The Town of Oyster Bay established local offices in larger hamlets in the late 1800's so residents would not have to make the trip to Oyster Bay. Farmingdale was one of these offices. Taxes and fines were collected here as well as minor judicial cases were heard by a justice of the peace. Ambrose George moved to town in 1835. At that time, Farmingdale was called Hardscrabble. He re-named it due to the large farms covering the area.
The Village was incorporated in 1904. Groundwork for the incorporation began that spring. A special census was taken in the area and filed with the Town of Oyster Bay. At the time, it reflected 1,047 residents. In May, the Town received details of the boundaries of the village. The Town posted notices within the area with a Town Hall to be held on June 10. On July 20, a special election on the proposition to incorporate was held. It passed 46-37. At that time, it arranged to rent to office, with John Simonson presiding over the three-member provisional board. He held that office from August 1904 to February 1905. The first official President of the Village was Joseph H. Doud.
In 1915, a small jail was built next to the village hall. It was a 15 square foot building that housed three cells. It was used by the village police for drunks and derelicts mainly. It stopped being used with the village police merged with the county. The jail was torn down in 1977.
In 1924, the Oyster Bay Town Board made an offer to the Farmingdale Village and its voters to purchase the hall for a sum of $2,500. The building was purchased. That same year, in honor of Farmingdale naming its official flower the Forsythia, two bushes were planted in front of the Hall. The local paper, the Farmingdale Post, also planted two bushes in front of its offices and offered a plant to each of its subscribers. In 1927, the office of the President of the Village was changed to Mayor.
The decision to build a new Hall was not an easy one in 1930. The first proposition to build the new hall/firehouse failed. On March 17, 1931, a second vote was held, with a smaller bond, and this easily passed. The new facility was ready for occupancy in January of 1932. The first regular meeting was held on January 11. The new building enabled the Hook and Ladder Company and the Water Witch Engine Company to unite under one roof.
In 1967, then Mayor Joseph Zureck and the Village Board completed plans to buy & develop a site to build the Village Green. The Village received a grant from the Federal Home & Finance agency, which provided half the money needed to undertake the process. Construction began July in 1968 and the green was dedicated on October 12, 1968.
In 1972, with the help of funds gathered by the Women's Club of Farmingdale, a memorial fountain was dedicated. In the 1980s, the World War I and World War II memorials were moved from Main Street and the Korean War Memorial moved from the Post Office to the Village Green. In 1979, an addition to the hall was constructed that included a new entrance, lobby, meeting chamber, and other improvements.
In 1987, a Tricentennial Tree was planted to celebrate the 300th anniversary of settlement of Farmingdale. In 1996, Mayor Joseph Trudden created a committee to develop a new look for the Village Green. Landscape architect Kevin McManus designed the new setup that included a gazebo, an extended mall area, new bricks, and more. It was expected to take five years to complete. This committee was revitalized in 2001 with the hopes of the project being completed by May 2002. In July 2004, the new gazebo was christened. In 2008, a project to renovate the Five Corners Park began. The Five Corners is an intersection at Melville Road, Main Street, and Fairview Road. The upgrades to the area were completed in August 2022 and included a new gazebo, shrubs, benches, a new sign, a sculpture, and more.
Sources:
DeSantis, Michael. “Farmingdale's Five Corners Park Renovations Complete; Flowers Planted.” Farmingdale, NY Patch, Patch, 29 July 2022, https://patch.com/new-york/farmingdale/farmingdales-five-corners-park-renovations-complete-flowers-planted
Inc. Village of Farmingdale, www.farmingdalevillage.com/Anniversary_25-75.htm
Jacobsen, Aileen. “…While Another Falls to the Wrecker.” Newsday. April 26, 1977
Junior Historical Society of Farmingdale. Farmingdale’s Story: Farms to Flight. The Society, 1956
“A Minute of Farmingdale History: 1904: The Incorporation of the Village Presented by Thomas A. Langon, Village Trustee.” Farmingdale Observer. July 16, 2004
“New Village Hall & Fire House Dedicated Tuesday Evening.” Farmingdale Post. January 8, 1932
“Pops Concerts Under Way at Village Green.” Farmingdale Observer. July 23, 2004
“Public Ceremonies Next Friday on Arbor Day at Village Hall.” Farmingdale Post. April 5, 1924
“Village Board Will Dedicate Village Green, This Saturday.” Farmingdale Post. October 10, 1968
“Village Green Committee Formed.” Farmingdale Observer. June 14, 1996
“Village Hall is Possible.” Farmingdale Post. February 16, 1924
“Zurek Issues His ’67 Mayor’s Report.” Farmingdale Post. March 9, 1967
Updated NK 8/11/23