The Garden City News 100th Year Anniversary Issue

The top portion of the Garden City News’ first issue, published on September 26, 1923. The paper has undergone more than a few cosmetic changes in the century since, but its core intentions have remained the same to this day.

For 100 years, the Garden City News has recorded daily goings-on and larger issues within the village, and preserved Graden City’s storied history, so that no matter how much time has passed, its residents will never forget where and when this historic village came from, and how it’s changed with time.

This colorized photograph of the third Garden City Hotel (designed by Stanford White) was taken at the beginning of the 20th Century. For most of the century this hotel had American history grace its front doors. From presidents to royalty, from Hollywood stars to iconic sports figures, famous aviators to titans of industry, the Garden City Hotel witnessed it all.

Beginning in 1923, the Garden City News documented all of it. This newspaper quickly became Garden City’s diary. When this hotel, sadly, was torn down in 1973 it was covered in the pages of the Garden City News.

Today, in 2023, we can look back at 100 years of Garden City history as documented by one newspaper — the Garden City News.

Photo and caption courtesy of John Ellis Kordes

Here’s to the next 100 years!

This special section, dedicated to celebrating our 100th anniversary in print is really a celebration of the people in our history who have acted as stewards of the paper, taking care of it and passing it along to the next generation of editors and publishers.

The newspaper is unique in that it is not only a commercial entity which financially supports numerous families, but it is also the diary of a town, the first draft of history.

To really understand our history, we hired two young historians to delve into the archives and read editions of the Garden City News dating back to 1923. Our researchers were Tyler Rouse and Daniel Sullivan. Both spent long hours looking through microfilm reels and writing about what they found there. We think they did a great job, and hope you enjoy reading about Garden City’s past!

We’d also like to thank the staff at the Garden City Public Library for their assistance; historian and photographer John Ellis Kordes for providing numerous historic images; Bob Morgan Jr. and Mary Anne [Morgan] Balmuth and Althea Robinson for providing firsthand accounts of the newspaper’s history.

Thanks also to our staff members who continue to do fantastic jobs each week: Nancy Casanova, Susan Daly, Peter Camp, Debbie Velsmid, Griffin Lord, Patricia Armstrong, Rikki Massand, Gary Simeone and Kassara McElroy.

We’d also like to thank the advertisers who supported this endeavor, and who continue to support the paper each week. We literally couldn’t do it without you!

-- Meg Morgan Norris, Editor and Publisher

Our researchers / writers for this issue

Tyler Rouse has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Stony Brook University and is currently studying at Queens College, CUNY for a Master of Library Science and a Master of Arts in History. His area of specialization is in European history specifically in the 19th and 20th centuries. His most recent research was into the First Homosexual Rights Movement in Germany from 1836-1933.

Daniel J. Sullivan is a resident of Hicksville and is currently a Sophomore at St. John’s University in Queens, studying History. He enjoys writing as a hobby and is glad to have played a role in this newspaper’s 100th Anniversary celebration. He would like to thank Ms. Meg Norris for the opportunity to be a part of the Garden City News, and his parents for all of their love and support!

Our Staff

Researchers Daniel Sullivan and Tyler Rouse

Photo by John Ellis Kordes

Garden City News staff members: Advertising Account Executives Peter Camp and Susan Daly; Office Manager Nancy Casanova; Controller Patricia Armstrong; Art Director Griffin Lord and Publisher Meg Morgan Norris.

Not pictured: Writers Rikki Massand, Gary Simeone and Kassara McElroy; Senior Graphic Artist Debbie Velsmid.

Photo by John Ellis Kordes

The Founder:

How a WWI Hero established Garden City’s Official Newspaper

BY DANIEL J. SULLIVAN

The year was 1919 and, following much deliberation, three Long Island communities – Old Garden City, Garden City East, and Garden City Estates –signed the “Community Agreement” and incorporated themselves into the Village of Garden City.

That very same year, a 28 year old aristocrat named Henry McHarg Davenport returned home to Long Island, having spent the previous few years in France with the 102nd Military Police Battalion, fighting the first World War. The fates of this man and this village would intertwine just four years later, in 1923, when Mr. Davenport would go on to found one of Garden City’s oldest continuous institutions –The Garden City News.

Henry McHarg Davenport was no stranger to the world of publishing. As a student at Columbia University in 1911, he published a novel titled A Likeable Chap: A Story of Prep School Life, and was part owner of The Glen Cove Echo, American Sketch, and Long Island Sketch magazines. After graduation, he began work as a writer for the Atlas Advertising Agency in Manhattan

before marrying socialite Florence Chester Johnson in the January of 1916 and moving to Long Island. For a little over a year the newlywed Davenports enjoyed their quaint married life together until, rather unexpectedly, the joys of suburban comfort were interrupted by the call of international conflict. April 6th, 1917 marked the day President Woodrow Wilson entered the United States into the Great War, and July 23rd, 1917 marked the day Henry McHarg Davenport was entered into the U.S. Army.

Life for the budding young writer changed dramatically that year, as McHarg (as he was most commonly known) was drafted into the 105th Machine Gun Battalion before being transferred to the 27th Division A.E.F, as an intelligence officer with the 102nd Military Police. Alongside his fellow men in arms, McHarg was sent to St. Nazaire, France to fight the Central Powers that threatened European freedom, and, while there, he fell victim to a vicious gas attack – permanently damaging his lungs and for-

Garden

ever affecting his psyche. Despite this, McHarg remained with the Battalion until March of 1919, when he was honorably discharged and awarded the French Croix de Guerre, with a Bronze star, for his heroism in battle.

Having returned to the United States, to his wife and home in the blossoming Village of Garden City, McHarg Davenport began to consider how he could renew his career as a writer and publisher, as he was before the war.

With an experience in publications, and a revelation that the newly incorporated village which he lived in did not have a publication of its own, McHarg Davenport set out to found a newspaper that might serve Garden City and its steadily growing population of over 2,500 residents.

In order to achieve this, Davenport partnered with banker and Garden City resident James Henry Pickney Jr. and, on September 26th, 1923, The Garden City News was born!

“We hope that this weekly bulletin will fill a real need, providing a means of acquainting the residents of the village with matters of local interest” read a

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Historical Society

Garden City News founder McHarg Davenport in 1916

The

City

Congratulates The Garden City News on 100 years of reporting the events that become the history of our unique village.

Merritt’s Merits: Scion of famous family takes up publishing

BY DANIEL J. SULLIVAN

Driving some twenty minutes east of Garden City, one would find themselves in the bustling hamlet of Farmingdale, possibly upon a street known to many as “Merritts Road.” This road, like so many on Long Island, takes its name from the family that settled it – a family whose influence spread beyond the borders of the town they inhabited, and into the history of this very newspaper.

In 1687, Englishman Thomas Powell gave £140 to Long Island’s Native American tribes in exchange for 15 square miles of land that today make up much of modern-day Nassau County. Having been a father of 17 children, Thomas Powell bore a great many descendants throughout Long Island,

one of whom was Mary Cornelius – a Quaker woman who, in in 1724, became Mrs. John Merritt. The Merritt family lineage continued for many years, often intertwined with Long Island history, and, on September 4th, 1890, Jesse Frank Merritt was born. Forty years later, in 1930, Mr. Merritt would become owner and publisher of The Garden City News. But before he got to that point, he lived a life of much excitement.

