Victor Nelson graduated from Farmingdale High School in 1942. In those days, the high school was Weldon E. Howitt and students from Bethpage also attended. Victor Nelson enjoyed the competitiveness of life in high school as he was involved with many activities, such as the football team, baseball team, and the wrestling team, and he was even a badminton champion.
At the age of 18, Mr. Nelson was drafted into the Navy and served for three years. As a result of his bravery, he was rewarded with several medals of honor. He was trained as a radar technician and, with the help of the GI Bill, he was able to study electrical engineering at Purdue University, as well as attend Navy schools in Chicago and Naval Research Labs in Washington.
From there, Mr. Nelson started his own company, Sector Microwave Industries, in 1974. This company designs and manufactures key components that are needed for telecommunication and satellite systems. The Department of Defense recognized Sector Microwave Industries for helping to save American lives with its technology. Not only did the Department of Defense recognize his company, but NASA recognized Sector Microwave Industries and became an asset in the company’s growth. Today, the company has more products on the planet Mars than any other company in the world and is highly active in space exploration beyond Pluto.
To this day, Mr. Nelson goes to work every day and donates to several causes, including Long Island Lutheran High School and St. Lukes Church. Throughout all of this, Mr. Nelson and his wife had 8 children, 26 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren, with more on his way.
Source:
Corey, Elizabeth Pearl. “Welcome to the Wall of Fame.” Paper Lion, paperlion.org/1936/school-news/welcome-to-the-wall-of-fame/.
New Children's Shop opened on Main Street in 1947. It was owned by Rudy Glaser and his wife. The store carried clothes for babies, toddlers, boys, girls, and teens. They moved to a larger store in 1950.
The Glasers moved to Farmingdale from Los Angeles. Rudy served in the Army in the Pacific area. He was a treasure on the Board of Trade. The Glasers were members of the Farmingdale Jewish Center.
Source:
Farmingdale Post
Harlan (also Harlen) Newcomb enlisted on September 4, 1862. He was 24 years old. He mustered in on September 11, 1862 with the 145th Regiment, Company K of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He transferred to the 107th Regiment, Company I on December 9, 1863. Mustered out on June 5, 1865.
He was born around 1839. He married Mary French. They had two children. He worked for an organ company; his specialty being the pipe organ. He died on February 7, 1899 in Michigan.
Sources:
Ancestry
Fold3
National Archives
New York State Military Museum
New Liquor Store opened in 1949 and was located at 511 Conklin Street. It was run by Edward Crocker. He moved to Farmingdale the year he opened the shop. He originally came from Freeport, where he was in the gas and service station business.
In 1950, he doubled his stock, so there was a wide variety of wines, liquors, and cordials. One of the specialties was refrigerated wines and imported liquors.
Source:
Farmingdale Post
Captain Kenneth A. Niederberger graduated Farmingdale High School in 1986. Captain Niederberger graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1990 and was designated a SEAL in 1991. Captain Niederberger was assigned to a number of different SEAL teams and served as an element leader for a maritime mobility element.
After being deployed to Bosnia in support of a Joint Task Force, Captain Niederberger was assigned to SEAL Team Six, a Naval Special Warfare Development Group, as a TEAM Leader and Squadron Commander. As a Navy SEAL, Captain Niederberger was deployed numerous times to combat zones worldwide supporting various joint operations such as Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Niederberger served under Admiral William H. McRaven, Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa
During his Navy career, Capt. Niederberger was awarded the Silver Star, Five Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation, Navy Commendation and two Navy Medals, plus several combat action and campaign ribbons.
Sources:
Staff, Farmingdale Observer. Roll Call Of Accomplished Alumni. 24 May 2016, farmingdale-observer.com/2016/05/24/roll-call-of-accomplished-alumni
“Veterans Sunday at Church of the Redeemer.” St. Mary Magdalene, Episcopal Church, stmarymagdalenes.dioswfl.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3162309.
Norman's Stationery was located at 326 Main Street, Farmingdale. It's phone number was MY 4-0488.