Breslau Beginnings

Irish immigrant Thomas Welwood married New York native Abby Cornwell in 1843.  Thomas was a real estate broker & an assessor for the Internal Revenue Service.  Around 1867, Abby Welwood began purchasing land surrounding the new South Side Railroad line between Amityville & Babylon.  Although historical accounts credited her with husband with ownership of the properties, Abby was the record owner of the lands that would become Breslau, Lindenhurst & North Lindenhurst.  The Welwoods, their 6 children, & extended family remained based in Brooklyn but spent many weeks & summers in Breslau.  Thomas died in 1892 & Abby in 1903.

Charles S. Schleier was naturalized as a US citizen in 1860.  He came from Breslau, the German name for Wroclaw, the largest city in western Poland.  Breslau was part of the Kingdom of Prussia from the mid-1700's until 1871, when it became part of the German Empire.  Charles owned a Brooklyn wallpaper & decorating business, was active in the local German American community, & published the Kings County edition of the weekly German-language newspaper Wochenblatt der New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung.  In 1869, the Welwoods had their vast land holdings surveyed for building lots, each 25 feet by 100 feet.  The following year, they hired Schleier as manager of their Suffolk County properties; he conceived the concept of the city of Breslau, named after his hometown, & promoted it to the German American community with which he was already familiar.  Schleier opened a real astate office on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, not far from his paper hanging business, & began selling hundreds of building lots, conveniently accessible by train from Brooklyn & New York City. 

This rare glimpse of a steam locomotive emblazoned with "South Side R.R." shows Nehring's Hotel in the background.  The South Side Railroad incorporated in 1860 & opened its line from Jamaica to Babylon in October 1867, passing through the open countryside that would soon be acquired by Abby & Thomas Welwood.  The 1869 timetable identified the railroad stop as "Wellwood", thereby establishing the misspelling of the founders' surname, with 3 eastbound & 4 westbound trains daily.  Announcing a "New German City on Long Island", the February 22, 1870 Brooklyn Daily Eagle stated, "A Building Association,, chiefly of German workmen of New York & Brooklyn, has been formed with the object of building a town called Breslau, at Wellwood Station, on the South Side Railroad, L.I."  The building association, formed by Charles Schleier, offered payment plans for prospective lot owners & home builders.  Railroad access made the Breslau community possible, bringing building materials & prospective buyers from the New York metro area. 

A close-up of the previous photo shows the coal car emblazoned with "South Side R.R." on the side.  Directly behind the coal car is the baggage car.

This Breslau Advertisement is from "Homes on the South Side Railroad of Long Island - For New York Business Men."  In April 1970, a chartered railroad excursion of 2 engines & 22 cars brought nearly 2,000 men, women & children to preview the new community.  Arriving at Breslau, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, "the colonists found a large lever tract of land covered with bushed & the stumps of recently felled trees....Dancing platforms, covered with green pine bought, had also been provided, & extensive arrangements made for a goof time."  Despite bouts of heavy rain during the excursion, the paper concluded, "All in all the route is attractive, & a brilliant future may reasonably be predicted for the entire route (of the South Side Railroad) as well as for the new City of Breslau."  With great anticipation, the formal dedication of Breslau was held on June 6, 1870, reportedly attended by over 3.000 people.  Welwood asserted that about 15,000 lots had already been sold.  Schleier opened the dedication ceremony with some remarks in German to introduce Suffolk County judge John R. Reid of Babylon.

Looking east along the railroad tracks in 1871, the Wagner building & Nehring's Hotel are on the left (north) side of the railroad.  At right are the depot, Gleste's Hotel, & the bank building.  That year, the South Side Signal reported on the Easter ("Pfingst") Monday celebrations: "A special train of 10 passenger coaches brought up about 1,000 people from New York & Brooklyn, while all Long Island was largely represented.  The day was spent pleasantly, without any serious disturbance of drunkenness.  Members of the city & Island press were most hospitably entertained at Nehring's Hotel.  The great day of the year in Breslau comes off on Monday, May 29, the occasion of Breslau's anniversary & great German holiday.  Over 10,000 people are expected."  As Breslau grew, troubles were brewing between the Welwoods & Schleier.  Just 2 years after their venture began, the first of many lawsuits between the partners commenced.  Accusations of contract violations & disbursement of property played out in the Brooklyn courts for years, casting an unfortunate cloud over the community. 

