Hamlet of North Babylon (Town of Babylon History Book, Chapter 9)

 Town of Babylon History Book - Hamlet of North Babylon (chapter 9; April 2025)

For more information, please contact the Town of Babylon Historian's Office. Use the "Contact Us" section on the home page. 

Hamlet of North Babylon

History Highlights

Beginning in the late 1800s, wealthy New York City residents began purchasing large tracts of land in the North Babylon area for use as summer residences, including Austin Corbin, President of the Long Island Rail Road and developer of Coney Island.[1] Situated between the bustling Deer Park and Babylon railroad stations, the area was well-regarded for hunting, fishing and other recreational pursuits.

Merchant Royal Phelps purchased a North Babylon estate in 1863, which included a celebrated trout pond known as “The Reel.” The old Phelps property passed through several owners, including famed 19^th century baseball player John Montgomery Ward,[2] before becoming Phelps Lane Park in 1960.[3] The mansion in Phelps Lane Park dates to 1942 when it was built as the country residence of Dr. David and Else Schnur.[4] The Schnurs named the pond Elda Lake, using the first two letter of their first names. A Jewish family, the Schnurs left Nazi Germany before World War II to escape persecution, eventually settling in New York City.

The old Schnur residence became the headquarters for the Town of Babylon Parks Department. At right, David Schnur fishing in his pond, circa 1945. Image courtesy of the Schnur Family. 

Royal Phelps is attributed to introducing August Belmont to the rural community.[5] Beginning in 1867, Belmont purchased 1,300 acres upon which he established a horse breeding farm and a spacious 24-room mansion. August Belmont was a racehorse owner and the Belmont Stakes horse race was named in his honor.[6] The row of pine trees leading to Belmont’s estate remain in the Southern State Parkway median.

The Belmont pine trees in the center of Southern State Parkway, west of Belmont Avenue.

The country residence built for August Belmont Sr., pictured around 1925, just before the house was demolished.[8]

During World War I, August Belmont Jr.[7] leased the race track area of his estate to the U.S. Army and it was used as an aviation training facility known as Camp Damm, 1918-1919. After the War, the Army camp was disbanded. (More information about Camp Damm is available from the Town Historian’s Office.)

A postcard image of Camp Damm, at right. The aviation training field was named for Lt. Col. Henry J. Damm, at left, who was killed in service on May 2, 1918, in Dayton, Ohio. World War I training fields were typically named for fallen military aviators.

A portion of the vast Belmont estate later became Belmont Lake State Park, and much of the remaining property was sold for houses. The old Belmont estate was bisected by the Southern State Parkway.

A 1930s postcard view of Belmont Lake State Park. 

What is a Hamlet?

A hamlet is a community. The Town of Babylon is comprised of ten hamlets and three incorporated villages.  The hamlets are: Copiague Ÿ Deer Park Ÿ East Farmingdale Ÿ North Amityville Ÿ North Babylon Ÿ North Lindenhurst Ÿ West Babylon Ÿ Wheatley Heights Ÿ Wyandanch Ÿ And, the barrier beach communities of Captree Island, Gilgo Beach, Oak Beach, Oak Island and West Gilgo Beach.

Local governments in the state of New York include counties, cities, towns and villages. The communities within Town governments are known as “hamlets.” The term “hamlet” does not have a legal definition under NYS law, but is used to identify communities within Towns (such as the Town of Babylon) that are not part of incorporated villages, sometimes referred to as “unincorporated communities.”

A hamlet does not have its own government and is under the jurisdiction of its Town for municipal services (e.g. garbage pick-up, building codes). Causing great confusion … hamlets have no official boundaries. (Outside of the state of New York, the term “hamlet” is rarely used.)

