Wyandanch Community Profile

History Highlights:

The rural community grew after the arrival of the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line in 1842. Local industry prospered, particularly the manufacturing of bricks which were made from the natural clay and sand in the lower Half Hollow Hills. In the late 1800s, millions of locally-made bricks were shipped by rail for use in New York City.

Then known as West Deer Park, the first railroad depot was built in 1875. It has been reported that the station name was changed from West Deer Park to Wyandance to dismiss confusion with Deer Park. However, some historians report that the Post Office was changed to Wyandance at the request of the Wyandance Brick Company in 1888. By the early 1900s, both the railroad and the post office were designated Wyandanch.

Originally part of the Deer Park school district, the first Wyandanch schoolhouse was built in 1912, on the present site of the Wyandanch Public Library. Geiger Park was gifted to the Town of Babylon by real estate investor William Geiger, whose developments included Wheatley Heights Estates and Colonial Springs Park.

 






The Wyandanch railroad station, circa 1910.

Industry developed, particularly the manufacturing of bricks which were made from the natural clay and sand in the lower Half Hollow Hills. The natural clay and sand in the lower hills were found to be ideal for brick making. By the late 19th Century, more than 1.6 million bricks were produced each year from local brick yards, and shipped by rail for use in New York City.





A brick from the Wyandance Brick & Terracotta Company. Image courtesy of Robert and Geraldine Marcor.

As a small rural community in the 1800s, Wyandanch children attended the schoolhouse in nearby Deer Park. As the population grew, a new school was opened in 1912, on the grounds of the present Wyandanch Public Library.

Geiger Park was gifted to the Town of Babylon by real estate investor William Geiger, whose developments included Wheatley Heights Estates and Colonial Springs Park.

Parade for dedication of Wyandanch Fire Department at Straight Path, 1959. Images courtesy of Thomas Cronogue.


Visit the Town Historian’s Blog for articles about these Wyandanch local history topics:

  • “Wyandanch – the Montaukett Sachem and the Long Island Community” Link
  • “PFC LaFrancis Hardiman and PFC Milton L. Olive.”  Link