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Covered with photos dating back to the 1800s, the walls of Tim’s Shipwreck Diner is filled with Northport’s history. But the restaurant, housed in a steel rail dining car which arrived on a flatbed on the Long Island Rail Road in 1912, is just as much a part of village lore. 
 Holding a steaming cup of coffee up to his mouth, a customer on Tuesday noted the reliable basket of lollipops filled to the rim and stacked jars of homemade jam on the counter. 
 It’s the usual flavor of the place — waiters calling customers by name and delivering complementary pieces of homemade cheesecake or carrot cake following lunch. 
 Born and raised in East Northport, Tim Hess grew up at the diner watching his father Otto build a reputation for the place, which at the time was called Otto’s Shipwreck Diner. 
 Tim Hess said his father bought the diner where it sits in 1973 after walking by and seeing a “For Sale” sign up on the window, the diner vacant inside. He purchased it for $10,000. It was called Northport Diner when its previous owner ran the diner after the dining car was delivered from Massachusetts. Neither Tim Hess nor the Northport Historical Society know exactly when the diner originally opened. 
 After 23 years of ownership, his father passed the business down to him in 1996 -- hence the name change. Since then the diner’s history has only gained in stature. The 1997 film “In &amp; Out,” starring Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck and Matt Dillon, was shot inside the diner for seven days, with producers paying Tim Hess $10,000 a day, he said. 
 “You can’t get this anywhere else,” said Hess, 54. “The whole village knows where to get a good home-cooked meal and to catch up with their neighbors. There’s nowhere like it.” 
 Its most popular dish? Marion’s blintzes, a crepe-like dessert named after Hess’ mom, filled with cheese and topped with strawberries, oranges and bananas, plus a dollop of sour cream. Otto Hess is now retired, but Marion Hess still makes her signature item at the diner. 
 Debi Triola said the diner has always reminded her of a Norman Rockwell painting, much like quaint Main Street. 
 “The diner is just so typical of Northport,” said Triola, president of the Northport Chamber of Commerce, who admits her addiction to the diner’s pancakes. “It’s a neat old place that’s kept its flavor over the years.” 
 Two of its biggest fans, Vin and Jeanette Riley, married for 55 years, have been eating at the diner for 25 years, since they moved to the area. At least twice a week, Vin orders breakfast for lunch and Jeanette has a shrimp salad followed by dessert. 
 “They’re like family,” said Jeanette Riley, 76, of East Northport. Her husband Vin, 78, nodded with agreement. “I wish they stayed open longer. I could stay here all day.” 
 Her eyes lit up, savoring the sweet carrot cake and licking the whipped cream from her lips.

Dining car-turned-diner served Tom Selleck

Northport diner started as dining car, ended up in movie 'In & Out'

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It’s my last day in Northport, and boy, it’s been quite a journey. 
 As far as today goes, I’ll be at the farmers market until 1 p.m., so be sure to catch me at the end of Main Street near the harbor for that. 
 I will be updating this blog post with feed of Instagram photos from the market. If you have any last-minute suggestions, feel free to reach out to me by email at <a href="mailto:brittany.wait@newsday.com">brittany.wait@newsday.com</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/brittanywait">Twitter</a>, as well. 
 Looking back on this week, taking a tour of the harbor with Dave Weber Jr., of Seymour’s Boatyard was a perfect start, along with walking down Main Street with Mayor George Doll and dropping in at Caffe Portofino about four times each day for a caffeine fix. 
 I learned more about the running culture in Northport than I ever thought possible simply by taking a 5-mile walk along the last part of the Great Cow Harbor 10K route with a friendly bunch that meet up to walk together on Wednesday mornings. 
 I have to thank Heather Johnson, director of the Northport Historical Society, for her help quickly digging up historic photos and information for me, even when she was busy. It was great checking out the two exhibits, “Our Stories: The History of a Community” and “The Lives and Works of Northport’s Early Photographers.” 
 (If you’re interested in heirlooms and antiques, well, you’re in luck. The historical society’s Northport Heirloom Antiques Weekend is Nov. 1-3. For more information on the antique-filled weekend, contact the historical society at <a href="mailto:info@northporthistorical.org">info@northporthistorical.org</a>.) 
 As for everyone else, I thank you for being so helpful throughout the week. I tasted great food, found myself with great company and was lucky enough to have the best weather. 
 Don’t forget to read all about the walking club, a feature on Gil Harris, a 73-year-old Northporter <a href="http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/long-island-now-1.1732330/classroom-visit-leads-to-northport-man-73-getting-high-school-diploma-1.6028280">who received his high school diploma recently</a>, and a story later on Tim’s Shipwreck Diner. 
 Other than that, Northport, I wish you a fond farewell. Till next time. 
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Northport Focus: Farmers market pictorial