Generally, the hamlet of North Babylon is bounded on the west by the Carll River, which runs through Geiger Lake and Belmont Lake, and on the east by Sumpwams Creek[8] (sometimes spelled Sampawams, the remains of the creek are not always obvious), which is also the border of the Town of Islip. The delineation between North Babylon and Deer Park is not clearly defined. Bay Shore Road, on the east side of Deer Park Avenue, and Erlanger Boulevard, on the west side of Deer Park Avenue, are an estimated northern boundary. On the south, the border between North Babylon and Village of Babylon is a few blocks south of Sunrise Highway.

 

A Brief Look at North Babylon Population

When it separated from the Town of Huntington in 1872, the Town of Babylon had a population of about 3,000 people. The chart below illustrates the population growth of North Babylon and the Town of Babylon.

Decade	North Babylon Population	Town of Babylon Population	Please note: While the boundaries of the Town of Babylon are clearly defined and have remained the same since 1872, the “boundaries” of the hamlets are not clearly defined. In the census, hamlets are referred to as Census Designated Places (CDP), the boundaries of which can change from decade to decade.
1900	350 ([9])	7,112
1920	n/a	11,315
1940	n/a	24,297
1960	29,257 ([10])	142,309
1980	19,019 ([11])	203,483
2000	17,877	211,703
2020	17,927	218,223

The largest and fastest increase in population occurred after World War II, commonly referred to as the “Suburban Population Boom.” From 1940 to 1960, the population of the Town of Babylon increased by 485%. The rapid increase of residents brought an increased need for housing, schools, road improvements, stores and commercial developments, and employment. In those short decades, much of the Town of Babylon and its communities changed from rural countryside to suburban neighborhoods.

Map of North Babylon, 1873. The old “School No. 3” is labeled to the right of Phelps Pond, near the present site of North Babylon High School. This map shows only a small part of the community now known a North Babylon. At the time of the map’s creation, the Village of Babylon had not yet incorporated, with a boundary at the northern end of Southard’s Pond. Atlas of Long Island, NY published by Beers, Comstock & Cline, 1873.

North Babylon – the Name, the Zip Code, Etc. 

The earliest written evidence of the name “Babylon” is found in the home of Nathaniel Conklin, built at the corner of Deer Park Avenue and East Main Street, in 1803. The name is commonly credited to Phebe Smith Conklin, Nathaniel’s mother, though two differing legends exist.

The first legend purports that she chose the name from the Bible Psalm “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down.” The Psalm describes the exile of the Jewish people from Jerusalem during the Babylonian captivity (perhaps Phebe Conklin felt exiled from her previous home). However, a more scandalous version suggests that Mrs. Conklin was unpleased with the proximity of her son’s home to a raucous tavern at the American House. Referring to the alleged corruption and depravity of Ancient Babylon described in the Bible, she declared her new community as “another Babylon!” Nathaniel proclaimed the community a “New Babylon,” and engraved the name in his chimney stone. The stone is now exhibited at the Nathaniel Conklin House museum at 280 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon (the house was moved to that location in 1871).

Instead of “New Babylon,” the name Babylon was adopted. The post office name was changed from Huntington South to Babylon in 1830.

The Nathaniel Conklin House and stone inscribed “New Babylon – This House Built by Nat Conklin 1803.” The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The Nathaniel Conklin House, 280 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon, is now a museum. Images from the Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey, 1936.

The name “North Babylon” appears to have started as a general reference to being the northern end of Babylon or an area north of Babylon. The broad area now known as North Babylon, West Babylon and the Village of Babylon was generally referred to as “Babylon” up through the late 1800s. The incorporation of the Village of Babylon in 1893 established a municipal boundary between the village and the hamlet of North Babylon, but much of the area north and west of the Village of Babylon continued to be referenced as “Babylon,” up until the mid-1900s.

In the decades after World War II, the rapid population increase and expansion of community facilities – schools, stores, and businesses – created the individual North Babylon community identity. 

