Monday, January 28, 2008

Old Bethpage Village, Long Island

The Powell Farm
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Colonial American Details
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In the heart of the hamlet of Bethpage is Old Bethpage Village Restoration.
Bethpage is in the town of Oyster Bay, in Nassau County.
The Village Restoration is just one reason for people of Bethpage to be proud of the community in which they live.
Old Bethpage Village recreates the times of pre-Civil War Long Island and shows the agricultural and commercial, as well as the domestic lifestyle of the era.
It illustrates the crafts and skills of the time. The homes are filled with antiques and there are gardens and fields. The general store sells old fashioned root-beer and pretzels.
There are live demonstrations of hat making, spinning, weaving and blacksmith crafts.
There is always something new; the village is in a constant state of restoration.

There are more than 55 historic buildings on 200 acres, all original structures.
It gives the town of Bethpage a sense of history and makes people proud to live here.
Buildings were saved from demolition, from all over Long Island, and moved to this site.
Shops are set up and there is a school house with working fireplace and a period costumed teacher. In fact, all of the volunteer and working town’s people are dressed in period costume.
The Powell Farm is original to the site and is complete with pigs, cows and turkey.
This entire area was originally part of the Powell Farm and historical records tell us that Thomas Powell, a devout Quaker, bought the land in 1695 from the Massapequa, Secatog and Matinecock people.

The Old Bethpage Village Restoration is the center of community activity.
Special events are planned each month. There is sheep shearing in May and Autumn Harvest-time in October and there are various other activities throughout the year.
It is a wonderful historic destination and can be part of family life for those living near the village especially if the family interests involve historical America.
Old Bethpage Village also runs school group tours to enrich the culture of Long Island.
This is just one reason to drive out and visit Old Bethpage!
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Directions from the Southern State Parkway:
Southern State Parkway to Exit 28A Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway (NY135) North. Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway to Old Country Road East exit 10. Right turn onto Old Country Road Eastbound to Round Swamp Road. Right onto Round Swamp Road and village entrance will be on your left.
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Photos and text by Alida Thorpe

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Old Bethpage Village Restoration is actually in Old Bethpage, rather than neigboring Bethpage.

Anonymous said...

Thomas Powell is an ancestor of mine - how wonderful to find a lot of family information via the Internet.

Otherwise, I would not have known and since I am no longer able to travel, would not have been able to see.

Thanks to all who work hard and volunteer and search old records and post online.

Without you, the historical societies and genealogical societies, our ancestors would be forgotten.

Mikki in Iowa

Anonymous said...

I too am a decendant from Thomas Powell 1 Living in Ontario.
I plan to visit Bethpage this year and Dutchess County where my Gr Gr Grandfather Ammon Powell was Born.

Thanks to all for the in depth work ...Most Appreciated

Ron Butterworth
Peterborough Ontario