USA > New York > Nassau County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume III > Part 29
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume III > Part 29
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In New York City on September 6, 1926, Mary Anne Redling was married to William Charles Regel- mann, a son of Christian C. and Betty (Saul) Regel- mann. Of this marriage there are three children: I. William Charles, Jr., who during the second World War was a seaman, first class, in the United States Navy, stationed in the Philippine Islands. He was born on June 9, 1927. 2. Robert Henry, born on No- vember 21, 1930. 3. Marionne, born June 15, 1936.
Mr. Regelmann was born in New York City and comes from a line of prominent builders. The firm of Regelmann Brothers has operated in the metropolis for four generations. Mr. Regelmann is now a suc- cessful real estate operator confining his activities to Long Island.
WILLIAM KIRK DOWNING-The Downing family has been associated with the retail coal and lumber business on Long Island since 1910. For a quarter century, Benjamin W. Downing, father of William Kirk Downing, and his brother, George H. Downing, ran the successful firm of Downing Brothers in Locust Valley. Since 1936, their firm has been Titus, Bowne and Downing, with headquarters in Glen Cove. William Kirk Downing, first associated with the business of his father and uncle in Locust Valley, is now a stockholder in the Glen Cove con- cern and active in its management. He is also a director of the Glen Cove Trust Company and active in civic and social affairs both at Glen Cove and Locust Valley, his home.
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William Kirk Downing was born at Glen Head on June 19, 1900. His father was born at Littleworth, now Seacliff, and was a carpenter and builder before entering the coal and lumber business in 1910. He is now secretary and treasurer of Titus, Bowne and Downing, Inc. The mother of William Kirk Down- ing was Annie (Kirk) Downing, a native of Locust Valley who died in 1934. Mr. William Downing was educated in the public schools of Locust Valley and the Friends Academy in that community. He was graduated from the academy in 1918. He also spent two years at Swarthmore College.
On leaving college, Mr. Downing joined his father and uncle in the business then operating in Locust Valley. There he remained until in 1936 the brothers, buying out the firm of Titus and Bowne in Glen Cove, incorporated as Titus, Bowne and Downing. George H. Downing became president of the firm, Benjamin W. Downing secretary and treasurer. Wil- liam Kirk Downing became a stockholder as well as an active manager. He has, in the meantime, also become a director of the Glen Cove Trust Company. Mr. Downing is a member of the Brookville Country Club and Delta Upsilon fraternity. He worships at the Dutch Reformed Church. In politics he is a Democrat and his hobby is sailing.
On October 18, 1924, at Port Washington, Mr. Downing married Elizabeth Goodwin, daughter of Louis I. and Julia (Chapin) Goodwin. Mr. and Mrs. Downing are the parents of two children: William Kirk, Jr., who served in the United States Army in World War II, and Betty Louise, who in 1946 was at the Glen Cove High School.
JEREMIAH WOOD-Practicing law in Hemp- stead since 1926 and before that for a number of years in New York City, Jeremiah Wood is a well-known figure in the life of this community and its vicinity. In addition to this he is well-known in the political circles, having been among other things lieutenant- governor of the State of New York. He holds many other important positions in Nassau County and Hempstead.
Jeremiah Wood was born in New York City, Sep- tember 27, 1876, the son of Jeremiah Morgan and Mary S. (Patterson) Wood, both born in New York City, and both deceased. His father was assistant postmaster of New York City and later a deputy collector and cashier of the Custom House.
When Mr. Wood had attended the public schools of his birthplace and had graduated from Brooklyn High School, he attended Brooklyn Polytechnic In- stitute and then went to the Law School of Columbia University from which he was graduated in 1898 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws.
After being admitted to the bar of the State of New York, Mr. Wood was engaged in the practice of law in New York City up to 1926. In that year he moved to Hempstead as the senior partner of the firm of Wood, Gehrig and Wilklow, and has been engaged in the general practice of law here. In connection with his profession he is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association. Other business ventures are as director of the Central Nassau, Inc., and president and director of Franklin Shops, Inc.