The Babylon Post Office was established on March 8, 1851, with Nathan E. Bassett as Postmaster,[12] and likely served the areas now known as North Babylon, West Babylon and the Village of Babylon. In the 1800s and early 1900s, post office operations were typically conducted from an existing store/office location, and the merchant/Postmaster received modest compensation for the job.

Up through the early 1900s, it was common for residents to retrieve their mail from the post office. For example, in 1905, a letter addressed to “Miss Mary Jackson, Babylon, New York” or “Babylon, Long Island,” was sufficient to have the letter delivered to the Babylon Post Office, where it would wait for Miss Jackson to pick it up. The Babylon Post Office started residential mail delivery in 1909.[13] As the North Babylon community grew, the delivery area was extended.[14]

Through the efforts of local civic associations and residents who felt that the North Babylon community had grown large enough to have its own Post Office, separate from the Babylon Post Office, a North Babylon substation was opened in the Sunset Village Shopping Center in 1963.[15]

Not just in the Town of Babylon, but across Long Island, the assignment of zip codes can cause confusion about “where” things are located.  In 1963, the U.S. Postal Service introduced the basic 5-digit zip code, across the country. The North Babylon Post Office was assigned 11703. The zip code assigned to addresses is based on the post office assigned to deliver the mail, but can be confused with all of the other facilities associated with an address. Here are examples of addresses within the North Babylon zip-code and school district.

Address	Post Office	School/Library	Fire Dept.	Village or Town
110 Deer Lake Drive	North Babylon	North Babylon	North Babylon	Hamlet of North Babylon, Town of Babylon
17 Whalen Street	North Babylon	North Babylon	North Babylon	Hamlet of North Babylon, Town of Babylon
67 Southards   Lane	Babylon	North Babylon	Babylon	Village of Babylon, Town of Babylon
85 Erlanger Boulevard	North Babylon	Deer Park	Deer Park	Undetermined – straddles the general boundary between the hamlets of North Babylon and Deer Park, Town of Babylon

Scenes from North Babylon’s Bicentennial July 4^th Parade, 1976.

Students processing south on Deer Park Avenue, just passed Southern State Parkway.

A float resembling the design of the North Babylon Elementary School, now named Marion G. Vedder Elementary School.

North Babylon Twirlers

North Babylon School District

Most of our school district boundaries were established in the mid-1800s. The landscape of our communities changed – from farms and fields to streets and homes – but school district boundaries largely stayed the same, with a few exceptions.

Deer Park Avenue Elementary School (now known as the Marion G. Vedder Elementary School), Deer Park Avenue, North Babylon, October 1937.  Photo by William Henry. At right, North Babylon School, first grade class 1-B, 1953-1954.

Prior to 1872, the school district was known as Town of Huntington School District No. 19, after the Town of Babylon separated from Huntington in 1872, it became known as Town of Babylon School District No. 3,[16] before the name North Babylon Union Free School District was adopted in the early 1900s.

In the book Huntington – Babylon Town History (1937), by Romanah Sammis, some brief history of early North Babylon schools, written by district clerk Victoria Edwards, was set forth:

“The first schoolhouse was a log cabin erected about 1810 on Phelps Lane, opposite the old James DeKay house that burned down a few years ago. A group of pear trees surrounded the cabin and marked the spot when [sic] the school was moved to the Weeks property. In 1822 or 23 the grandfather of Miles Weeks offered a fourth acre of his farm on Phelps Lane, just east of the pond, for the site of a new schoolhouse. This was a one-room house, twenty feet square, with a fireplace. Among the tools of learning was a broom, also an axe used to cut wood for the fire. No tax was levied. Each pupil bought his own supplies and paid a per diem rate for his schooling. The teacher boarded around. By 1850 there was a tax on landowners and by 1854 a larger school was needed. This building was ceiled [a plaster ceiling], had larger windows, a box stove, moveable benches, and desks that were really shelves around the wall. … The fourth school built, in 1880, was of one room but much larger than its predecessors, with modern desks and real blackboards. One teacher taught all grades and the term lasted only five or six months. In 1915 a two-room schoolhouse was needed to accommodate the increased number of pupils and a good-looking white building, with a small tower, was erected. In 1932 it was succeeded by the present two-story, six-room structure on the west side of Deer Park Avenue, and the site that had held a schoolhouse for over a hundred years reverted to the Weeks estate. This district … has changed its boundary lines slightly. About ten years ago a section following Hubbard’s Path was ceded [given up] to West Babylon.” In 1937, the school reportedly had 160 students and five teachers.

