by Dr. Radut

Medford, N.Y.

Medford, N.Y. -- History  (Unincorporated village & CDP)

--  General

---  PML Catalog Sampler:
               See also   "L.I. - Medford..."  vertical files 

--  Agriculture

--- L.I. Vertical File Sampler:

  • "Big Meeting of Medford Grange:  Lecture, Addresses and Recitations Entertain; A Grange Hall to be Fitted Up as Club Room -- Members Optimistic as to Future of Grange."  Patchogue Advance, February 27, 1914:  p. 1.
  • "Sugar Refining Possible?:  Successful Production of Raw Material on Long Island Demonstrated."  Long Islander, April 17, 1914:  p. 7.
  • "L.I. Farm Boys, Prizes.  Leaders in Fullerton Cauliflower and Corn Contest Announced."  Long Islander, February 5, 1915:  p. 6.
  • "Soil and Climate O.K.:  The Long Island Sugar Beet Club for 1915."  Long Islander, February 12, 1915:  p. 6.

--  Associations

  • "Medford is Looking Up.  Civic Bodies a Factor in Progress of Little Mid-Island Town."  Broolyn Daily Eagle, October 27, 1910:  [n.p.]  -- Medford has 2 civic bodies:  Medford Civic Association and the Medford Alliance.  Lists officers.
  • "Medford Grangers Build Own Home:  Members of the Organization are Doing the Actual Work Themselves.  Women are Aiding, too.  Twenty-seven Men and Thirteen Women  Took Part in Clearing Ground."  Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 11, 1915:  [n.p.]
  • "Medford's Many Organizations Meet -- Several Parties Enjoyed; V.F.W., U.V.C., St. Mark's P.B. Guild, Holy Rosary R.C. Society and Political Clubs All Active."  Mid-Island Mail, October 30, 1935:  p. 10.
  • "Medford Grange Hall" [captioned photo].  Mid-Island Mail, June 10, 1936:  p. 13.

--- Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW].  SSG Keith Bishop Post, #2937 (renamed in honor of Staff Sgt. Keith Bishop, in October, 2022)

  • SSG Keith Bishop VFW Post 2937 (VFW)
  • "Medford VFW Hall To Get A New Roof." Long Island Advance, May 26, 2022: p. 4.
  • "VFW Hall Gets A New Roof." Long Island Advance, July 14, 2022: p. 9.
  • "Honoring An LI Hero." Newsday, October 16, 2022: p. A28, A29. -- Announcement of the renaming of the Post in October, 2022.
  • Fuentes, Nicole.  "High School Student Paints Rusted Shed Patriotic." Long Island Advance, November 24, 2022: p. 3.

-- Biography         

 --- Bishop, Staff Sgt. Keith R.  [Patchogue High School graduate, killed in Afghanistan, with U.S. special forces;
                 recipient of bronze star, and the U.S. Army Medal of Commendation for Valor, among other recognitions]

---  Fullerton Family  (Hal, Edith, Eleanor), Peace and Plenty Farm, LIRR Experimental Agricultural Station No. 1,
                Medford, L.I.; Long Island Rail Road and L.I. Publicity

----  PML Catalog Sampler:

---  Hoffman, Adolph

  • "Adolph Hofmann Dies; A Leader in Medford."  Patchogue Advance, April 5, 1940:  pp. 1-2.
  • "'The Father of Medford' Dies" [captioned photo].  Patchogue Advance, April 12, 1940:  n.p.

--- Marturiello, Niel [Founder, Medford Chamber Of Commerce; Commissioner, and Honorary Chief, Medford Fire Department]

  • Haber, Gary. "Horseblock Road Bridge Named For Niel Marturiello." Long Island Advance, October 17, 2024: p. 4.

---  Rosolinsky, Martin [social worker]

  • Vestal, Joy.  "Martin Rosolinsky."  Newsday, July 21, 1995:  p. A 30.

--  Boy Scouts of America.  Suffolk County Council [Headquarters, Medford, NY]

-- Canine Companions for Independence

-- Cannabis

  • Haber, Gary. "Decision Paves The Way For Town's First Cannabis Shop." Long Island Advance, October 3, 2024: p. 6.