Town Focus: Day 5 in Northport

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On a Seattle-bound train in 1999, Gil Harris happily disclosed fond memories of serving in the Navy from 1957 to 1963 to a writer he met on the trip despite never finding out her name. Two weeks later, he received a letter from that same woman translating his own recollections into writing. 
 Shortly after, that one-page letter later inspired him to write a 10-page detailed account of his Navy days serving on two destroyer ships and making it through two hurricanes at sea. 
 Harris, a Northport resident and member of the Greenlawn American Legion Post 1244, volunteered to speak to eighth graders at Oldfield Middle School last Feb. 21, providing them copies of his story. 
 His willingness to share his service experience with young people led to him -- at the age of 73 -- finally receiving his high school diploma during Harborfields High School’s 2013 graduation ceremony on June 22. 
 “I was a little nervous. I wasn’t 17 anymore,” said Harris of the graduation ceremony. “But the kids cheered and hollered for me. I had tears in my eyes, touched by what they did for me.” 
 He had dropped out of Kings Park High School, one credit shy of graduation, at age 17, after his father died of a heart attack on Father’s Day in 1955 at age 51. To support his mother and five siblings, he picked up a job as a cook at a diner, earning 35 cents an hour. 
 Post Commander Bob Santo said Harborfields High School Principal Rory Manning found out about Harris’ classroom visit. Manning got in touch with Harris though the Legion and told him he was eligible for a “Life Experience” diploma, awarded through a state program to military veterans based on their knowledge and experiences serving in the military. 
 “It was a great and proud moment for the Legion to see him walk the stage that day,” said Santo, 68, of Huntington. “All our guys are really proud of what he accomplished.” 
 His wife of 33 years, Maddalena Harris, said he’s been a hard worker his whole life. After his service in the Navy, her husband worked 35 years as a supervisor at the Kings Park Psychiatric Center and volunteered at the Kings Park Fire Department, as well as with the Legion. 
 “He needed to finish school, but he put his family’s needs above his own,” she said. “That’s just how he is. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s put everyone first.” 
 In reminiscing about his life, he said he wouldn’t change a thing. Walking across the stage that day and receiving his diploma after all these years, he said, felt was a gift. 
 “Through all the hardships I’ve had in my life, I learned to be a better person,” he said. “I didn’t learn about life from paper, but instead from meeting people and experiencing.” 
 The last part of the letter he received in 1999 summed up his pride for how his life turned out even after losing his father so suddenly, he said. 
 “Gone ashore for good, we will brag about our Navy days, when the seas belonged to us and a new port of call was ever over the horizon,” it read. “I will stand taller and say, ‘I was a sailor. I was part of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Navy will always be a part of me.’”

