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THE WAY IT WAS:
I thought you might like to know the history of this building and the area at the four corners formed by the intersection of Main Street and Deer Park Avenue, then known as Babylon's Times Square. On the northwest corner stood the American Hotel which was almost 100 years old, and burned in 1883. The first town board meeting was held there. A store occupied the southeast corner. On the southwest corner stood the Seaman's National Hotel. In 1871, this Village was "buzzing." The Conklin House was moved from the corner to its present location, and the building now standing was built. Hotels were built, and Babylon became a resort area offering all waterfront activities. From an article appearing in the South Side Signal on February 10, 1872, it is noted that over "50 first-class houses will be built in Babylon and vicinity during the next nine months." Dr. Provost purchased the lot on Main and Deer Park Drive to erect a "substantial" threestory building, the first floor to be fitted up and opened as a drug store,..."assured to be first class." The upper floors were to be used as dwellings. Drug stores owned by various persons were housed in this building. As late as the 1930s, when it was operated by Liggett's Drugs, a soda fountain was popular there. Also of note and in my memory, the phone number was Babylon 1. Its last tenant was Town and Country Paint Store. So, watch the progress and I hope knowing a little history of this historic building will make it more meaningful for all of you in our Village.
The above information is given as a result of records held in the Historical Society from articles as follows: History of the Town of Babylon, permission to reproduce from the Huntington Historical Society Babylon Town history published in 1937 and Babylon Leader, 1936 article from South Side Signal, 1872.
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