-- Casino (Suffolk OTB)

  • Fuentes, Nicole.  "Medford Casino Talk Rise Again."  Long Island Advance, January 14, 2021: pp. 1,8.
  • Fuentes, Nicole.  "PROPOSED: Double VLT Capacity At Medford Site."  Long Island Advance, January 21, 2021: pp. 1, 10.
  • Fuentes, Nicole.  "Medford Casino Plans Push Forward."  Long Island Advance, March 11, 2021: p. 7.
  • MacGowan, Carl.  "Betting On A Better Plan."  Newsday, August 17, 2022: p. A17.
  • Braff, Shana.  "Warehouse Approved For Formerly Proposed Casino Site."  Long Island Advance, August 18, 2022: p. 14.
  • Macgowan, Carl.  "'Don't Touch The Trees'."  Newsday, May 1, 2023: p. A17.

-- Cowboys  [Country Acre Farms]

  • DeLatiner, Barbara.  "L.I. Cowboys Show Stuff."  New York Times, December 14, 1975:  p. BQ LI 148.

-- COVID-19 Pandemic [2020]

See "LI - Medford - History - 2020-2029 - COVID-19 Pandemic" vertical file

-- Equine Escape

-- Firefighting History & Medford Fire Department

---  PML Vertical File Sampler:

  • "Fires on Long Island" (from the Evening Post).  Long Islander, May 16, 1845:  p. 2. -- Started by sparks from a railroad engine, east of Medford Station, opposite Patchogue...woods in flame for over a week, from Medford Sta. nearly to Farmingdale, among other fires.
  • [Fire].  (Sag Harbor) Corrector, July 21, 1849:  p. 2. -- dry grass and brush fire, near Medford Station, spread 2-3 mi. in length x 1-3 mi. in width, spreading toward Millville and Swezey's Mills.
  • "Medford Station."  South Side Signal, June 1, 1872:  p. 2.  -- Heroism of LIRR engineer, John Baker, who on seeing 2 large cordwood logs ahead lying across the tracks, quickly uncoupled his engine, used it as a battering ram, successfully dislodging the obstruction, clearing the way for the passenger cars, while he, in the derailed engine, rolled down a 10' embankment, and survived, to be rewarded $100, by appreciative passengers, whose lives he saved  
  • Smith, Henry. "Middle Island & Coram"  South Side Signal, September 23, 1876:  p. 2. -- Reports the woods at Medford Sta. set afire from a passing train [probably sparks from the smokestack, then a common occurrence], which "burned over a large tract of territory"; with gratitude to Selden residents who turned out, fought the fire and put it out. 
  • "Brush Fire Sweeps Long Island Section:  Nine Square Miles are Burned Over Near Patchogue as 300 Fight Blaze."  New York Times, April 30, 1934:  p. 17.
  • "Worst Fire in Three Years."  Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 27, 1935:  p. 2.
  • "Two Woods Fires."  Mid-Island Mail, August 28, 1935:  p. 5.
  • "Medford F.D. has Carnival and Parade:  Thirteen Cups Awarded to Participating Companies in Parade -- Seven Won by North Patchogue."  Mid-Island Mail, August 26, 1936:  pp. 1, 15.
  • "Medford Vamps Compete as in Old Days."  Newsday, January 18, 1947:  p. 5.
  • Grasso, Lou.  "In Medford Friday:  250 Firemen Battle Blaze at Lumber Yard."  Suffolk Life, August 24, 1989:  [n.p.]. 
  • Molloy, Kevin.  "Owner, State Battling in Court Over Medford Site."  The Record, November 14, 1990:  pp. 5, 34.
  • "Firefighters Honored for Service."  Medford Community News, November/December 2002:  p. 1.
  • Braff, Shana. "Medford Fire Department Celebrates Centennial Anniversary." Long Island Advance, August 11, 2022: pp. 1, 11.
  • Braff, Shana. "Medford Fire Department Enjoys Huge Turnout."  Long Island Advance, August 18, 2022: p. 15.

