The Mystery of the Levittown Lighthouse

It’s been said by many that despite its size and volume of inhabitants, Levittown has a small town character. People from one side of town know folks on the other side, little remains secret and there’s a shared pride in the community that has survived early predictions of doom.

There are still enough residents with longevity who are happy to share the hamlet’s history with anyone who will listen. Its recognition as America’s first suburb brings many inquiries from students of a variety of disciplines from all around the world, guaranteeing that the history of this town will never be lost.

But there exists a mysterious structure in the town, the history of which remains untypically obscure. Once a working model, the structure has been partially destroyed and buried under a mini-woodland of evergreens and weeds that have enveloped what is left of it.

Talk to long-time Levittown residents and some will recall that the structure – a lighthouse with a beacon – was at its Hempstead Turnpike location for as far back as they can remember. Some recall that it was there when W. T. Grants, Lobels, China Sun, JC Penneys, Peter Pan Bakery, Times Square Stores and Franklin National Bank occupied the buildings that now house CVS, Hunan Dynasty, PC Richards, Old Country Buffet and Planet Fitness.

Others will reminisce that the structure was part of the nationwide beautification campaign started in the mid-1960s by Lady Byrd Johnson in which communities were encouraged to install park benches, gardens and areas of peace and respite. But why a lighthouse?

I’m willing to bet there’s someone in the community that knows the history of the lighthouse, who built it and why. It’s not like Levittown to have such an undocumented secret.

I’m quite certain the lighthouse was not there in the early 1950s when my family first moved to Levittown, but I can’t be certain when it appeared. Everyone I’ve spoken to about this has no more certain recollection than mine. Surely, there’s someone in the community that has the facts.

Recently, the Levittown Community Council has taken an interest in rebuilding the lighthouse, but is looking for valid information on its history and dated photos of how it looked in its original state and years after. They are encouraging anyone with information to contact them at levittowncouncil@yahoo.com or by mail at PO Box 294, Levittown, NY 11756.

Put a few Levittown residents into a room, start with your earliest recollection of Levittown and soon the room will be abuzz with chatter of early Levittown activities, places to shop, restaurants and neighborhoods. Ask if anyone knows anything about  the lighthouse on Hempstead Turnpike and the response surely will be, “What lighthouse?”

Tell them it’s on the east side of the cut that’s the entrance to the shopping center on Hempstead Turnpike across from Center Lane directly in front of CVS and Staples. The conversation will quickly change course and you can tell the group that the lighthouse is Levittown’s best kept secret and a mystery to be solved.