Faithful to the Quaker tradition of his ancestors, Jesse Merritt received an education at Locust Valley’s Friends Academy before attending the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and Brooklyn Law School. Although a practicing Quaker, he chose to join the NY National Guard in 1911 and was sent to serve on the Mexican border in 1916. Like many young men of his generation, he was called abroad in 1917 to fight the Great War, which he did alongside the G-3 27th Division in both France and Belgium – earning him the Victory Medal and Cross of Honor. Returning safely to America from France in 1919 (as would seem to be a tradition for GC News publishers), Mr. Merritt took up work as a Clerk of the Nassau County Board of Supervisors, and played an active role in the Assembly campaigns of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and future CIA Director, F. T. Davison.

Already an accomplished public

servant, Mr. Merritt turned his eyes towards publication at the beginning of the 1920s, and set out to found The Farmingdale Post with his wife, Mabel White (who was rather accomplished herself – most notably as the first woman to teach a law course at Columbia University.) To accom -

plish this, he opened a printing plant in his hometown with Fred Baldwin and Robert Bacon, with whom he also purchased a four-paper chain known as “The Nassau Weeklies.” This plant, known as The Bethpage Press, acquired The Garden City News in 1930.

As owner of Garden City’s official newspaper, Jesse Merritt sold his interest in “The Nassau Weeklies” to Robert Bacon as a means of focusing his attention on his new acquisition.

The Bethpage Press became the new home of The Garden City News (taking over, briefly, from the Davenport Press) and prided itself on its “typesetting machines, cylinder presses, newspaper press, two automatic job presses, several platen presses, Cleveland folder, and stereotyping for mats” – state of the art technology for its time. So great was the technology of the press that issues of the Garden City News would advertise “a cordial invitation…extended to our readers to inspect our plant at any time.”

Eventually, Jesse Merritt would sell the newspaper, having noted that, prior to him, “it had never been held two years by any one owner, due to the cost of operation.” Although he left the world of printing, Mr. Merritt remained in the world of publishing – taking up the position of Nassau County Historian

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Jesse F. Merritt, President, Bethpage Press and Merritt Publications, Publishers of the Garden City News

The Bethpage Press printed the Garden City News in the 1930s.

The Morgan Family

A Lucky break at a bankruptcy auction

BY MEG MORGAN NORRIS, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

Growing up as the youngest of six children in a “newspaper family” was perhaps a little different than other families. From the youngest age, I could identify my father by the unique smell of ink and press wash that permeated his clothing, along with the cigars he liked to smoke once the paper was in bed for the week.

My mother, once I reached school age, began to work for the company as an editor, and on days off from school would also let me come with her to her office. On occasion, I even got to attend village board meetings as long as I promised to be quiet so she could write her report.

In 1974 my dad, who had been publishing newspapers in several other Long Island towns, learned by chance that the publisher of the Garden City News owed a lot of money to its printer, and was going into bankruptcy.

Even though there was another active newspaper in town at the time (The Garden City Leader) in my father’s estimation, the News could be brought back from bankruptcy and would do well.

My mother had inherited a little money from relatives shortly before that, so my parents created a new corporation (I think to protect the existing business) of which my mother was the president) and decided to bid on the paper at the bankruptcy court auction.

As I recall, my father had a maximum bid in mind of $10,000. When the auctioneer got to that point Dad very confidently offered the $10,000 and acted as if he would be happy to keep bidding. Fortunately for us, the other bidder decided to withdraw at that point, and the rest is history. With my mother as editor, and dad as publisher they were able to make the paper financially stable, and soon it became the strongest of all of the newspapers in our group.

Shortly after the sale went through, my mother, who did not yet know how to drive as she had grown up in New York City, and I took a trip by Long Island Railroad to visit Mrs. Louise Howe, the widow of the prior editor of the paper, Wallis Howe.

Mrs. Howe lived on Hilton Avenue, and this was the first time I had ever been to Garden City. As nine year-old from Queens, I was amazed at the large

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Fighting the good fight

BY BOB MORGAN, JR.

I was the oldest kid, and even in my earliest recollections in the mid 50’s, my father had already launched his community newspaper business in Nassau County. He originally had five or so papers, which were printed in our own plant on East Nicholai Street in Hicksville. My parents eventually had six children, and we certainly weren’t getting rich on the newspaper business but my father worked grueling hours and did keep things afloat.

Eventually my mother came on to help him with the business in 1970 after my youngest sibling, Meg, was enrolled in grade school. I did work for the papers for a couple of summers, but my father mostly had me help operate one of the printing machines, called the Linotype. I enjoyed being around the

business, particularly the editorial side, but I can’t say I was particularly adept with the Linotype.

1974, when I was in college, was a rather eventful year. My father managed to get into a dispute with an elected official (I was told the origins of the argument had something to do with my father’s comments in one of the papers about a school board, but I don’t recall the exact details). The official was very vengeful and decided to cut off the legal advertisements that appeared in our papers, a significant source of revenues at the time.

On a more petty note, the official also apparently caused a sign to be posted outside our printing plant in Hicksville, restricting the weight that could be carried by trucks, with the seeming goal of making it impossible to have huge

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More than just a business

BY MARY ANNE BALMUTH

My sister, Meg, asked me to take a stroll through the past and recount what it was like to grow up as the daughter of owners of Litmor Publications, a group of local newspaper that later came to include the Garden City News. The search through old memories was an interesting endeavor, as it turned out - one which stirred up many emotions.

Our house was often chaotic as it was filled with six children, a Mom trying her best to keep up and also to contribute to the family business and a Dad who worked long hours to produce a continuous stream of newspapers, some of which were published weekly, some daily. None of that seemed out of the ordinary to me, of course, and I certain-

ly didn’t realize how hard my parents worked until I was well into my teens.

I do remember that a regular feature of my childhood was watching my parents leave the house on an evening jaunt to the corner candy store where they procured a stack of the most current newspapers. When they got home, every member of the family who could read would sift through and discuss news articles. Current events and politics were regular topics of discussion in our house. Stacks of books on all subjects teetered on chairs and coffee tables in every room and my father particularly disdained and seldom turned on the one TV we owned.

As a teenager, I spent summers working at the main office of Litmor

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Robert L. Morgan, Sr., Publisher from 1974 through 1994

Mary J. Morgan, Editor from 1974 through 1994; publisher 1994.

Celebrating the News: Statements From Previous Anniversaries

The Pilgrimage of Childe News

BY LOUISE H. ANTHONY

(October 5th, 1933)

We held you in the “dummy” stage, We saw you through the colic, We watched the feeding of each page Through weal, and woe, and frolic. Davenport, Pickney, Anthony, Schwartz, Fair Esther, Hastings and Miss Jones, Of printer’s ink consumed some quarts –They fed you meat, and sometimes bones.

The question of school was quite a shock. You needed play – you wanted fun. Come poet “Brown” with his Jabberwock, Provided that with many a pun.

