The undated above photo, from the Hempstead Public Library collection, is an early view looking east into Hempstead Village at the corner of Fulton Ave. and Front St. A couple features of this photo are noteworthy:
1) The 20MPH speed limit signs on both sides of the intersection. When the automobile came of age in the early 1900s, villages like Hempstead had a real problem with motorists speeding right on through its streets, frightening horses and endangering pedestrians and bicyclists. As noted in a previous post, Hempstead cracked down on speeders every now and then by setting up speed traps and issuing hefty tickets. Newspaper reports show that residents of West Hempstead were none too pleased that no such speed restrictions existed in their neighborhood so that once motorists left Hempstead Village's speed zone, it was all petal-to-the-metal from that point. (One can only wonder how big of an impact enactments such as these had on the decision of so many municipalities on Long Island to incorporate during this period).
2) At the center of the photo is the front steps of a home that is mostly obscured by the trees. This home would later become the landmark West End Tavern, a popular local eatery in the first half of the 20th century. At first the tavern also operated as a hotel, whose proprietor, Frank Wettstein, was a WWI vet and prominent citizen of Hempstead. The innkeeper was John Pfortsch, a German immigrant who, like so many other Bavarians, hailed from Ridgewood, Queens. On New Year's eve 1935, a terrible fire damaged much of the building, but it was soon remodeled to appear as it looks in the terrific 1943 photo below, taken at roughly the same angle as above.In this pic below, the tavern is decked out in patriotic bunting to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Hempstead Village, as the sign on the traffic island indicates. What can also be made out are two gas stations on the right; a Texaco, the site of which is still a gas station today; and an Esso in the foreground.
The 1943 photo shows the tavern in its heyday, before the proliferation of fast food restaurants that would replace the West End as the preferred venues for eating out. The West End would soon become crowded out by the stiff competition of nearby chains that provided waitresses with drive up service popularized in the '50s, the first of which was White Castle which opened up where the Esso is located in the picture. The Tavern survived at least until 1960, but how much longer after that is unclear. As if to accentuate the void left by the Tavern, the '60s brought to that area of WH an explosion of food options including Wetson's in 1963, a burger joint located across Hempstead Ave. from White Castle, now currently a KFC; Steak & Brew, a restaurant located inside the Hempstead Motor Inn (currently the infamous Courtesy Hotel), built in 1963; and the IHOP on Hempstead Tpke in 1964 (still there after all these years).
Comparing the two 'then' shots to the 'now' shot below, one is struck by the comparative lack of trees left in the area. The magnificent trees that once gracefully lined the streets and made our town beautiful and rural have been felled and sadly not replaced.
31 comments:
I remember the West End tavern as a place to eat in the early 1970's. I know as I ate there by the late 70's it had become a bar with band and dance floor and then finally closed.
Great to see the middle photo. When my parents and I lived in West Hempstead(1946-52), we'd often have special dinners at the West End Tavern.I remember being treated like a little princess by the waiters. Brings back nice memories!
I remember eating at the WET in the early '60s w/my family. A classy night out for us (as opposed to Chinese food). West Hempstead, like much of suburbia, lost a number of decent restaurants throughout that period
My family owned the West End Tavern (not the land)from the mid-50's til its closing in 1978. Anonymous is correct, in mid-78 it was finally closed as a restaurant and turned into The Fulton Steamhouse, a live venue rock music niteclub. Hempstead would not grant a cabaret license to the club and it had to close sometime in early 1979. Thank you to all who remembered her glorious past. As a child I bounced on the knees of many famous horse trainers and jockeys who frequented the Tavern.
My grandmother worked there for many years, i guess until it closed in the 70s; i remember hiding in the coat check room as a kid
I love reading all the posts and looking at all the pictures of yester year here in WH. I love history, thanks so much for this!
I love reading these posts and I am still a Hempstead resident. My family took me to the West End Tavern/Steakhouse in 1969 when I got a straight "A" on my fifth grade report card. Those were such good old days and I get a little misty eyed when I think about them.
As a kid in the late 50's to early 60's, I remember how special it was to dance with my father at the West End Tavern on their dance floor! A waiter there could pour milk from at least a foot above the table into my glass and he never missed it! My parents were very impressed that the parking valet remembered the type and color of every car we had brought there for years. What a lovely place it was back in the day!
My mother worked the coat room and register. Everyone loved her, Mary
JT, Who were your parents?
I remember walking past the WET going back to Epiphany Lutheran Church from getting a 12 cent burger from White Castle seeing broken chairs and tables piled up at the curb thinking " wow , that must have been some party." Later I became upset working as a Hempstead firefighter when the fire that destroyed it. All that beautiful woodwork, what a shame.
