Executive Director's Note | |
Summer is here! Starting last weekend, our Farm Stand is open every day through the summer! The Lollipop Train will be running every Saturday from 10am- 2pm! Fruit, vegetables, pies, jams, jellies, Kutztown Sarsaparilla Soda, and a variety of other Kutztown Soda! It is the oldest continuous farm stand in Huntington. It is dated 1740. That is a long time!
We are now looking for Sponsors for our Pickle Fest. Last year we had over 4,000 guests on the property! With a fence that is on Park Avenue, your business will get loads of views! All of this and you will be supporting the Greenlawn Centerport Historical Association! We have our Annual Pickle Festival on Saturday, September 16th, from 10am-4pm. There will be pickles of every flavor and size, 30 Craft vendors, delicious foods, a corn maze, a train ride, and fun for the whole family.
Soren, a member of the Board, has been working on our new website, and it is here, and it is beautiful! Thank you to Soren!
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We are a great time at the Annual Membership Meeting! The GCHA celebrated Deanne Rathke, Director Emeritus, swore in the Board of Trustees, and gave an overview of what is to come. When that was all done, we enjoyed a late lunch! Thank you to all of our members who came!!
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Great business exposure!
Supporting the Pickle Festival means supporting the
Greenlawn Centerport Historical Association!
Any other questions, email me!
Click here for a Goldens Sponsor!
Click here for an Alart & McGuire Sponor!
Click here for a Captain Post Sponsor!
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Private Historic Walking Tour & Pub Crawl | | |
Historical Article: Lollipop Train | |
Lollipop Farm was an experience in the 1950s and 1960s. It was a 4-acre farm, Children’s Zoo, and they even had a Lollipop Train! It would they them around the Zoo, and it was so much fun! People came to the Lollipop Farm in droves from all of Long Island, New York City, and Connecticut! If you have a grandparent who grew up around here, ask them, they will remember so fondly- and now they would like to visit and have you ride the train all over again! | |
Lollipop Farm, on the corner of Jackson Avenue and Jericho Turnpike, in Syosset closed in 1967, and the Lollipop Farm Train was put into storage. Over the next 45 years, it changed hands many times until the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association (GCHA) decided to take on the huge task of restoring it to its former glory. Many members of the GCHA, some of whom have vast experience restoring old vehicles, worked endlessly prepping, painting, welding, preparing, and laying track to get the Lollipop Train ready! | |
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According to Eva Sweeny Mancuso, Lollipop Farm, with its petting zoo and train, was one of Syosset's main attractions for many years. It was developed by her parents, Harry and Alice Sweeny, and opened in June 1950. She went on to say "My dad was the Assistant General Director of the Bronx (Park) Zoo in the 40s and he designed their Children's Zoo.” Mrs. Sweeny authored several children's books about the farm, which were illustrated by Kathleen Elgin. Lollipop Farm closed in 1967 after finding homes for all animals. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeny retired to Pennsylvania where he devoted much time to landscape painting.
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The Lollipop Train runs over the summer every Saturday, from 10am to 2pm, at the Gardiner Farm Stand. Bring your kids or grandkids by and tell them about your time on the Lollipop Farm!
The Lollipop Train is located at the John Gardiner Farm, 900 Park Avenue, Greenlawn, NY 11740.
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Join and Rejoin the GCHA!
Please renew your membership or join because your annual dues give the future of Greenlawn Centerport Historical Association a steady foundation to maintain its two historic properties, the John Gardiner Farmhouse, and the Suydam homestead, and the preservation of paintings, photographs, documents, and ephemera at the Russell B. Brush Research Center. As members, you get a discounted admission rate on every one of our programs. We thank you for your continued interest in helping us to preserve your history for the future.
Click here to join!
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