Captain Andy's was located at 196 Main Street. It was opened by Sven & Boel Brost in 1961 and closed in 2004.
Judge Willis B. Carman, Sr. was known as “the judge” to all in the Village of Farmingdale. Although he was born in Amityville on March 6, 1901, he still played a role in Farmingdale history. He was part of the first graduating class of Farmingdale High School, which was the Class of 1917. He attended Fordham University and received his Bachelor of Law in 1926 and was admitted to the bar in 1928.
He married Marjorie Sosa in 1927, and they had three children: Marcia Joan, Willis Jr., and Gregory. Willis B. Carman, Sr. began practicing law in 1928, right in the Village of Farmingdale in a rented office at 280 Main Street. Carman eventually purchased 280 Main Street, calling it the Carman Building and then in 1964, Carman renovated the building and installed Farmingdale’s first elevator. In 1928, Carman ran for Municipal Judge of the Farmingdale Village and Marjorie ran his campaign, although she was not able to vote due to her age. He won the election and served as the village judge for 30 years. He also served as Sunrise Federal Savings and Loan Association’s bank legal counsel for 50 years and was on their Board of Directors. Willis Carman was elected police justice for the village of Farmingdale in 1928.
Gregory W. Carman, Sr., began working at the family law firm in the Village of Farmingdale in 1967. He was an Oyster Bay Town Councilman from 1972 until 1980. Gregory Carman was elected to United States Congress in 1980 and served from 1981 to 1983. He was also nominated by Ronald Reagan to be a judge on the United States Court of International Trade from March of 1983 and September of 2014. Within his time at the Courts of International Trade, he served as Chief Judge from 1996 to 2003. On September 15, 2014, he assumed senior status, which is semi-retirement for United States Federal Judges.
Marcia Joan Carman married Fred Ingham. Marcia and Fred had a son, Michael Ingham, who joined the family firm in 1981. In 1986, he became a partner and the firm was renamed Carman, Callahan & Ingham.
Willis (Bill) Carman Jr., served on the Farmingdale Village Board for 30 years with his last 8 years as the Mayor of Farmingdale Village. Twenty-two of the years was spent as a Farmingdale Village Trustee. Bill was a Korean War Veteran, who served for 16 months as a military policeman. Bill also helped facilitate the construction of Hardscrabble Apartments for senior housing to help keep seniors within the village.
Sources:
“About.” Carman Callahan & Ingham, LLP, http://carmancallahan.com/about
“Gregory W. Carman.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 June 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_W._Carman
Long Island: A History of Two Great Counties: Nassau and Suffolk. Volume III. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1949
Willis B. Carman Jr. was born and raised in Farmingdale. His parents were Judge Willis B. Carman, Sr. and Marjorie Sosa. He attended Hamilton College and after graduation, he volunteered to serve in the Army.
He served in Korea for 16 months as a military policeman and was in Panmunjom at the end of the war when prisoners were exchanged between the North and South. After returning, he married his childhood sweetheart Hilda and went to Fordham Law School.
He was elected to the Village Board in 1962 and devoted 30 years to elected office, including two four-year terms as mayor. .
Carman was a longtime member of the Farmingdale Rotary Club, a Cub Scout leader, a member of the SUNY Farmingdale Board of Trustees, the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society, the VFW, and the Farmingdale Fire Department. In 1975, he won the Man of the Year Award. He was also the President of the Nassau County and New York State Bar Association and was named Secretary of the New York Chapter of the Savings & Loan Committee of the American Bar Association in 1966.
One of his proudest accomplishments was helping to facilitate the construction of the Hardscrabble Apartments senior housing complex in the village while he was mayor, which made it easier for elderly to continue to live in the community.
He retired from elected office in 1992
Carman died at the age of 81 in 2013. He was survived by his wife, son, daughters, brother, and eight grandchildren.
