Fleet's Hall facts for kids
Fleet's Hall was an important building in Oyster Bay, New York. It played a big role in local, state, and even national events. This was especially true when Theodore Roosevelt lived in Oyster Bay. He later became Governor of New York and then President of the United States. The hall was a busy place. People used it for public meetings, concerts, parties, dances, and dinners. It was also where the first ever moving picture was shown in Oyster Bay!
The Story of Fleet's Hall
Fleet's Hall was built by a man named Samuel Van Wyck Fleet (1851-1911). In 1885, there was no building at this spot in Oyster Bay. But by 1897, maps show that the hall was standing.
This building was one of a few in Oyster Bay named after the person who owned and built it. Other examples include the Ludlam Building and Snouder's Drug Store. These buildings became very successful when Theodore Roosevelt was Governor and then President.
Samuel Van Wyck Fleet was very active in the Oyster Bay community. He helped start the Youngs Memorial Cemetery in Oyster Bay. Fleet's Hall became a key spot for community gatherings for many years. When Theodore Roosevelt was elected Governor of New York in 1898, a huge party was held for him right in Fleet's Hall!
Roosevelt and Voting
Fleet's Hall was also used as a place where people could vote. In 1904, when Theodore Roosevelt was running for president, people came to Fleet's Hall to cast their votes.
There was a funny story about one election day. The person in charge of the election, William S. Moore, missed his train. Voters felt it wasn't right to start without him. So, they decided to hold the election again the next day, April 2.
That night, only one voter, James Buchanan, showed up. The New York Times newspaper wrote about it. It said the hall was "dark and gloomy" and Buchanan was all alone for half an hour.
Theodore Roosevelt himself would often travel from the White House to Fleet's Hall. He did this so he could vote in his home district. For example, he and his wife Edith came back to Oyster Bay to vote in the 1908 Presidential Election.
The End of Fleet's Hall
Samuel Fleet passed away suddenly in Oyster Bay in 1911. Fleet's Hall continued to stand for only a short time after that. It was torn down in the 1920s. A new store, Nobman's Hardware Emporium, was built in its place. Parts of Fleet's Hall were even used in other buildings around Oyster Bay.
Nobman's building later burned down in 2005. A new building stands there today, which is still a big part of downtown Oyster Bay.