--  Gershow Recycling

  • Wacker, Bob.  "Medford Shredder, Owner Indicted."  Newsday, May 24, 1983:  p. 21.
  • Scully, Peter.  "Shredder Owner Indicted:  Face Fines Up to $180,000."  Suffolk Life, May 25, 1983:  p. 1, 14. 
  • "Judge Refuses to Close Medford Auto Shredder."  Newsday, May 26, 1986:  p. 3.
  • "Town Backs Shredder:  Residents Irate."  Newsday, March 15, 1985:  [n.p.].
  • Klein, Paula.  "Residents Dispute Report on Shredder."  Patchogue-Medford Record, September 29, 1985:  pp. 1A, 29A.
  • Klein, Paula.  "Firm Told to Clean Up or Shut Down."  Patchogue Medford Record, October 27, 1985:  pp. 1A, 17A.
  • Breuer, Howard.  "Answers to Medford Health Problems Sought."  Long Island Advance, March 20, 1986:  p. 3.
  • "Gershow Fined $11,000, Ordered to Clean Up."  Long Island Business News,  October 31, 1988:  p. 3.
  • Cattabiani, Mario.  "County Stands Firm on Gershow Deadlines."  Patchogue-Medford Record, November 10, 1988:  p. 5A.
  • Freedman, Mitchell.  "Neighbors Testify Their Lives Invaded by Auto Shredder."  Newsday, April 14, 1989:  p. 31.
  • McQuiston, John T.  "Comes a Hunk of Junk, Goes a Chunk of Steel:  Giant Shredders Make Decrepit Cars Fossil Fuel for the Scrap-Metal Industry."  New York Times, June 8, 1992:  p. L29.
  • "Medford Recycling Plant Explosion."  [Fire Island] Tide, April 7, 1994:  p. 3.
  • Hartmann, Sarah.  "Gershow Recycling Awarded Contract:  Eddington Sponsors Bill to Give DEC Oversight on Auto Recyclers."  Long Island Advance, May 13, 2004:  pp. 3, 16.
  • Hartmann, Sarah.  "Gershow Oversight Probed:  Eddington Says Oversight Needed, but Bill Lobbied to Death."  Long Island Advance, July 14, 2005:  pp. 1, 10.
  • Hartmann, Sarah.  "DEC to Watchdog Recyclers:  Legislation an Outgrowth of Complaints, Investigations into Gershow."  Long Island Advance, June 29, 2006:  p. 14.

--  Girl Scouts, ca. 1928  

-- Haven Drugs, Murders at, 2011 

-- Health

-- Historic Images

--  History -- World War, 1914-1918  [U.S. Participation:  1917-1921]

  • "Medford Resident Declares He is Loyal American."  Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 21, 1919:  [n.p.] -- Investigation of several suspect Medford residents

--  History, 1920-1929

  • "Medford:  56.1 Miles from New York." In  Long Island, The Sunrise Homeland.  New York, NY:  Issued under the auspices of the Long Island Chamber of Commerce, 1927:  p. 63.
  • The Meteoric Rise and Fall of the Medford Scout Library: 1927-1930, 2nd ed., comp. by Mark Rothenberg (Patchogue-Medford Library.  Celia M. Hastings Local History Room)

--  History -- World War, 1939-1945

  • "Name James Atkinson Ration Board Head."  Newsday,  June 15, 1946:  p. 3.

-- History - Vietnam War, 1961-1975

--  Hollmann, Frank and [Mrs.]

  • "Hollmans Wed Half Century."  Newsday, February 4, 1946:  p. 4.

-- Library

--  Long Island Rail Road

  • "12 Hurt as Trestle Derails Train."  Newsday, December 30, 1947:  p. 2.
  • "Trailer Driver Denies All Counts on Train Derailment."  Newsday, January 9, 1947:  p. 2.
  • "Blame Wreck at Medford on Trailer."  Newsday, February 13, 1947:  p. 16. 

--  Medford Athletic Club

  • Medford Baseball Team, ca. 1929  (Patchogue-Medford Library.  Celia M. Hastings Local History Room.) 

-- Medford Choral Society

--  Medford Hi C Club

  • Medford Hi C Club, 1925  (Patchogue-Medford Library.  Celia M. Hastings Local History Room.)

-- Medford Post Office

  • "A new mail route is proposed from Medford to Port Jefferson, so as to take in Rocky Point."  Brooklyn Eagle, February 25, 1878:  p. 3.