A member of the Republican party, he was a mem- ber of the New York State Assembly in 1912, lieu- tenant-governor of New York State in 1921 and 1922
attorney for the State Controller on transfer tax matters in Nassau County from 1914 to 1920 and attorney for the Town of Hempstead from 1926 to 1938. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, Lynbrook Lodge, and he worships at the Methodist Church.
On June 18, 1900, Jeremiah Wood married Cora E. Stacy, of Brooklyn.
WARD WILKLOW-A member of the firm of Wood, Gehrig and Wilklow, Ward Wilklow has conducted a general practice of law in Hempstead for a number of years. In addition, he is interested in the life of the community, especially the Girl Scouts organization, in which he is an official.
Ward Wilklow was born in Ellenville, New York, August 3, 1892, the son of Phillip and Edith (Eckert) Wilklow, both deceased. His father was born in Kripplebush, New York, and was a soft drink manu- facturer in Ellenville. His mother was born in Ellen- ville.
The early education of Mr. Wilklow was acquired in the public and high schools of Ellenville, from the latter of which he was graduated in 1911. Then, for six years, he was with the Home National Bank of Ellenville. Following this he studied law at Cornell University and was graduated in 1921 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws.
Admitted to the bar in 1923, Mr. Wilklow practiced his profession in Ellenville with Judge William D. Cunningham. Later he went to Middletown, New York, where he was associated with Watts, Oakes and Bright for two years. From Middletown Mr. Wilklow came to Long Island and opened an office in Cedarhurst and one in Mineola, both under his own name. In 1929 he was associated with Wood and Gehrig in Hempstead and in 1941 he became a member of the firm of Wood, Gehrig and Wilklow.
In connection with his profession he is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association. He is also chairman of the village of Hempstead district of the Central Nassau Council of Girl Scouts, Inc. A Repub- lican in politics, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. His favorite hobby is fishing.
On June 28, 1929, Ward Wilklow married Madeline Wilson, of Holley, New York, the daughter of George O. and Clara S. Wilson. They are the parents of Joan, born December 28, 1932.
SAMUEL J. SEAMAN, JR .- Three generations of the Seaman family have been associated for decades with the automobile and banking business in Glen Cove. Samuel J. Seaman, Jr., is president of the Sea- man Motor Car Company, Buick retail sales organi- zation he founded in 1911, and is also a vice president and director of the Glen Cove Trust Company, in the founding of which his father and his uncle, William H. Seaman, participated.
Mr. Seaman was born in Jericho, Long Island, on March 3, 1883. His father, now living in retirment in the State of Mississippi, was for many years a vice president of the Glen Cove Trust Company. The junior Mr. Seaman was educated in the Friends Aca- demy at Locust Valley. In 1905, he launched himself in the automobile business through a Ford dealership in Glen Cove. Six years later he founded the Seaman Motor Car Company, also in Glen Cove, switching to Buick distribution. He has been president of this well known and successful company ever since.
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Mr. Seaman married Ethelena T. Bogart of Roslyn on October 10, 1910. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Joseph and Ethelena T. (Albertson) Bogart. Her father was one of Roslyn's leading physicians. Mrs. Seaman died in February, 1920.
One son was born to the union, Harry Bogart Sea- man, who has been associated with his father in the automobile business since 1933. Harry B. Seaman, a leader in Glen Cove's civic enterprises for years, was mayor of that community when the United States was forced into World War II. Resigning his public office, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces, in which he rose through the ranks from private to captain. For two years he served in the Aleutian Islands. Early in 1946, he went into inactive status and re- sumed his place beside his father in the Seaman Mo- tor Car Company. On April 18, 1946, he was elected a director of the Glen Cove Trust Company, the youngest of the twelve members of the board. Be- sides his father, his great-uncle, William H. Seaman, is also on the board. The latter is chairman of its executive committee. At one time William H. Sea- man was also mayor of Glen Cove, serving several terms and is now county treasurer of Nassau County.
CHARLES G. RITTER-Admitted to the bar in 1938, Charles G. Ritter has been engaged in the prac- tice of law ever since, with the exception of two years in the United States Navy. Most of his legal career has so far been carried on in Hempstead, where he is a member of the firm of Marshall and Ritter.