In 1932, a new brick school, the North Babylon School, was opened on the west side of Deer Park Avenue.[17] The school, designed by Amityville architect Lewis Inglee, was subsequently expanded. It was later known as the Deer Park Avenue Elementary School before the name was changed to honor Marion G. Vedder.

The 1950s population boom brought many changes to North Babylon, particularly the need for more school facilities. Prior to the establishment of a dedicated high school for the North Babylon School District, students typically attended Babylon High School.  The present North Babylon High School occupies the old Weeks estate, on the north side of Phelps Lane, where the early schoolhouses were located.

Cornerstone dedication for North Babylon Junior-Senior High School, July 15, 1959. (l-r) -- ; --; --; --; former Trustee Frank Bleil; former Trustee George F. Diercks; former President J. Robinson Smith; Rowena Spader, vice-president;  former President Claude S. Coomes;  President August J. Ginocchio; Trustee Ruth Gardineer: Trustee James G. Lawler; Town Supervisor Arthur M. Cromarty; --;  Trustee Donald W. Long; --; Congressman James Grover.

School District Mascot – Bulldogs 

School District Colors – Blue and White

• Belmont Elementary School – opened 1956 [18]
• Marion G. Vedder Elementary School (original named North Babylon School and, later, Deer Park Avenue School) – opened 1932 [19]
• The school was renamed for elementary school teacher, and later principal, Marion G. Vedder (1914-1993), in 1991.[20]
• In 1989, the school was designated as a Town of Babylon Historical Landmark.
• Parliament Place Elementary School – opened c. 1962 [21]
• William E. DeLuca Jr. Elementary School (originally named Parkside Elementary School) – opened 1967 [22]
• Named for William E. DeLuca Jr. (1925-2004), supervising principal of North Babylon schools, on May 7, 1979.
• Woods Road Elementary School – opened 1957 [23]
• Robert Moses Middle School – opened 1968 [24]
• Named for Robert Moses, President of the Long Island State Parks Commission, headquartered at Belmont Lake State Park.
• North Babylon High School – 1960 [25]
• Weeks Road Elementary School – opened 1954; closed 1979 [26]
• Phelps Lane Elementary School – opened 1958; closed 1985 [27]; the old school is now the Town of Babylon Annex

North Babylon School District, 5 Jardine Place, North Babylon, NY 11703 – (631) 620-7000 – www.northbabylonschools.net  

North Babylon Public Library

Spurred on by the “Friends of the Library” committee led by Mrs. Sylvia Michaels, North Babylon residents in 1960 voted in favor of creating a local public library.[28]

The North Babylon Public Library opened on April 17, 1961, in the Sunset City Shopping Center. Newsday reported that Mrs. Michaels and librarian Andrew V. Ippolito “both feel the location is ideal. The shopping center is the place where everyone goes these days. People can shop for food and feed their minds as well.”[29]

In 1965, voters approved plans for a new library, at the corner of Deer Park Avenue and Cooper Road, and construction began at the end of 1967. The 19,283 sq. ft. library was designed by Frederic P. Wiedersum Associates of Valley Stream.[30]

The library was formally dedicated on April 26, 1969.[31]

(left) A view of the library site, just prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, December 1967. (right) The completed North Babylon Public Library, c. April 1969.

