The Abrams Newpaper article. From a LI Newspaper, publiched in the early 1950's.
Old Abrams Farmhouse to Go, Recalls Life in 1700
By Bea Jones
Grant Park - The razing of the old Abrams homestead on Broadway, known for the Past 60 years as the Darmstadt Farm, will remove from the Long Island scene one of the few remaining landmarks of the of the pre-Revolutionary War era.. It is' being torn down to make way for a, new housing, developments
The small house with Its sweeping roof and salt box architecture Is distinctively Dutch. It was built, as nearly as present historians can discover, about 1700 by Charles Abrams Who came from Flatbush to farm in Queens County. Although the Original land patents included property on both sides of Union Ave. in Lynbrook, down Broadway to Hewlett and Woodmere, the farm just sold by Emile C. Darmstadt had been reduced to about five acres.
When the extension, on the north side of the original house, was added, is not known. But the house Charles Abrams put up on the main road from Far -Rockaway to Hempsead, has stood as a sturdy monument to the materials and workmanship that went into it.
Settled In Area
While the recent history of the old homestead is entwined with the lives of the Darmstadts who moved into the farmhouse in January, 1888, and farmed the land continuously until just a short while ago, the decedents of the first Abrams are settled all around the area.
Oldest surviving member the family is Arrender Abrams who now lives with his, daughter Stella at 16 Hancock St.. In his 97th year, of age may have left its mark physically, but mentally Arrender is still young. He reads His bible each day, without glasses, and can tell you instantly any incident in his entire life time. His first wife Georgians Simonson, was a member of one of Long Island's founding families and on the farm for more than 150 years now stands St. Anthony's Shrine in Oceanside. She died 42 years ago. His second wife was Gussie Darmstadt, Who also preceded him. The Abrams are famous in the community for longevity. Arrender's sister, Mrs. Alice Ann Pearsall, who died about seven years ago, created quite a stir when she went to the polls and voted in Malverne at the age of 93. She lived past her 96th, birthday.
Genological Research
Most of the research into the Abrams genealogy is being done by Sanford Davison, Lynbrook lawyer, who's Mother was a sister of Arrender. He and his wife have been examining old records and soon complete the line of descent the first Dutch settlers.
When Emile Darmstadt married Elizabeth Gins of Jamaica on December 6, 1885, the Rev Edward B. Rice Of Grace Episcopal Church, Lynbrook, performed the ceremony. They lived in Jamaica for a while but Emile's father, William, who owned a farm between Prospect and Sheridan Aves, persuaded his son to buy the Abrams farm in 1889. The elder Darmstadt laid out the present Grant Park section.
It was all part then of Pearsall's Corners. But the young couple who moved into the farmhouse in January were Unprepared for the blizzard January of '88 that baked the snow right up to the eves of the house.
Wed 61 Years
The Darmstadts who have been married for 61 years, are now living with one of their sons, Jacob G. at 14 Franklin Ave. They are waiting to move into a bungalow that they have purchased on the same street No. 32.
They agreed yesterday that life has become more complex then the days when they first moved into the homestead. Although on the main road, the few horses and buggies went by during the day. "If we saw a dozen of them, we thought it was heavy traffic," he reminisced, although today thousands of cars travel along Broadway.
In those days the tradespeople came right to the farm. There was no standing in line or from store to store to hunt for scarce items. The butcher brought his shop along with him, two of three times a week and the meat ordered was cut right off the carcass. The baker came around every other day.
And entertainment in those movie-less days? Why there was a man who toured the countryside with a big white bear on a chain. The bear danced to amuse the children. Mothers always could enforce obedience with the threat of that big while bear.
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Member of Pioneer
Family Resided Here
When Villeage Was Know Only As Pearsall's Corner
Ref: Newspapre article ( "Nassau Daily Review-Star, and as I recall the year was l936" ) provided by Jim Pearsall
Mrs Alice A. Pearsall of Hempstead avenue, Malverne, who has been known among her intimates as Grandma Pearsall for a number of yearss, has just passed her 93rd birthday. Mrs. Pearsall is one of the oldest residents of Lynbrook having lived here for 66 years and during the time the settlement was known as Pearsall's Corners. She is the daughter of the late Lewis and Martha Abrams of Union avenue, and was one of eight children. Mrs Pearsall and Arrender Abrams. are the Only surviving members of the family.
Loved for Kindnesses
Mrs. Pearsall is the widow of Townsend Pearsall who her, been dead for the past 25 years, After their marriage they moved to Malverne. She is loved by many persons old and young for her sweet and loving disposition and the little kindly things she is always doing for others.
Each year she looks forward to her birthday celebration as she knows many of the friends will drop in to see her during the day. This year she celebrated with all her family present and at the end of the day the house was a bower of flowers that tile callers had brought to her.
14 Great Grandchildren
Mrs. Pearsall had four children, Albert Pearsall, Mrs. Henrietta Hamiliton, Mrs. Ella Kieb and Charles Pearsall. Albert and Ella the only ones living now. There are nine grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. The grandchildren are: William Matthews, Sr,. Alex Hamilton, Raymund Hamilton, Herbert Hamiltom, Myron Pearsall, Lester Pearsall, Mary Alice Rasweiler, George Matthews and Morton Matthews. Grandma Pearsall has been a member of the Methodist Protestant church on Denton avenue for 76 years and although she is mot able to attend services regularly, she spends Sunday in reading her Bible and looking over her pictures of old friends and her need I mementoes of the happy years well spent in service for others.