William Rathgeber was born on April 10, 1897 in New York City. He started his work as a bricklayer which he did for five years. He moved to Farmingdale in 1908.
He began Individual Laundry Service in Farmingdale with his father and brother. They pioneered wet wash. He also founded the Farmingdale Amusement Palace which had one of the largest dance floors on Long Island.
Rathgeber served in World War I. He was a member of the Farmingdale Fire Department, a Village Trustee, Fire Commissioner, Director of Family Laundry Owners Association in Brooklyn, past president of the Suffolk Nassau Laundry Board and Farmingdale Rotary Club.
He married Minnie Maul in 1919 and they had three children. William Rathgeber died on February 27, 1952. He is buried in Amityville.
Sources:
Hazelton, Henry I. The Boroughs of Brooklyn & Queens Counties of Nassau & Suffolk 1609-1924. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1925
“W. Rathgeber, Former Village Trustee Buried Here Monday.” Farmingdale Post. March 6, 1952
Republic Airport was developed by Sherman Fairchild as the Fairchild Flying Field in East Farmingdale in late 1927, as his airplane and airplane engine factories and 10-acre flying field on Motor Avenue in South Farmingdale were inadequate to support the mass assembly line production he desired for his FC-2, Model 21, Model 41, and Model 71 airplanes. Fairchild's Faircam Realty, Inc. purchased property on the south side of Route 24-Conklin Street and had the Fairchild Flying Field's original layout plan prepared on November 3, 1927. Airplane manufacturing in Farmingdale originated with Lawrence Sperry in the Village of Farmingdale in 1917 and continued in South Farmingdale from 1921 until his tragic death in December 1923.
During World War II, 1-19 was Republic's longest runway, stretching almost to Route 109. Conklin Street at Republic was closed to the public in January 1941 by the Suffolk County Highway Department to permit the construction of the massive Republic industrial complex. In 1942, Republic Aviation built a 900 foot "dogleg" around the factory after Ranger Engine had built in the Conklin Street roadbed. The "dogleg" allowed workers in carpools driving east to have access to the Southern State Parkway via New Highway. Conklin Street was re-opened to the public in 1965 when Republic was taken over by Fairchild Hiller. The cumbersome "dogleg" was ended in the late 1990's when the Republic factory complex was razed and Conklin Street was straightened.
In 1965, Fairchild Hiller Corporation acquired Republic Airport and sold it to Farmingdale Corporation. In December 1966, the airport became a general aviation airport. By March 1967, the airport was of interest to the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority as a means of meeting demands of aviation on Long Island. Recognizing the airport as an asset, Metropolitan Transportation Authority acquired the airport two years later at the cost of $25 Million.
The MTA installed an instrument landing system (ILS) on runway 14-32, built the Republic Airport Terminal building in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, which built the new 100 foot high control tower, convinced the US Government to transfer 94 acres to the airport in 1971, and purchased the 77-acre Lambert property on the north side of Route 109 and the Breslau Gardens property between New Highway and Route 109 in 1972.
After complaints that the MTA was not contributing taxes to local governments and questions about MTA deficits at Republic, ownership of the airport was transferred to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) by the New York State Legislature in April 1983.
Companies that have existed at the Airport:
The Fulton Truck Company was the earliest manufacturer at the airport.
Years Active: 1916-1925
Sherman Fairchild chose the new location for his company after surveying the site by air.
Years Active: 1925 -1931
Sherman Fairchild started his engine company.
Years Active: 1928 -1955
Leroy Grumman moved from Valley Stream to Farmingdale.
Years Active (at the airport): 1932-1937
Alexander De Seversky founded a new aircraft company.
Years Active 1935-1939
Seversky was dismissed from the company and the board of directors re-named it Republic Aviation.
Years Active 1939-1965
Fairchild-Hiller Corporation.
Years Active 1965-1972
Fairchild Republic Corporation.
Years Active 1972-1987
Sources:
“New – LI Republic airports.” Google Sites. sites.google.com/site/lirepublicairporths/new
Republic Airport - Long Island's Executive Airport – History. www.republicairport.net/history.htm
Republic Station opened on December 9, 1940, with simple wooden shelters for passengers. When electrification was extended from Hicksville to Ronkonkoma in the 1980s, the LIRR proposed to close the stops at Republic, Grumman, Pineaire, Brentwood, and Deer Park to speed travel times and to avoid the cost of building high level platforms at lightly used stations. The latter two were ultimately kept, but Republic closed in the mid-1980s due to its low ridership and the high cost of new platforms. The old station platforms have been removed, but the two staircases down to Route 110 remain, though gated off.
In 1971, the MTA had a plan to build a transportation center at Republic Airport. The center planned to serve cars, buses, trains, and planes. This never came to fruition.
In 2001, the Village of Farmingdale came out in favor of re-opening Republic station. The Department of transportation intended to lease that land to Fairchild Corporation for development as retail space. A feasibility study was being done by LIRR President Kenneth Bauer.