LIer, 73, visits class, ends up with HS diploma

Classroom visit leads to Northport man, 73, getting high school diploma

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At Northport’s most recent Memorial Day parade, it occurred to Deputy Mayor Henry Tobin and other officials that the proudly displayed plaques at the harbor acknowledged all wars but the two most recent. They decided to change that. 
 In a ceremony to honor the service and sacrifices of those who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Northport American Legion Post 694 and village officials will unveil a memorial plaque on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the end of Main Street at the harbor. 
 “I felt it was time to put up a memorial for those who gave their services in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Tobin, chairman of the organizing committee in charge of planning the ceremony. “We wanted the dedication to be as close to Sept. 11 as possible.” 
 The ceremony will include a presentation of colors by the Boy Scouts of America troop 410, the Northport American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1469, Marine Corps League and the United States Coast Guard based in Eatons Neck. 
 The new memorial is in line with Northport’s history as a community that embraces its veterans. 
 Village Trustee Damon McMullen, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard in the 1970s and was involved in search and rescue efforts in Montauk, said the community’s support has always been noticeable. 
 “It’s important as these wars are winding down that we recognize what these men and women did for their country, so I thought this was an excellent idea,” said McMullen, a lifelong resident of Northport. “Honestly, I haven’t met anyone in this community who hasn’t been supportive of our vets.” 
 Northport High School’s Northport Chorale will sing “The Star Spangled Banner,” following the Pledge of Allegiance and later perform “America, the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.” After officials make their remarks, a reception at the Northport Fire Department will follow. 
 When McMullen’s son Damon served a tour in 2004 in Iraq with the 69th New York Fighting Irish brigade, he began a Troop Fund to send supplies to his son’s brigade and later his nephew’s. 
 “Northport raised $3,500 to send his unit a welder to weld armor onto their Humvees, which helped protect them,” he said. “And at one point we raised enough to send over protective combat goggles, which ultimately helped save my nephew’s life.” 
 Over the last decade, McMullen said that fund has enabled him to send nearly $500,000 worth of supplies to troops overseas. 
 McMullen also said that having the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center in their neighborhood has benefited the community, increasing support for local veterans. 
 “Since the VA formed it has always be very active in supporting veterans here in Northport,” he said. “Having it in your community really does bring it closer to home in the sense that there are veterans that need help right here.” 
 East Northport’s Mario Buonpane, 81, a Korean War veteran, said not only has the community of Northport and Huntington shown kindness toward veterans, but veterans also try to return the kindness they received by doing their part for their community. 
 Buonpane spends his time at the Northport VA visiting injured veterans. His post also started the annual Veterans Cup Golf Tournament at the center, raising a total of $100,000 since 1997, enabling veterans to attend national recreation events. 
 “This plaque will bring even more pride to the community than before,” said Buonpane, chairman of the Huntington Veteran’s Advisory Board and past commander of the Northport American Legion. “I’m so proud to be a part of this community.”

Northport to honor recent war veterans

Northport to honor veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan

More than halfway done with our Town Focus in Northport and we still have lots to do. 
 Earlier Thursday I met with Jim Mahoney, chairman of the Northport American Legion, and got a sneak peek of the renovations being done to Post 694, which is expected to be completed by Christmas. As of now, the whole building is gutted, with insulation and equipment everywhere. An elevator will be put in, the electric wiring upgraded and the legion will eventually have a new kitchen and a meeting room to fit 200 members. 
 After that I met with Northport Volunteer Fire Department chief Chris Hughes to discuss the department’s 125th anniversary celebration in October 2014. He said it’s a good way to commemorate the work the department has done for the community over the years. 
 “This department is tight-knight and there are a lot of family legacies here,” said Hughes, a member of the department for 15 years and its 50th fire chief. 
 There will be a parade that will run from Laurel Avenue down Main Street to the harbor where there will be live music. The department will be selling $50 books with pages filled with historical accounts from past fire chiefs, and copies of a painting on sale of the fire house by local artist Jo-Ann Corretti. 
 Still to come this week: A story on Lisa Harris, who franchises her own healthy breakfast cookies, and Tim’s Shipwreck Diner, which has more history than you think. 
 And if you missed it, you can check out <a href="http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/long-island-now-1.1732330/walkers-spend-wednesdays-tackling-cow-harbor-route-1.6018757">a feature posted earlier</a> on a group of people who have been a part of a walking club since 2007 that practices together for the Great Cow Harbor 10k. 
 Continue to reach out. Your suggestions have all been helpful. You can reach me by email at brittany.wait@newsday.com. Stay in the loop during my travels by checking out my live updates, or follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/BrittanyWait">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/brittanyhwait#">Instagram</a>. 
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Northport fire dept. full of 'family legacies'

