West Hempstead Historical Society reflects on Chestnut Street School’s 105th anniversary

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Ding-dong...ding-dong...The bell atop Chestnut Street School in West Hempstead has signaled the start of school for countless students and classes for over a century. Also, if you are lucky enough to be in the vicinity of the school on Jan. 16 at 2:30 p.m. dismissal, you may hear it. Or you may not have heard it in 2016, when the bell rope froze. The historic Meneely bell, cast in Troy, N.Y., will be rung to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the district’s first school. Since its opening in 1913, the school has had three additions from the four room school house that it once was. It has served as a school for over eighty years in addition to housing the West Hempstead Public Library for over two decades and the school administration offices.

Thousands of students with thousands of good memories have studied within its walls. The West Hempstead Historical Society has preserved the history of Chestnut Street School through many photos.