• Celebrating Over 20 Years of Stewardship 1999 - 2022              

Archived Newsletters

“Scroll Down” for Docents Digest Editions & Contents

Researchers and enthusiasts pen notable citizen spotlights from the

past and present, illuminating the remarkable contributions that have created Floral Park as it exists today… 

We thank our local sponsors and welcome new sponsors for the Docents Digest - your valuable contributions help make Floral Park what it is.

For more information about our activities & FPHS collectibles, please e-mail anncorbett@corbettpr.com or call (516) 775-6849.

Archived Docents Digest Newsletters

All FPHS DOCENTS DIGEST NEWSLETTERS FROM INCEPTION!

(To View - Click-on Edition’s Hyperlink in BLUE)

 Year 2024 - Newsletters

FPHS Docents Digest Winter 2024_25 Edition

FPHS Docents Digest Spring Summer 2024 Edition

 - Jeanne Petta, FPHS Director Emeritus, to Celebrate her 100th Birthday!

 - Jeanne’s Life Story by Carol Petta O’Hara

 - 100 Birthday Wishes

 - Jeanne was honored at The Floral Park Library

 - From the Archives 

 - Edith Purcell - Across the Years - The Story of Floral Park

 - South Side Auto Sales & Voice of the Air - A Childs’ Family Business at 18 Verbena Ave

FPHS Docents Digest Spring 2024 Edition

 - A Tribute to the Memory of Adele Margaret Werthmuller

 - The Gateway to The Village - Anew

 - A Special Acquisition - Thank You to The Wicks Family

 Year 2023 - Newsletters:

FPHS Docents Digest Winter 2023 Edition

 - In Memory of Harold Wicks V. Wicks, Jr.

 - Harry’s Own Words - Harry Wicks Woodturning

 - Pictures by Harold Wicks, Jr - Rudolph’s Tavern (formerly know as The Oriental Hotel)

 - In Recognition of Presidents’ Day - The George Washington Bible in Floral Park

 - Looking Back in Time

FPHS Docents Digest Summer 2023 Edition

 - A Free Docent’s Tour of the FPHS Museum

 - An Antiques Road Show

 - Floral Park is Proclaimed a Purple Heart Village

 - Purple Heart  Recipients Honored

 - Happy 100th Birthday to The Floral Park Library

FPHS Docents Digest Spring 2023 Edition

•   - April 16th - The Naming of “SEWANHAKA HIGH SCHOOL” - A MYSTERY STORY Presented by Dennis McEnery;
      Other Names Seriously Considered

  •   - President’s Message
  •   - IN MEMORIUM, Russell O’Brien
  •   - Our Lady of Victory Reunion - They Travel Down “Memory Lane”
  •   - GARDEN CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Hosts Meeting
  •   - New Membership Year Begins May 1 - Please consider joining - Family $15 a year.
  •   - FLORAL PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT HISTORY
  •   - The Pomerantz Brothers Delight in Viewing Their Brother Marc’s Photos of 1950s Jericho Turnpike
  •   - FPHS Welcomes New Directors, Margaret & Jim MacDonald

 Year 2022 - Newsletters

FPHS Docents Digest Aug./Sept. 2022 Edition

•   - We’re Back! Membership Meeting, Sun. Sept. 18, 2pm @ Pool/Rec. Ctr.
•   - In Memoriam - Peter Fleig
•   - A Visit to the Harold Martin Collection, The Little Red Boat
•   - New Acquisition: 1905 - 1913 Bound Book - Editions of The Warbler

FPHS Docents Digest Spring Summer 2022 Edition

 - Presentation Night at Swing The Teapot - Hosted by Ann & Shane Moynagh

•  - New Additions to The Archives
•  - From The Archives - John Lewis Childs Seed Packets
•  - A Bomb Shelter in Floral Park?

FPHS Docents Digest Apr - May 2022 Edition

  - Cook Books in the Archives

•   - Local Elementary Schools’ Newsletters in the Archives
•   - Childs’ Summer House
•   - Invitation to Swing The Teapot - 7PM, May 19, 2022
•   - Membership Renewal Application

FPHS Docents Digest March 2022 Edition

•   - The Suydam Homestead
•   - Golden Rule Service Station
•   - RE’s Taxi Service
•   - John E. Settler - Author of Fifty Years Ahead of the News, Published in 1993
•   - Village Election - March 15, 2022

FPHS Docents Digest Feb. 2022 Edition

•   - A Vintage Street Sign Post
•   - Excerpts from Two Editions of “THE MAYFLOWER” – 1890
•   - A Vintage Street Sign Post
•   - Excerpts from Two Editions of “THE MAYFLOWER” – 1890
•   - Correction & Childs’ Plans for his Collection
•   - New Discovery - The Netherlands as a Source of Flowering Bulbs
•   - Floral Park Memorial Junior-Senior High School - Looking Back 65 Years

