Morgan, Mary

My name is Mary Morgan and I live on Bradford Lane in Bethpage.

As young marrieds my husband and I would often ride out to Long Island on summer week-ends to get away from our small apartment in Brooklyn. It wasn't unusual in the early 50's to see real estate signs calling attention to the sale of homes. These homes were to be built on land that was once a farm.

On one of our trips to Long Island, we exited the Southern State Parkway at Exit #29 and traveled north - across Hempstead Turnpike into Bethpage. At the corner of Stewart Avenue and Eiffel Gate there was a sign which read "MODEL - SPLIT LEVEL HOME" We stopped at the Model, out of curiosity, and had a tour of the Model. We were so impressed with the size of the house; 7 rooms, den, 2 1/2 baths and garage that it didn't take more than an hour to put a $10.00 binder on this $13,999.00 house.

Within five months, we moved in this "huge" home on land that we learned was the former Walsh Farm. The builder of this development was Warren Sivere and 102 homes were to be built. The homes on Bradford Lane were the first to be occupied.

With the onset of winter, living on Bradford Lane with no street lights or phone service and mounds of dirt everywhere, I was ready to give up this suburban way of life. Plus the fact that I commuted to the city and since I walked to the railroad I was fearful of missing the 7:20 AM train. On my return trip home from the city, I walked hurriedly on many nights to shop at the Associated Food Store on Central Avenue before it closed! Living here was becoming too stressful for me. Spring finally came and life changed! How nice to meet the families moving in and get to know so many new neighbors. It wasn't long before I knew every family on Bradford Lane.

Sociability started: talking to neighbors about lawns, planting trees and sharing the cost of putting in fences. I was invited to Tupperware Parties, Jewelry Parties, Baby Showers etc. and then joining other women to attend church groups, civic and school organizations and political clubs. The Morgan's were active with the church and fire department.

Bradford Lane was becoming a very "alive" street. More and more children were born, including our daughter, Mary Lisa. At one point, Bradford Lane had 112 children residing in 31 homes!

Over the years, changes did occur on Bradford Lane with the death of a spouse, divorce, or a sale of a house by the original home owner. Looking back, I recall that a Superintendent of Schools, an elected School Board Member, a Grand Knight of the K. of C., an elected Fire Commissioner and a Right-to-Life Candidate for NY State on the election ballot in 1993 - all resided on Bradford Lane.

The children of the early years are grown now and I'm sure have gone on to be productive adults. I do know that four young men from Bradford Lane, upon graduation from high school, were accepted into Academies - two to West Point, one to Annapolis and one to Kings Point.

Bradford Lane has many new young homeowners now and again a new number of children are "springing up".

In October 2003, I will be a homeowner of 50 years on Bradford Lane. I am happy to be here! This home has been the second one that I have ever lived in.

From the CPHS Newsletter - January-February, 2003.