HAMLET of SELDEN'S HISTORY

Selden
Whaleboats Ferried Rebels From Danger

Beginnings: The founding farmers of the mid-1700s called it Westfield and spent many early winters hacking wood from their newly acquired lots. The extra income earned from selling the cordwood came in handy for families such as the Roes, Nortons and Longbothams, trying to eke out a living in the sparsely settled region. Built about 1752, the Norton family home was the oldest remaining in Selden but was gutted by fire in the fall of 1996. Local preservationists are still unsure of the landmark's future.

The Revolution: Honing his combat skills in the French and Indian War, Daniel Roe served as a captain in the Revolutionary War. Besides winning battles against the British, Roe kept busy evacuating rebel families from Long Island following the British occupation. In swift-moving whaleboats, Roe piloted the families and their belongings across Long Island Sound to Connecticut. It would be seven years before Roe, his wife Deborah, and their 12 children returned to Westfield.

The Name Game: Like many other Long Island communities, Westfield residents were too late. By the time a post office was established there in 1852, the name Westfield was already taken. Residents substituted Selden, in honor of Henry Selden, a prominent New York judge and lieutenant governor from 1857 to 1858, a curious choice because Selden had no apparent connection to the community. Perhaps they were persuaded by Selden's promise to do ``something handsome'' for the hamlet. No one knows whether Judge Selden ever did.

Turning Point: Small vegetable and fruit farms still lined Middle Country Road in the early 1930s when real estate agents began selling housing lots to buyers from New York City for as little as $19 for a quarter-acre lot. Buyers came by the busload, enticed by advertisements that boasted paradise garden plots, vacation camps or retreats set in ``beautiful high-wooded or open-level sections.'' Called Nature's Gardens, the development was the first of many that would gradually transform Selden into the 20,000-strong suburban community it is today.

Where to Find More: ``The Hamlet of Selden: An Historic Chronicle,'' by Luise Weiss, available at the Middle Country Public Library.
Newsday-Long Island OUR STORY article




DUE TO SNOW our meeting for February has been change and the NEW DATE for our meeting in the NEW Police Station will be March 22, at 7:30pm.

Also want to Welcome our new Vice President Sandy DiPiazza to our Board. Charlie Bratisax our previous Vice needed to resign due to work obligations. We thank him his commitment to our organization and to our community.


Here we are one year into our new Selden Civic Association. We have accomplished many of our goals this year and we are still moving into the future to bring our hamlet towards our common vision.

Our town has a new tradition to add to one of our accomplishments our First Tree and Menorah Lighting that was held on December 15. With the help of our Town Councilwoman, Geraldine Esposito, the Selden Civic, Walgreen's Pharmacy and a crew of Brookhaven town workers we were able to turn an empty lot of land donated to the Town for our Civic and the Selden Community into a wonderful Holiday Park on the west corner of Walgreen's.

This site included a large Menorah (built by James Esposito), a Gazeebo (both the tree and the gazeebo were donated by the town) and an Evergreen Christmas tree all were light on our special night with the help of many invited guests. We were joined by Geraldine Esposito, Brookhaven Towncouncil, Joseph Caracappa, Presiding Officer,Suffolk Country Legislator, Diane Cardullo, Centereach Civic President and many memers of her board, not to mention our Selden Civic board members and over one hundred members of the Selden community.

Special thanks to Selden Starbuks for donating Hot Coffee and Hot Chocolate on a very cold night. We were joined by a special guest in a red suit that gave treats to all, not to mention that we all enjoyed the holiday songs sung by our brownie troop members and cub scout troop members that have a tradition that starts each of our monthly meetings with the pledge.

The other events hosted by our Civic included a Meet the Candidates Night which included a combining the Selden and the Centereach Civics to meet all our elected members of our joined comunities and this was very well attened.

This event was attended by Congressman Tim Bishop, Senator John Flanagan, Assemblywoman Pat Eddington, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Assemblywoman Ginny Fields, Mr. Manger running for congress and Mr. Busacca running for assembly. This format worked well and we will be sharing our Meet the Candidates next year with the Centereach Civic.

During the summer we invited our community to join us in a celebration at one of our local parks. The Liberty Park, in Selden, this event was wonderful for all ages and for the at least 100 or more members of our community that stop in thanks. Our guests included Suffolk County Legislator, Joe Caracappa, Assembywoman, Pat Eddington and our Town Councilwoman Geraldine Esposito who helped with the installation of new playground equipment, picnic benches and tables
for our park and use of the Town Showmobile.

The day included a DJ with games and prizes, popcorn, cotton candy, BarBQ and donated food from our local merchants. We also had raffle prizes that were all donated from our business community.

Other projects include planting trees along Middle Country Road, hanging all the Blue and White Flag signs that say Selden on various utility poles on Middle Country Road. These projects have been accomplished through our Down Town Revitalization Program. We have also been given a grant from our local Legislator Presiding Officer Joseph Caracappa of fifteen thousand dollars, that will help us impliment many new projects to help beautify our community.

We thank you Joe and Gerri for your support and generousity to our Civic association and our Selden community.

These are just some examples of what we have been up to this year. If your have not joined us please come to our next meeting on February 28, at 7:30pm at the Special Location of the New Police Station/6th Preceint, this visit will include a tour, located on Middle Country Road in Selden accross form the Waldbaum's Shopping Center. Our usual meeting place is the Selden MC Public Library at 7:30pm usually the last Monday of the Month.