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june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Thought some of this stuff is interesting!
Levittown started as potato farms. It was originally called Island Trees.
The price of a Levitt home was less then 8000.00  It came with a brand new washer and some had a built in 12' TV under the steps 
Levitt had an assembly line kind of. 30 houses could be built in a day.. It was a 27 step process.
There are several Levittowns. First one (1947) In NY. Pennsylvania, New Jersey (later The NJ Levittown was changed to Willingboro) and there is a Levittown in Puerto Rico.
The Lockhorns cartoon strip were called The Lockhorns of Levittown.
A Levittown upbringing fueled cartoonist Bill Griffith's bizarre and disturbing imagination, which manifests itself in his ``Zippy the Pinhead'' cartoon series.
Bill O'reilly is from Levittown... BUT Westbury later annexed it.
Billy Joel is from Levittown... Hicksville later annexed it.
Billy Joel wrote Captain Jack about growing up in Levittown He had a song called "levittown" but he changed it to Allentown. And of course scenes from Italian resturant talks about hanging out the village green
Eddie Money went to Island Trees. (my best friends uncle was in his band and he lived with her family for a while  )
There was a documentary that came out in 1997 called wonderland that didn't make Levittowners look to well
Levitt wouldn't let anyone put fences up and would knock on your door if he didn't like the way your lawn looked. If your grass was to long he'd have someone cut it and send you the bill. No laundry could be hung outside on sunday's.
In the 80's my house (well my parents house) was featured in Money magazine as an original levitt. We still have the magazine it was really cool
  
Message edited 1/30/2007 3:42:58 AM.
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Posted 1/30/07 12:48 AM  |
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Teri
my girls!
Member since 2/06 1491 total posts
Name:
Teri
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
there was a whole article in last weekend's Newsday about the anniversary of the town....there will be a replica of the original 1st floor of a Levitt's home on display in a museum in Stonybrook next month.
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| Posted 1/30/07 8:12 AM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by Teri
there was a whole article in last weekend's Newsday about the anniversary of the town....there will be a replica of the original 1st floor of a Levitt's home on display in a museum in Stonybrook next month.
I saw that too- they said the smithsonian looked high and low to find an unmodified levitt house to put on display as a museum but could not. They said that is what Levitt had in mind - that the houses would be changed and customized by each owner. It originally also a racist neighborhood - did you see that part?
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| Posted 1/30/07 8:28 AM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
My mom bought her house the year of the 50th anniversary of Levittown and the NY Times did a whole page on her and my sisters.
LInk 
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| Posted 1/30/07 8:32 AM |
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Teri
my girls!
Member since 2/06 1491 total posts
Name:
Teri
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by SweetTooth
Posted by Teri
there was a whole article in last weekend's Newsday about the anniversary of the town....there will be a replica of the original 1st floor of a Levitt's home on display in a museum in Stonybrook next month.
I saw that too- they said the smithsonian looked high and low to find an unmodified levitt house to put on display as a museum but could not. They said that is what Levitt had in mind - that the houses would be changed and customized by each owner. It originally also a racist neighborhood - did you see that part?
yep! I had heard about that before (that Levitt was a racist). What really surprised me was that his comments implied he was just doing what the public wanted or covering his butt for finanical reasons
It's still a very interesting part of history though - I want to check out that display.
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| Posted 1/30/07 8:39 AM |
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kerrycec03
Mom of 2 beautiful boys!!
Member since 6/06 13519 total posts
Name:
Kerry
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
I actually find the whole history of levittown facinating. The first American Suburb, and it happened here on Long Island! I've done tons of research and actually wrote a college paper on Levittown.
And as for the racism, yes it was, but in the 1940's a lot of Long Island communities sadly were. It was a different time. I read a whole article on Wyndanch that basically was a community that was racist but in the reverse sense. Do some google research, it quite interesting.
Message edited 1/30/2007 9:03:28 AM.
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| Posted 1/30/07 8:55 AM |
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Eleanor
LIF Adult
Member since 2/06 2223 total posts
Name:
Ellie
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
The old HS (Memorial?) has a Levittown museum in it and the original kitchen in it. I wonder if that's what they are using at SB?
