.
Feedback

What's Your Long Island Landmark? [POLL]

Montauk Point Lighthouse earns National Historic Landmark status, which begs the question: What else is a Long Island landmark?

Seafarers have come to rely on the as a landmark since its completion in 1796. But when the U.S. Department of the Interior finally granted the iconic lighthouse  on Monday, it confirmed what Long Islanders long knew.

The Montauk Point Lighthouse is symbolic of Long Island. But it got us at Patch wondering: If you had to pick one monument, building, event or location to represent today's Long Island, what would it be?

and its water tower certainly conjure warm memories.

Perhaps the home the built – the Nassau Coliseum – is as Long Island as it gets.

Maybe it's the Long Island Expressway, the roadway which breathes economic life into our suburban existence.

There are countless candidates. For the uber shopper,  and  in Riverhead surely rate. Your inner historian may opt for  estate, , or the . The foodie in you may covet a pie from Briermere Farms or fine merlot from any number of . , Fire Island Ferry and  are Long Island icons too.

Sadly, it won't be the , which was razed in 2011.

So what's your Long Island landmark? Go ahead in vote in our poll and weigh in by commenting. 

John Cocchiola March 10, 2012 at 04:42 pm
How about the "Welcome to Long Island" sign, in our rear view mirrors as we leave? There's a tee shirt for ya'.
EJ48 March 10, 2012 at 06:30 pm
Checkers grave anyone? Not.
Lloyd March 10, 2012 at 06:48 pm
The Oceanside Landfill
Lloyd March 10, 2012 at 06:54 pm
One last landmark for me.
Actually two.. Complete Auto Body Shop in Baldwin where Joey B was schtupping Amy Fisher. And Joey's house in Massapequa where Amy shot Joey's wife. The biggest stories EVER to come out of L.I. Even bigger than anything Mike Fagen is accused of.
Dennis March 10, 2012 at 11:11 pm
I think you ran out of ideas....I dont think an attempted murder and a BULL and a HO count as monuments LOL
HeyJoe March 10, 2012 at 11:14 pm
hey watch what you say about the Smithtown Bull!
FYI March 11, 2012 at 12:27 am
absolutely!
FYI March 11, 2012 at 12:32 am
Remembering the carousel with the rings you would try to grab as the horses flew by.
FYI March 11, 2012 at 12:37 am
Frontier Town in North Amityville
Wetson's and Steer Inn on Hempstead Tpk Nathan's Oceanside Mount Misery, Melville Mary's Grave.... Islip Speedway 1/8 mile drag strip & NASCAR! Freeport Raceway 3/4 midgets
Lloyd March 11, 2012 at 03:28 am
Dont remember Frontier Town. Do remember Wetsons in Bellerose..15c hamburgers.
Did anyone mention Nunleys in Baldwin? Roosevelt Racewaypp and Fortunoffs in Westbury. Dropped lots of money in both places.
Rob S March 11, 2012 at 04:40 am
Wow, Nunley's, thanks for the memories of riding that Carousel, with actual big brass rings you could catch. I remember when there were still farms in Nassau County, the smell of the fertilizer (manure) on the breeze. I think Montauk Light is a nice-looking symbol, and a good choice. But this is a great thread. I wish there was a "people's history of Long Island" rather than just the formal ones. There are so many little treasures we all remember, though most are gone. Who'd believe all the big malls were once midget raceways, drive-in movies, and miniature golf courses. Thank goodness Oceanside Nathans still serves the REAL Nathan's Hot Dogs! Man, I'd really also know more about the "unmentionable" side of things, the "Family," rum-runners, etc. Hey Lloyd, did you know that in 1939 the Mayor of Long Beach was assassinated by a Long Beach Cop? I bet every town here has some great stories to tell.
paul March 11, 2012 at 04:50 am
In 1939, Mayor Louis F. Edwards was fatally shot by a police officer on the front steps of his home. Officer Alvin Dooley, a member of the police motorcycle squad and the mayor's own security detail, killed the mayor after losing his bid for PBA president to a candidate the mayor supported. Jackson Boulevard was later renamed Edwards Boulevard in honor of the late mayor. After the murder, the city residents passed legislation to adopt a city manager system, which still exists to this day. The city manager is hired by and reports to the City Council.
Rob S March 11, 2012 at 04:59 am
I used to love that "fruit stand" building that started as a gas station. Since i got my first digital camera, I've been taking pictures of places like that, that you know can't survive. The first one I took was 2001, of the old baseball card store near Beech and Louisiana, before it moved into a bigger store. It's such a shame that L.B. couldn't have preserved that old "fruit stand" building. Even just the facade would have been a great start for a building when they moved the West End Library.
Lloyd March 11, 2012 at 02:46 pm
Lots of great memories on Long Island. Some we'd like to forget. Thanks for bringing 'em all back to life.
Lloyd March 11, 2012 at 03:33 pm
Nobody mentioned the infamous Loop Pkwy toll booths where Sonny Corleone was gunned down.
Also the 10c toll booths on the Southern St Pkwy which we learned to bypass by using Dutch Broadway through Elmont.
Rose March 11, 2012 at 05:16 pm
Hard to believe Montauk Lighthouse only just became National Historic Landmark. Should have been made that ages ago.
My personal favorite LI landmarks are 1) Fire Island Lighthouse, 2) Sagamore Hill and 3) the Montauk LH.
An tUasal Airgead March 11, 2012 at 07:37 pm
The Godfather toll booth scene was filmed on an old runway in Mitchell Field near NCC.
Leonard Bauman March 12, 2012 at 04:03 am
The stylish Americana homes located between 200--599 East Harrison Street, Long Beach, NY.