Oh, how you welcomed the contribs. There were so few you could not handle, The one who fattened up your ribs –Remember, it was Scout Scribe Randall.

You gained in weight, you grew in fame, The Village Fathers saw your worth. Officially they gave you name. Strengthened you were, - and added girth.

You had Merritt, too, and Campbell, Happy folk that did not quibble. And surely you did not gamble When you won the clever Sybil.

And though we appreciate The many friends who gave their aid, Today we’re here to celebrate, Your birthday and a new decade.

Long may you prosper in the fold, Continue true along life’s way! Please print this last in ten point bold –A TOAST FROM ALL ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!

--Louise H. Anthony

Carry On!

(November 11th, 1931)

With the change in ownership with this issue of The Garden City News, another epoch in its career begins. Garden City faces a great growth. There is the quiet Garden City with its distinctive charm so loved by many of us, its cultural atmosphere, its spiritual sweetness, a pale to be preserved. There is the new to be planned. The News, we believe, has been a factor in preserving the better things, and growth must be controlled by careful vision.

The Garden City News is now to be published by another publisher, and your former publisher passes to him the torch to carry on. In all confidence that the best principles of journalism will be followed, we leave the future of The News to others. It is not without some reluctance, after nearly five years, that one would take such a step. There are friendships based upon sympathetic points of view, friendships cemented through admiration of character.

Perhaps there is no profession where the product reflects the personality so much as that of journalism. A newspaper must, of course, cooperate to be of influence in the worthwhile things of the community. If it bows to any particular will and loses its independence, it is a failure. In every instance a publisher is required to keep his head when all about him are losing theirs and blaming it on him.

Publishing The Garden City News will always be a pleasant memory, and the friendships formed we believe will be enduring. We continue our professional activities nearer home where old friends will always be welcome. So, with best wishes, for good luck to Garden City, and to the new publisher, we say, “Carry On.”

-- Jesse Merritt

Vol. 17, No. 1

(September 28th, 1939)

HAPPY 100TH ANNIVERSARY TO THE GARDEN CITY NEWS!

—Toula, George, Donna, Raquel, Alex, Kelly Michael, Karen, Jon … and Holly, too!

Hengstenbergs Florist

Founded in 1904, Hengstenberg’s Florist is a Garden City tradition. Hengstenberg’s had been in the same location on Franklin Ave — diagonally across from Leo’s— since 1966! Family Owned and Operated by the Christofides Family since 1972.

From Single Roses to Lavish Parties and everything in between. Don’t forget to ask us about our home and holiday decorating.

735 Franklin Ave, Garden City, NY 11530

(516) 741-5500

• hengstenbergsflorist@gmail.com

(free public parking lot behind the store) www.flowersgardencity.com

Sixteen years ago, this week, there appeared unexpectedly in the journalistic picture a nicely printed, newsy tabloid publication bearing the title “The Garden City News,” below which, in smaller type was the legend, “For Community Service.” In still smaller type was the abbreviation, “Vol. 1, No. 1” which meant that the Fourth Estate had a brand new baby. Today, the title plate is unchanged. The motto still holds good, but the newspaper has grown in size and content and the abbreviation reads “Vol. 17, No. 1” which means that we are celebrating a birthday.

Much water has trickled, murmured, babbled and occasionally roared over the dam since that remote day in the early nineteen-twenties when the Republicans were in the White House, the country was parching in the “noble experiment,” the century was in the flower of youth, we all were much younger, and Mrs. Mark Anthony, our first editor, launched the enterprise, then took a deep breath and waited to see what would happen.

Newspapers since then have come and gone. Some that then were among the most important in existence have had “thirty” written after their titles, or have been merged with others to lose their identities. Through good times and bad, however, through boom, depression, upswing and recession, The Garden City News has continued to do business at the old stand, to grow with the community and to reflect, with all possible accuracy and impartiality, the community picture.

We like to think that The News is typical of weekly newspapers throughout the land; publications that are devoted to the interests of the communities in which they are published. For nothing ever will be able to take the place of the local weekly newspaper. Its territory may be blanketed, as is ours, by the greatest “bigtime” dailies, yet none of these can give its readers the things that they find in their home-town publication.

If Joe Doakes Jr. is celebrating his fourth birthday, he isn’t likely to make The New York Times unless his father happens to be a national figure. Neither will the guests at Mrs. Doakes’ bridge party be able to read their names in print elsewhere than in the local newspaper. And what metropolitan daily would take up the cudgels for the residents of some street that needs curbs and sidewalks, or who are menaced by gasoline storage tanks or sickened by variegated smells from a nearby garbage dump? But, enough of this. Sufficient it is to say that we are sixteen years old today, and that’s that. More important is the fact that there is work to be done, now that we are “going on seventeen” – and here we go!

EXTRA!

The Members of The Garden City Casino Congratulate The Garden City News on Its 100-Year Anniversary

Thank you Editor in Chief Meg Morgan Norris for serving our community and congratulations on the 100-year run of The Garden City News. We look forward to many more years of reading The Garden City News!

The Garden City Casino also takes pride in our long history in this wonderful Village. Established in 1895, we are going strong at 128 years of outdoor tennis and social gatherings. The Garden City Casino began as a modest structure called the “Stewart Arms” that was built around 1885. It was referred to as “The Garden City Club.” It boasted 2 grass tennis courts, a croquet lawn, and an indoor stage for amateur theatricals. By 1895, the Garden City Club was extensively redesigned and remodeled. The club was enlarged, and now featured a newly refurbished ballroom Today, The Garden City Casino continues as a social, tennis, and bridge club that is open to all residents of Garden City. The Casino building remains largely unchanged since 1895. The open porches on the east & west sides of the ballroom have been enclosed, and the main entrance has

been moved from Cathedral Avenue to Sixth Street. However, the overall design of the exterior has not been compromised, and many original design features have survived.

Times have changed, and we no longer offer bowling or croquet. Our event spaces still host social functions for members and can be rented

by the general public. We no longer have grass tennis courts, but instead offer 4 beautifully maintained “har tru” outdoor courts. The Casino is operated and managed by volunteers, and, as one of the oldest institutions in Garden City, we are extremely proud of our 128 year heritage!

