Marking Up Historical Long Beach

When residents and visitors alike pass or use certain landmarks of Long Beach in 2012, they can do so with some historical perspective.  

The Long Beach Island Landmarks Association will post historic markers at certain sites around town: the Long Island Rail Road station, and the Sarazen, Ouimet and Hagen canals.

"We thought back about what things are really the oldest in Long Beach," Vice President Douglas Sheer said about the choice of sites. "The railroad station is 102 years old; it's in need of a celebration."

The Landmarks Association, whose mission is to preserve Long Beach’s architecture and historical structures, unveiled the markers on Nov. 5 at the Long Beach Library. There, Sheer explained the history of the canals, which were built during the 1920s.

“It’s a section of town that's kind of hidden away," he said. "Few people know each canal has a name to it."

Michael Charles, a lifelong Long Beach resident and 31-year employee of the Long Island Rail Road, attended the unveiling earlier this month.

"It's a privilege," said Charles of the recognition. "The Long Beach station has a historic reputation within the railroad."

The marker for the LIRR station, painted navy blue with yellow trim, reads: “The Long Beach Station was opened in 1909 soon after the closing of a station just to the south of here. The City of Long Beach and the LIRR renovated the station in 1986.”

The project was made possible by a $5,000 grant from Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach). The Landmarks Association plans to install the markers in the spring of 2012. That will also include markers at the boardwalk, the first large-scale structure built in Long Beach, as well as the site of the original Long Beach fire station that now houses a beauty salon, The Station for Hair, in the West End.

The goal is to put markers in different parts of town, Sheer said. He believes historical structures in the West End tend to be overlooked. “Having the old firehouse where the salon is now seemed like a great way to show our interest in the West End of town,” he said.

Of course, the boardwalk is a primary site for both residents and visitors in Long Beach that simply couldn’t be overlooked.

"It was built really as an attraction for the people of Long Beach, and is also over 100 years old," he said. "It certainly is in need of recognition."

Sheer said that the Association would like to place more markers at historic spots along the boardwalk.

"There was a gigantic hotel that burned down in 1907 but it was built in 1880 when nothing was here,” he said, hinting at the other preferred locations. “These things deserve recognition."

* This story was updated at 12 p.m. on 11.29.11.