Town Focus: Day 3 in Northport

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After waking at sunrise, they drove to Northport Harbor, parked their cars and began walking briskly through its sleepy Main Street, continuing on nearby streets of the village, never taking for granted the captivating scenic views of the harbor and foliage en route. 
 Walking the last five miles of the annual Great Cow Harbor 10K race — a national race in Northport that draws nearly 5,500 runners and more than 25,000 spectators — 10 residents from Northport, Centerport and Greenlawn practice the route every Wednesday morning. 
 Calling themselves the Walking Club since 2007, they not only walk part of the route to practice for this year's race on Sept. 21, but also walk at other nearby places Fridays and Sundays. Most members of the group will run the race. 
 Its founder and leader, Barry Aronowsky, decided to form the club after using the route to train for a hiking trip in Costa Rica. And after spending most his life running marathons, he said it was time to slow down, especially after injuring his neck falling off his bike in 2010. 
 “After the trip, a bunch of us continued walking, and as mentioned by word-of-mouth the group continued to grow since its inception six years ago,” said Aronowsky, 72, of Greenlawn. “The best part for me is being out in the fresh air to clear my mind.” 
 Sometimes they leave Northport and take the train to walk across the Triborough and Brooklyn bridges, said Aronowsky, also a member of the Northport and Greater Long Island running clubs. 
 At 8 a.m. Wednesday, the group made its way from the Town Dock parking lot, up Main Street to Route 25A, turned left onto Waterside Avenue to Eatons Neck Road to Ocean Avenue and down the “infamous” hill that is James Street to Bayview Avenue to the harbor. 
 A member of the group, Lynn Spivak, met Aronowsky in 2008 at a spin class at Forever Fit Gym in Centerport. From then on, she’s been walking with the group twice a week. 
 “It’s great exercise when you don’t have time to go to the gym and it gives us an opportunity to socialize,” said Spivak, 65, of Centerport. “It’s mine and my husband Steve’s walking family. It’s allowed us to meet people with like interests outside of our community. I like that.” 
 Spivak, who retired as director of hearing and speech at Long Island Jewish Center in New Hyde Park two years ago, said she uses the walks to also prepare mentally for the 10K. 
 Another member of the group, Greg Taha, a Palestinian who has lived in Northport since 1979, has run the Cow Harbor race each year for more than a decade. Taha met Aronowsky at the race in 2000 and they have been running or walking together locally ever since. At one point, they would run 22 miles from Greenlawn to Port Jefferson. 
 “Barry is tough on us. He wouldn’t let us eat a bagel with cream cheese until we walked or ran at least 10 miles,” said Taha, 68. “He’s the glue that holds us together, in shape and healthy. I’m so much happier keeping active with this group.

Walkers tackle Cow Harbor route weekly

Walkers spend Wednesdays tackling Cow Harbor route

Early Wednesday morning, I got a small taste of the Cow Harbor 10K Race. And by that I mean I slowly trailed behind 10 dedicated veteran runners as they walked five miles of the route. 
 The scenic views, great company and early-morning workout made for quite the experience. Look for more on the walking club in a story we’ll post Thursday. 
 After that, I met with Heather Johnson, director of the Northport Historical Society, who gave me a taste of Northport’s history through the society's exhibits on display: “Our Stories: The History of a Community” and “The Lives and Works of Northport’s Early Photographers.” 
 “The people who helped build the community of Northport were extraordinary,” Johnson said. “The ‘Our Stories’ exhibit allows their stories of accomplishment to tell our history. The other exhibit provides black-and-white photos of Northport taken by local and visiting photographers during the 1800s and 1900s.” 
 In the mid-19th century, Northport entered its golden age of shipbuilding, according to Johnson. Jesse Carll became Northport's master shipbuilder, opening a shipyard that once built record-breaking vessels where the village’s gazebo now stands. 
 If you’re interested in learning more about Northport’s beginnings, check out <a href="http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/northport-a-harbor-of-transformation-1.6006416">this story</a> on the village’s history, originally published as part of Newsday’s 1998 series “Long Island: Our Story.” 
 And, at lunch, I met Debi Triola, president of the Northport Chamber of Commerce, and she filled me in on the downtown scene. 
 “The last five years have been tough on small businesses, but we’ve weathered the tough economic storm, and our biggest problem is parking,” said Triola, who owns Fashion in Flowers in Northport. “But that’s good. It means businesses are busy.” 
 Look for a feature related to Tim’s Shipwreck Diner on Thursday. It wasn’t just its most popular dish, homemade cheese blintzes, that caught my attention. Now stationary between two buildings, it used to be a functional trolley car in the 1900s. 
 As always, it would be especially nice to have your help learning more about Northport during the rest of my week here. You can easily reach me by email at <a href="mailto:brittany.wait@newsday.com">brittany.wait@newsday.com.</a> 
 Stay in the loop during my travels this week and into the weekend by looking for my frequent updates, or follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/brittanywait">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/brittanyhwait">Instagram</a>.&nbsp; 
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Shipbuilding history shaped present-day Northport

