Hempstead Village Mayor Don Ryan today announced that plans are well under way to celebrate this year’s 375th anniversary of the founding of the Village of Hempstead. According to Mayor Ryan, a committee under the direction of Dr. Sedgwick Easley is developing an incredible program of events that residents of all ages can look forward to throughout 2018.
“Based on what I’ve been hearing, residents are in for a special treat as we mark this historic occasion,” said Mayor Ryan. “I know Dr. Easley and the committee will do a great job and I can’t wait until things get under way in the coming weeks.”
According to Dr. Easley, “The 375th Anniversary Committee is hard at work putting together all of the details needed to ensure that the activities we have planned are representative of the Village of Hempstead’s 375-year history.” Monthly events are slated to begin in February and will culminate in a major celebration at the end of September. Activities in the works include honorary street renamings, historical walking tours, a time capsule, and more.
Hempstead Village, a book about the Village’s history, which has been written by Village Historian Reine Bethany and which contains a foreword by Mayor Ryan, will be published on March 19, 2018. The book is part of the Images of America series produced by Arcadia Publishing. A book launch and book signing will be included in the 375th anniversary festivities.
Details about the 375th anniversary can be found on a specially created website: www.hempstead375.com. There, residents will find a wealth of information including upcoming events, historical overviews and timeline, ways to get involved and additional news about the 375th anniversary. The website will be updated throughout the year so residents are encouraged to check back periodically to stay apprised of scheduled events and activities. Information about the 375th anniversary will also spread via eblasts and the Village’s social media platforms. Printed literature will be mailed and posted at locations around the village to further promote the various events and activities as well. Residents can also visit the Village of Hempstead’s main website at www.villageofhempstead.org for access to village government, services and a variety of other useful subject matter.
The Village of Hempstead’s origins go back to December 13, 1643, when representatives of Long Island’s original inhabitants, led by Sachem Tackapousha of the Marsapeag group, signed an agreement with Reverend Robert Fordham and John Carman. The agreement stipulated conditions for use of 64,000 acres of mid-Long Island by the incoming English settlers represented by Fordham and Carman. The core meeting site of these early settlers became Hempstead Village.