Old and new: Teen brings history to life in West Hempstead

Members of the West Hempstead Historical Society are already putting in motion plans for 2011. Among them is the promotion of the history of the hamlet through posters donated by West Hempstead High School student Chris McAvoy.

McAvoy researched the history of the community last summer and, in September, donated the posters — which were full of photos, facts and local lore — to the historical society. For his work, McAvoy was honored by County Legislator Vincent Muscarella, historical society President John Shaud and West Hempstead school district leaders.

The posters were featured at an October meeting of the West Hempstead Community Support Association and put on display in the high school lobby and at the Venus Restaurant vestibule. The historical society now plans to display the posters at the Cornwell Avenue School, where McAvoy was a student from 2000 to 2006, and at the West Hempstead Public Library.

Residents can visit the library on March 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. to check out the posters and three historical films — the first about the 1928 first electric train at Lakeview, the second about the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church and the last, called “A Ride Along the Hempstead Turnpike,” about the history of the thoroughfare.

The West Hempstead Historical Society meets on the third Wednesday of every month.