Charles G. Ritter was born in Brooklyn, November 22, 1910, the son of Charles and Josephine (Goetz) Ritter, both natives of Brooklyn.
After Mr. Ritter had attended the public schools of Brooklyn and Jamaica High School, he attended Brooklyn College, and then was graduated from the Brooklyn Law School in 1937 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Admitted to the bar in 1938, he practiced for one year in Flushing, New York, and then opened his office in Hempstead where he has car- ried on the general practice of law, since 1944 as a member of the firm of Marshall and Ritter.
Among the organizations to which Mr. Ritter be- longs are the Nassau County Bar Association, the Hempstead-Garden City Lions Club, the Hempstead Republican Club, the Windsor Civic Association, Hempstead Post, No. 390, of the American Legion, and he was formerly chairman of the Nassau County Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis during 1942 and 1943. During World War II, Mr. Ritter served in the United States Navy from February 28, 1944 to March 6, 1946. At first he was a lieutenant, junior grade, in the United States Naval Reserve on active duty with the United States Navy and later he was promoted to lieutenant and was commander of naval gun crews on merchant ships in the Caribbean, Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
On July 17, 1932, Charles G. Ritter married Jane Pospisal, of Mineola, the daughter of Charles and Jennie (Hartman) Pospisal. They are the parents of two children: I. Bradford J., born February 22, 1941. 2. Pamela J., born December 28, 1943.
ERNEST D. MARSHALL has been practicing law in Hempstead since his admission to the bar in 1933. Not only is he well known as an attorney here and as a member of the firm of Marshall and Ritter,
but he has also taken a very active part in civic and social affairs in the community and the neighboring territory.
Ernest D. Marshall was born in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, the son of Cyrile and Anne (Krokstedt) Marshall, but lived in Garden City for many years. His father, now deceased, was a well-known consulting engineer, and highways, incinerators, water and sew- age disposal systems which were products of his construction, dot the landscape of Hempstead, Floral Park, Southold, Valley Stream, Patchogue, Hunt- ington, and other Long Island communities. His mother is living at Brookfield, Connecticut.
After attending St. Paul's School in Garden City, Mr. Marshall attended Williams College from which in 1927 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He studied law and was graduated from New York University Law School in 1931.
He served for two years as a law clerk with Wood and Gehrig in Hempstead, and, after his admission to the bar in 1933, for an additional two years was associated with them. Since then he has undertaken the practice of law in Hempstead under his own name and in 1944 became a member of the firm of Marshall and Ritter.
Mr. Marshall was inducted as a private in the United States Army March II, 1942, trained in anti- aircraft at Camp Stewart, Georgia, and then was as- signed to the staff of the Judge Advocate at that camp. Later he attended Officer Candidates School of the Chemical Warfare Service at Edgewood Ar- senal, Maryland, and upon receiving his commission he was assigned to the Pittsburgh Chemical Warfare Procurement District and served as chief of the price adjustment and contract termination branches. He was trained in Government contracting and con- tract termination at the Army Industrial College at the Pentagon and at the Judge Advocate General's School held at the University of Michigan. After the Japanese surrender he was deputy director of the readjustment division of the Boston Chemical Warfare Procurement District in charge of the settle- ment of the mass of cancellations occurring at the end of the war.
Leaving the Army as a captain, Mr. Marshall re- turned to the practice of law in Hempstead in March, 1946. He was appointed acting police justice of the village and engaged in service club and alumni activi- ties of his law school.
Among the organizations to which Mr. Marshall belongs are the New York State and Nassau County bar associations, the Hempstead-Garden City Lions Club, of which he was president for three years, the Garden City Fire Department, the Garden City Re- publican Club, Garden City Assembly, the Garden City Casino, Morton Lodge No. 63, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, Reserve Officers Association, the American Legion, and the New York State Association of Magistrates. In addition he was chairman and campaign manager of the Nassau County Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis for two years, secretary of the Mitchel Field Young Men's Christian Association, and a member of the Republican County Committee. He attends the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City.
In 1943, Ernest D. Marshall married Bernice Schultz, a teacher in the Hempstead High School and the author of the book "Colonial Hempstead."