Town Focus: Day 2 in Northport

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From its history of shipbuilding and sand mining to its now quaint downtown and thriving waterfront, the village of Northport continues to amaze me. 
 Though I’m just finishing the first of five days here, I’ve learned so much about Northport already. 
 Under the threat of dark clouds, I still made it out for a scenic tour of the harbor with Dave Weber Jr., general manager of Seymour’s Boatyard. It was gorgeous even in fog. 
 I was told to check out a favorite spot, Tim’s Shipwreck Diner, owned by Tim Hess, 54, of East Northport. Hess suggested I first try his most popular dish, his mother’s homemade cheese blintzes, a crepe-like dessert with fruit, sour cream and jam. My review in one word? Heavenly. 
 Later in the afternoon, I toured Main Street with Mayor George Doll, popping into his go-to place for tools and supplies, Northport Hardware Company, in business since 1983 and co-owned by Jim Reichert. I’d say buffalo and deer heads hanging from the wall near the checkout counter make for a most interesting shopping experience. 
 As I explore Northport this week and into the weekend, send me suggestions of places to visit, spots for lunch and activities to try. I need your help in learning about Northport. Feel free to let me know if there’s anything you’ve always wanted to know about the community. You can email me at brittany.wait@newsday.com. 
 Be sure to join me on my travels throughout the week and into Saturday by looking for my frequent updates below, or follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/brittanywait">Twitter</a>, @brittanywait, and <a href="http://instagram.com/brittanyhwait">Instagram</a>, @brittanyhwait. 
 And make sure to check out our gallery of historic photos of Northport, posted <a href="http://www.newsday.com/historic-photos-of-northport-1.6006562#1">here</a>. &nbsp; 
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Even in fog, Northport charm shines

Town Focus: Day 1 in Northport

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The Village of Northport is a step closer to receiving county funding for an information kiosk that it wants to construct downtown, officials said. 
 The Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Citizen's Advisory Board has approved the village's $15,500 application for grant funding, and now that project, along with several others, will go the county legislature for approval beginning in October, according to a statement from county Legis. William Spencer's office. 
 The plan is to construct an 8-foot by 7-foot kiosk building and two kiosk boards in Northport Park, near the entrance by the parking lot. They will provide information about the businesses and services available in the village, officials said. 
 "It is also a friendly, personal way of welcoming people, and that is the real spirit of Northport," Deputy Mayor Henry Tobin said. 
 Tobin said the Northport Chamber of Commerce has discussed putting up an information booth or kiosk for about 12 years. 
 Spencer (D-Centerport) said in the statement that the goal of the county's downtown revitalization program is to "create positive economic impacts on our communities through sales tax increases and job creation." 
 "Making Northport Village an even more attractive and vibrant place to visit, shop and enjoy family and friends is a smart way to not only improve our quality of life, but also to improve the economy of the county as a whole," Spencer said. 
 The county funds are awarded on a competitive grant basis using a merit-based scoring system. Applicants receive points for leveraging of additional funds, economic impact, reasonable expectation of completion, overall downtown improvement and proximity to downtown.