-- Medford Station (Long Island Rail Road)
               See also  Biography - Fullerton Family (Hal, Edith, Eleanor)
               See also  Firefighting History 

  • Medford (LIRR Station)  (Wikipedia)
  • "Opening of the Long Island Railroad to Medford Station (Patchogue), Fire Place & Carman's Riv[er].  Brooklyn Eagle, June 25, 1844:  p. 1.   -- Patchogue was accessible by stage coach, buggy, horse, or, a long walk, Fire Place is the former name of Brookhaven village, and Carman's River featured a popular hotel, mill, and storied fishing, that attracted the likes of Daniel Webster.
  • "Sunday Train."  Brooklyn Eagle, June 29, 1844:  p. 1. -- Train schedules, ticket prices, additional fare for paying on the train [some things never change, except for the price], and stage coach connections, running north and south of the line, as officially posted on June22nd.
  • "Road to Medford Station (Patchogue), Fire Place & Carman's Riv."  Brooklyn Eagle, July 1, 1844:  p. 1.
  • "Long Island Railroad -- 4th of July Excursion to Medford Station (Patchogue), Fire Place, and Carman's River."  Brooklyn Eagle, July 3, 1844:  p. 3.  -- Medford Station now became a featured destination. 
  • "Long Island Railroad Co.:  Opening of the Long Island Rail Road to Medford Station (Patchogue), Fire Place & Carman's Riv."  Brooklyn Eagle, July 19, 1844:  p. 1.  -- Just in case you hadn't heard; fairly detailed summary, providing the general schedule, Sunday schedule, ticket fares, and stage coach connections to various places, officially dated June 22nd.
  • "Long Island Railroad Company -- Spring Arrangement."  Brooklyn Eagle, April 24, 1845:  p. 2.
  • "From Brooklyn Depot; From Greenport Depot; From Hicksville Depot."  Brooklyn Eagle, May 26, 1845:  p. 3.
  • "From Farmingdale Depot; From Jamaica Depot."  Brooklyn Eagle, June 18, 1845:  p. 3.
  • "Change of Hours."  Brooklyn Eagle, November 8, 1845:  p. 1.
  • "Long Island Railroad -- Fall Arrangement" (Travel).  Brooklyn Eagle, October 10, 1846:  p. 3.
  • "Leave Brooklyn; Leave Greenport; Leave Farmingdale; Leave Jamaica."  Brooklyn Eagle, February 4, 1847:  p. 3.
  • "East Long Island Correspondence.  Scenery After Leaving Farmingdale (Otherwise Hardscrabble), Huntington and Babylon; Deer Park; scenery at the "stations"; West Hills; Medford, Yaphank, and St. George's Manor; Practicability of Cultivating the Wild Land Here; Stopping at Riverhead; &c."  Brooklyn Eagle, [1849?]:  [n.p.].
  • "Departure; Freight Trains; Returning."  Brooklyn Eagle, September 4, 1850:  p. 3.
  • "Freight Trains; Returning."  Brooklyn Eagle, October 19, 1850:  p. 1.
  • "Opposition Nominations."  [Sag Harbor] Corrector, October 23, 1850:  p. 2.  -- NYS 2nd Assembly District meeting at Medford Station, nominations, resolution
  • "Long Island Rail-Road" [special Jenny Lind concert excursion].  [Sag Harbor] Corrector, May 21, 1851:  p. 3.
  • "Notice."  Long Islander,  July 30, 1852:  p. 2.  -- "The next meeting of the Suffolk County Temperance Society...Delegates attending by Rail Road, will find at Medford Station, conveyance to the place of meeting." 
  • "Medford Station."  South Side Signal, June 1, 1872:  p. 2.  -- Engineer, seeing cordwood blocking the rail line, uncouples his engine, cleared away the obstruction, but went over the embankment with his engine, saving his passengers from injury, who later presented him with a cash award.
  • "Swindler with Hypnotic Powers:  Poses as a Doctor and Operates on Long Island.  Steals Money and Valuables from Women in Country Places -- One Victim's Experiences."  New York Times, July 16, 1902:  p. 3.
  • "Trains Won't Stop at Medford."  Port Jefferson Record, January 16, 1915:  p. 1. -- Despite residents' requests, the NYS Public Service Commission turns them down, suggesting that they make their appeal directly to the Long Island Rail Road.