On September 24, 1870, the South Side Signal reported, "Opening of Nehring's Hotel, Breslau.  This fine hotel, just completed in the new City of Breslau, was thrown open to the public on Monday last, the occasion being celebrated by the proprietor keeping 'open house' for 3 days during which time all comers were entertained in the most hospitable manner, entirely free of charge.  Large numbers from the cities & the surrounding neighborhood thronged the house, night 7 day; music, dancing & general merry making ruled the hours.  All who came & went could not help admiring the open-handed liberality of Mr. F.E. Nehring, the pioneer in the great enterprise of building up the young city.  He had already expended between $12,000 & $14,000, in buildings & improvements, & has now one of the finest hotels on the South Side.  The house contains about 35 rooms, with every convenience of a 1st class caravansary (lodging).  It is finely located, & commands a splendid view of the Bay & surrounding country.  We predict that the new Hotel will be much frequented by those seeking pleasant accommodations in the country.

Fred Nehring, a Civil War Union veteran, dies in 1874.  The hotel, on the northwest corner of Wellwood & Hoffman Avenues, continued under the management of his widow, Agnes.  The Nehring's daughter, Lilly, married John Griebel.  They worked alongside Agnes Nehring until her death in 1906 & then rechristened the lodging house Griebel's Hotel.  After the Griebels deaths, Edward S. Alley bought the hotel property in 1919 & converted the building for stores & apartments. 

William Hirsch's Prospect House, on Wellwood Avenue near John Street, opened around 1890, one of a dozen businesses wired for electricity in 1905.  Declaring that "electricity is now the popular light for the business portion of the village," the South Side Signal proclaimed that the "friendly gleam" of the street lamp at the Prospect House corner "will be greatly appreciated on dark nights."  Hirsch sold the hostelry to Conrad Hammerich in 1909.

Gleste's Hotel, also known as the Hunter's Home, was built around 1870 by George Gleste on the southwest corner of Hoffman & Wellwood Avenues.  He also owned property near the village docks, where guests were entertained on Sundays with a band, singing & refreshments.  The August 24, 1872, South Side Signal declared, "About 700 persons came...from Williamsburgh, & spent the day at Gleste's Park.  The day was spent very pleasantly, not the slightest disturbance occurring to mar the occasion.  Whatever may be our ideas in regard to the 'observance' of the Sabbath, our German friends certainly seem to be very happy in the manner in which they spend their 'day of rest'."  From the town's formation in 1872 until the 1st town hall was constructed in 1917-1918, Babylon officials held meetings at various hotels.  At the 1882 annual meeting, held at Gleste's Hotel, the town board passed various measures, including a resolution that $150 be appropriated to "finish the continuation of Wellwood Avenue or Neguntague Road to the bay."

George Gleste (standing, center) is pictured with his family & employees around 1894.  Gleste's obituary in the August 15, 1896, South Side Signal described that he "was born in Switzerland, near the German border, 65 years ago.  He came to America when a young man & in 1869 or 1870 made his home here.  He was the (2nd) man to conduct a hotel in this place.  He always conducted an orderly, quiet house, & was well known to the traveling public."

George Gleste is pictured at the hotel bar in 1894.  Sometimes, merriment resulted in mayhem.  In 1875, Gleste sought to remove a patron inebriated by lager beer who became quarrelsome & foul-mouthed.  A scuffle broke out resulting in the man biting off part of the ear of another.  Dr. E.F. Preston dressed the wounds of the injured party, & the offender was sent to the county jail without bail to await grand jury action.

Edward Gleste succeeded his father at the hotel.  The South Side Signal often referred to Edward as "Mine Host", a humorous reference to a pub owner.  "Mine Host Gleste is still further improving his hotel by building new stoops," the paper reported in 1900.  "Mine Host Gleste's fox chase...drew out a good crowd & proved a successful sporting event," it noted in 1901.  In 1902, the hotel added a 2-lane bowling alley constructed by George Jommes.

Gleste's Hotel was destroyed by fire on June 2, 1912, reportedly caused by a carelessly tossed cigarette.  The local fire department fought the blaze.  Under fear of the fire spreading through the downtown, alarms were sent to Babylon, Amityville, Farmingdale & Huntington.  Nearby, bank employees scurried to remove business journals, & local tenants carried out furniture & belongings.  The hotel was destroyed, but the bowling alley was unscathed.

On June 2, 1912, Gleste's Hotel at Hoffman & Wellwood Avenues succumbed to a blaze that brought brigades from Babylon, Amityville, Farmingdale, Huntington & the Vulcanite factory to help local firemen, who fought flames from 2:00 p.m. to nearly midnight.  The South Side Signal reported that visiting Patchogue ball players & other hotel guests lost their belongings, "much wine was stolen out the cellar," & a cash register full of money "melted under the blaze".

Andrew J. Feller's South Side Hotel on East Hoffman Avenue is pictured in 1891.  Andrew was the eldest son of local brewer John Feller, Sr. & his wife, Margaretta.  The South Side Hotel later became Hoffman House.

