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 Looking south on Central Avenue from Summit Avenue, early 1890. The building on the left was Stansbury's store, later Arata's grocery store. The building on the right, Young's grocery store was also the home of the Sea Cliff News at that time.
Looking east on Sea Cliff Avenue, circa 1910. The Loyal League building is on the left, with Hawkshaw's boarding house and Glover and Squire's store on the right.
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From any spot along the cliff, the view of Hempstead Harbor and Long Island Sound is breathtaking. The Village is filled with picturesque narrow streets and steep hills. Most of the streets are lined with towering trees which, with the exception of top dressing, are practically the same as they were seventy or eighty years ago. Few villages can match the number of parks in Sea Cliff. We are all proud of our seven parks, both large and small, which help make Sea Cliff a pleasant place in which to live. Clifton Park, bounded by Sea Cliff, Glen, DuBois, and Locust Avenues, consists of some five acres, and is the largest park in the Village. Early in the history of Sea Cliff, the area east of Main Avenue was laid out for development. As an inducement to prospective buyers a park was designated on the map. However, in 1891, the developers claimed the park and contemplated dividing it into building lots. The Village protested this action, but it was not until 1914 that the courts finally decided in favor of the Village. After World War I, a large memorial rock was dedicated. On the rock is a plaque which lists the names of all residents of the Village who served in the war. At the same time, oak trees were planted as a memorial to each of the boys who died in the war. In 1931 a memorial fountain was erected to honor Mayor Arthur Tilley, who died in office. For many years Clifton Park has been the scene of all kinds of outdoor activities, including the annual Memorial Day Services. Until the trees were killed by the blight in 1909, Central Park, on Central Avenue between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Avenues, was one of the favorite spots to find chestnuts. The park is now equipped with play ground equipment for the smaller children. Roslyn Park, between Adams Street and Franklin Avenue, once contained many large trees which were destroyed to provide a play ground for the Sea Cliff School. During the early 1900s the park had a bandstand and was the scene of annual concerts for several years. On the east side of Prospect Avenue between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Avenues is Prospect Park, once the scene of lively croquet matches between guests of the Sea Cliff Hotel. Today it, too, is a playground for the children. The view of Hempstead Harbor and Long Island Sound from Memorial Park is unparalleled in beauty. Located on Prospect Avenue at the westerly end of Sea Cliff Avenue, it was once the site of the Battershall Inn. After World War II, during the administration of Mayor John Burns, it was dedicated as a memorial to the veterans of all wars. Geogehan Park, also known as Plaza Park, is located just north of Eighth Avenue between Roslyn Avenue and Park Way. It contains a monument erected in honor of John Geogehan, Sea Cliff's only veteran of the Spanish American War. Elm Park, on Dayton Street, is the smallest of our parks and the least known. At one time its studied planting was exceptionally beautiful. While Sea Cliff has many modern improvements, these lovely parks still preserve its country village charm. |