Sources:
“Former Mayor OF Farmingdale Willis B. Carman, JR. (1931 – 2013).” Farmingdale Observer, 18 Sept. 2018, farmingdale-observer.com/2013/10/18/former-mayor-of-farmingdale-willis-b-carman-jr-1931-2013
“Judge Carman Man of the Year.” Farmingdale Observer. February 27, 1975
Phillips, Ted. “Former Farmingdale Mayor Willis Carman Dies.” Newsday, Newsday, 20 Apr. 2014, www.newsday.com/long-island/obituaries/former-farmingdale-mayor-willis-carman-dies-1.6262118
“Willis B. Carman Jr. Names to Bar Association Post.” Farmingdale Observer. January 27, 1966
Judge Willis B. Carman, Sr. was known as “the judge” to all in the Village of Farmingdale. He was part of the first graduating class of Farmingdale High School, the Class of 1917. He attended Fordham University and received his Bachelor of Laws in 1926 and was admitted to the bar in 1928.
He married Marjorie Sosa in 1927, and they had three children: Marcia Joan, Willis Jr., and Gregory. He began practicing law in 1928 in a rented office at 280 Main Street. Carman eventually purchased 280 Main Street, calling it the Carman Building and then in 1964, Carman renovated the building and installed Farmingdale’s first elevator.
In 1928, he was elected Village Police Justice as part of the Liberty Party ticket. Marjorie ran his campaign, although she was not able to vote due to her age. He won the election and served as the village judge for 30 years. He was elected Nassau County District Court Judge in 1960.
He also served as Sunrise Federal Savings and Loan Association’s legal counsel for 50 years and was on their Board of Directors.
He died in 1985.
Sources:
“About.” Carman Callahan & Ingham, LLP, carmancallahan.com/about
“Carman Elected Village Judge.” Farmingdale Post. March 23, 1928
"District Court Post Goes to F'Dale Judge." Newsday (1940-1992), Jan 05, 1960, pp. 24. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/district-court-post-goes-fdale-judge/docview/899074888/se-2?accountid=37884
Long Island: A History of Two Great Counties: Nassau and Suffolk. Volume III. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1949
Jessica Carvo's songwriting journey began in 2011 after a couple of years on the Manhattan/Blue Note label singing classical crossover on PBS Television. She was a member if the quintet Bell' Aria whose first album covered classic Italian-American songs. Following a stay in LA to sing lead vocals with her group The Deltones, on NBC's "The Sing-Off", Carvo moved to New York City and devoted her time to creating original music and honing her craft in local venues.
"Nightfall" was Carvo's first studio recorded EP and was released independently on December 16th, 2014. Carvo co-produced the EP with producer Andrew Sheron and her band of over three years. Her first official music video "Nightfall," directed by Joel Gallen, was released in March of 2015.
Carvo has had the honor of performing with and for artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Carrie Underwood, Stevie Nicks, and Marc Broussard.
Most recently, she worked with Helmut VonLichten to record the trailer music for the 2017 NCAA Championship game on CBS.
Source:
"About." http://www.jessicacarvo.com/about2
Carrano, Justin. "Local Songstress Earns Big Break, Joins Bell' Aria." Farmingdale Observer. January 14, 2011
The Chaperones consisted of Tony Amato, Roy Marchesano, Tommy Ronca, Nick Salvato, and Richard Messina. Tommy & Roy attended Farmingdale High School, Tony was from Deer Park, and Nick was from Bethpage. They were initially called The Sharptones.
Tommy & Roy created the group together. They were also known as the Sharptones and Fairlanes. Jubilee Records created the name The Chaperones. In 1959, they were invited to record the Josie label. The song, “Cruise to the Moon” was produced by Steve Blaine and Mickey Eichner. Off the success of that song, the group became, what Tommy Ronca calls, the “Kings of Supermarket Grand Openings.”
