Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-08-21

make comment upon Hlal'eiS " o.
aral interest to the public. Writers
wiz Of course be responsible LOT lheii
n,terances. AS guarantee or good
taith, the name and address OF tn'
writer of any article submitted 1oi
oubIication Will be required III eacp
l,stance. Editor Gazette,
Editor Gazette:
Your correspondent having taken
his departure from Hot Springs, Va,
at the end Of July has established
himself with his constant companion
in the old Episcopal rectory at
Hampstead, Long Island, exactly
twenty-five miles from the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Station III New
York, and about seven miles from
Greater New York, as it extends TO
the eastern boundary of the borough
of Queens in the island. As we did
not tarry in New York, or, in strict
ness of speech, the borough OF Man.
haitian, we had the remarkable eX-
ncrience of not seeing 1t at all, be
cause we entered it through the
Pennsylvania tunnel under the liud-
son, then passed to the Long Island
Railroad Station, all in the same I'M
derground department, as the Penn
sylvania station proper. Having board
ed the Long Island train, we contin-
ued our submarine journey. as one
expressed it, the submarine part
being definitely through the tunnel
under East River, after which we
emerged into the light of upper day
at Long Island City, OF our way to
Hampstead via the incorporated vii
laee' or as we would call it, the town
Of jamaica, which is now q part OF
Greater New York in the borough Of
Queens. Jamaica with its environs
contains. as we are told, about So
600 inhabitants. 1t is the centre OF
the railroad connections OF the island.
The lines of the l0nd Island Railroad
from Manhattan and BrooKfyn, re-
spcctivcly. meet here, and then dl-
vide, 10 serve the various points on
the north and south shores, as they
are called, of the island The termi-
nus Of the north shore division IS
Green port, 9G miles from New York,
and of the south, MontaUk. llS miles
frem tnat city, practically represent
inc the extreme length Of Long Is
land as it runs east northeast to
Block Island Sound.
Jamaica is eleven miles from the
Pennsylvania Station in New York,
and of course we had TO change
there for Hampstead our particular
terminal point eleven miles farther
on. Hampstead is All interesting old
town settled permanently by the
English from New England in 1913.
1t has the honor of being the first
English settlement on Long Island,
the Dutch being the first occupants,
coming in 1G23 to place they called
Nieuw Amersfoord, now Flatlands on
Jamaica Bay, not far from the city
Of Brooklyn. The first New Eng
landers came to Hampstead in 1910
but were then driven out by the
Dutch. Hampstead has a population
of twelve thousand, The residence
section is beautiful, consisting OF
frame houses, many of which are
large and handsome. some quaint and
old-fashioncd, with fine well kept
rards around them. and the streets
shaded by noble old trees. The
business part of the village is not
at all remarkable. although the
Hampstead Bank occupies fine brick
building which would be credit to a
much larger town. The present town
hall is an insignificant frame struc-
tire, but we are told the village
fathers intend to erect, within very
short time. a handsome and spacious
hall, worthy of old Hampstead, in a
fine park occupying the square IN
front OF the rectory. The main
streets are kept in splendid order.
indeed they are part OF the system
of excellent roads which run through
out the island, Tor which reason Long
Island is called the paradise OF auto
mobiiists. Any visitor would at once
conclude that this is true, as he sees
for the first time especially OF Satur-
days and Sundays the long lines OF
autor ob;leS or the main roads lead
ing to noted points of interest, and
the pleasure resorts. There is 9 good
trolley, system in. the western part Of
the island. Hampstead Sroperly be-
longs to that division Of the island,
~ -