government, 1937] [2] [9b]

5 [Legal Documents, ] [3] [1] [Historical Society of the Bellmores, ] [3] [2] [Post Offices, ] [3] [3] [Tricentennial, 1976] [3] [4] [Bellmore Boys Band, c. 1920] [3] [5] [Western Union Electric Company, 1900] [3] [6] [Entertainment, 1890] [3] [7] SERIES 4: Bound Volumes, Booklets, Pamphlets This series includes a variety of bound volumes, books and pamphlets relating to various organizations and topics. Within this series is a 1972 American Legion pamphlet, literature on the houses of worship in the area, pamphlets on the general history of Bellmore, Sunrise Trail booklets from 1923, 1928 and 1931, Ken Foreman s A Profile of the Bellmores (1994) and his son Michael Foreman s A Historical Tour of the Bellmores (1977), a Rail Road Engineer handbook belonging to Thomas D. Smith, An 1872 South Side Railroad ledger, and an autograph book belonging to Mary B. Hunt from the late 19 th century. [American Legion, 1972] [3] [1] [Bellmore Memorial Library, ] [3] [2] [Houses of Worship ] [3] [3] [Commercial, ] [3] [4], [16] [General History of Bellmore, ] [3] [5] [Long Island History, ] [3] [6] [Historical Society of the Bellmores, ] [3] [7a] [Fire Department, 1924] [3] [7b] [Long Island Railroad, ] [11] [Organizations, ] [14], [16] [3] [15]

6 [Bellmore Memorial Library Scrapbooks, ] [15] [Schools, ] [16] [People, ] [16] SERIES 5: Periodicals Newspapers, magazines, and clippings are all part of this series. The Bellmore Advocate (1934) Bellmore Home News and Bellmore Life ( ), The Long Island Forum ( ), bound copies of Trade Secrets (Mepham s underground newspaper from ) and Mepham s newspaper, The Buccaneer ( ) [Military, ] [5] [1] [Bellmore Advocate, 1934] [5] [2] [Schools, ] [5] [3] [General History of Bellmore, ] [5] [4] [Events, 1964] [5] [5] [Long Island Forum Articles on Bellmore, ] [5] [6] [Trade Secrets, ] [Ref Shelf] [The Buccaneer, ] (bulk dates, ) [Long Island Forum, ] [Long Island Historical Journal, ] SERIES 6: Maps Includes some originals and copies of maps of Bellmore, North Bellmore and the surrounding area. Original maps date back to 1927 and copies exist of maps dating as far back as 1725 Of particular interest are copies of property maps from 1873, 1906 and Original 1927, 1938 and 1941 maps of the Village of Bellmore and a 1932 election map of Bellmore are also of interest. Maps [5] [7] Oversize Maps [Map Box 1] [Oversized 1] [4]

7 SERIES 7: Bulletins, Newsletters Series includes a Bellmore Post Bulletin from American Legion dated May, 1935, The Historical Society of the Bellmore s newsletter The Observer from and The Scuttlebutt, the Mepham Alumni Association newsletter. [American Legion, ] [5] [8] [Commercial] [5] [9] [Historical Society of the Bellmores, ] [5] [10] [Mepham Alumni Association (Scuttlebutt), ] [5] [11] SERIES 8: Yearbooks Yearbooks are mostly from Kennedy and Mepham High Schools but also include the yearbooks from Calhoun High School in Merrick. Yearbooks through 2002 have been scanned and are available to view electronically onsite at the Bellmore Memorial Library. Several gaps exist. [Kennedy High School, ] [Mepham High School, ] [Calhoun High School, ] SERIES 9: Directories Only a few directories are in this collection, including a 1963 Yellowbook directory from Wantagh, Bellmore, N. Bellmore, and East Meadow and a copy of a 1958 Wantagh Directory (includes Bellmore). [Directories, ] [5] [12] [Oversized Directories, 1958] [Oversized 1] [5] SERIES 10: Photographs/ Postcards Original photos and postcards and copies of photos documenting the history of Bellmore and North Bellmore from the 1880s to the early 2000s. These photos come from various donors such as the Historical Society of the Bellmores, Trudi Cowan, Valerie Skelly (mostly digital copies), and Bellmore Life.

8 Collection Title Container # [Historical Society of the Bellmores] [Binder 1, 2] Organized by subject: American Legion, Buildings, Businesses, Fire Department, Houses of Worship, Long Island Railroad, Miscellaneous, Parades, People, Post Cards, Schools, Streets, Tricentennial, Waterfront) [Trudi Cowan Photo Collection] [Binder 3] [Bellmore Life Photo Collection] [Valerie Skelly Photo Collection]**** [In process] [Digital] ****Most digital photos are copies, not originals but may be of interest for research purposes. SERIES 11: Objects/ Artifacts There are a handful of objects or artifacts in this collection including a band cap from the Bellmore Boys Band, a glass milk bottle, a loving cup awarded to the Bellmore Merrymakers and two desk bells belonging to Thomas D. Smith. Contents Container # Bellmore Boys Band Cap, McCluskey s Billfold, [5] Bellmore Memorial Library Stamp, Firefighter Badge [5] One Milk Bottle, Two Commemorative Plates from [6] the Methodist Church LIRR Lantern [7] (2) Desk Bells belonging to Thomas D. Smith [8] Soap Dispenser made by Edwin J. Eccleston [9] Commemorative Plates from Bellmore Fire Department, [12] Merrymaker s Loving Cup [13]