Their follow up record was “Shining Star.” Their last record was a remake of “Blueberry Street.” Tommy left for Las Vegas with his new group where he performed at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino for many years. Tony Amato passed away in 1990 and Roy Marchesano passed away in 1999.
Original members, Nick Salvato and Tommy Ronca, reformed the group along with Johnny Contino and Ronca's cousin Vinny "Zeen" Esposito from the original Sharptones group, to perform at the Cool Bobby B Doo Wop Convention at the Alexis Park Hotel in Las Vegas in 2010.
Source:
"About." http://www.thechaperones.net
“The Chaperones.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Dec. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chaperones
Eric Wilkens was born in German on April 29, 1901. In the early 1920s, Wilkens moved to New York. One of his uncles owned the ice cream parlor, Wilken's Ice Cream Shop. Wilkens met Martha Reichelt and they were married on February 4, 1927. Their only child, Martha was born on October 20, 1927.
Martha Wilkens met Armand Charest and on May 29, 1955, they were married. They lived in South Ozone Park until 1959, when they moved to Farmingdale. They moved to the Hudson Valley in 1972.
Armand Charest was born August 16, 1924. While in Farmingdale, he worked for Kenamotive Corporation, which was located "behind" Republic Airport. He made parts for the Aerospace Industry. Afterward, he worked at a plant on Motor Avenue as a foreman making fiberglass piping for the chemical industry.
Armand and Martha had four children: Ron, Melinda, Howard, and Jeff
Source:
Information from Ron Charest
The Town of Oyster Bay Civil Defense Unit 314 in Farmingdale was founded in the 1940s. Its mission was to prepare the Farmingdale community for emergencies and to coordinate recovery efforts after emergencies. Its headquarters/control center were located at the Village Hall. There was a Welfare Center located in one of the schools. It was a voluntary service, but volunteers were required to sign a loyalty form.
Members included:
Weldon E. Howitt, Director 1940s
Eugene Leyendecker, Director1952-1966. He was appointed by Mayor Howard T. Hogan
Howard Jaisle, Chief of Welfare
Harold Bausch, Chief of Public Works
Edward V. Gehrke, Chief of Transportation
Frank Brown, Chief of Emergency Communications
Frank Brown, Dr. John Forst, Arthur Powell, Charles Lindros, William Steuer, Everett Bach, Fred Baldwin, Carolyn Beierling, Lee Blackman, Sidney Boskind, Charles Boyle, Fred Breitenstein, Thomas Brown, Elinor Bullis, Rudolph Burnett, Anna Byrne, Charles Corringham, Joseph De Marco, Arthur Doty, Genevieve Douglass, Elizabeth Fairbanks, Mrs. Floyd, Mrs. Fueschel, Charles Greco, Jesse E. Harrison, John Ilinch Jr., Thomas Hopper, Joseph Jeansky, Eugene Jerolaman, George Joseph, Leo Kantor, Mrs. Ketcham, Walter Ketcham, William Kinzler, Ernest Kunkel, Anthony Lagone, Otto Limmer, Philip McGunnigle, Mrs. Maice, Charles Manso, Marian Nostrand, John Parkinson, John Pawlitz, John Petre, Franklin Pletcher, Joseph Posillico, Helen Ramdsden, Claman Rosenkranze, Dororthy Ruettgers, Frank Sotis, Philip Spilker, Thomas Sweeney, Frank Talbot, John Turner, Claren Van Nostrand Jr., Marjorie Weber, Mrs. Wedell, Regina Wesche, William Wesche, Karl Wright, mrs. Wright, Daniel Benn, William Carroll, Irving Keogh, Donald Lowman, John Morley, Earl Rasden, Fred Scherer, Walter Sildar, Charles Tilgner, David Welsh.