(left) Dedication ceremony for the North Babylon Public Library, April 26, 1969; Town of Babylon Supervisor Aaron Barnett speaking at the podium. (right) Dedication ceremony for the North Babylon Public Library, April 26, 1969. North Babylon Public Library trustees, (l-r) Gomez C. Paige, Henry J. Stein, Sal A. Romano, Naomi Feldman, Nicholas J. Magnusson. Photographs taken by the late Raymond F.X. Harty of North Babylon, the husband of long-time North Babylon Public Library employee Grace P. Harty.  

North Babylon Public Library, 815 Deer Park Avenue, North Babylon, NY 11703 – (631) 669-4020 – www.northbabylonpl.org

North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company

An excerpt from “History of the North Babylon Fire District, 1936-1981,” North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company 45^th Anniversary booklet:

“All of what we have today was started in 1934 by a group of interested and dedicated citizens of North Babylon, who met informally wherever space could be found until April of 1935 when the first election of Officers was held. Unfortunately the first records have been mislaid, so particulars are not available.

In 1936 we obtained our Charter and purchased our fist pumper, which was rebuilt for us by the Mack Fire Apparatus Co. on a 1923 Bulldog Mack chassis. Our first piece of fire apparatus had been a Model T hose caret. In 1936 we also signed our first contract with the Town of Babylon to supply fire protection for Fire District 15 and we answered our first official fire call.[32] Heretofore our district had been protected by the Babylon Fire Department.

We moved into our first firehouse on the north side of Hale Street, nearly opposite our present beautiful Headquarters building. 1936 was indeed a banner year for the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.”

The original Station No. 2, North Babylon Volunteer Fire Co.

Station House No. 1, which opened in 1951, pictured with the department’s fleet of Mack trucks from all three stations, 1967. Photos courtesy of North Babylon Volunteer Fire Co.

North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, 20 Hale Road, North Babylon, NY 11703 – (631) 669-0419 (non-emergency) – www.northbabylonfire.org

 

 Monuments and Memorials   

North Babylon Casualties Memorial, located at the corner of Deer Park Avenue and Commack Road.

Dedicated to the Men of North Babylon for Their Supreme Sacrifice for Their Country –

Edward Kraft Jr., Navy – World War II

Harold Connors, Marine – Korea

Peter Baldwin, Army – Vietnam

Vincent Datena, Army – Vietnam

Pat DeLucia Jr., Army – Vietnam

Bernadino Genchi, Army – Vietnam

George Green, Army – Vietnam

Collado Mercado, Army – Vietnam

Wayne Middleton, Army – Vietnam

Roger Maltese, Army – Vietnam

Philip Rogers, Army – Vietnam

Henry York, Marine – Vietnam

Garry Winkler, Army – Vietnam

Carol Nugren, Navy – Persian Gulf

Veterans Monument dedicated to all who served from the community, located at Phelps Lane Park. Emblems for the North Babylon Lions Club, flank the plaque.

In Memory of Those Who Gave Their Lives in the Service of Their Country – Dedicated May 30, 1962

And … In Remembrance of All Those From This Community Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice in the Service of Our Country – Dedicated May 30, 1983

North Babylon Lions Club ~ VFW Post 1458 ~

American Legion Post 1839 ~ Town of Babylon

Memorial for PFC Salvatore J. Armato, dedicated by the Disabled Veterans of America Chapter 193, located in front of the Town of Babylon Annex located on Phelps Lane.

P.F.C. Salvatore J. Armato

Vietnam Veteran

Born Dec. 22, 1949 – Died Nov. 13, 1970

D.A.V. Chapter 193, Babylon, N.Y.