The Garden City News’ home

Publishers and Editors of The Garden City News

J.H. Pinckney and McHarg Davenport, The Davenport Press, Publishers September 26, 1923February 1924

Louise H. Anthony, Managing Editor September - December 12,1923; February 1924; Publisher and Editor October 22, 1925-March 1927

George A. Hastings, Publisher and Editor, May 28, 1925-September, 1925

John W. George, Editor December 19, 1923-December 26, 1923-February 6, 1924

Mary Maud Jones, Associate Editor, May 28, 1925- September 1925

Jesse F. Merritt, Merritt Publications, Publisher March 1927-November 1931

Sybil A. Englis, Social Editor, September 14,1928 - May 14, 1936 Society Editor September 19, 1940June 30th, 1949 Publisher, June 30th 1949 - ~1950s

The Davenport Press Inc, Publishers, November 9,1931- March 1, 1972

Garden City Jewish Center

Louis E. Schwartz, Managing Editor March 29, 1933-May 14, 1936

L.E. Schwartz, Publisher September 19, 1940 – December 31, 1964

George S. Cowlam, Editor, September 19, 1940 -~1950s

Harold J. Pratt, Editor, January 21, 1960 - February 8, 1962

George S. Cowlam, Associate Editor, January 21, 1960 - March 24, 1960

Charlotte C. Winkler, Society Editor, January 21, 1960 - December 31, 1964; Women’s Editor, January 21, 1965March 14, 1973

Winchell A. Royce, Editor, June 14, 1962 - June 25, 1970

Charles A. Arcouet and George Weissblum, Publishers, January 21, 1965 - December 30, 1965

Charles A Arcouet, Publisher, January 6, 1966 - June 25, 1970

Arthur L. Hodges, Associate Editor, June 6, 1968 - June 25, 1970; Managing Editor, July 1, 1970 – July 26, 1972

Colonial Communications Corporation, Publishers, March 8,

1972 - September 11, 1974

Wallis E. Howe Jr., Editor and Publisher, July 1, 1970 - August 21, 1974

Jeffrey W. King, Publisher, March 8 1972 - September 11, 1974

Margaret Ann “Meg” Ferrillo, Women’s Editor, April 11, 1973September 11, 1974

Edward L. Brennan, Financial Editor, February 13, 1974 - September 11, 1974

Litmor Publications, Inc., Publishers, October 10, 1974 - Present

Robert L. Morgan, Publisher October 10, 1974 – February 19, 1994

Mary J. Morgan, Editor, February 1, 1985 – November 29, 1994; Publisher, February 26, 1994 – November 29, 1994

Meg Morgan Norris, Editor and Publisher, December 1994 - present

(*Information in the 1950s was not obtainable, approximations used)

The Klipp’s Building on the corner of Franklin and Stewart Avenue in 1965. The Garden City News has had an office in this building since 1976. The building was built in 1912. Photo courtesy John Ellis Kordes

BY DANIEL J. SULLIVAN

Garden City has never failed when the nation called it, and it will not fail now.” So said Edward A. Nash in an editorial on August 31st, 1933, speaking as the Chairman of Garden City’s NRA Committee. At that time, the United States was in the midst of a slump known as the Great Depression and, at the command of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was preparing to climb out of it. Like thousands of other towns and cities throughout the country, Garden

Doing Our Part

field for America’s businesses. Using government power, FDR intended to restrain competition without abolishing the free market, as a means of curtailing the downward cycle that had persisted for four years. This would be accomplished by asking industries to voluntarily adopt production standards, minimum wages, and hour limits. Local towns and counties were encouraged to establish committees that would coordinate this effort, and encourage participation among residents.

Garden City stepped up to the plate and did just that. By August of 1933, the Garden City NRA Committee was established and Edward Nash, of the Garden City Bank and Trust Company, was selected as chairman. Other members of the committee included William Enequist, Gerald Hughes, Charles Reinhart, George L. Hubbell, Warren Gordon, Thomas Delaney, A.V. Adamson, Guy Hecker, Leroy Weed, and William Hothan. In addition, a women’s committee was also established, with Mrs. H. A. Persell as chairwoman. This committee soon began its work and in the August 31st issue of The Garden City News, Mr. Nash laid out the village’s plan.

great enthusiasm and, soon after, the NRA Blue Eagle – a symbol of participation – was hung in the window of many a business throughout the village. “We Are With You Mr. President” proclaimed Pilgrim Laundry in a large newspaper ad. Claiming themselves a champion of high pay, Pilgrim declared that they would be the first to display their Eagle and ensure their employees receive the blanket wage of $15.00 weekly. Directly below them, Franklin Shops Inc. ran an ad saying it “Does Its Share” and has adopted the forty hour workweek. The Garden City American Legion declared that this time is “no time for slackers” and encouraged all its members to support NRA member businesses.

This show of village-wide support culminated in the “NRA Parade” down Seventh St. on October 12th, 1933. Assembling at the Garden City Garage, all who wanted to show that they were “doing their part” were encouraged to attend and celebrate. For the people of Garden City, participation in this great national endeavor was nothing short of a smashing success. As for the Garden City News, the months of 1933 saw an additional symbol on the front page of

An ad for the National Recovery Act

the paper, next to the familiar slogan “For Community Service.” Like many a business throughout the city, the paper displayed a proud Blue Eagle – for, they too wanted the world to see that, at The Garden City News, “We Do Our Part!”

City was responsible for doing its part in this climb, and take action that would course-correct the devastating effects of the market crash just four years earlier.

The National Recovery Act was signed into law in the June of 1933, with the intention of leveling the playing

“The NRA plan is designed to put five million men back on payrolls in a short time…Garden City will have a definite share in this increased prosperity to the extent it participates in the plan…every EMPLOYER and every CONSUMER has a definite responsibility to assume” Mr. Nash began. He then when on to define these responsibilities, calling on employers to shorten hours of labor as “to make room for more employees” and encouraging them to sign the President’s agreement regarding wages. As he explained “every dollar spent by an employer now for increased payroll will return many fold as business flows from a consuming public.” To ensure this, Mr. Nash stated that the responsibility of the consumer is to only give their business to those employers who have taken on the burden of increasing their payroll. He explained that doing this will “make the present position more secure by reversing the process of deflation.” With that, Garden City’s role in the great national movement was made clear.

The employers and consumers of Garden City answered this call with

Garden City held a parade in honor of the National Recovery Act in 1933.

The Mott Section just after completion in the late 1930s Photo courtesy John Ellis Kordes

During the 1930s the Garden City News included the logo for the National Recovery Act on its nameplate.

Thanks to the Garden City News for sharing our headlines for 94 years.

Here are some of our very latest:

• Our 2023 class is the largest, and most diverse, in our history.

• Adelphi was just named a U.S. News & World Report Best College for the sixth year, moving up 19 ranking points.

• Adelphi rose 35 spots as a Best Value College in the U.S. News & World Report rankings— and rose an unprecedented 85 spots as a Top Performer in Social Mobility.

• Adelphi was given the largest National Science Foundation grant in its history, $2.49M, to support high-achieving STEM students.

• Adelphi is the winner of a 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award for our MS in Business Analytics program—one of our career-boosting programs for working adults.

Today's Nexus Building, current home of our College of Nursing and Public Health

Levermore Hall, designed by the renowned firm of McKim, Mead & White in 1928

Here’s To You, Mrs. Robinson!

Community Icon Reflects on Her Time With “The Garden City News”

BY DANIEL J. SULLIVAN

To the residents of Garden City, no name is as synonymous with community service as that of Althea Robinson. A lifelong resident of the village, Mrs. Robinson has spent a greater part of her years giving back to the town she calls home. Executive Director of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of the Garden City Foundation, Garden City High School Business Department Member, and Mineola-Garden City Rotarian are among the many titles she has carried over the years – in addition to being named a 2022 “Hometown Hero.” Given this storied legacy of service, it should come as no surprise that Mrs. Robinson has also played a role in the history of The Garden City News. One which, on the occasion of the paper’s 100th anniversary, she was kind enough to share.