In 2010, LIRR announced a plan to build a new station just east of Route 110 and Conklin and a second track between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma. This would be part of a joint plan between the towns of Babylon and Huntington and would include a transit hub that had residential and commercial developments near Republic Station as well as a bus rapid transit system across 110. In April of that year, it was announced that those plans would have to wait at least another five years.
In 2017, a planning firm was hired by Babylon Town to draft smart zoning changes for land on either side of the tracks, west and mostly east of Route 110 and north of Conklin Street. The changes seem headed for town board approval in the fall. Renderings with housing, offices, bike lanes, public spaces and, possibly, dorms for nearby Farmingdale State College, all centered around a new station. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority committed $5 million for designing the new Long Island Rail Road station and doing environmental studies. The second track between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale, a stretch that includes the Republic station, was already well underway.
In 2021, final engineering on a Bus Rapid Transit on 110 was completed with hopes to begin construction in 2022. This system includes a stop on the new Republic Station.
Sources:
Krawitz, Alan J. “Advocates Say Transit Development Can't Wait at Republic Airport.” Farmingdale, NY Patch, Patch, 4 Jan. 2011, patch.com/new-york/farmingdale/advocates-say-transit-development-cant-wait-at-republic-airport
Staff, LIBN. “Farmingdale Favors Reopened Republic LIRR Station.” Long Island Business News, 26 Oct. 2001, libn.com/2001/10/26/farmingdale-favors-reopened-republic-lirr-station
“MTA Reveals Details of New Transit Hub.” Farmingdale Observer. July 29, 1971
“Republic Station.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Oct. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_station
“Route 110.” Connect Long Island - Route 110, www.connectli.org/route110.html.
"Route 110 Project, Republic LIRR Station Need Cuomo's Muscle: Route 110 is "the Spine of Long Island." its Future is the Region's Future. We Have to Get this Right." Newsday, Feb 21, 2017. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/route-110-project-republic-lirr-station-need/docview/1870190226/se-2?accountid=37884
Albert Rischmuller enlisted on August 20, 1862. He was 20 years old. He mustered in on September 8, 1862 with the 127th Regiment, Company E of the New York Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal on January 1, 1863 and returned to ranks on March 3, 1864. He mustered out on June 30, 1865. He is also listed as Rishmuller.
He was born in Germany and arrived in New York at the age of six. He moved to New Jersey and died at the age of 46 on August 19, 1887.
Sources:
Ancestry
New York Military Museum
Dr. Harold R. Robert was born in Montreal on September 20, 1888. He attended public school there before graduating from high school in Plattsburg. He attended medical school at the McGil University at Montreal and completed his internship at Champlain Valley Hospital in Plattsburg.
On March 13, 1918, he entered the United States Army as a first lieutenant in psychiatric service until his discharge in 1919. He worked at the Dannemora State Hospital until 1925 when he moved to Farmingdale and opened an office. He was President of the Farmingdale Rotary from 1946-1947 and a delegate to the International Rotary Convention in 1946.
He married Doris L. Benelheimer on December 9, 1922 and they had a daughter, Lorraine Doris, who served in the Naval Reserve during World War II.
Source:
Long Island: A History of Two Great Counties: Nassau and Suffolk. Volume III. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1949
William P. Roe enlisted on August 27, 1864. He was 23 years old. He mustered in on the same day with the 127th Infantry, Company B. He transferred to the 144th Infantry on November 6, 1864.
William P. Roe was born in 1841. Born in Brooklyn, he worked as a cooper. The responsibility of a cooper was to make wooden casks, barrels, vats, buckets, tubs, troughs and other similar containers from timber staves that were usually heated or steamed to make them pliable.
He married Miss Ella V. Shepard and they had five children: William F. Roe, Louise Austin, Ida Miller, Winfield P. Roe, and Mrs. Robert Austin.
After the war, Mr. Roe worked as a farmer in Central Park (Bethpage) before retiring to Farmingdale and working in real estate.
William Roe died February 5, 1921
Sources:
Fold3
“William P. Roe Dead.” Amityville Record. February 11, 1921
Romanelli & Son has its offices centrally located in Lindenhurst. The company delivers energy products and services to thousands of homes and businesses throughout both Nassau and Suffolk Counties. It all started in 1925 when Martino Romanelli settled in Farmingdale and started an ice delivery business. It was located at 375 Fulton Street. After starting out in ice delivery service, the Romanelli establishment expanded into coal and kerosene delivery in the 1940s. By 1948, Martino Romanelli was offering 24-hour service and fuel oil delivery. Martino’s son, Pat, joined the business that same year and took over for his father in 1976, working with his own sons. Pat continued to grow the business, expanding Romanelli & Son to all of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Pat Romanelli was a founding director of Oil Heat institute of Long Island and the Empire State Petroleum Association. He served his country as a Military Policeman with honorable discharge from US Army. He held active positions in Farmingdale Village on the Zoning Board, then as an elected Trustee and Deputy Mayor. He passed away in 2015.
