Chestnut Street School in West Hempstead celebrated its 111th birthday on Jan. 12. The school rang the historic Meneely Bell at 2:50 p.m. and students also rang a replica bell, which was on display near the school’s entrance.
Students, West Hempstead School District administrators and members of the West Hempstead Historical Society gathered on the school’s birthday to celebrate the milestone. Students also watched as Chestnut Street Principal Dr. Lisa Minicozzi rang the Meneely Bell. One hundred and eleven years ago, Chestnut Street was a four-room schoolhouse, serving 86 students. The building has since served as a school for more than 80 years and it also houses the district’s administration offices. It previously housed the West Hempstead Public Library for more than 20 years.
