Big Crowd Enjoyed “A Trip Back in Time” in Bethpage
Over 80 people attended the joint meeting of Central Park Historical Society and the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society to hear "Memories of the Motor Parkway in Bethpage". A wonderful time was had by all!
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Lenny Mulqueen opened the meeting with a welcome to the two historical societies.
I gave an introduction to the Vanderbilt Cup Races, the creation of the Motor Parkway and a Then & Now of the Motor Parkway in Central Park (Bethpage).
Courtesy of Jim Ryan
Al Velocci reviewed how the Motor Parkway acquired property in Central Park.
A portion of the meeting was the retelling memories of growing up near the Motor Parkway in the 1950s.
Paul Merin and Lenny Mulqueen gave great accounts of their childhood experiences on the Motor Parkway.
Everyone enjoyed 93-year old Ernie Finamore Sr.'s discussion of how Bethpage received its name. Ernie was the quality control manager for the Lunar Module built in the Grumman plant in Bethpage. Kudos Ernie, we are very proud of you!
Susan and Ellin-two of the Motor Parkway Preservation Society's original 2011 members.
Comments
Knowledge that comes along with Ernie Sr has to be the real deal
Fascinating meeting last night. I’m a lifelong LIer, although I never lived in Bethpage, I grew up nearby. I love looking back at the LI of a bygone age.
Great time at the meeting. What fun stories of growing up in Central Park and how Bethpage got its name. A playground indeed with the abandoned parkway cutting through the town! I just learned there were three extra Apollo Lunar Modules built that were never used after the program was cancelled prematurely. One of them is located at the Cradle of Aviation, Garden City. I’ve seen this one but didn’t know at the time it was an original. The other two are in Washington DC and Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The LEM a must-see when in town.
Sure wish I could have been there. It looked great from just these slides and images.j