Items purchased for the committee were sand to be delivered to designated points of the village, plastic whistles, arm bands for the various volunteers, and lumber. In 1942, there was a call for Air Raid Warning Spotters to help look for planes. The lookout was at the tower on top of the Administration Building at Farmingdale State. Again in 1950, there was a call. Three hundred were needed to volunteer for the unit. At that time, volunteers were expected to warn people of an expected raid, put out fires, clear debris, prevent panic, control traffic, repair damaged roads and public utilities, rescue any trapped people, care for the injured and sick, and feed, house, and nurse anyone who became homeless because of a air raid. The Unit also created identification cards, looked for suitable shelters for residents, and held air raid signals. It is now the Nassau County Auxiliary Police Unit 314
The East Farmingdale Unit was formed by the Town of Babylon and led by Louis H. Jacobs. There were six divisions, each with its own chief:
Utilities: Leonard Arnold
Civilian Protection: William Prey
Defense Forces: Carl Berger
Training & Publicity: George M. Mason
Personnel: Joseph Kelton
Women’s Organizations: Mrs. J. H. Schwarz
Each street had personnel that included an Air Raid Warden assisted by Auxiliary Fireman, Fire Warden, and Emergency Police. Anyone between 18-65 years could volunteer.
Sources:
“Air Raid Warning Service to Ask for Volunteers Tonight.” Farmingdale Post. January 15, 1942
“Board Approves Civil Defense Items Necessary.” Farmingdale Post. February 12, 1942
“East Enders Plan Defense.” Farmingdale Post. January 8, 1942
“Help Home Defense.” Farmingdale Post. August 7, 1941
“Jacobs Heads Defense Unit.” Farmingdale Post. June 12, 1941
“Three Hundred Men Needed in Civil Defense Program.” Farmingdale Post. October 12, 1950
Tom Montalbano, Town of Oyster Bay
College Cleaners was located at 281 Main Street. It was owned by Benjamin Askinas, who previously owned Island Cleaners. When he moved locations in 1949, he changed the name of the store.
The shop was a complete self-contained dry cleaning plant. It had new machines that made it possible for the shop to offer a special three hours dry cleaning service. It was the only plant of its kind in the area at the time.
They cleaned all items from gloves to carpets and specialized in taking care of individual spotting problems of any kind.
The shop offered pick-up and delivery service.
Source:
Farmingdale Post
Andrew L. Conklin enlisted on August 27, 1862 in New York City, NY. He was 21 years old. He was mustered in on September 5, 1862 with the 119th Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He served as a private in Company K. At some point, he was promoted to corporal. He was wounded in action on July 1, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on April 12, 1864. He mustered out on September 4, 1865 in Philadelphia, PA. When he mustered out, it was from the Second Battalion of the 105th Company.
Source:
New York State Military Museum
Nick Constandy was born in 1921 and raised in the Greek village of Soustani, near Sparta. He moved to the United States in 1934 at the age of 14. He grew up in Cortland, NY and graduated high school there in 1942.
Right after graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was known by fellow marines as “Nick the Greek”. He was in the 4th Marine Division and survived three Marshall Island Beach Landings, Saipan, Tinian in 1944 and Iwo Jima in Feb 1945. He was wounded on Iwo Jima and because of his efforts in the war, he received the Purple Heart.
After the war ended and because of the G.I. Bill, he was able to attend college and graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Rider College in Lawrenceville, NJ. After graduation, he opened his first restaurant in the Poconos, but eventually moved to Long Island, where he settled in Farmingdale in 1958. He then opened the Embassy Diner on Hempstead Turnpike in Bethpage in 1960, where he was the original owner until 1968. Soon after, he opened the Crow’s Nest Restaurant in East Farmingdale in 1972. He was said to be most known for his Spanakopita (Greek spinach pie).
Constandy died at the age of 96 on January 4, 2017.
