Did you know Cedarhurst was once called Ocean Point? Imagine a time before bustling streets and synagogues. Before the elegant shops lined Central Avenue. Before the arrival of the Long Island Rail Road in 1869. Cedarhurst’s early days were quieter. A small settlement dotted with a few homes and businesses. The Rockaway Hunting Club built in 1878 changed this. Its establishment drew many people to the area. A post office opened in 1884. The name Ocean Point was changed to Cedarhurst. This was partly due to a request from the Hunt Club. It was also a tribute to a beautiful grove of cedar trees that stood near the post office. The trees are gone now. But their legacy remains in the name of this charming village.
Cedarhurst officially became a village in 1910. It is one of the Five Towns a group of communities on Long Island’s South Shore. These included Lawrence and hamlets like Woodmere and Inwood. Hewlett Bay Park Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Neck as well as Hewlett and Woodsburgh. For many years Central Avenue was known as the Rodeo Drive of Long Island. It housed many upscale boutiques. This attracted shoppers from far and wide. The growth of the Orthodox Jewish community transformed the area. Many businesses now cater to the religious needs of the community. Observant Jews do not shop on the Sabbath. This caused a decrease in foot traffic on Saturdays for shops that remained open. A fire devastated the Cedarhurst Shoppes in 2019. Five businesses were destroyed. This highlights the fragility of a thriving community.
But the spirit of Cedarhurst endured. The residents rebuilt and reinvented. Today Cedarhurst boasts a diverse community. Italian-Americans Russian-Americans Polish-Americans and Irish-Americans all contribute to its vibrant tapestry. The Orthodox Jewish population is a significant part of its identity. Several shuls such as Temple Beth El and the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center thrive in the community. There is also St Joachim Church a Roman Catholic church on Central Avenue. It sadly closed its parish elementary school in 2005 due to falling enrollment.
The Long Island Rail Road’s Cedarhurst station offers convenient access to Midtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Nassau Inter-County Express provides bus service as well. The Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department is comprised of about 80 volunteer firefighters. They provide protection for Lawrence and Cedarhurst. They even respond to accidents on the Atlantic Beach Bridge.
Cedarhurst’s history is rich and colorful. From its humble beginnings as Ocean Point to its present day diversity Cedarhurst has faced challenges and triumphs. Its story mirrors the stories of countless Americans who built communities from the ground up. The legacy of the cedar trees lives on. They remind us of the enduring spirit and resilience of Cedarhurst. Come explore this vibrant village. Discover the stories within its streets.