Anderson's Florist

Central Avenue

Anderson's Florist, later known as Anderson Brother's Florist, grew and arranged flowers in Bethpage for over fifty years. Whether it was a wedding, school dance or funeral there were likely to be flowers that were grown and carefully arranged by this family's hands.

Gustave William Anderson born in 1886 and Gerda Christina Anderson born in 1888, emigrated to Bridgeport, Connecticut from Stockholm Sweden sometime around 1913. Gustave worked as a gardener on a private estate in Bridgeport. Raymond Gustave Anderson was born to Gustave and Gerda Anderson on May 5, 1916. In 1917 they relocated to Baldwin Place and bought a small greenhouse on Park Avenue in what was then called Central Park and today is known as Bethpage. The florist was located behind the firehouse. Their second son, Harold William Anderson was born October 2nd, 1921.

In 1924, Gustave built a house and the first of three greenhouses on five acres located at 545 Central Avenue. The property bordered Central Avenue to the north and Edward Street to the south. The 1st greenhouse was 40 feet by 200 feet. The 2nd greenhouse built sometime between 1928 and 1930's was 45 feet by 100 feet. A coal fired boiler with steam pipes running throughout the greenhouses and a garage was added in the 1940's along with a 60 foot steel chimney. The steel chimney was later replaced with a 50 foot brick chimney.

Cala Lillys carnations, chrysanthemums, orchids, snap dragons, sweet peas and geraniums were the specialties of Anderson's Florist. These flowers were sold both locally and shipped to the flower market located on 28th Street in New York City. A large vegetable garden was grown every year to feed the family with Gerda spending many hours canning vegetables for future use. Land to the east and west of the greenhouses was cultivated for many years. The land to the south of the greenhouses was never cultivated and eventually in the early 1960's was sold and the subdivision on Lynn Place was built.

Both sons were involved in the 24 hour operation of the greenhouse business. With the growing season extended through the use of of heating equipment, the coal furnance needed to be stoked through the night. Later when the heating system was converted to oil, an alarm system would alert when the system malfunctioned. This prevented the loss of plants due to freezing. Gustave and his first son Raymond built a home bordering the property for Raymond and his family on Edward Street. In 1952, Harold had a home built for his family to the west of the greenhouses at 549 Central Avenue. Both of these homes still exist today.

Gustave died of cancer on May 3, 1952 leaving Gerda and her two sons, Raymond and Harold, to carry on the florist business without him. Anderson's Florist was eventually renamed Anderson Brother's Florist and the two sons along with their mother continued to supply flowers, potted plants and arrangements. Cut flowers were stored in a large walk-in refrigerator located in the basement beneath Gerda's residence which was attached to the greenhouses. This refrigerator was a welcome respite for cooling off when the temperatures would soar to over 120 degrees in the greenhouses. The back door of her kitchen opened directly into the sales and cut flower display area. Gerda along with her grandchildren from both Raymond's and Harold's families would sometimes spend evenings making corsages and boutonnieres at the kitchen table.

Many times during the summer Gerda would host card parties on the front lown under the large Linden trees that graced the property. These parties were attended by family, other emigrants from Scandinavian countries and friends from the Order of the Eastern Star.

In 1968, Harold left the family business to work for DeLalio Sod Farms. Raymond and his then wife Doris were left to carry on the business. With the wide use of jet transportation for shipping of cut flowers from the southern United States it became more and more difficult to grow locally and compete price wise. And, demand for cut flowers began to wane as house plants became more popular. The business continued for four more years and eventually closed in 1972.

In 1975, the property was sold. A subdivision of Monika Court was built in its place. Anderson Street, named after the family, is located across Central Avenue from the old entrance to Anderson's Florist. Gerda Anderson passed away February 6, 1978. Her son Raymond Anderson, while living at his daughters home in Millbrook, New York, passed away six months later on August 13, 1978. Harold Anderson is currently living in Palm Coast, Florida.

The memories of family and of those who may have paid a visit during Mother's Day or Easter to take home a bouquet or an Easter Lilly are what remain of the dream of two people who left their homeland to seek a better life.