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THE FRANKLIN SQUARE NATIONAL BANK-Adherence to the policy, "Pledged to Com- munity Growth," as adopted by Arthur T. Roth, presi- dent, has produced a record for the Franklin Square National Bank which is both unique in its broad coverage of a community bank's responsibilities and outstanding in its accomplishment.
The Franklin Square National Bank, organized to provide banking facilities for the rapidly growing community of Franklin Square, opened for business on November 1, 1926, with an original capital of $50,000. It was modestly located in a small one-win- dow store opposite the present building. In 1930, with deposits nearing the half million mark, the bank moved across the street into a newly erected building.
The original directors and officers of the Franklin Square National Bank gave it much of their time and attention, and to them as well as to those who later were to assume responsibility for management of the institution, goes much of the credit for its rapid and continuing expansion. The original directors were:
J. T. P. Calkins, Elias J. Pray, Wendelin Rauch, Leo Laibach, A. G. Patterson, George M. Estabrook, Walter A. Elson, Herman A. Utz, Clarence Cohen. The officers were: Arthur C. Phillips, president; Fred Schilling, vice president; Herbert Mirschel, vice presi- dent; Archie E. Smith, cashier.
The community expanded, and, as the population climbed steadily, homes were required in increasing numbers, and there was need for additional schools, churches, stores and various service facilities, roads and transportation. The bank became a vital part of that growing community. It helped to finance the homes, businesses, churches and stores.
One of the first banks in Long Island to adopt the mortgage plan of the Federal Housing Administra- tion, the bank has aided in the origination of some thirty million dollars of Federal Housing Administra- tion mortgages. Many of these are homes for vet- erans. The dollar volume of all mortgages now being serviced by the bank exceeds forty million dollars.
The bank worked on transportation, educational and other civic problems. It attracted depositors from the entire county of Nassau. In 1939 it again became nec- essary to increase the facilities of the bank and a new addition was added to the building, making it almost double in size.
In order to meet the public's many needs and chang- ing conditions, the bank undertook its first experiment in functional banking. "If some of the sales tech- niques of other types of business have proved suc- cessful, why not try them in banking," Mr. Roth sug- gested to his colleagues.
In addition to direct mail and newspaper advertis- ing, a door-to-door campaign was successfully carried out to acquaint the people of the community with the many varied services their bank had to offer.
The unique and much publicized Garden Bank was opened early in the spring of 1940. The landscaping, the drive-in and parking features attracted many visi- tors and the pergola became widely known and sym- bolic of the bank itself.
When the war came, it brought many drastic changes to the community and surrounding area. Hosts of new people moved in, presenting a need for new homes at a time when private building virtually had to be abandoned. Private transportation became rigidly restricted. Retail businesses were affected by low stocks and the buying limitations imposed by ra- tioning.
To meet these needs, the bank financed home main-
tenance and modernization, took mortgages on war housing developments and on existing private homes whose ownership had changed. Many individual busi- nesses were aided in their changeover from civilian to various types of military production. Money was loaned to many individuals to cover emergency needs, many of which were directly attributable to war con- ditions.
One of the bank's public contributions to the war effort was the "Nassau County at War" exposition which was run concurrently with the April, 1943, War Bond drive. Adelphi College in Garden City, supplied the showplace and allied facilities. Industrial organi- zations in the county over-subscribed exhibit space, service organizations had booths, speakers and bands contributed their services and branches of the armed forces scheduled both indoor and outdoor demonstra- tions. More than sixty-thousand visitors were at- tracted to the exposition in seven days. The sale of bonds totaled more than a half million dollars.
In November, 1943, the Purchase Club, an objective savings plan was originated at the bank. It later in- spired an article in the "Reader's Digest" magazine which gave Franklin Square world-wide publicity and brought letters from every continent.
The purpose of the club was to create a desire to save for the eventual purchases of homes and con- sumer durable goods. Displays in the bank lobby of various types of household equipment reminded the public of the advisability of being financially prepared for their purchase. Public response to the idea was later adopted by other banks throughout the country. In the first two months the plan was in operation in Franklin Square, more than six hundred such accounts were opened.