Killed in Action

Historical Markers within the Hamlet of North Babylon

Marker Name and Location	Text	Notes
August Belmont -- Commemorates the former estate of August Belmont Sr. Located at Belmont Lake State Park.	August Belmont -- In 1867 Started 1300 Acre Horse Farm With Race Track, Trout Pond & Mansion. In 1926 Robert Moses Secured Part Of Estate For State Park.	Funded by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
Camp Damm -- Commemorates a WWI aviation training field. Located on the west side of Belmont Avenue, at Clark Street.	Camp Damm -- Site Of Airfield For Training WWI Pilots, 1918-1919. Named For Lt. Co. Henry J. Damm. Army Leased Horse Farm From August Belmont Jr.	Funded by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
Deer Park Avenue Elementary School -- Commemorates the oldest existing school in the North Babylon district. Located on the west side of Deer Park Avenue, North Babylon, in front of Marion G. Vedder Elementary School.	Deer Park Avenue Elementary School – Built 1932 - Oldest Existing School in North Babylon. Stood as an Educational Foundation and Centerpiece of the Community.	Dedicated by the Town of Babylon Historical Commission, 1989.

Town of Babylon Parks and Recreational Facilities:

A busy summer day at Phelps Lane Pool, c. 1961.

Phelps Lane Park and Pool, Phelps Lane

This 21-acre park opened in 1960. It was the first pool facility opened by the Town of Babylon for use by residents. The original facility had been planned as a private country club that never came to fruition. Town residents voted to approve a plan to acquire the site for a public pool.[33]

Phelps Lane, the street, was named for Royal Phelps (1809-1884) who owned much of the property that became Phelps Lane Park. Phelps made his fortune as a merchant and a banker, and was a member of the New York Legislature, 1862-1863. Phelps was well known for his philanthropy and involvement with the New York Historical Society, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the New York Society for the Protection of Game.

In 1863, Royal Phelps began purchasing property in North Babylon, accumulating more than 50-acres of property, including a large pond. The property was known as The Reel. The New York Times fishing report, March 15, 1875, described the pond as “among the best stocked and most beautifully situated private ponds on the south side of Long Island.” After the passing of Royal Phelps, several gentlemen pooled their resources to purchase the estate and formed the Rod and Reel Society, a fishing club, which owned the property from 1886-1906. Royal Phelps is attributed with introducing the recreational pleasures of North Babylon to his personal and business friend, August Belmont. Belmont purchased 1300-acres of land, where he established a horse-breeding farm. Today, 400-acres of Belmont’s property comprise New York’s Belmont Lake State Park.

Park facilities include junior baseball fields, turf fields for football/soccer, tennis and basketball courts, a picnic area, playground, restrooms, swimming facility, foodservices and free Wi-Fi access.

Pool facility includes handicapped accessible ramp, children’s pool, interactive pool, double water slides, restrooms, locker rooms, changing area, showers, concession area, shade arbor, lounge chairs, tables with umbrellas and Wi-Fi access.

The Town of Babylon Swim Team, 1977, at Phelps Lane Pool.  In front, far left, Councilwoman Sondra Bachety; far right, Town Supervisor Raymond Allmendinger.

Spangle Drive Senior Center, Spangle Drive

Founded in 1962, Spangle Drive was the first Senior Center in the Town of Babylon. Spangle Drive has become a 'One Stop Shop' for recreation, socialization, and information for the town’s seniors.

The center offers an array of services including but not limited to: creative arts, day and overnight trips to exciting locations, health screenings and health education, social and recreational activities, daily nutritional lunches, and transportation. Services include:[34]

• Line dancing on Mondays
• Exercise class on Tuesdays
• Ballroom dancing on Thursdays
• Daily activities such as arts and crafts, billiards, bingo, and card games
• Monthly Big Bingo and Horse racing activities
• Monthly Senior Center parties/social events, which are generally attended by 600 seniors
• Access to outdoor Bocce Ball and Horseshoes games
• Scheduled summer trips to the Cedar Beach Pavilion
• Participation for seniors in the local schools' Inter-generation Program

---

Hamlet of North Babylon

1.      Austin Corbin (1827-1896); obituaries, “Austin Corbin Killed in a Runaway Accident,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 5, 1896, p. 1, 2; “Austin Corbin Dead,” South Side Signal, June 6, 1896, p. 2.