When my wife and I walk down these blocks it is like walking through a piece of Americana architecture itself from 1920s through 2010. Beautiful colonials, spanish mission stucco homes, old beach summer bungalows now year-round residences, and older and newer homes with unusually large size lots for Long Beach of 50 feet or more frontage. Long Beach should capitalize on these beautiful blocks and beautiful homes by making this historic street a one-way Eastbound street to reduce short cut traffic heading to Long Beach bridge, which makes the street dangerous right now. Our 2nd Long Island landmark is the Jones Beach Water Tower, which is very beautiful and can be seen clearly from the Empire State Building. Our 3rd Long Island landmark is Robert Moses Causeway Bridge, which is big beautiful, long and has nice views.
Lloyd March 12, 2012 at 05:48 am
There used to be toll booths at the Meadowbrook Pkway exit to tbe Loop. I think it was a quarter back then. The booths were removed sometime in the '70's, around the same time as the Southern State Pkway toll. Not sure if they were available for The Godfather shooting.
Now its time to remove the Atlantic Beach Bridge toll. An infamous Long Island landmark.
Chris Wendt March 12, 2012 at 09:35 am
Re Lloyd: "Now its time to remove the Atlantic Beach Bridge toll.
An infamous Long Island landmark." The Atlantic Beach Bridge tolls support the operation and maintenance of the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Unless you are ready and willing to have the bridge removed, then it is not really time to remove the tolls that are used to keep the bridge in operation. Tolls are not really 'landmarks' as much as they are inconveniences and annoying expenses. Most tolls as we know them are authorized under the public authorities law, and most of those still in existence will probably never be removed. Because toll revenue is used to repay bonds and debt service on bonds of various authorities, that toll revenue, and the bond holders rights are protected by the constitution; such tolls generally cannot be removed by legislative action.
Lloyd March 12, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Chris....I wont go into specifics regarding my opinion on the Atlantic Beach Bridge Authority. A few months ago I presented some facts and figures here along with my criticism of the Authority's operations, and the post was quickly deleted.
I will go on record to write that the State did their own investigation of the Authority and found lots of problems and issues. If any Patch posters here are interested in the truth and question your loyal support of the Authority, they can check it all out on the Net. Let them come to their own conclusions regarding the Authority's Toll Revenue and toll hikes Operating costs Personnel and administrative costs Maintenance Hiring practices Total autonomy EZ Pass rejection Political clout
Nassau Taxpayer March 12, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Sounds like they don't want any electronic records... Wonder why? LOL
paul.d.spellman March 12, 2012 at 12:39 pm
I heard the proceeds of the next toll increase will be specifically earmarked to erecting a 125 foot statue of Harvey Weisenberg wearing speedos and standing in a "Mr Clean" pose towering above the toll barrier. The unintended but realistic outcome of this pose is as people are leaving Long Beach/AB they can look up at Harvey from the rear and kiss his butt.
Lloyd March 12, 2012 at 12:41 pm
There are some obvious conclusions we can draw on from just casual observations and looking at the history of that bridge which was paid for years ago and uses just a small percentage of its revenue for actual maintenance. Where the bulk of their revenue goes and its accountability is not something I
want to question on Patch.
Nassau Taxpayer March 12, 2012 at 01:26 pm
Now that you mention it...
An tUasal Airgead March 12, 2012 at 03:52 pm
http://www.moviesfilmedonlongisland.com/NassauCounty/the-godfather.html
An tUasal Airgead March 12, 2012 at 04:19 pm
The Nassau County Bridge Authority (the Authority) was established in 1945 as a public benefit corporation pursuant to Title 7 of Public Authorities Law to operate and maintain the Atlantic Beach Bridge, spanning the Reynolds Channel in Nassau County. The Authority is governed by a five member Board of Commissioners and its daily operations are managed by the Authority‟s Bridge Manager/Executive Director. The primary source of revenue for the Authority is toll revenue.
2010 Nassau County Bridge Authority Audit http://www.abo.ny.gov/annualreports/PARISAuditReports/FYE2010/Local/NassauCountyBridgeAuthority2010.pdf Budget Report for Nassau County Bridge Authority http://www.abo.ny.gov/annualreports/PARISBudgetReports/FYE2012/Local/NassauCountyBridgeAuthority2012.pdf Bridge Staff http://www.ncbaabb.com/documents/Org%20Chart%20%202011.pdf Nassau County Bridge Authority Atlantic Beach Bridge http://fivetowns.patch.com/listings/nassau-county-bridge-authority-atlantic-beach-bridge
Lloyd March 12, 2012 at 07:12 pm
Can anyone here imagine what chaos and corruption would go down if the City established an autonamous authority to maintain and collect tolls on the Long Beach Rd. Bridge.
If our Council could ever figure out a way too do that and create an untouchable fiefdom surrounding that bridge, they would do it tonight. So apply this power to the only toll bridge in Nassau Co.
Christopher D'Antonio March 13, 2012 at 07:46 pm
Which dump?
Nassau Taxpayer March 13, 2012 at 09:50 pm
The former Port Washington sand pits -- visible from space.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Half Hollow Hills Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something