The first telecast from any bank took place in June, 1944, when the National Broadcasting Company and Radio Corporation of America put on a televised pro- gram in the bank's lobby to tell manufacturers, busi- nessmen and bankers the story of Nassau County at war and the postwar outlook. Radio commentator Lowell Thomas conducted the narration.
A business loan department was inaugurated in the latter part of 1944 to serve the financial needs of the business men of Long Island. Loans were made avail- able to expand and equip both old and new businesses. This department processed the first G. I. business loan in the state of New York. Veterans receive prompt and considerate attention in both business and mort- gage financing.
Christmas at the bank is traditionally for the child- ren of the community. Santa Claus presides during the annual program which features a professional' marionette show. In addition to the Yule decorations, the bank also displays a large diorama of the scene of the Nativity. This scene depicts the Christ Child be- neath the Star of Bethlehem, surrounded by costumed figures representing all nations.
In recent years, a recreation room, dining room and modern kitchen have been installed in the basement for employees, and these quarters have been enlarged in the expanded bank. The number of employees has increased from thirty-five in 1940 to one hundred and eighty-five at the present time.
The recreation room also serves as a pleasant and convenient meeting place for many of the community civic, patriotic and service organizations.
In June of 1947 the new family bank addition was opened to the public. Twenty-four thousand square feet of floor space in the new building brought about a brand new innovation in bank service. Set up with
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department store counters instead of tellers' cages, family banking such as savings, special checking, mortgage payments, Christmas Club and vacation travel service is conducted in a setting familiar to housewives, who handle about eighty-five per cent of this type of banking business. Consumer credit is purchased over the counter in the same manner as in any standard department or retail store.
The thirteen thousand square feet of floor space in the original building is now devoted to commercial or business banking. Dividing the business into whole- sale and retail sections, service to business men and the housewives has been tremendously improved.
Realizing that it is a bank's job to inculcate the spirit of thrift in the minds of people, Mr. Roth for years gave much of his attention to the children. His ambition to make them feel welcome in the bank and to give them a "sense of belonging" was culminated in the establishment of "The Children's Bank." Here at a special counter, supervised by a qualified coun- selor, children from the ages of five to fifteen may open their own savings accounts with any amount from one dollar up. Interest of two per cent is paid on these accounts.
Another milestone in the history of the bank was the setting up of its school savings program. Many thousands of dollars accumulated through weekly de- posits of from five to twenty-five cents have been re- turned to students. Many of them, adults of today, trace their savings habits to this program.
Among the Franklin Square National Bank's "firsts" is its student training program conducted in cooperation with Sewanhaka and Malverne high schools. Commercial students are credited for work- ing at the bank during their regular school period. Under supervision, they learn the routine of various departments and adjust themselves to the activities and responsibilities of the business world.
The bank's annual reports to stockholders have long been recognized by financial leaders as outstanding for their complete and informal presentation of the institution's record, growth and services. The report to stockholders for 1944 won a "Highest Merit" Award in the annual survey of all annual reports con- ducted by the "Financial World" magazine. In 1945, in addition to again winning this award, the bank re- ceived the "Best of Industry" Award in the field of banking. In 1946 the bank again won the highest award in the field of banking as well as the Silver Award for the best report in the entire financial indus- try.
The growth of the bank has been synonymous with the development of Nassau County.
As new services were found to be beneficial the bank has immediately made them available to the en- tire area. The results of these efforts is reflected in the comparative record of growth through the years, which follows. Fewer than two hundred depositors in 1926 entrusted $141,000 to the care of the bank. To- day more than thirty thousand customers have over $27.000.000 on deposit.
Starting with an original capital of $50.000 in 1926. the capital. surplus and undivided profits increased more than forty times, totalling $2,025,295 on Decem- ber 15, 1947.
It has been Mr. Roth's unalterable opinion through the years that as a wheel revolves around its hub so should the economic life of the community revolve around the bank. To that end all of the efforts of the entire organization have been bent and so today the maxim. "Pledged to Community Growth," remains the objective of the Franklin Square National Bank.
RECORD OF GROWTH
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