Mrs. Robinson’s connection to the paper began in the late 1930s, when she was just around 10 years old. At that time, she and her cousin would roam the neighborhood in search of noteworthy happenings to deliver to her cousin’s neighbor – Sybil Englis, the Garden City News’ gossip columnist.

Although Mrs. Robinson admits these outings were rather “tongue in cheek,” the story later impressed Robert Morgan, who had just purchased the paper with his wife in 1974, and he hired Mrs. Robinson as a writer on the spot.

Beyond that unique qualification, Bob and Mary Morgan recognized Mrs. Robinson as someone with a robust knowledge of the community and, given her involvement with school and local organizations, a proper fit for a community newspaper. At the time, Mrs. Robinson’s youngest child had just entered middle school and she was interested in re-entering the workforce. Having known the paper since childhood and being a subscriber herself since her marriage in 1955 (68 years this year), Mrs. Robinson accepted the job and began a writing stint with The Garden City News that lasted nearly two years.

The Garden City News recently sat down with Mrs. Robinson, to ask her about that time.

What roles did you hold at The Garden City News, and what did they entail?

Mrs. Robinson: Mr. Morgan initially hired me to cover the Village Board of Trustees and School Board meetings. At the time, the fate of the Garden City Hotel was the Board’s major issue (not unlike St. Paul’s now.) It had been a victim of the wrecker’s ball and was termed Garden City’s “hole in the ground,” much to residents’ dismay. Of course, there were no cell phones or computers in those days, so my notes were taken on the proverbial “yellow lined pad.” If a Trustees or School Board meeting was the night before the paper’s deadline, I would stay up until 3 or so in the morning, trying to convert my notes into an intelligent and accurate report of the previous night’s meeting. Through the kindness of Mary Morgan, who was in charge of my writings, the deadline hour for my reports was often pushed to the limit, as she waited for them to come through (not unlike her daughter, Meg Morgan Norris, who – to this day – often pushes the deadline hour for my submissions.) In addition to this main assignment, I asked Mr. Morgan if I could do the occasional feature article, to which he agreed. I also began writing the weekly column “Althea’s Almanac,”

where I reflected on village goings-on and concerns, always ending it with a recipe (which many folks started to clip and collect.)

Do you recall any particularly notable columns or features you wrote, as well as public reaction to them (if any)?

Mrs. Robinson: Yes! At one time, I did a spread – with photos – on the special needs students at the Garden City Middle and High Schools. Long before SEPTA, there had existed a group of parents and educators who were trying to draw attention to the needs of this special group of students, and establish ways to fill their needs. I recall a most positive reaction to this article, and the awareness it helped create. I also did 2 or 3 articles on the issue of the Garden City Post Office’s dilapidated drop boxes. As I recall, all of them were soon replaced or repaired.

Could you share some memories of the people you worked with at the paper?

Mrs. Robinson: Well, because she was in charge of my editorial submissions, I pretty much mainly interacted with Mary Morgan – who served as somewhat of a mentor to me. Even though I had previously excelled in the area of advertising while in college, had become an advertising copywriter in my former career of several years, and penned a couple of newsletters back in the day, I did not have any experience in journalism. Mary encouraged me and taught me a lot, and to this day, her comment: “You have a fertile mind” has served me well when searching out ideas.

Also, interestingly, at one point down the line, a young man who had graduated with Mary’s daughter had given me a photo of her, pictured marching in Garden City’s Memorial Day Parade, dressed as a majorette, which I used with one of my columns. Its funny to think that the girl in that picture now carries

on the legacy of her parents as the Garden City News’ Editor and Publisher, and the gentleman who gave me the picture became the Village Historian (and writer of the “Kordes Korner”) – John Ellis Kordes.

Could you speak to the history of the News’ former competitor - “The Garden City Leader” and the role you filled there?

Mrs. Robinson: I’m not sure I recall who started up “The Garden City Leader,” but I recall that Wallace “Pete” Howe and Charlotte Winkler – who had been with the News – moved over to it. Pete was the editor and Charlotte Winkler was managing editor. When they saw what I had done with the News, they offered me the position of assistant editor/feature writer/ columnist (at quite an increase in salary) and I accepted. The Leader’s format was different from the News, but – try as it did – it never lived up to the ad income and community news submissions that the News had established. Plus, the News was named the official Village paper by the Village board. I believe these reasons are why the Leader eventually failed.

In your opinion, what unique role does a community newspaper fill?

Mrs. Robinson: A community paper is unique because it really zeros in on the provisions and offerings of a village’s government, departments, commissions, and community organizations. In the case of The Garden City News, it provides an opportunity for residents to have their say in these offerings through the letters section. I know that my fellow residents who are civically involved tune in to the paper (particularly when issues are being weighed), read the “Word from the Editor,” and check out the letters first!

How did working for the newspapers (both “The News” and “The Leader”) impact your later community work within Garden City?

Mrs. Robinson: While I have always been a writer of sorts, my writing experience with the two local newspapers helped me with my transition to free-lance writing, and then to my position as publicity chairperson of various organizations – particularly Rotary (during which I returned to column writing.) However, while I was serving as the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, I was approached by Mr. Morgan – with whom I had not interacted with much past my time at the paper. He had come to present an imaginative and successful idea to help raise funds for the Chamber’s Homecoming Street Fair, which I had initiated. His idea was to offer affordable individual 3-line sponsorships to appear in 2 or 3 pages of the paper, promoting the Street Fair and giving recognition to some 75 businesses – all while creating income for the Garden City News! It was a “win-win-win” all around – helping out the News, the Chamber, and many local businesses. That was some 50 years ago, and the tradition has continued to this day.

Mrs. Althea Robinson’s legacy within the Village of Garden City is one that stands on its own. Although her time with the paper was brief, it is clear that she is one of the finest personifications of The Garden City News’ slogan – “For Community Service.” And, for that, we thank her.

Althea Robinson

From The Archives

Nazi Germany Is Described by Miss Thompson: Country Unsafe For Any One Not In Accord With Their Code

(February 22nd, 1934)

Dorothy Thompson, as famous in her way as is her Nobel-Prize winning husband, Sinclair Lewis, spoke before the Community Club in the Cherry Valley School Auditorium last Friday, February 15th, on the Current Events program. Mrs. Harry F. Wanvig presented Miss Thompson to a patiently waiting audience who had expected Ellery Walter, but, as it turned out, were charmed by his substitute.

Miss Thompson launched on a description of post-war Germany which she knew immediately as a foreign correspondent and as a regular visitor to that land. For this reason, she said, it would be difficult for her to treat the subject objectively, because she loved Germany next to her own country. In analyzing the modern Nazi Germany ruled by Hitler, she asked the question: “How did Germany get that way?” The answer lay in the Republic founded after the war, a form of government alien to the German temperament. This

Republic, born in defeat, was blamed for the unjust demands of the Treaty of Versailles, and the fifteen years of failure proceeding the Nazi regime. During these times of disillusionment, the Nazi party had been busy pounding their ideas into the heads of the humiliated Germans. According to the Nazis, Germany lost the war because of internal elements of dissension: pacifists, Jews, socialists, etc…

The Germans were all too ready for a dictator who would lead them back, at least in their own minds, to the good old days of Germany’s power, 1870-1917. And so, to wipe out the fifteen years of republican anti-climax, the coalition majority handed over to Hitler with a sigh of relief, an authoritarian government. So tight is the Nazi dictatorship that even the poor wretches in the Concentration Camps vote in favor of Hitler.