Sources:
Armaghan, Sarah. “Beloved LI Restaurateur, Veteran Dies at 96.” Newsday, Newsday, 15 Jan. 2017, https://www.newsday.com/long-island/obituaries/nicholas-p-constandy-dies-li-restaurateur-war-veteran-was-96-1.12956151
“Nicholas P Constandy Obituary - Farmingdale, NY: ObitTree™.” ObitTree, https://obittree.com/obituary/us/new-york/farmingdale/mccourt--trudden-funeral-home/nicholas-constandy/2813640/index.php
Jacob Cornelius enlisted on August 27, 1862 in Huntington, NY. He was 22 years old. He was mustered in on September 8, 1862 with the 127th Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He served as a private in Company E. He mustered out with his company on June 30, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Source:
New York State Military Museum
In 1886, Herman F. Rogers spoke to a railroad promoter while on a train from Santa Fe. Mr. Rogers was so enthusiastic about this idea that he spoke to Mr. E.D. Davidson, a local contractor about the possibility for a horse car line in Huntington. Mr. Rogers agreed to find financing for the road and Mr. Davidson would secure a franchise from the Town Board. In January of 1887, the Huntington RR was organized. The route was to be along New York Avenue from the harbor through the village to the local LIRR station three miles away. It would take another three years before it would begin to be built.
On June 10, 1890, grading commenced between Linden Street and Tuthill Avenue on the east side of New York Avenue. On June 26, the first car arrived and the railroad was open to the public on July 19. An incredible 1100 people filled and refilled the three cars that shuttled back and forth all day long. The railroad operated in two divisions, the harbor branch and the depot branch. Before the summer ended, the officials of the road secured permission from the LIRR to run a track across New York Avenue.
In the annual report of the directors of the LIRR in 1889, the road committed itself to another innovation: the construction of trolley roads. On April 21, the work began with the old light rails and ties being dug out and standard ties and rails being placed. The first electric trolley car made its first time in June of that year.
In January 1906, the LIRR gave the first public intimation of its intentions to build a trolley road from Huntington Station through Melville and Farmingdale to Amityville. The LIRR bought a two-acre tract from John Mullins opposite the Huntington Station in April. That summer, the LIRR embarked on the process of securing franchises for the trolley from all the regulatory bodies involved. The Highway Commissioners granted the franchise on October 6. In December, cross ties arrived at Farmingdale and Huntington and preparations were made to being work in February if weather permitted. Difficulties created a postponement of the line, but work finally resumed in October of 1908. The line officially opened on August 25, 1909.
The line was 18.5 miles long and the tips lasted one hour and 16 minutes. Three cars gave hourly service. The cars were small double truck convertibles. Power substations were located at the railroad stations in Huntington and Farmingdale. A Second story addition was built to the Farmingdale station for this purpose.
In 1914, the Motel T was invented and then World War I hit; reducing passengers even more. One of the last timetables was dated October 1918. By that time, cars were only running from Amityville to Huntington. After making scheduled trips on September 23, 1919, the railroad took away all six trolley cars, effectively ending the Cross-Island Trolley. The Huntingtom to Halesite line remained open, but only carried 100 passengers a day. That car ended service in 1924. All services ceased on August 15, 1927.
Sources:
Reifschneider, Felix E. “The Cross-Island Trolley.” Long Island Forum. April 1969
Seyfried, Vincent F. The Cross-Island Line: The Story of the Huntington Railroad. Vincent Seyfried, 1976
Crow’s Nest Restaurant was opened in 1972 by Nicholas P. Constandy. It was located at 25 Smith St, off Route 110. This restaurant was said to be a place where the customers knew all employees names and the employees knew all their customers by name. It is now the current location of Hooters.
