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Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
February 2 5 ,2010, BEACON NEWSPAPER • 3 bv Carolyn Jame& 1 aking down the makeshift sheetrock and panel ing in the Old 'J own Hall rc\ ealh the beautiful, origi nal architecture and, for anyone who listens, there is the distinct sound of history whispering a sigh o f And, theie aie wonderful Mirpi ises Some of the original 1917 construction includes the old- fashioned push button light switches and dramatic molding set against high ceilings, there is a clear marking on the floor in the basement where the po lice reception desk once stood, and an old generator that powered the stately municipal hall is dirty and dilute, but intact As par t of the research done on the building, the Town learned that the old lad cell doors, that were once in the basement, were donated to the Suffolk County Police Museum Town officials are working on a proposal to have them returned in exchange for the old cell doors that were sab aged by the Village o f AmityviUe when its police building was tom down last year If the exchange moves forward, the Town will i estoi e the duots, which date back to the 1870s, and put them back into the space that is clearly de fined bv markings, which can still be seen on the the original jail cells came from the fire depart ment building that was located on Grove Place in Babylon, where the American legion Hall now stands. A portion of that building was used by the town constables in the late 19th Century, and the three holding cells were located there When the and used as a photography studio for its owner, Bill Higgins. It was dedicated as an historic site in 2005. When the Town experienced major growth fol lowing World War II, the need for more space at its Town Hall became apparent The Town Board pro posed! a referendum asking if the Town should build anew fadhty, Babylon Village had become a hub of business and legal activity as a result o f having the Town Hall in the middle o f its Village, and Babylon Village was the only Village or hamlet in the Town to reject construction o f a new building. All others approved the new building, which was eventually built where Town Hall building was constructed, they were relo cated to the basement there the building is revealed, the integrity' o f the original de is looking to preserve, in the midst of the process, Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellonc said that the work will be done in time for a June celebration, which will also commemorate the 100th anniver sary o f the trolley that allowed travelers to go from Huntington to Babylon. Almost all o f the work is being down bv Town em ployees, under the direction of the Town’s Historian Thomas B. Smith, its Historical Archivist Mary Gas- cone, and its architect Joel C Snodgrass o f Historic little in term» of major renovation or construc tion was done to the budding during the time that Higgins owned it, which helped to preserve its in tegnty, and Us history, said Bellone. As each wall comes down, more of that history is unveiled and it is that history that the Town will document in a museum and as part o f an interactive walking tour through the building. In the meantime, Town officials are asking that anyone who has photographs o f or other memora bilia from the building and who would like to lend or donate it to the new museum to contact Cascone at 631 -893-2119 project’s architect “ (hey had grand plans that were later scaled hack, likely because o f cost, but it was built to last and once we restoi e it, this building will last an other 100 years.” “This is Babylon's history—the people’s history— and we are very fortunate to have had the opportunity to bring it back into the public's hands,” said Bellone, who made purchasing thebuilding one o f hi» priorities when first elected more than a decade ago. The building was used as Babylon Town Hall and the Town’s Police Headquarters from the 1920s until the 1950s, prior to the e$tabU»hment o f the Readers a m go to this stúry online a t vtww babylon beacon.com, d ick on the icon and watch the video. í l / á J - J 1V, , , » l j ' t r f f r f r h r . f f f ' t ■ * # *•« * . . . » * . , . . . fV j-V f f