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| Posted 1/30/07 9:16 AM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by kerrycec03
I actually find the whole history of levittown facinating. The first American Suburb, and it happened here on Long Island! I've done tons of research and actually wrote a college paper on Levittown.
And as for the racism, yes it was, but in the 1940's a lot of Long Island communities sadly were. It was a different time. I read a whole article on Wyndanch that basically was a community that was racist but in the reverse sense. Do some google research, it quite interesting.
Oh yes, I wasn't commenting that we shouldn't consider the history of Levittown to be disregarded because he was a racist, I thought it added to the interest of the story.
Did you know that Brentwood was started as a Utopian community? It was called "Modern Times" and it was way before Levitt even thought about making LI a suburb, he wasn't even born yet.
Brentwood history
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| Posted 1/30/07 9:17 AM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by kerrycec03
And as for the racism, yes it was, but in the 1940's a lot of Long Island communities sadly were. It was a different time. I read a whole article on Wyndanch that basically was a community that was racist but in the reverse sense. Do some google research, it quite interesting.
I agree, I was stunned to learn that the KKK was VERY active on LI for a while. Newsday article on the KKK and LI
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| Posted 1/30/07 9:17 AM |
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patchyfogg
LIF Infant
Member since 1/06 328 total posts
Name:
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
The "Island Trees" were a landmark that pilots used to start their turn and approach to the local landing strip.
Today, the Friendly's on Hempstead Turnpike is where The Trees were.
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| Posted 1/30/07 10:06 AM |
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karacg
Babygirl is 4!
Member since 5/05 17076 total posts
Name:
Kara®
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
DH and I call all the revamped Levitt houses "McLevitts"...
SIL lives there.
Target used to be orchards and apparently when they started cutting down all the trees, all the rats and other vermin came out and into the houses...Levittown was overrun for a while 
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| Posted 1/30/07 10:26 AM |
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mrsmck
Be a big girl!
Member since 5/05 4898 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
When we first started house-hunting, Eddie Money's (real name Mahoney)childhood home was up for sale. the family later changed their mind about selling.
Eddie's brother is Dan Mahoney, an author who writes police mysteries.
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| Posted 1/30/07 10:54 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by karacg
Target used to be orchards and apparently when they started cutting down all the trees, all the rats and other vermin came out and into the houses...Levittown was overrun for a while
I thought they used to be corn fields. That's what everyone called it, "the Cornfields" like it was one word. 
We used to walk through there from the HS over to McDonalds - there were motorbike trails, old burned out cars and garbage dumped in there...
Also on that corner, was where the carnival always used to setup, and where they sold Christmas trees in the winter. I was kinda sad when they put up the Target. It was like the last open space on Hempstead Turnpike was gone.
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| Posted 1/30/07 1:04 PM |
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june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by Teri
there was a whole article in last weekend's Newsday about the anniversary of the town....there will be a replica of the original 1st floor of a Levitt's home on display in a museum in Stonybrook next month.
No way really. How cool!
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| Posted 1/30/07 1:49 PM |
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june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by greenfreak
Posted by karacg
Target used to be orchards and apparently when they started cutting down all the trees, all the rats and other vermin came out and into the houses...Levittown was overrun for a while
I thought they used to be corn fields. That's what everyone called it, "the Cornfields" like it was one word.
We used to walk through there from the HS over to McDonalds - there were motorbike trails, old burned out cars and garbage dumped in there...
Also on that corner, was where the carnival always used to setup, and where they sold Christmas trees in the winter. I was kinda sad when they put up the Target. It was like the last open space on Hempstead Turnpike was gone.
Yup the good old cornfields.... I remember them. My parents house was right off wantagh ave a few blocks from there and I never saw any rats
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| Posted 1/30/07 1:53 PM |
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june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by Gertyrae
My mom bought her house the year of the 50th anniversary of Levittown and the NY Times did a whole page on her and my sisters.
LInk
Thats awesome!
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| Posted 1/30/07 1:54 PM |
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Tumbalina
Better than the news!
Member since 2/06 2840 total posts
Name:
Angela
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
The houses look the same now when you go to buy as in the pic 
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| Posted 1/30/07 7:04 PM |
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megsm3
Life is Good!!
