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Exerpts from "History of Valley Stream"
Written by Howard F. Ruehl,
Published by Incorporated Village of Valley Stream.

The real history of Valley Stream began with the arrival of the Dutch Colonists.

In 1626, they made the famous purchase of Manhattan Island for $24.

14 years later the Rockaway Indians sold the Dutch West India Company a tract of land now known as Valley Stream.

Did you know?

  • Valley Stream was once known as "Near Rockaway
  • The extreme southwest section was called "Hungry Harbor" because of its large settlement of squatters who often went hungry.
  • The business section on Rockaway Ave. was called "Rum Junction"
  • The northern section was called "Cookie Hill" because it had a racy reputation.
  • A little to the northeast was a business that processed manure into fertilizer. In the summer months, the stench was so bad, this section was so called "Skunks Misery"

Valley Stream Old Map

Before Robert Pagan's arrival, the mail was brought out from New York to Hempstead by private postman.

Robert Pagan put forward the idea for a local post office to save people from going to Hempstead for the mail.

When asked for a name that wouldn't conflict with other stations, he took the valleys of the hilly section to the north end of the village and the streams that cut through the south end and put them together.

Valley Stream

The only village by that name in the United States. 

Robert's wife, Ellen started the first religious services in the community.

Tired of traveling over the rough road to the Old Sand Hole Church in Lynbrook, Mrs. Pagan started services in her home.

Dates in History:

  • 1853: Merrick Road, a narrow plank road significanly improved life by connecting a way to get to Jamaica and the city to the west, and Merrick to the East
  • 1869: The first trains from Valley Stream to Far Rockaway ran, really putting Valley Stream on the map and on the timetable.

  • The first Railroad Station, built in the early 1870's, was located on Rockaway Ave. at Third St.
  • 1896: The first telephone of record to be installed in Valley Stream was in Joseph Felton's store on Central Ave. and Merrick Road.
  • 1898: A group of local men met in Golder's Grocery Store, collected $150. and purchased a hand-drawn ladder and bucket truck. It carried a 20 ft. ladder and water buckets. The wagon was pulled through the streets by rope by volunteers.
  • 1903: The Long Island Traction Company began trolly service running through Valley Stream from Jamaica to Freeport.
  • 1922: William R. Gibson, real estate developer, came to Valley Stream and erected hundreds of affordable homes, including the Gibson Railroad Station in 1929.
  • 1925: March 10, the first meeting of elected officials of the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream was held.
  • 1928: In April, a bond was issued for the construction of Central High School on Fletcher Ave. and opened in September of 1929.
  • 1955: Valley Stream's impressive Village Hall was oficially opened on August 16.
  • 1962: The Valley Stream Public Library, on the Village Green, was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mayor Henry Waldinger
  • 1965: The Department of Public Works reclaimed 8 acres of land by dredging the lake bottom in the Valley Stream Park. In 1966 the Village Board of Trustees planned and developed recreation facilities including a playground, courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball, outdoor shuffleboard, and horse-shoe pitching. In 1966 the park was officially named Arthur J. Hendrickson Park.
  • 1998: Valley-Stream.com :)
    •

VALLEY STREAM TODAY:
1990 US Census Data

Population: 33,918
Male: 16,128
Female 18,168
White: 31,869
Black: 342
American Indian: 36
Asian: 1,739
Other: 310
     

Location: 40.674184 N, 73.705738 W
Valley Stream Map


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