W.H. teen's history project a hit in the hamlet

Did you know that the Town of Hempstead once had a farm that housed 40 St. Bernard dogs? Or that Martin Luther King Jr. had spoken at the Island Garden Arena? West Hempstead High School sophomore Chris McAvoy did, thanks to the countless hours he spent researching the history of his hometown for a project.

Chris unveiled the project — which consisted of two 4-foot-long printed poster boards featuring photos, fun facts and a timeline and brief history of the hamlet — during a meeting of the West Hempstead Historical Society on Sept. 15 at the West Hempstead Public Library.

According to Chris’s mother, Leslie McAvoy, the unveiling was informative, supportive and well-attended. “If it truly takes a village to raise a child, [Chris] has a county, a town, a village, a hamlet, a school district and a family,” she said.

After presenting and explaining his project, Chris received a certificate of recognition from County Legislator Vincent Muscarella, who was in attendance during the unveiling, along with West Hempstead Community Support Association President Rosalie Norton, West Hempstead schools Superintendent John Hogan, West Hempstead High School Principal Frank Viteritti and Director of Social Studies Lara Gonzales.

West Hempstead Historical Society President John Shaud praised Chris for his efforts and well-executed, educational presentation. The project, Shaud said, is “the most important event of the Historical Society in years.”

It was under Shaud’s encouraging supervision that Chris was able to find historical documents, photographs and maps in the Historical Society’s archives. But Chris expanded his research, visiting Hempstead Town Hall, St. George’s Church, Hempstead Village Courthouse and Library, and Old Bethpage Village Restoration. He also had help from Town of Hempstead Historian Thomas Saltzman, Village of Hempstead Library Special Programs Coordinator Steven Rung, Nassau County Photo Archivist George Fisher and “West Hempstead Now and Then” historical blogger Yossi Azose.

Chris’s project will remain on display in the West Hempstead High School lobby. Residents are invited to check it out.