Sources:
Armaghan, Sarah. “Beloved LI Restaurateur, Veteran Dies at 96.” Newsday, Newsday, 15 Jan. 2017, https://www.newsday.com/long-island/obituaries/nicholas-p-constandy-dies-li-restaurateur-war-veteran-was-96-1.12956151
“Nicholas P Constandy Obituary - Farmingdale, NY: ObitTree™.” ObitTree, https://obittree.com/obituary/us/new-york/farmingdale/mccourt--trudden-funeral-home/nicholas-constandy/2813640/index.php
Ryan Cruthers was born on July 4, 1984 in Farmingdale, NY
Teams:
2003-05 Army AHA
2006-08 Robert Morris University
2008-09 Mississippi Sea Wolves
2008-09 Lake Erie Monsters
2008-09 Albany River Rats
2009-10 Texas Brahmas
2009-10 Reading Royals
2009-10 Norfolk Admirals
2010-11 Reading Royals
2010-11 Lake Erie Monsters
2010-11 Manitoba Moose
2010-11 Hershey Bears
2011-12 Reading Royals
2011-12 Alaska Aces
2012-13 Orlando Solar Bears
2013-15 Reading Royals
During Cruthers pre-collegiate career, he won an EJHL Championship with the New York Apple Core and a New York State Championship with St. Mary’s High School. Cruthers then attended West Point before transferring to RMU, Robert Morris University.
In July 2008, Cruthers was inducted into the New York Apple Core Hall of Fame. This was the first class inducted. After college, Cruthers signed with the Utah Grizzlies, a minor league team affiliated with the New York Islanders. In the 2008–09 season, Cruthers was signed by the Mississippi Sea Wolves and led the team in scoring with 66 points. Cruthers was recalled to the American Hockey League on three different occasions for a total of nine games: five games for Colorado Avalanche affiliate Lake Erie Monsters and four games for Carolina Hurricanes affiliate Albany River Rats.
After returning to the Reading Royals for two seasons, Cruthers announced his retirement from professional hockey and accepted a head coaching position with the Charlotte Rush of the United States Premier Hockey League on June 29, 2015. In April of 2017, The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, announced that Ryan Cruthers joined the team as an assistant coach.
Sources:
“Ryan Cruthers.” Internet Hockey Database - Hockeydb.com - Hockey ... http://www.hockeydb.com
“Ryan Cruthers.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Dec. 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Cruthers
One of West Virginia’s most decorated defenders, Canute Curtis was a three-year starter at rush linebacker, appearing in 43 games with 36 career starts from 1993-96.
Curtis was born in Amityville and attended Farmingdale High School where he played football there. He earned consensus All-America honors in 1996 after anchoring the nation’s No. 1-rated defense. The 1996 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, he ranked first in the WVU record books in career sacks (34.5) and single season sacks (16.5). As a senior, he was second in the nation with 16.5 sacks for 121 yards. A finalist for the Dick Butkus and Bronko Nagurski Awards, he made 67 tackles in 1996, while leading the Mountaineers to an 8-4 record and a Gator Bowl appearance.
Playing for coach Don Nehlen, Curtis made 192 tackles (126 solo), six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 15 career pass breakups. In four years, he helped WVU to a 31-17 record and three bowl appearances. In his career, he made 35 consecutive starts.
During his senior season, Curtis paced the 1996 defense that ranked first nationally in total defense (217.5), second in rush defense (61.5), fourth in scoring defense (12.4) and fifth in pass efficiency defense (86.8).
Curtis was a unanimous selection to the All-Big East first team as a senior and earned second team honors as a junior. In 1996, he was named as the Big East Defensive Player of the Week three times.
A 1997 graduate of WVU, Curtis was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the NFL draft. In six years with the Bengals, he appeared in 70 games and started at linebacker in 15 contests.
In the 2001 season, he appeared in all 16 games and started four times, registering 28 tackles. The 2002 season was his final NFL season, and it may have been his best campaign. He played in all 16 games for coach Dick LeBeau and started at outside linebacker 11 times. He finished ninth on the team with 51 tackles.
In his career with the Bengals, he made 101 tackles and had three quarterback sacks. He was named an inaugural member of WVU’s Mountaineer Legends Society in 2016.
Source:
“West Virginia Athletics.” West Virginia University Athletics, wvusports.com/honors/wvu-sports-hall-of-fame/canute-curtis/128