The Nazi government stresses the positive ideas which fill the German people with hope. This campaign asserts

The Police Brutality Case

(July 20th, 1932)

The testimony in the police brutality case which resulted in the death of a prisoner, last Friday, resulted in four County detectives being held, this morning, on a charge of murder in the second degree with the Deputy Chief as an accessory.

In holding these officers, Justice Steinbrink emphatically stated that there can be no doubt that the prisoner came to his death through beatings received from the police. This newspaper does not uphold criminals nor does it approve of showing any courtesy to a person willfully committing a crime or violating the law, but it does feel that laws are made to be upheld by all whether an officer of the law or an ordinary citizen.

Assistant District Attorney Littleton, after personally taking the testimony from three of the four gangsters, warned the police against brutality, since it might spoil a clear case of murder, should the woman attacked, die. His warnings were unheeded.

The gravity of the crime committed by the accused police officers is far reaching. District Attorney Edwards and Mr. Littleton, his able assistant, are to be commended for their thorough investigation of the case. The County Police force, as a whole, is composed of honest policemen who uphold the law

Assistant District Attorney Martin Littleton Jr.

and this incident should be a warning to those otherwise inclined that they cannot take the law into their own hands.

It would be well for the Chief of Police Skidmore to purge his department of these undesirables so that Nassau County may well be proud of the guardians of the law. It is hoped that the trial of the accused policemen will not in any way weaken the case against the three remaining gangsters and that they will be brought to justice for their crime through due process of the law.

Nassau County is no haven for criminals!

that times are better and that Germans can again be proud of Germany. Miss Thompson, at this point, quoted from Hamlet: “There’s nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Miss Thompson then described the plight of the Jews in Germany, and especially the deplorable treatment of the Jewish children. Germany is unsafe for anyone – pacifist, socialist, or Lutheran pastor, - who disagrees in the slightest respect from the Nazi code. Any criticism at all means Concentration Camp.

Miss Thompson has spoken with Hitler and judges him to be a hysteric with an anti-Semitic, pro-Aryan complex. Hitler wants peace which will make the German Reich extend east and south to take in races which he considers inferior to the Aryan German. It is an ominous comment on the power of tyranny when we realize that the Allies have, perforce, made greater concessions to Hitler than to the Republic. The situation may be summed up as follows: Germany is arming and who is to stop her? Dorothy Thompson urges that America adopt a policy of isolation in the name of democratic principles.

Vaccination Urged By Health Board

(May 28th, 1925)

A report of the New York State Board of Health cites 33 cases of smallpox in the town of North Hempstead. Thirty of these cases are children, the other three being adults, in both incidences, the patients are those who have not had a successful vaccination.

The Board of Health, though there are no cases reported in Garden City, has established a vaccination station in the Village Hall, where the health officer is in daily attendance between the hours of one and two in the afternoon.

Tenant Wants Jury Trial To Vindicate Dog

(June 30th, 1949)

A peculiar case, in which figure two elderly gentleman of excellent repute who have known each other for more than a decade, is that of Hubbel vs. Morrell, who are in dispute concerning a dog. Robert W. Morrell, 61, of Hilton Avenue, former Rough Rider alongside Teddy Roosevelt, has demanded a jury trial to settle the reputations, good or bad, of the animal he has owned and presumably loved, for the past 12 years.

George L. Hubbell, former manager of the Garden City Company and Mr. Morrell’s landlord, is the complainant in the case at issue, maintaining that the tenant is harboring the old Maltese ter-

rier in violation of leases signed by other tenants living in the same apartment building. One tenant only, apparently, Mrs. Wayne Bond, has complained of an alleged nuisance, claiming the dog’s barking and odor were noticeable from her apartment, where she has lived for about a year. On the other hand, it is stated, Mr. Morrell has lived there since September of 1937.

The recent disturbance began after Rough Rider Morell declined to sign a lease providing for a 15 percent increase in rent. He was willing to do so on a two year basis, he said, but Mr. Hubbell insisted on a yearlong lease.

Dorothy Thompson

St. Anne’s School Wishes

We are happy to provide an environment where the rich traditions of the Catholic faith are integrated into our academic offerings and woven into the cultural fabric of the school. Our school creates a community that encourages and nurtures prayer, and provides a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for your children.

In a world filled with challenges, St. Anne’s School provides an opportunity for students to live out their faith, serving God and one another. What a wonderful blessing this is to our community.

(December 11th, 1941)

Most of us, even the less imaginative, probably have wondered from time to time just how we would react in the event of an air raid. The recent alarm gave a pretty fair indication. We did not, of course, have an air raid on Tuesday but we had “everything else but” – and no one knew but that it was to be the real thing.

Garden City residents, as far as could be seen, heard, or determined, took the alarm in their stride with no panic, hysteria, or confusion. Some of the residents looked a little “pale about the gills” when told by the wardens to get off the streets, that this alarm was serious, but without exception each made it under his own power.

Before the alarm had sounded scores of residents, having heard on their radios that women and children were being evacuated from Mitchel Field nearby, called the local police to learn whether a raid was actually expected. In each

Reprints From The Archives Taken In Stride

case, they were told that the police were operating on that assumption and to “sit tight.”

Along the business streets, motorists and pedestrians took shelter in the various stores and shops. Womenfolk appeared to be resentful about having their shopping routine upset by the Japs, but there were no cases of jitters and no one swooned away as far as we know. Menfolk wondered how in blazes the Japs got over here so quick, and “how long do you suppose it will take us to lick ‘em?” but all signs of terror were missing.

The police and the various defense agencies went about their appointed tasks smoothly and without confusion. The roar of planes taking off from Mitchel Field added to the realism of the occasion, yet, was reassuring as evidence that our air force was not to be caught napping. Came then the “all clear” and, later, the news that the “raid” had ended.

Nixon Visits Wydler’s Office

(December 7, 1967)

Former Veep Richard Nixon was a drop-in at the office of Congressman John W. Wydler, in Washington, last week. The two old friends found plenty to talk about, but if politics was a topic, neither would say so.

CONG T UL AT ONS TO ON 100YEARS!

Don Clavin Supervisor

Church Bells Sound Above! Celebration As War With Japs Ends

(August 15th, 1945)

Garden City church bells on Tuesday night sounded above the celebration of the announcement of victory over the Japs, as worshipers filled the churches to overflowing at hastily arranged services of praise and thanksgiving.

All ages were there. Tiny children, up long past their customary bed-time, boys and girls in their teens, parents and grandparents, many of whom –by absence of formal attire – gave the impression of having just left dinner on the table to attend places of worship.