-- Medford Sanitorium (Medford Tuberculosis Sanitorium for Working Men and Women)

--- L.I. Vertical File Sampler:

  • "Union Men to Build a $50,000 Hospital:  Brooklyn Body Wins Consent to Build one for Tuberculosis Patients Near Medford, L.I., on a Site of 65 Acres:  Approval of State Health Commissioner Won Over Objections of Town Board -- Open to General Public."  New York Times, July 5, 1909:  p. 3.
  • "Sanitorium at Medford."  Patchogue Advance, July 4, 1913:  [n.p.]
  • "Sanotorium Opens:  16 Children Now Located at Medford Institution:  Purpose is to Save Children Threatened with Tuberculosis -- A Fine Site and Buildings on State Road."  Patchogue Advance, August 15, 1913:  pp. 1, [6].
  • "100,000 for Sanitarium.  Anonymous Endowment Gift for Medford, L.I., Institution."  New York Times, January 15, 1914:  p. 6.  
  • "Tuberculosis Sanitariums."  Suffolk County News, October 16, 1914:  p. 4.
  • "Medford Sanitarium:  An Admirable Institution Maintained for Organized Labor."  Suffolk County News, May 17, 1915:  p. 2.
  • "Nurse from Medford in Auto Smash."  Suffolk County News, July 20, 1917:  p. 2.
  • "Held on Forgery Charge.  Health Official Accuses Collector for Sanitarium."  New York Times, August 26, 1923:  p. 17.
  • Cottage Hospital Changes Ownership:  Miss [Myrtle] De Younge Superintendent of Medford Sanitarium Took Over Business on May 1st."  Port Jefferson Echo, May 5, 1927:  p. 1.
  • "$500 Left to de Valera in Will of Ex-Labor Chief."  New York Times, July 13, 1935:  p. 2.  -  There was also a small bequest of $200 to the Medford Sanitorium
  • "Dr. Frederic M'Crea" [obituary].  New York Times, November 13, 1949:  p. 93. -- former attending physician at the sanitorium 

-- Medford Scout Library

--  Murders and Murderers

--- L.I. Vertical File Sampler:

  • "A Clever Arrest:  Fred Netscher, Wanted for Murder, Caught on Sunday:  He Formerly Lived Here; Officer George Hutchinson of District Attorney Greene's Staff Located Him at Medford -- Killed Mrs. Helen McVetty in Brooklyn Aug. 18th."  Suffolk County News, October 16, 1914:  p. 1.
  • "Murderer Caught."  South Side Signal, October 16, 1914:  p. 4.

--  Newspapers

-- 9/11 (Tenth Anniversary)

--  Poisonings, Animal

  •  "Medford Animal Poisonings Stir ASPCA."  Newsday, May 23, 1946:  p. 5.

--  Politics and government

  • "Opposition Nominations."  Corrector, October 23, 1850:  p. 2.
  • "Whig District Convention."  Long Islander, September 24, 1852:  p. 2.
  • "Whig District Convention" (Congressional Convention).  The Long Islander, October 1, 1852:  p. 2.  -- to held at Charles H. Hawkins' home, Medford on 10/9/1852 at high noon.
  • "At a Convention of the Whigs from the several towns in the second Assembly district, in the county of Suffolk, held at the house of Charles H. Hawkins, Medford station, Oct. 9th 1852...Resolved...." Corrector, October 13, 1852:  p. 2. 

-- Revitalization Projects

 --  Schools

  • "Medford's Fine New School House to be Dedicated on Labor Day:  Parade, Music by a Band and Refreshments to Mark the Occasion; Some History of the School which was Organized in 1902 -- Began with Four Pupils."  Patchogue Advance,  August 31, 1923:  p. 3.
  • "Medford's New School Dedicated Labor Day:  Patchogue Band Leads Procession of 25 Decorated Cars; Much Speechmaking, Singing, Music and Refreshments Mark Auspicious Opening."  Patchogue Advance, September 7, 1923:  p. 3.
  • Souvenir Program in Honor of the Double Celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Medford School Mothers Club and Thirtieth of the Opening of the First School in Medford, September 1903. [Medford, NY:  The School?,] 1934.
  • "Colorful Costumes, Fine Entertainment, Medford Ave. School."  Patchogue Advance, December 1, 1936:  [n.p.]. 
  • "Sergeant is School Principal Now."  Newsday, March 7, 1946:  p. 16.

-- Street Names

         See  History - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 [above]

--  Totten, Charles H.

  • "Sheriff's Sale."  long Islander, April 3, 1857:  p. 3. -- Includes sale of specified Lots within the Winthrop Patent

-- Turkish Cultural Center, Long Island  [Deer Park, NY]