| The first school was a 1 room
school house built on posts somewhere in the vicinity of the new library.
This school is not documented anywhere, except through stories told by
old-timers in the beginning of this century. The first authenticated
school was Cedar Street, built in 1865, right after the Civil War. It was
a 1 room schoolhouse. A 2nd room was not needed until 1893. On 11/21/1900,
The Uniondale Union Free School District was established.
This building was the first Cedar Street
School until 1909. It was the first St. Martha's Church until
1953. It was the first Uniondale Public Library until 1965. It
was located directly across the street from the present day library.
These days, the site is a parking lot.
(Photo provided by Mike Dragonetti)
The Cedar Street
school that we remember was built in 1909. A wood frame building,with 8
classrooms, a library, office and basement. It was "state of the
art", but only was for elementary grades. (Razed Sept.5, 1972) Next
to be built was Northern parkway, in 1923, at a cost of $150,000. It was
brick, 2 stories, with nine classrooms. it was made with the ability to
expand in mind. However, growth was so rapid, that the basement,
auditorium and library had to be converted before an addition could be
built in 1932, giving the school 17 classrooms, a beautiful auditorium, a
gym, offices and a shop. To serve the eastern part of Uniondale,
California Ave. was built in 1928. 4 years later, 1932, school buses were
introduced to relieve overcrowding at Northern Parkway by sending kids to
C.A.S.. It was not until the post WWII boom that another school was built.
That was Goodrich St. in 1949. Then in 1950, the old "Kosel
homestead" was purchased an Smith Street School was born. It was
built in the shape of an "X" to fit the contour of the land.
Then in rapid succession Cornelius Ct.(1953), Grand Ave. (1953 also),
Walnut St. (1954) were built. In 1954/55 Goodrich Grade School was closed,
an addition built to it, and it became our beloved UNIONDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
In 1959/60 Lawrence Road was built, followed by Turtle Hook which opened
in 1962.
by
Mike Pappas
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