1970-07-23

              FAItMINGDAIE PUBLIC LIBRARY
2?^ Main S t r e et
Farulngdale, N. Y. 11? 35 10c on rMwvtands
or $ 5 yearly
by mail locally
POWELL HOUSE 1700 FMINBDALE OBSERVER
WHERE THE HISTORY OF YOUR COMMUNITY IS RECORDED WEEKLY
An Officiaf Newspaper of The Incorporated Village of Farmingdale — Serving Greater Farmingdale, Bethpagc and Melville
Vol. 7 No. 48 Second Class Postage has been paid at Farmingdale, N. Y. 11735- Thursday, July 23, 1970
FIRE DESTROYS LANDMARK
SECOND IN TWO WEEKS
A Farmingdale landmark was completely demolished last week,
when the old poultry instructional office and classroom, two- story
frame building built in 1916 burned to the ground at the State
University.
The fire, which started at 5 p. m., was brought to an end by the East
Farmingdale Fire Department when they responded with nine pieces
of apparatus and 75 men. One injured fireman was reported by Chief
Ken Nittoly. Damage was estimated between $ 20,000 and $ 25,000,
including $ 1,500 for feed and equipment.
During its original use, before the building of Horton Hall in 1953/
now the main center of activities for the Agriculture Depart
ment, the old poultry building included three classrooms as well as
two offices with incubator cells in the basement. During the early
years of the College, the building had an observation deck which gave
viewers a long view of the surrounding countrysides.
Another poultry structure is included in Phase II of the new multi-million
dollar farm complex, which wil! be constructed in the near
future.
This marks the second fire of undetermined origin within less than
three weeks to the College's barnyard. The previous fire took place
Saturday, June 27, with an estimated damage ef that wooden struc­ture,
known as the young stock barn, reported at $ 25,000, plus $ 2,000
worth of feed.
Prior to these two recent fires on the Farmingdale campus, the last^
fire that took place occurred 24 years ago when the roof of the nam'
barn was destroyed with a total damage of $ 50,000 recorded.
Mrs. Juanita Hechler Feted For 25 Years Of Service
Mrs. Juniatta Hechler of 7 Oak
St., Farmingdale, was surprised
at an all morning reception in her
honor last Friday, to mark the
25th anniversary of her serving
as secretary for 25 years to three
presidents at the State University
at Farmingdale. The entire Ad­ministration
Staff, joined by
members of the Faculty, paid
tribute to Mrs. Hechler during
the " Continental Breakfast" that
ran for three hours in the Board
Room.
Dr. Charles Laffin president,
and his wife, Mary, were among
those at hand to make one of
many presentations to Mrs.
Hechler, who recalls that in her
first year at the College there
were only 16 graduates,, who
received their diplomas com­pared
to the record 1,300 of the
1970 class. She recalls, too, the
rural atmosphere that marked
the College, then known as State
Institute of Applied Agriculture-consisting
only of Agriculture
and Ornamental Horticulture-before
technology was added in
1946 and the College became part
of State University of New York
in 1948.
One of the highest com­mendations
that the College can
give was an embossed certificate
that Dr. Laffin presented to his
secretary. It paid tribute to Mrs.
Hechler for " 25 years of faithful,
devoted and loyal service to the
State University at Far­mingdale."
In addition, the long- time
Farmingdale resident also
received an inscribed plaque
from the Civil Service Employees
Association. Several floral
arrangements, each carrying a
symbol of 25 years, added
colorfully to the wonderful tables
prepared by the Administrative
Staff.
Mrs. Hechler ( nee Frietsche)
was born in 1915 in Woodhaven,
Queens, and came to Hicksville
with her family six years later,
where she resided until her
marriage to Richard Hechler,
Brooklyn, in 1942, when they
moved to Farmingdale. Her
husband is a retired auto supply
buisnessman.
Before coming to Farmingdale
in 1945, Mrs. Hechler held the
following positions: a graduate of
Hicksville Elementary and High
Schools, she became a legal
stenographer and started her
business career with a legal
firm; Secretary to Food Pur­chasing
Manager of all 200
Woorworth Stores ( Woolworth
Building, Manhattan); Secretary
to Chief Stress Analyst of Ranger
( Continued on Page 12)
. i*
PRESIDENTIAL HONOR: Dr. CHARLES W. Laffin, Jr., presents
floral dressing to Mrs. Juniatta Hechler, Farmingdale native, in
recognition of her 25th anniversary as Secretary to Presidents at
State University at Farmingdale.
An architect's rendering of the $ 3.2 million Library/ Instructional Resources Center to be completed
by January 15, 1972, at the State University at Farmingdale. Located at the very heart of the campus,
the Center will complete the spatial formation of the Faculty/ Student plaza formed by Knapp Hall,
the Administration Building and Roosevelt Hall. Brown, Daltas and Associates, and Handren, Sharp
Associates, New York City, are the architects.