I'm so glad you have these photos! I remember the WET fondly as others have noted. This was a restaurant we went to as a family for special occasions. I remember my parents dancing and thinking how wonderful it all was! So sad to think those days of gracious, genteel dining have been replaced by fast food and chain restaurants.
JR,
I worked for your family in late 1960s. My father was a bartender at the WET before that. I would love more information about the history of the tavern. I remember the rooms upstairs, for example, and have always been curious about who lived there and so forth. I only remember a few of the great characters who worked there. I think the owner's name was Rosenberg but I am not certain. The employees loved the owner. BC
My Uncle Herman owned a. Restaurant named Town Hall Tavern on Greenwick St (or maybe Greenwich) in the 40s. Ring any bells?
I remember working as a busboy, as my first ever paying job, in the West End Tavern around 1978 . My two friends worked as the parking valets.
We could ask for anything we wanted on the menu to eat for free on our dinner breaks. I ate more than I should have and helped my self to the great cheesecake.
Every Sunday after brunch, I would clear the tables, and move them to the sides of the dining room. A three piece band would play music for the older folks. Rhumba, waltz and slow dance music. It was great to watch. Real old- genteel Americana charm. There is nowhere I know of that does this today in this type of old-school restaurant.
Later, I did go to the club when it became a bar/dance club prior to it finally closing. It was too sad but will always keep The West End Tavern as fond memories.
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i remember as a kid ( in the 60's) going to the WEST END TAVERN. My family and grandparents , who lived in Hempstead, all got dressed up , as you did in those days, would go for Easters and Other holidays. They made sugared grapes - which i thought were sooooo exotic as a kid. My grand father always ordered me a Shirley Temple. I thought i was such a grown up. I wanted hot dogs to eat....lol.. they ordered me Salisbury steaks - hamburger disguised! I miss it... and them... I am now the grandparent!
Yes I understand. Very cool
I remember Mary, the coat room lady. I was very young and it was a long time ago. HOWEVER, I remember her warm smile. JR
My father's name was Fred. My grandfather's name was Joe. My grandfather retired around 1969. JR
Was your father Jerry Muldoon? I liked him very much. He would make rabbits out of the large, white napkins and have them jump out at you. The rooms upstairs were an office and supply room. There were some apartments on the second floor and they were used by some people who worked there. I was very young and don't have any info about that. I did ask my dad about them and he said he trusted them. JR
My family lived in western section of Garden City and would go to the West End Tavern very often when my brother and I were little guys. My parents believed it was a good experience for our social development. I remember those experiences as great times, acting like adults and being treated with respect by all the staff, just as our parents were. I remember a musician with a violin walking from table to table playing tunes. Loved all the decor, food, and little things that happen when you dine out. As I grew to be an adult, all those lessons served me well.
I just put a photo on my blog of a 1976 Newsday adfor the West End Tavern, with Fred Rosenblatt and Harold Morgan. The blog is "Don't Parade in My Rain, but you can go directly to the pic here:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhnVKNWInz_GiSUoIo1R-mHJC-ltcYjRtpPmsfZo_4C5aYNsRGNdEXed6KTaJUOq1IX9Y03KScQTt0BcXGOmI_pVjmUzA49qHGwoFcKzOFvcrgRCuOfqTGE7kZoCXg_qQblyTAP4vTvaL5Trxc9BIJ1zLoRN56HAzIm4dk9SQgggMtAJQ_I0/s3055/76%20feb%208-14%20(21)%201976%20photoview%20ads.jpg
Me too
We ate at the West End Tavern a classy place for a failing village. today there is NOT one good restaurant in the village (unless you like hot tamales) and that’s evident by the VOH police traveling way way way outside their jurisdiction to get food !!!
Cookies was a good restaurant in the VOH it also had a wonderful bakery that had the largest brownies in the world delicious!!! Today the VOH is a slum x 10
The Fulton steamboat was its name and a bad fire was its game destroying it the Morgans are turning in the grave. What ever happened to the village of Hempstead l, mom would take me and my sister to Denton Green park back in the day it had a beautiful fish pond , A&S , Arnold Constable , cookies restaurant, and so many small quality stores. RIP Hempstead what a shame !!!
Morgan family were owners
That waiter was named Leo (can’t remember his last name), and he lived down the block from us, at Milburn and Brown Ave. We lived at Brown and Kennedy. Leo was always our waiter when we went to WET for special occasions, and the “tall glass of milk” was his trademark.
My grandparents lived in Hempstead. We went to the WET for all holidays. Was such a special place to me. We got Shirley temples to drink.... to be like the grown ups. Always wanted a hamburger.... got " Salisbury steak " instead
Morgan was a part owner. He bought out my grandfather. He was partners with my father. JR
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