Sources:
“About Us - Company History.” Romanelli & Son Serves Suffolk & Nassau Counties, www.romanellienergy.com/about.php
Nargi, Mary. “Pat Romanelli's Obituary on Newsday.” Legacy.com, www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsday/obituary.aspx?n=pat-romanelli&pid=174502989&fhid=27301
“Romanelli & Son, Lyndenhurst, United States - * Full Card * Reviews * Q&A's * Stream Let's Do Business Recently Voted Best of Long Island, Energy Heating Goods and Services Provider Romanelli & Son Celebrated Its 75th Anniversary in 2000.” Worky.com, www.worky.com/company/romanelli-son
Richard Rose became a cadet in the Nassau County Police Department in September, 1967. He was appointed a Patrolman in August, 1970.
Patrolman Rose was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery on South Main Street, in South Farmingdale in December, 1971. He pursued the subject to a nearby bowling alley where the man hid beneath a parked car. As he ordered the man to drop his weapon and surrender, the man opened fire with a .22 caliber sawed-off rifle, striking Patrolman Rose in the chest. The man fled the scene but was arrested in New York City the following day. The subject was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years to life.
Patrolman Rose was an active member of Long Island Region #5 of the International Police Association.
Sources:
International Police Association Reporter, 0AD. Vol. 4
“Patrolman Richard B. Rose.” The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), www.odmp.org/officer/11521-patrolman-richard-b-rose
The Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum, more commonly known as the Royal Arcanum, was founded in 1877 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded by John A. Cummings and Darius Wilson, and it is a fraternal benefit society. The Royal Arcanum’s structure follows a three-tiered system which includes local groups or “councils” with at least 16 members, five state councils or “Grand Council” with at least 1,000 members, and the highest tier which is the “Supreme Council” based in Boston.
In August of 1887, the Farmingdale Council 1052 became a member of the National Council of Royal Arcanum. Farmingdale Council 1052 had boasted that they are the oldest organization in the Village of Farmingdale. It was originally founded under the name, Hardscrabble Council 1052, but the name was changed to Farmingdale Council 1052 in 1888. The group was founded by William H. Trou, Dr. H. Thorne, Gilbert Laurence, Humphrey Pike, Alanson Van Cott, Peter N. Bowers, Adolph Bausch, Reverend H. Blatz, George Warner, George Nuncy, and John Turner.
Farmingdale Council 1052’s first home was a two-story wooden building which was built in 1888 and cost three hundred dollars. It would have stood at today’s address of 281 Main Street, where the Divine Olive was.
Being established as a fraternal benevolent organization required all members to buy life insurance for family protection from the Supreme Council in Boston, Massachusetts. As part of their membership, the group members and their families were able to attend an elaborate Christmas Party by the State Council of the Royal Arcanum in New York. Farmingdale Council 1052 also took part in sponsoring many events around Farmingdale and New York. One event the group sponsored was Santa Claus’ visit to the Village. They also sponsored the Babe Ruth Baseball Team, which played Little League.
The last information available about the Royal Arcanum was 1956 and their dissolution information is unknown.
Sources:
Junior Historical Society of Farmingdale. Farmingdale's Story: Farms to Flight. The Society, 1956
"Royal Arcanum.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Arcanum
Richard William Frederick Runge was the founder of the Richard Runge Bottle Works around 1890. He was born about 1859. He was married to Henrietta Schnaderbeck and they had six children. He was a member of the Hook & Laddder Company. Richard Street is named after him.
Richard Runge died April 26, 1908.
Sources:
Notes from Gary Hammons
“Schnaderbeck & Runge, Farmingdale Long Island, NY.” Bay Bottles, 25 Oct. 2017, baybottles.com/2016/10/26/schnaderbeck-runge-farmingdale-l-i/
Alfred E. Russell was born in 1906 in Brooklyn. He graduated from Lehigh College in 1929 with a major in Chemistry and English.
He moved to Farmingdale in 1933. At the time, he worked for the advertising firm Nuskin Company. In 1945, he became a partner in the Aircraft Specialty Corporation which manufactured plastics and hardwood. In 1947, he became the sole owner of the firm. In 1951, he organized the Russell Reinforced Plastics.
He was a Village Trustee from 1944 to 1954. He was elected Mayor in 1953 and served one term. He moved to Babylon in 1955.
Source:
Junior Historical Society of Farmingdale. Farmingdale's Story: Farms to Flight. The Society, 1956
Richard H. Russell was born on April 28, 1886 in Brooklyn. He attended Packard’s Business College. He worked for a sugar brokerage firm on Wall Street for 14 years.
In 1907, he joined Duryea, Nostrand, & Russell in the fire insurance and real estate business. He was the assessor for the Town of Oyster Bay in 1919 and 1923. He was also the chairman for the Board of Assessors.
He married Esther Duryea in 1912. They had three children.
Source:
Hazelton, Henry I. The Boroughs of Brooklyn & Queens Counties of Nassau & Suffolk 1609-1924. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1925