Bethpage Name Change from Central Park

In the early 1930's a Central Park Improvement Association, (CPIA), was formed with Mr. Al Lang Sr. as Chairman.

In 1931, when the State Park Commission purchased the Yoakum Estate, the Botto farms, and other farms to create Bethpage State Park, many members of the Central Park Improvement Association thought a change of name for the town would be desirable. Mr. Ahern wrote to Mr. Robert Moses, President of the State Park Commission, pointing out that the name Central Park had caused difficulties for the Postal Service and asking if the Commission would object to the town taking the name "Bethpage".

Mr. Moses had no objection and a petition signed by 435 residents, (over half the number of patrons of the Post Office), was prepared and sent to Mr. W. W. Howes, First Assistant Postmaster General. Mr. Ahern also wrote to Mr. George LeBoutiller, Vice President of the LIRR for support.

Finally, in August 1936, the Post Office Department agreed to change the name of the Central Park Post Office to Bethpage as of October 1st of that year.

With the name declared official by both the Post Office and the LIRR (the railroad station was known as Jerusalem Station), the Bethpage Progress Celebration Committee was organized and plans were made for a week of celebration.

The many volunteers made the week of October 7th through the 12th a noteworthy event, with a parade, ceremonies at the railroad station including the erection of a new sign reading "Bethpage", a beauty contest, a pageant, a block party on Broadway, a flying demonstration by Jack Looney, and wing-walking and parachute jumping by James "Happy" Norman.

Above information from: Bethpage 50th Anniversary 1936/1986 - Name Change Celebration Program - September 13, 1986

Harrison (Terry) Hunt did a presentation on the name change for the CPHS on September 21, 2011. Terry told his story with copies of articles that appeared in the local paper, at that time, The Farmingdale Post.

The February 1936 paper stated "Central Park Group Seeks Name Change---out of towner's confuse them with Mahnattan Park."

March 1936 - Farmingdale was also considering the name change for their town, and stated: "Central Park is not incorporated and has no village board" and "Central Park is non-existent politically." Farmingdale continued to argue this change while Central Park organized a committe and circulated a petition to change the name. The disagreements continued regarding the name and location of the railroad that came through the communities all done in an effort to gain leverage.

May 28, 1936 the paper stated "Both Farmingdale and Central Park civic leaders remained confident that Bethpage would soon be the name of their respective village. William Ahern, president of the Central Park Committee, said that "Farmingdale didn't have a chance; Irving Margulies, council for the Farmingdale Commuters League, reported that Farmingdale still had excellent hope of getting the name."

July 23, 1936 - "Central Park to get Bethpage Name: Village Ends Fight for Change. Being Central Park sent in its application several months before Farmingdale, and because practically every resident of the community has signed a petition asking for the name change, it is evident that Central Park is going to receive the approval of the post office. They also got Park Commissioner, Robert Moses, to approve the new name, as well as, officials of the railroad."

The final decision was made on August 10, 1936 when the United States Post Office approved the name change to Bethpage.

In spite of the past disgruntled feelings of Farmingdale they participated in this noteworthy celebration.

The original town of Bethpage agreed to be known as Old Bethpage.