Located on New Yorkrsquo;s Long Island in Nassau County; the quaint; tight-knit town of Bethpage was established as a settlement for the Thomas Powell family in 1687. In the early years; it consisted of a few small villages of farmers. In 1884; the Long Island Rail Road extended through Bethpage; which was renamed Central Park. Many businesses opened up around the station; bringing the town to the attention of land buyers; which had an enormous impact on the growth of the community. It was here that the ground-breaking ceremony for William Vanderbiltrsquo;s Motor Parkway opened in 1906 for the Vanderbilt Cup Races. This notoriety brought people to the town; as well as businesses; restaurants; and hotels; most notably the world-renowned Beau Sejour; which catered to aristocrats; socialites; and movie stars. The name Central Park was eventually changed back to Bethpage in 1936. Long Island State Parks commissioner Robert Moses soon opened the Bethpage State Park; with its five golf courses. Bethpage gained recognition for being the longtime home of the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation; producers of Navy fighter aircraft and the Apollo lunar module; which landed men on the moon. Bethpage retains its sense of pride in its rich and historic heritage.
#754101 in eBooks 2005-05-01 2005-03-23File Name: B0014DDEBE
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Must read on Kansas City JazzBy AlmalPaints a vivid picture of an often overlooked piece of jazz history.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Jeremy BrownBy JeremyCovers the right ground. I like what the authors accomplished here. They unearthed forgotten KC artists and tied them in with known stories. They wrote a new. relevant jazz history book. My one complaint is that they focused too much on Birds drug use when covering him. It shouldnt be avoided. but Id like to read as much about Birds music as I did about Andy Kirk and Bennie Motens.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not well written but still a good readBy Keith C. JonesThe material is thorough and well researched. My only complaint is the writing is stilted. It reads the way one of my freshman English papers did. But everything you would want to know about Kansas City Jazz is here.