The announcement at 7 P.M. touched off an impromptu celebration which was confined mainly to Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue, but this was short-lived, and as the evening wore on, Garden City was quiet – with the exception of spur-of-the-moment get together parties at many homes throughout the Village. The various clubs were virtually deserted.

The Right Rev. Dr. James Pernette DeWolfe, Bishop of the Episcopal

(Circa 1930s)

Diocese of Long Island, hailed the victory over Nippon, declaring the day to be one of the greatest in history. He added the opinion that the war has “cemented the Allies together in a great international fraternity,” and pointed to the responsibility now faced by the Christian Church.

Bishop DeWolfe said: “There have been great moments in history. The burning of Savonarola – which stuck a light for Renaissance, the Spanish Armada – which was the real beginning of the opening of the Western World, and many others, but seldom has there been a greater day in history than today.”

“For this victory means the liberation of the human individual; the victory of the democratic way of life, the decided defeat of a force which threatened the real progress of the future of the world. This war has cemented the Allies together in a great international fraternity which is hopeful for perpetual peace and the assurance of a great family of nations.”

Garden City is conceded to be the cultural center of Nassau County, from the standpoint of educational facilities at least. This happy condition is worth something to maintain and should be safeguarded zealously.

The newspaper, on several occasions, has urged the establishment of a public library, the nearest one of any consequence being in Hempstead. The advantages of a public library in any community are so obvious that they need not be listed.

The average community has everything to gain thereby. Garden City, however, is in a slightly different position. It definitely has something very much worthwhile to maintain. As far as the individual homes are concerned, the community is undoubtedly well stocked with books, but these of course do not make up for the lack of place where one may obtain

(October

14th, 1926)

BY LOUISE H. ANTHONY

An ideal citizen is the one who sees clearly and ever something good in the city, town, or village in which he lives and never loses the opportunity to spread that good news abroad – that others might derive the benefits therefrom; whose unselfishness prompts him to want others to share opportunities,

“Save and Prosper”

(December 29th, 1928)

This is the slogan for 1929, which some Nassau County institutions are adopting for their new year advertisement, and it seems a good one. Banks feel the trend of financial situations quickly through their depositors, borrowers, the rates for money in the open market, and other directions too many for enumeration in this editorial.

During the past ten years, there has been an increasing tendency to spend money. “Be a good sport” was adopted by the spending element prior to the enactment of the Dry Law. It had a wide flow after the great World War because money was plentiful through high wages, extensive employment opportunities, and conditions of prosperity in general. To tell anyone that at some future time employment might be scarce and wages drop, brought the sally: “Them days are gone forever.”

The Presidential campaign rebuked the application. Employment became scarce and the money shoe began to pinch a good many. Those who saved

A Public Library

reading matter for recreation, study, or research.

As Garden City continues to grow, the need for a public library will grow in proportion – with new homes springing up around the fringes of the incorporated area. For these newcomers, provisions should be made. The splendid educational facilities we have should be rounded out for this reason, if for no other.

Many residents who now patronize the Hempstead library would find a similar establishment in Garden City a convenience as well as a source of pride. It is quite possible that a number of local persons would be willing to donate a book or so each, to get the project under way.

At any rate, the matter might be a good one for interested individuals to consider with a view to follow the time-honored custom and “appointing a committee.”

THE NEWS will be glad to cooperate in every way.

The Ideal Citizen

health, and pleasure which his home town offers.

There are three distinct attitudes which a citizen may assume toward the place in which he lives: to boost, to remain quiet, or to knock. The booster is that ideal citizen who is never forgetful of the obligations which is due the home town. He is ever found at the front when any movement is launched which might tend to the advancement of the interest of the community. While others see darkly, to him, good is visible at all

when money was rolling in on a plentiful basis could withstand the adverse situation. Those who did not, found it different. A bank account is a handy thing to have, it reflects in a substantial way the old saying that money is one of the best friends a person can have.

As the old song ran: “Be careful of your money boys, be careful of your money. You’ll find it true that friends are few, when you are short of money.”

Garden City’s first library, located in a small house at the far east end of Seventh Street (later torn down). It began as a volunteer effort and proved so popular that in 1956 it was moved into the former Garden City Company building by the train station. It was replaced by the current building in 1973. Photo courtesy John Ellis Kordes

times. The quiet citizen is satisfied to let the neighbor do the work and content to lull the place asleep and let it rest. The knocker is the man who is without a country. There is no room for him anywhere, his presence dampens the enthusiasm of every man or group of men who unfortunately come in contact with him. Having no faith in his ability to go forward, he naturally lacks faith in his home town to do so.

You have the chance to belong to either of these three classes. If you are

a booster, your neighbor knows it well and will boost you. If you are aligned with the quiet class, you will not be regarded one way or the other – for the man who selects to steer in the middle of the stream gets no support from either side. If, unfortunately, you are a knocker, get ready to be knocked, for eventually it is coming to you. As you give, so will it be meted out to you. LOYALTY IS THE FIRST REQUISITE FOR THE IDEAL CITIZEN!

Amelia Earhart To Be Guest Of Woman’s Club “Queen Of The Air” To Address Group At Cherry Valley School

January 4, 1934

America’s most distinguished “First Lady of the Air” will come to Garden City on Monday afternoon, January 15th. No woman today has had more “firsts” to her credit than Amelia Earhart, who will speak at the Cherry Valley School under the auspices of the Woman’s Club. She is not only the first woman to have flown the Atlantic, and the first to have crossed it alone, but she has a galaxy of other first time records to her credit in flying and out.

The slim American girl whose corp of tousled, blonde hair has become so universally known, seems to have a phobia for doing a thing the first time. “Of course, it is fun to try some things new,” Miss Earhart says. “I suppose that the thrill of exploration, the joy of pioneering, or seeing from the first time from the sea or from the air, a land that no one else has seen. Consciously or unconsciously it is that feeling which drives men to do that which has never been done before.” When questioned about her own string of records, Miss Earhart was characteristically modest in depreciating them. She always says that anyone else, with proper equipment, could have done as well as she. As she stresses the fact that almost everything she does or tries to do is “for the fun of it,” which, by the way, is the title of her book describing her own flying experiences and the work of women generally

in aviation, together with an account of her historic crossing of the Atlantic.

Miss Earhart’s record of firsts is diversified. Beginning at the beginning, her first flight was as a passenger in California, twelve years ago, with Frank Hawks – the famous speed pilot of today. She says that from the moment she left the ground, that she would have to fly herself. Incidentally, she learned to fly before she learned to drive a car. It is also interesting to note that she took a position in the office of a telephone company in Los Angeles to earn the money to pay for her lessons. After her first Atlantic flight, as a member of the crew of Friendship in 1928, Miss Earhart was the first woman to fly a plane across the American continent. Later, she established several women’s speed records. She was the first woman to solo an autogiro, and to take an autogiro from the Atlantic to the Pacific and back again.

In May, 1932, she was the first woman to solo across the Atlantic. She, Colonel Lindbergh and Captain Mollison are the only three persons who have ever crossed the Atlantic alone. She is the only woman who has flown non-stop across the continent and, in 1930, won the speed record at Detroit. She is the first woman to whom the Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded, as well as the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, which was bestowed upon her by

former President Hoover.