In 1894, John Feller Sr. purchased the Central Hotel on Wellwood Avenue & Dover Street, from the estate of Nicholas Heil, conveniently located near the Feller brewery.  With his father, Andrew Feller managed the Central Hotel & bowling alley, popular with the Progress Wheelmen cyclists.  The South Side Signal announced in 1910, "Mine Host Andrew J. Feller, of the Central Hotel, has fixed up...the date of his annual hog guessing" - chances were sold for guessing the animal's weight.  "He has a big hog named 'Puzzler', which he expects to keep 'the talent' guessing.  The hog is a large one, & the killing will be a notable sporting event."  

Assembled in front of Andrew Feller's hotel, this group showcases some of the activities & industries that brought fame & prosperity to the community of Breslau in the late 1800's, including a readiness for lively music & an abundance of locally produced beer & cigars. 

By 1908, Andrew J. Feller renamed the Central Hotel "Neguntatogue Inn".  European settlers interpreted the Native American term as "forsaken land".  Neguntatogue Path was the earlier name of Wellwood Avenue.  A talented artist, Feller adorned the walls of his billiard & dining rooms with his artwork, including a painting of the ocean liner SS Imperator.  Announcing an oyster supper, the South Side Signal assured "Yule logs will be burned & Christmas yarns spun galore."

Charles Hirsch opened Washington Hall & Hotel on the southeast corner of Wellwood Avenue & Auburn Street a month after the great blizzard of 1888.  Charles' brother William owned Prospect House, & Charles' son Frank had a popular band that often performed at Washington Hall.  The hall hosted parties of 700 people.  On Sunday evenings, local photographer Arthur E. Parthe showcased vaudeville acts, moving pictures, & newsreels, often accompanied by local singers.

Hoffman House, formerly South Side Hotel, was operated by Frank Endler from around 1894 to 1903, then was purchased by Charles Thiele, pictured here with his family & employees, who operated a stage line to the ferry docks.  A few years later, Thiele sold the hotel to Charles "Bruno" Gnilka, who renovated the restaurant.  The November 21, 1913, South Side Signal reported, "Hoffman House was the scene...of a real old fashioned Hassenpfeffer, 'rabbit stew', prepared in a manner to delight the palate.  28 partook of the feast, which is an annual affair by the local Knights of Columbus council.  Music selections & songs were given."  Appealing to the sporting crowd, Gnilka advertised accommodations for gunning, fishing, & automobile parties, with meals served at all hours.  

By the time of this photo, John Schumaker was the owner of Hoffman House.  He was succeeded by Christopher Hosey.  A pool parlor & shoe shine stand were added to the hotel in 1919.

When it was founded in 1870, the city of Breslau was part of the town of Huntington.  In 1872, the majority of residents in the northern & southern areas of Huntington voted to divide the town, & the town of Babylon was established.  In 1923, residents voted to establish the incorporated village of Lindenhurst, governed by an elected mayor & trustees.  The communities that border Lindenhurst village are hamlets governed by the town of Babylon that elect a town supervisor & councilpeople.  The bordering hamlets are Copiague to the west, North Lindenhurst to the north, & West Babylon to the east.  In this 1888 map of Breslau, business is concentrated in the center of the community, near the railroad.  While many homes are indicated around the community, residences outside the business district are spaces far apart.  The Breslau population recorded in the 1880 census was about 600.  The map is from the Atlas of the Towns of Babylon, Islip, & South Part of Brookhaven in Suffolk Co., N.Y., published by F.W. Beers & Co.

The bitter Welwood-Schleier litigation left a tarnished image on the community.  In 1889, local land  speculators proposed to change the name from Breslau.  However, it was not until 2 years later that Dr. Jesse Cadawallader led a successful movement to change the community's name.  Tradition says it was the doctor's wife, Alexina, the daughter of Timothy & Johanna Neville, who suggested the name of Lindenhurst.  Her inspiration is said to have come from a local grove of linden trees.  On June 24, 1891, the community petitioned the Long Island Rail Road & the US Post Office to officially update their designations.  This 1915 map of Lindenhurst, from volume one of the Atlas of a Part of Suffolk County, Long Island, New York: South Side-Ocean Shore shows the exponential growth of the community.  Lindenhurst's population in 1920 was 2,200.

In 1874, Thomas Welwood deeded a large plot of land to the residents of Breslau, & an association for its management was formed.  This plot, in the far eastern section of the village, was formally dedicated on September 18, 1875, as a cemetery.  For $1, Catholic parishioners were given a deed in the name of the bishop of Brooklyn.  Although the Catholic portion of the cemetery was indicated on an 1875 map, it was not used until 1895.  Shortly after the cemetery incorporation, Jewish congregants petitioned for a portion of the cemetery for their sole use.  In October 1876, the cemetery association wold the northeast section to the Jewish petitioners for $135.  On September 15, 1887, a certificate of incorporation was filed by the Breslau Hebrew Cemetery Association.  Breslau Cemetery is still an active burial ground, & the Breslau Cemetery Association is the oldest Lindenhurst organization maintaining its original Breslau name.