FPHS Docents Digest Jan 2022 Edition

  -  John Lewis Childs - Renowned OOLOGIST

•   - Excerpts from The OOLOGIST magazine written by Harold Bailey 1921
•   - LONG ISLAND PERIODICALS - 1895 and 1899
•   - Nostalgically Striking & Strikingly Nostalgic
•   - John Lewis Childs Plant Sprinkler/Sprayer ad - ca. 1900’

• 
  Year 2021 - Newsletters

Docents Digest Dec 2021 Edition

  -  John Lewis Childs Mansion, Tulip Ave - After a Winter Snowfall

•   - The FISH of Floral Park - “Keeping Friends in Safe Hands”
•   - A Christmas Verse - Poet Norma D. Childs
•   - Alley-Way Snapshot Reveals Sign of Old Times
•   - A Thank You - In a Nutshell

Docents Digest Nov 2021 Edition

  - The Green House, A Sears House, A Dream House

•   - Centennial Gardens Bridge
•   - Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary
•   - FPPD Mounted Police Officers

Docents Digest Oct 2021 Edition

  - Our Lady of Victory Parrish Centennial Year 2021 

•   - Mrs. Helen M. Marsh: Founder of Bellerose Village
•   - The Story of Bellerose Village by Walter Gosden
•   - Eddie Arcaro, Jockey & Floral Park Businessman
•   - Notes from Helen Miller responding to memories shared by Jeanne Petta

• Docents Digest Aug/Sept 2021 Edition

•  - Jeanne Petta Remembers

•   - John Lewis Childs Spring 2013 Catalog
•   - Child’s “Personal Word” about his business history
•   - Comments on an Era by Walter Gosden
•   - Donation Recognitions
•   - Floral Park Jewish Center
•   - The Round House History

Docents Digest May 2021 Edition Congratulations to our new Mayor, Trustees & their families, A Thank You…

•  - In memory of George William Bowen

•   - The Infamous Floral Park Incinerator
•   - Tree City, USA
•   - WWII War Bonds and Rationing
•   - Floral Park Fire Department Helmet
•   - Nomination of FPHS Officers and Board Members
•     May 1, 2021 - April 30, 2023

• 
  Docents Digest April 2021 Edition

•  - Preparing for our new Fiscal Year

   - Covert Family Album - Mary Ellen LaRocca
      - Tour of the Covert Family Carriage House

•   -  Join Our Mission; Preserve Our History

Docents Digest March 2021 Edition

•   - Chronicle of the American Red Cross in Floral Park
    - Music - a part of Floral Park’s Heritage

•    - Floral Park Community Chorus
•    - Floral Park’s Citizen’s Symphony Orchestra
•    - Introducing Floral Park Author’s Second Crime Novel 

• Docents Digest February 2021 Edition

•  -  Mary Goldsmith Childs - Member of Daughters of the American Revolution
   - 1905 Thirtieth Anniversary of John Lewis Child’s Seed Company

•   - Vintage & Special Letters

•  - Child’s Seed Catalog - 1917

•   - The Schoolmate magazine

• Docents Digest January 2021  Edition-  Wish for a Healthy & Happy 2021!
   - The Reveal

•  - The Bank Robbery of 1953

•   - The Infamous Bottle Collection

Year 2020 Newsletters

• Docents Digest November - December 2020 Edition

  •  - Annual Christmas Show at The Floral Theatre
     - Santa arrives

  •  - A History of The Floral Theatre

  •   - Floral Park & Vicinity Historical Directories by Walter Gosden

• • Docents Digest October 2020 Edition

  •  - Seedsmen & Florists by Walter Gosden
     - Floral Park Red Ribbon Week - Looking Back 30 Years by Ann V Corbett

  •   - Reporter’s Interview with Carrie Childs by Ann V Corbett

  •  - Jeanne Mitchell America’s First Young Lady of the Fiddle by Ann V Corbett

• 
  Docents Digest September 2020 Edition
  

  •  - Remembering 9-11
     - Buttons - A Collection of Memories

  •  - The Floral Park Playground by Walter Gosden

  •   - WaterbIll Watchdogs Vs. Jamaica Water Supply by Ann Corbett

• Docents Digest August 2020 Edition

•  - Views of Floral Park
  

•     (John Lewis Childs Booklet)