2.     John Montgomery Ward (1860-1925); obituary, “John M. Ward Dies Suddenly at Augusta,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 5, 1925, p. 2A; “Gamest of Golfers Passed On When John M. Ward Dropped His Final Putt,” by George Trevor, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 6, 1925, p. A3.

3.     “Babylon Sets Dedication of Newest Park,” Daily News, July 24, 1960, p. Q16.

4.     David Schnur (1882-1948) and Else (Neumann) Schnur (1884-1965); “David Schnur – International multi-millionaire,” Daily News, March 17, 1948, p. 76.

5.     Royal Phelps (1809-1884); “Death of a Well Known Banker,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 30, 1884, p. 4; “Funeral of Royal Phelps – Impressive Ceremonies at Grace Chapel, New York,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 2, 1884, p. 4.

6.     August Belmont (1816-1890). “Horse Matters on Long Island – August Belmont’s Stables at North Babylon,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 22, 1871, p. 2; “August Belmont,” The New York Times, November 25, 1890, p. 4.

7.      August Belmont Jr. (1853-1924); “300 Airmen Camped on Belmont Estate,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 15, 1918, p. 3; “Belmont Funeral in Cathedral of St. John Tomorrow – Friends Shocked by Sudden Death of Financier and Sportsman,” Brooklyn Daily Times, December 11, 1924, p. 24; “August Belmont Saved The Turf and Breeding Industry of the U.S.A.,” by W.C. Vreeland, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 11, 1924, p. 26.

8.     Reportedly, a portion of the house was moved to Straight Path and Little East Neck Road, for use as a church (presently, Wyandanch Missionary Baptist Church).

9.     Please note: Spellings and pronunciations of Long Island Native American words and names are subjective and typically determined by community residents. The Native Americans of Long Island had a spoken language, and records kept by Colonists, starting in the 1600s, contained interpretations of the Native American language. The European settlers typically used phonetic spellings, which often differed among documents and writers. The meanings of Native American words can also differ among historians and researchers.

Variations of Sampawams include Sumpawams, Sampwams and Sumpwams, a Native American term believed to mean “straight walker,” referring to an “upright or just person.” Geographically, the name Sumpwams is associated with Sumpwams Neck (a “neck” is another term for a peninsula), which is the body of land between the Carll River (Argyle Lake) and Sumpwams Creek (Hawley’s Pond) in Babylon village.

10.  Population estimate from the "Brooklyn Eagle Almanac, 1898."

11.   Population from "Historical Population of Long Island Communities, 1790-1980: Decennial Census Data,” compiled and edited by State University of New York at Stony Brook Library and Long Island Regional Planning Board, August 1982.

12.   The significant population decrease from 1960 to 1980 was the result of change in the CDP boundary, as reported in "Historical Population of Long Island Communities, 1790-1980," Long Island Regional Planning Board, 1982.

13.   Ancestry.com. U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

14.   “R.F.D. Appointment. William S. Johnson, Jr., Has Been Appointed on Babylon Route No. 1,” Brooklyn Times Union, May 1, 1909, p. 10.

15.   “Man Shortage Hits Mails,” Newsday, July 6, 1945, p. 10; “Babylon P.O. Extends Mail Delivery,” Newsday, September 3, 1948, p. 7.

16.   “Suffolk News Calendar – North Babylon,” Newsday, May 10, 1963, p. 19.

17.   “Renumbering the School Districts of Babylon,” South Side Signal, March 30, 1872, p. 2.

18.  “New School House Urged for North Babylon,” Suffolk County News, April 10, 1931, p. 9; “North Babylon to Erect New Grade School,” Suffolk County News, March 25, 1932, p. 9; “The cornerstone …,” Suffolk County News, July 8, 1932, p. 9. 

19.   “Traffic Aids Sought at Babylon School,” Newsday, July 5, 1956, p. 28.

