Levittown - History

Town History | School District History

Town History:

Before Levitt discovered Island Trees and decided to build Levittown the area was filled with farmlands. The main crops of this land were potatoes, cucumbers and cabbage until the Golden Nematode ruined the crops and forced the farmers off the land. This presented the opportunity for Levitt to buy up the land at a very low cost and create "...the world's first mass produced, modern suburb."²⁸

The Levittown area is located at an altitude of 86ft., a longitude of 73 degrees 30'W and a latitude of 40 degrees 45'N.²⁵ It occupies an area of 6.9 square miles and its school district, The Levittown Union Free School District, is used for an area of 5.5 square miles and includes parts of Levittown, Wantagh and Seaford.²⁵ According to the 2000-2001 census by school district population the districts population consisted of approximately 46,000 people.²⁵

"Before 1947, the area of Levittown had a population of 450 people."²⁹ The earliest settlers of the area were from Europe and Connecticut. They had began arriving there in 1644 at which time they named the area Jerusalem.²⁴ One of the earliest settlers of the Island Trees region was the Rowehl family.²⁸ Today their farmhouse serves as the Dalton Funeral Home²⁸ located on Hempstead Turnpike.

From 1908 until 1910, Levittown served as the host to the Vanderbuilt Cup Races. The races grandstand was located on the intersection of Orchid Rd. and Skimmer Ln.²⁸ A few decades later Levittown became home to the Long Island Aviation Country Club Airport.²⁴ The Club was a private airport opened in 1929 for wealthy sportsmen pilots, its most famous member being Charles Lindbergh. It was also where he taught his wife, Anne, to fly.²⁴ Today Blacksmith Rd. wraps almost completely around where the Aviation Club once was.²⁴

On March 7, 1947 the announcement was made that at least 350 homes would be built in Levittown.²⁵ Building began exactly two months later on May 7, 1947.²⁵

The Levitt's town was still known as Island Trees until late 1947. The name change was in large part due to everyone referring to the town as Levitt's Town. On December 31st, 1947 Levitt & Sons announced that they would be changing the name of their town to Levittown, effective January 1, 1948.²⁷

"First phone installed May 27, 1948."²⁵

September 1948: "Installation of first street lights in the community."²⁷

November 1948: "Levittown Chamber of Commerce organized."²⁷

January 1948: "Levittown Property Owners Association holds first meeting."²⁷

August 1949: "First street lights installed on Hempstead Turnpike."²⁷

July 14, 1951: "Levittown Center, the largest shopping center on the east coast to day, opens on the north side of Hempstead Turnpike between Division Avenue and Squirrel Lane."²⁷

July 1951: "Levittown Little League begins first season."²⁷

1957: "Levittown Theatre begins operation on Hempstead Turnpike."²⁷

December 29, 1975: "Levittown becomes the only unincorporated community in the Town of Hempstead with its own unique zoning ordinance, the Levittown Planned Residence District (LPRD)."²⁷

1988: "Levittown Historical Society formed."²⁷

1989: "Smithsonian Institution announces search for original Levittown ranch to install in its Domestic Life Exhibit."²⁷

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School District History:

Today, Levittown children are schooled by three separate schools districts depending on their home addresses. The districts are Island Trees, Hicksville, and Levittown. "The Levittown Union Free School District #5 is directly accountable to the New York State Commissioner of Education. The seven members of the Board of Education are elected annually for a three year term."²⁹

1812: "Hempstead Town commissioners formed District #4 and called it Jerusalem."²⁶

1842: "Third School of District #4 was constructed to replace pervious two on site of the Jacob Seaman property."²⁶

1844: "Jerusalem was reassigned as District #5 which later became the designated number for the Levittown School District."²⁶

"The Little Red Schoolhouse was built in 1876. Students of all grade levels learned in one room until two more rooms were added in 1920. It was the only schoolhouse in the area until 1947. Designated as an historical landmark in 1985 (Nov. 19)²⁸, it is located on Old Jerusalem Road across from MacArthur High School."²⁵

"After Levitt and Sons began development in Island Trees, the Old Jerusalem School still continued to be used as an annex to Gardiners Avenue School, and later as a Cultural Arts Center; and finally, before it closed in 1981, as an administrative office for the Levittown School District.[...] ...in 1997 the Jerusalem School House achieved national landmark status."²⁸

Island Trees Common School District No. 26 was formed in 1902. In 1903 for a price of $1,500.00 a one room schoolhouse was built with a seating capacity of 25. It was located on Hempstead Turnpike and opened for its first day of school on January 25, 1904. Before this schoolhouse was built the children attended school in the Plainedge School District.²⁸

As of 1947, the Levittown School District was made up of a three room schoolhouse, 47 students, and two teachers.²⁹

1947: "Wisdom Lane School (Annex preceeding present school) opened its doors."²⁶

March 1948: "School District voters overwhelmingly approve one temporary school (Wisdom Lane Quonset Hut) and one permanent school (Division Avenue)."²⁷

In October of 1948 "voters approve a Union Free School District to administer a high school system. Ground broken for Division Avenue School."²⁷

1949: On November 7, 1949 Gardiners Avenue School opens followed by Abbey Lane School in December.²⁷

The Levitt development lead to a vote for a larger school for the children to go to. The vote was held on June 15, 1949.²⁸

"Division Avenue, Levittown's fourth and largest school to date" (as of April 5, 1950) "opens."²⁷

The one room schoolhouse was closed in June of 1950 and burnt down in 1953.²⁸

1951: "Gardiners Avenue School is extended. [...] Northside School is opened."²⁶

1952: "Summit Lane School is erected."²⁶

1953: "Levittown Memorial High School and East Broadway School are opened."²⁶

"November 3, 1954: First day of school at Wisdom Lane Quonset Hut School."²⁷

1955:"Seaman Neck School is erected."²⁶

1956: "Lee Road School is erected."²⁶

1957: "Salk Junior High School is opened."²⁶

1958: Cherrywood and Pintail Lane Schools are opened."²⁶

1960: "MacArthur High School opens as the 3rd District HS"²⁶

1968: "Levittown has grown to 11 Elementary Schools, 3 Junior High Schools, and 3 Senior High Schools."²⁶

1976: "Cherrywood and Pintail Lane Schools are closed because of declining enrollment"²⁶

1983: "East Broadway and Wisdom Lane Elementary Schools are closed [...] Memorial High School is closed [...] Wisdom Lane and Salk Schools are redesignated as Middle Schools"²⁶

"In 1987 School District #5 has six elementary schools, two junior high schools, and two senior high schools."²⁹

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