Garden City will welcome Amelia Earhart, who has so conducted herself that all America is proud of her.

Amelia Earhart at Roosevelt Field, Garden City

A Lucky break at a bankruptcy auction

From page 6

and stately homes we walked past on that trip, never realizing that this would become my home.

My parents published the newspapers for the rest of their lives. In 1987 I came home from college without much of a plan, and so I began working for the

company, doing a little of everything. Several years later my then-fiancee, Ed Norris, also joined us.

Unfortunately, in 1994 both of my parents passed away several months apart. It was a terrible year, but I am so glad that we were able to continue my parents’ legacy of serving the village of Garden City.

More than just a business

From page 6

and began to really understand how much went into the family business. My job entailed everything from editing copy to typing, answering phones and judging the children’s coloring contest. Sometimes I interviewed community members about local soccer games or weddings or deaths and helped them summarize facts. Other times, I reported on town council meetings, proceedings which often went long into the night - and which I began to realize that no one else in the office wanted to cover. One of my favorite memories was attending a luncheon on behalf of Litmor, with my brother, Bob, and meeting some of the New York Mets for

a promotion at Shea Stadium. A heady opportunity for young sports fans.

Via my perch as a seasonal employee I grew to understand how hard my parents worked and how complex it sometimes was to supervise the mixture of activities that goes into producing periodicals meant to reflect life in the communities around us. I usually left the office at 5 p.m. to catch the evening train home, but when I said good-bye to my Dad he was often fixing the Linotype machine or laying out pages for the next edition. Sometimes he looked up. Sometimes he didn’t, but he generally waved. He would finish when he finished, the message seemed to be. It was important to get everything right.

Fighting the Good Fight

From page 6

rolls of newsprint delivered. My father published weekly full page advertisements in our papers describing and decrying the situation and supporting the official’s opponent in the upcoming election. In part because of a shift in the political winds that year, but probably also because of my father’s campaign, the official was narrowly defeated at the polls. Eventually, cooler heads prevailed, we got back our advertisements, and the weight limit sign disappeared.

In addition to a successful resolution of the situation with the politician, the family business took a major step forward in 1974 with the acquisition of the Garden City News. My parents had a high opinion of the quality of the paper under the previous management, but believed that he and my mother could maintain editorial standards with a substantially lower cost structure. This vision was largely accomplished. My mother was effectively placed in charge of the News and an office was opened in Garden City. She worked very hard to make the paper a financial and journalistic success, and the paper grew and prospered. Shortly after acquiring the paper my parents moved to Garden City and Meg, currently the publisher, enrolled in Garden City High School.

Following the death of my parents, who both passed away in 1994, I launched a column the next year in the Garden City News, which continues to

this day, called The View From Here. It was designed in large part to be a successor to the opinion pieces that my father used to write, under the name The Notebook. The column, which solely reflects my personal thoughts, is intended to express views about various political and nonpolitical topics. I do try to write with the understanding that the News is a community newspaper and that it is possible to make points in a civil and respectful manner that recognizes the existence of other perspectives.

The Founder: How a WWI Hero established Garden City’s Official Newspaper

From page 3

note from the publishers on the cover of the newspaper’s inaugural issue. With a promise to “praise where praise is due, and criticize when criticism will be constructive,” the Garden City News – then headquartered at 10 Third Street – ran an initial run of 50 copies, each selling at 10 cents apiece.

and Mrs. Louise H. Anthony as head editor, The Garden City News was shaping up to be a success, and a great public service for the many residents who read it weekly! However, tragedy soon struck. By 1925, the condition of Mr. Davenport’s lungs – as a result of the gas attack during the war – began to greatly worsen.

As was traditional medical advice of the time, McHarg was advised to move out to the countryside, with the hope that the fresh air of the open plains might ameliorate his conditions. The Davenports did just that, and in the May of 1925, George Hastings became the owner of The Garden City News and Davenport Press (although, he wouldn’t keep it for long – he sold it to the editor, Mrs. Louise Anthony, in September of that same year, making her one of the only women in the country at the time to own and operate her own newspaper!)

James Pinckney was co-publisher with McHarg Davenport during the first years of the Garden City News, however there is less known about his history.

Having noted that “they didn’t all sell out,” Mr. Pickney soon lost interest in the newspaper venture and sold his entire share to McHarg Davenport in February, 1924. Now with full control, McHarg established the Davenport Press to print the papers, in a building on Main Street in Mineola (the same one that bears its name as a restaurant today.)

With McHarg Davenport at the helm

McHarg Davenport and family initially moved out to the pine country of North Carolina, where they lived for some time before moving again to Arizona. They eventually made permanent settlement in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the former publisher re-established himself as a private painter. Inspired by the expressionist painter movement, McHarg created satirical artwork that poked fun at Hispano society and Southwestern living, without demeaning his subjects. Many of the paintings he made during this period went on display in the Museum of New Mexico, as well as various galleries back in his hometown of New York.

In 1938, celebrated art critic Alfred Morang was quoted having said “among American painters concerned with satire, Davenport ranks high.” That same year, Florence Davenport – his wife –

Merritt’s Merits: Scion of famous family takes up publishing

From page 4

and writing three books covering topics of local history. Additionally, Mr. Merritt began to take on a more active role in the Society of Friends, standing for tolerance amidst agitations from the Ku Klux Klan and promoting the study of Quaker History. He passed away in 1957, leaving behind the legacy of a more complete Long Island history and an accurately chronicled Quaker timeline, which is now housed in the permanent collection of Swarthmore

University.

The story of Jesse F. Merritt is a unique one. One that is of a man who not only chronicled history, but also created and descended from it. Individuals like he, whether they be known or not, maintain a great influence on the world around them – even if that world is limited to one island. Although his time with the newspaper was brief, simply owning (and continuing) The Garden City News was certainly one of Merritt’s merits.

became one of the founding members of the Santa Fe Maternal Health Clinic, an institution designed to prevent infant mortality. The Davenports’ new rural surroundings were far removed from their New York origins, but the family never strayed from playing an active role in society.

On September 12th, 1941, McHarg Davenport passed away at the age of 50, due to complications of the lungs. He was remembered as a publisher, painter, and a World War I hero – having been buried alongside his fellow servicemen in the Santa Fe National Cemetery. But, above all else, he is remembered today as a creator – a man

August 8, 1940: “This morning’s mail brought to the Editorial desk a unique windshield sticker from McHarg Davenport, former publisher of the Garden City News and now a resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mr. Davenport, who is chairman of the “Wendell Willkie for President Club” in the Southwestern city reports great enthusiasm for the Republican candidate among the larger Spanish American population in his section.”

with vision who combined passion and public interest to establish an institution that has lasted a century.

For as long as The Garden City News may be published, may its readers never forget the man who started it all – Henry McHarg Davenport.

“If there is a cleaner newspaper made up weekly, or one which strives more honestly in service to the communities it covers, I have yet to find it. Which is why, of course, The Garden City News is not only still going, but growing! More power to you and the news, and many happy birthdays to add to this one!”

- Henry McHarg Davenport, 1933

The pressrom at Davenport Press during the 1950s.