•  - Belmont Park - Horse-racing 1665-2020

   - Board of Health - Rules & Regs. - 1916

• • Docents Digest June-July 2020 Edition

  •  - President’s Message
    

     - Devil Dog of Floral Park
     - Beautiful Acquisition

  •   - Floral Park’s Woman’s Club Garden
  •   - GATEWAY prints LAST Issue!
  •   - 1874 - John Lewis Childs rents apartment on Jericho Tpke.
      - Thank you Harry Wicks
      - Elevation of LIRR Tracks  

• • Docents Digest May-June 2020 Edition

  •  - West End Civic Association 100th Anniversary & History
    

    •  - Special Delivery - Postman Bill Olivet
    •  - Give a Cheer for John Lewis Childs School
    •  - Flowers & Bulbs for the Trade
    •  - Floral Park Birds 1909 & 2020
    •  - Stella Miller’s Review
    •  - Floral Park’s Bird Whisperer, Donald Haug, Sr.
    •  - The Bird Counters of Floral Park

     
    Year 2019 Newsletters

  • Docents Digest Winter 2019-20 Edition

    •  - FPHS President Ann Corbett writes about our 20th Anniversary
    •     & some upcoming 2020 events
    •  - In 1952 General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Floral Park
    •  - PBA Benefit Show Poster found - from about 1947
    •     held at The Floral Theatre with Vaudeville acts & Movies
    •  - Three Red Tulips on a Blue Field – considered by
    •     many to be the “Village Logo” 

• • Docents Digest Summer/Fall 2019 Edition

  •  - John Lewis Childs as a young man
    

    •  - CL Allen hires John Lewis Childs
    •  - In memory - Arthur Bradley
    •  - Floral Park - Residents’ Day:
    •  - The Percy Loomis Speer Collection

     
    

    • Docents Digest Summer 2019 Edition

      •  - Jim MacDonald assists with the Village Historical Markers Unveiling
      •  - The Kirchner Triplets – Frances, Katherine, & Marguerite
      •  - Ladislav “Lenny” Jindra – An American Hero, A Survivor of D-Day, June 6, 1944
      •  - Boy Scout Troop 4 Floral Park celebrates 105th Anniversary

       
      Year 2018 Newsletters

    • Docents Digest Winter 2018-2019 Edition

       “Twentieth Anniversary Edition” - Highlights

      •  - The Story of FPHS 20th Anniversary Floral Park Historical Marker Project:
            Fireman’s Hall, Tyson Building, Masonic Temple, 
      •     American Legion, Floral Park School,
      •     1779 House, Floral Theatre, Covert Homestead
      •  - A Window to Businesses of the Past
      •  - NYC Fire Museum Receives 1900 & 1901 Book
      •  - Century Old Portrait of President Ray Larimar Stokely found
        - Remembering Bernice Hayes
    •   - The Resident Directory, 1940
  • Docents Digest 2018 Fall/Winter Edition

  •  - John Lewis Childs an Extraordinary Businessman
    

    •  - Dennis McEnery presents Research on Colonial Gardens
    •  - Victor Koenig’s Restaurant closes - The Harrison Opens
    •  -  J. James Hardware Store
    •  - A Summer Memory - FROZEN CUP
    •  - History in the Making- Phase 1-LIRR 3^rdTrack
    •  - The Warbler – Bird Notes

     

  • Docents Digest 2018 Summer Edition

     - What is a Docent?

  •  - Grant being used for Historical Markers

  •  - Betty Boop visits the Floral Theatre
     - Acquisition:

    •     1888 John Lewis Childs Seed Catalog
    •     first to use Chromolithographs
    •  - Presidents Coolidge & Hoover appoint
    •     Wallace Thurston as our Floral Park Postmaster

  •  

  • Year 2017 Newsletters

  • Docents Digest 2017 Fall Edition

    • •  - The Last 50 by Walter Gosden

         - Changes to Some Familiar Places with some Great Photos
         - Thank you to our Local Businesses

      •   - Join Us - to Preserve Our History
  •  

  • Docents Digest 2017 Summer Edition

  •  - The Hammered Dulcimer

    •  - President’s Message
    •  - FPHS Display at SunnyPond Farm Historical Site
    •  - Sewanhaka High School
    •  - Sewanhaka H.S. Graduates Reminese
    •  - Sewanhaka H.S. Yearbook Collection
    •  - Sewanhaka H.S. History Makers
    •  - FPHS - Who we are
    •  - Thank You to our local businesses

  •  
    Year 2016 Newsletters

  • Docents Digest 2016 Winter Edition

    •  - The Bird Man of Floral Park
    •  - A Message from Historian Walter Gosden
    •  - The Warbler
    •  - No. 10 Jericho Tpke. by Harry Wicks
    •  - Ann Corbett - Speaker at The Queens Farm Museum
    •  - Ray Heatherton - More Than Just “The Merry Mailman”