Member since 8/06 3867 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by june262004
Posted by greenfreak
Posted by karacg
Target used to be orchards and apparently when they started cutting down all the trees, all the rats and other vermin came out and into the houses...Levittown was overrun for a while
I thought they used to be corn fields. That's what everyone called it, "the Cornfields" like it was one word.
We used to walk through there from the HS over to McDonalds - there were motorbike trails, old burned out cars and garbage dumped in there...
Also on that corner, was where the carnival always used to setup, and where they sold Christmas trees in the winter. I was kinda sad when they put up the Target. It was like the last open space on Hempstead Turnpike was gone.
Yup the good old cornfields.... I remember them. My parents house was right off wantagh ave a few blocks from there and I never saw any rats
they were cornfields and deserted for many years - except for xmas time when they sold trees
there was a problem with rats though - it was actually the news at one point because it was so bad
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| Posted 1/30/07 8:46 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by megsm3
Posted by june262004
Posted by greenfreak
Posted by karacg
Target used to be orchards and apparently when they started cutting down all the trees, all the rats and other vermin came out and into the houses...Levittown was overrun for a while
I thought they used to be corn fields. That's what everyone called it, "the Cornfields" like it was one word.
We used to walk through there from the HS over to McDonalds - there were motorbike trails, old burned out cars and garbage dumped in there...
Also on that corner, was where the carnival always used to setup, and where they sold Christmas trees in the winter. I was kinda sad when they put up the Target. It was like the last open space on Hempstead Turnpike was gone.
Yup the good old cornfields.... I remember them. My parents house was right off wantagh ave a few blocks from there and I never saw any rats
they were cornfields and deserted for many years - except for xmas time when they sold trees
there was a problem with rats though - it was actually the news at one point because it was so bad
We weren't living here at the time, but DH was with his parents and I remember they said the rats were as big as cats in the newspapers. We called them the rats of Levittown.
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| Posted 1/30/07 9:13 PM |
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SupportACop
Momma's Boy & Lovin' it!!
Member since 5/06 2579 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
LOL That is funny! DH grew up in Levitt and we know the 2 people in that article that bought the house there. Funny!!  Thanks for the article
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| Posted 1/30/07 9:19 PM |
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june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by charon54
Posted by megsm3
Posted by june262004
Posted by greenfreak
Posted by karacg
Target used to be orchards and apparently when they started cutting down all the trees, all the rats and other vermin came out and into the houses...Levittown was overrun for a while
I thought they used to be corn fields. That's what everyone called it, "the Cornfields" like it was one word.
We used to walk through there from the HS over to McDonalds - there were motorbike trails, old burned out cars and garbage dumped in there...
Also on that corner, was where the carnival always used to setup, and where they sold Christmas trees in the winter. I was kinda sad when they put up the Target. It was like the last open space on Hempstead Turnpike was gone.
Yup the good old cornfields.... I remember them. My parents house was right off wantagh ave a few blocks from there and I never saw any rats
they were cornfields and deserted for many years - except for xmas time when they sold trees
there was a problem with rats though - it was actually the news at one point because it was so bad
We weren't living here at the time, but DH was with his parents and I remember they said the rats were as big as cats in the newspapers. We called them the rats of Levittown.
I honestly never saw any THANK GOD. I never saw any while "walkng" (ya walking) through the cornfields...
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| Posted 1/30/07 9:38 PM |
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Michelina627
LIF Adult
Member since 2/06 1071 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
I actually have the original kitchen cabinets - the previous owners hung them in the garage for extra storage... It was so funny seeing the original kitchen in the paper and thinking "wow that's in my garage!"
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| Posted 1/30/07 10:32 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Posted by Michelina627
I actually have the original kitchen cabinets - the previous owners hung them in the garage for extra storage... It was so funny seeing the original kitchen in the paper and thinking "wow that's in my garage!"
DH's parents still have the original cabinets. They are some much more roomy than the newer cabinets.
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| Posted 1/31/07 8:30 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Were the original cabinets the shiny metal ones with the magnets inside to keep them closed? And one metal handle at the bottom of the door?
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| Posted 1/31/07 9:14 AM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
Member since 5/05 17334 total posts
Name:
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Re: Levittowners.... Some L-Town facts...
Looks just like Kernersville, NC looks TODAY
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| Posted 1/31/07 9:27 AM |
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