20.  “Guggenheim To Aid Cornerstone Rites,” Daily News, June 24, 1932, p. 15; “To Dedicate School – Exercises to Be Held in North Babylon Building Thursday,” Brooklyn Times Union, December 10, 1932, p. 7.

21.   “Marion G. Vedder, Educator,” Newsday, August 22, 1993, p. 57; “North Babylon: Then and Now,” Newsday, July 7, 1996, p. E23.

22.  “Notice To Bidders,” Newsday, February 25, 1961, p. 12 (bids to build new school).

23.  “Kindergarten Registration,” Babylon Beacon, April 20, 1967, p. 4.

24.  “Fire Wrecks Stores Used By North Babylon Schools,” Newsday, April 11, 1957, p. 21.

25.  “NB Board Reveals Key Appointments,” Babylon Beacon, July 13, 1967, p. 1; [photo] Babylon Beacon, May 8, 1969, p. 10.

26.  “Suffolk News Briefs,” Newsday, February 7, 1958, p. 9C (groundbreaking).

27.  “Notice To Bidders,” Newsday, July 24, 1954, p. 13 (new school); “School Board’s Goal: Please the Taxpayers,” by Jane Snider, Newsday, April 26, 1978, p. 13.

28.  “Fire Wrecks Stores Used By North Babylon Schools,” Newsday, April 11, 1957, p. 21; “Gasoline Leak Near School Is Watched,” by William Bunch, Newsday, November 13, 1985, p. 26.

29.  “Plan New Library,” Newsday, November 13, 1959, p. 20; “Library Hearing Set,” Newsday, July 12, 1960, p. 15; “Voters OK North Babylon Library,” Newsday, August 15, 1960, p. 12.

30.  “Library Rites in N. Babylon,” Daily News, April 13, 1961, p. 14B; “Reader Sparks Library Campaign,” Newsday, April 14, 1961, p. 53; “Here’s Who,” Newsday, April 17, 1961, p. 11C.

31.   “N.B. Library Signs Construction Contracts,” Babylon Beacon, December 7, 1967, p. 8; “Break Ground For No. Babylon Library,” Babylon Beacon, December 28, 1967, p. 1; “NB Library,” Babylon Beacon, October 17, 1968, p. 12; “North Babylon Library Trustees,” Babylon Beacon, December 5, 1968, p. 1.

32.  “News Briefs – North Babylon,” Newsday, November 27, 1968, p. 8A (cornerstone); “North Babylon Library Open For Inspection,” Babylon Beacon, December 12, 1968, p. 11; “North Babylon Public Library,” Babylon Beacon, March 27, 1969, p. 15; “New NB Library A Big Hit,” Babylon Beacon, April 3, 1969, p. 4; “Ceremonies NB Library,” Babylon Beacon, April 24, 1969, p. 8.

33.  “N. Babylon Vamps Seeking Contract – New Company Wants $1,700 Job Protecting Own District – Hearing Planned,” Brooklyn Times Union, September 10, 1936, p. 16; “No. Babylon Gets Own Fire Force – Town Board Enters Contract With New District,” Brooklyn Times Union, October 30, 1936, p. 15.

34.  “Babylon Vote Set on Park Plan,” Newsday, May 4, 1960, p. 26; “Babylon Sets Dedication of Newest Park,” Daily News, July 24, 1960, p. Q16; “Moses Rallies Rhetoric, Hits Park Foe,” Newsday, August 2, 1960, p. 9; “Phelps Lane Park Is Formally Dedicated,” and “500 Hear Moses At Pool’s Opening,”Babylon Town Leader, August 4, 1960, p. 8-A; “Cool View,” Newsday, August 3, 1960, p. 11C.

35.  Spangle Drive Senior Center | Babylon, NY - Official Website, https://www.townofbabylon.com/274/Spangle-Drive-Senior-Center. Accessed November 1, 2022.