     
    

    • Docents Digest 2016 Spring (1)

      •  - Short History – LIRR
      •  - Gatsby Era Pure Silk Party Dress Restored
      •  - Friends of the Library Collection

     

  • Year 2015 Newsletters

  • • Docents Digest 2015 Summer Edition
    •   - The History of the Magic Lantern Slide
    •   - 116 Ways of Using the Tomato
    •   - The Herkomer-Brusher Home
    •   - The John Lewis Childs Home
    •   - Edible Long Island - Notable Edibles
    •   - John Lewis Childs: Started The First Seed Catalog
    •      in America 
• 
   Year 2014 Newsletters

•  Docents Digest 2014 December Edition

• •  - FPHS - NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
     - SMILE - CLASS PICTURES - with names of students & faculty

  •  - THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES
•  

• Docents Digest 2014 Fall Edition

  •  - 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony
  •  - Great Grandson of Oscar P. Brion Visits Museum
  •  - Jericho turnpike 54 Years Ago – 18 Year Old Photographer Marc Pomerantz
  •  - Enhancing our Vaudeville Collection
  •  - A Visit with Vera Luthy, Age 97

• Docents Digest 2014 Summer-Fall Edition

•  - About The Wicks Farm - Harry & Maureen Wicks
  

  •  - Dr. Harry Howard Fills In The Blanks about Lees’ Drug Store
  •  - Thank You to Our Local Businesses

•  

• Year 2013 Newsletters

• Docents Digest 2013 Winter Edition

• •  - Surprise Visitor
     - Floral Park Woman’s Club Anniversary
  •  - Donations to our FPHS Archives
  •  - Portrait of Caroline Goldsmith Childs
  •  - Floral Park Junior Woman’s Club
  •  - Cub Scouts Pack #482 Visit

   

• Docents Digest 2013 Summer Edition

  • •  - John Lewis Childs’ Chemolithographs Flower Prints Reproduced,

    • •  - Friends of the Library Exhibit
      •  - FPHS “Early Floral Park” Diorama Goes On Display
         - 1000 Acres in Smithtown Renamed “Flowerfields”
      •  - Westend Landmark Under Restoration - Walter Gosden, Village Historian
      •  - Jeanne Petta & George Bowen, Each Honored as Director Emeritas
      •  - President’s Message & “Thank Yous”
      •  - Kaitlyn Felicetti Earns GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD
      •  - FPHS WISH LIST

   

  Docents Digest 2013 Summer 2nd Edition

•  - Explore the History of Neighboring Communities - New Hyde Park

  •  - Discover Fosters Meadow
     - FPHS Wish List
    

• 
  Year 2012 Newsletters

• Docents Digest 2012 Spring Edition

  •  - FPHS ACCEPTS THE ORIGINAL FLORAL PARK VILLAGE FLAG
  •  - FPHS ACCEPTS THE FLORAL PARK CIVIL DEFENSE FLAG
  •  - Civil Defense & Junior Rescue Squad by Bill Corbett, Sr.
     - Archivists’ Corner by John Lockwood
  •  - Why a Wish List?
     - THANK YOU to Our Local Businesses!

   

• Year 2011 Newsletters

• Docents Digest 2011 Summer Edition

  •  - Ruth Snyder Murder Case –Marco Conelli
  •  - American Legion Auxiliary 90th Anniversary
  •  - Tulip Hill Bowling Alley Explosion - Super Bowl ‘87
  •  - Historical Notes-Yes, Three Fire Houses

• 
  Year 2010 Newsletters
  Docents Digest 2010 Summer Edition
  

• •  - 4VS Floral Park Centennial Commemorative DVD
  •  - Three Celebrate Milestone - The Kirshner Triplets celebrate their 90th Birthday!
  •  - Archival Room Update - Past Perfect Software Installed
  •  - Walter Gosden, Village Historian Notes
  •  - Volunteer Opportunities
  •  - Press Comments on Floral Park in 1892
  • 
    Year 2009 Newsletters

    • Docents Digest 2009 Winter Edition

      •  - The Miss Mary Martin Story
      •  - Are you a prospective Docent?
      •  - “Show and Tell” Road Show
      •  - Miniature Replicas
      •  - On Loan at Museum

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

•  

Floral Park Historical Society Collectibles

• Ask about our collectible Floral Park History keepsakes and museum-quality floral prints, reproduced from John Lewis Childs' original seed catalog artwork... Please contact Ann Corbett
  

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