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Northport a step closer to information kiosk

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The first Europeans known to have seen Northport were Dutch sailors exploring the Long Island coast in 1650. The harbor has continued to play a pivotal role in local history ever since. 
When the white explorers came, the area was already the home of Matinecocks who camped along streams and called the area Opcathontyche, meaning Wading Place Creek. In 1656, Asharoken, head of the Matinecocks, sold land in the area to settlers from Huntington who cleared it for farms. The area at that point was called Great Cow Harbor, presumably because of the unusual proximity of cattle pastures to the harbor mouth. 
By the Revolution there were 31 families, including Bryant Skidmore, whose house at 529 Main St. still stands. Although British troops occupied the area, the only bloodshed came in 1781 when Joseph Buffet was killed when he and his slaves tried to recover livestock taken by a raiding party. Meanwhile, what is now called Crab Meadow Beach was the site of an important Revolutionary moment. In 1781, 100 American raiders in whaleboats from Connecticut landed at the beach and burned the British Fort Slongo. (For more details about this battle, see the history of Fort Salonga in the Smithtown part of this section.) 
After the war, Great Cow Harbor began to grow rapidly. A new settlement grew at Red Hook, where today's Main Street and Route 25A intersect. Sailing vessels carried cordwood to New York and returned with horse manure for fertilizer. 
After Woodbine Avenue was fashioned out of a dirt trail, the business district, including the post office, shifted from Red Hook to the harbor. The name Northport first appears in town records of 1837, though there is no record of how it was selected. 
The harbor took on one of its most important roles - and began to take its present-day shape - during the War of 1812, when shipyards began to appear along Bayview Avenue. By 1840 shipbuilding had become the community's first major industry. 
Its most successful shipbuilder was Jesse Carll, who in 1855 set up shop at the intersection of Bayview Avenue and Main Street, site of the current village park. Carll remained the leading shipbuilder in Northport until 1890; his son Jesse continued to run the yard until 1918. 
Ultimately, Northport turned out more than 200 sailing vessels by the time the industry waned in the late 1800s, when steel hulls, for which the local yards were unsuited, began to replace wood, and improved roads diminished the need for coastal trading vessels. 
The late 19th Century brought ferries from New York City and an increase in visitors that filled boarding houses built earlier in the century. But it was another maritime trade, one that survives today, that came to dominate the harbor. Shellfishing developed in 1848 when oyster beds were discovered in Northport Bay. The catch was processed on docks along Bayview Avenue. By the turn of the century, oystermen had banded together to form Long Island Oyster Farms Inc., which survived until 1990. 
In 1881, Edward Thompson, who had been a successful oysterman, and James Cockcroft established the Edward Thompson Law Book Co., which eventually was housed in a large brick building at the corner of Woodbine and Scudder Avenues. The Thompson firm published the country's first legal encyclopedia and its law books were shipped around the world. The company moved to Brooklyn in the 1930s, but not before its staff of lawyers had a major impact on the village's development into a modern community. In 1894, the law-book people led the drive that made Northport the first incorporated village in the Town of Huntington; they also developed its fire department, the public library - an original Andrew Carnegie library, in 1914 - and a debating society. 
In 1895, the Thompson principals brought electricity to the community. They started the Northport Electric Light Co., which built a steam-powered plant where Cow Harbor Park is located now. In 1911, the Northport utility along with ones in Islip, Amityville and Sayville merged to form Long Island Lighting Co. 
One industry tied to the harbor that wore out its welcome was sand mining. In the 1950s residents battled the Steers Sand and Gravel Co., which had been operating in the village since 1923, about the company's removal of the sand and gravel from the foot of Steers Avenue. The sand pit was halted just short of Ocean Avenue, and "the pit," as locals still refer to it, became a housing development. 
In 1867, when the Long Island Rail Road was extended from Syosset to Northport, a station was established in the village, near where the King Kullen shopping center is now. It lasted only six years, however: In 1873 the station was moved to East Northport. An electric trolley ran from the business district to the train station from 1902 to 1924, and some of the tracks remain. A horse-drawn trolley operated in the '70s and '80s as a weekend tourist attraction. 
By 1920, the waterfront, which had played such a critical role in Northport's history, had fallen into decay after a century of heavy commercial use. The village purchased land along the harbor and created Northport Memorial Park in 1932. That set the stage for the Northport that visitors see today. Where to Find More: Village historian Barbara Johnson at the Northport-East Northport Public Library, and the Northport Historical Society Museum.

Northport: A harbor of transformation

Town Focus: Village of Northport

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