Editing East Hills, New York (section)

== History ==

=== Before the village ===
In 1643, John Carman and Robert Fordham sailed across the [[Long Island Sound]] from [[Stamford, Connecticut]] and purchased the land that is now occupied by the Towns of [[Hempstead (town), New York|Hempstead]] and [[North Hempstead, New York|North Hempstead]] from the Native Americans.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Village of East Hills History|url=http://www.villageofeasthills.org/village_history.html|access-date=October 7, 2017|publisher=villageofeasthills.org}}</ref> This land included what is now East Hills.<ref name=":0" />

For a long time, much of what now is East Hills was home to a few wealthy families.<ref name=":0" /> In 1898, [[Clarence Mackay|Clarence]] and [[Katherine Duer Mackay|Katherine]] Mackay settled in present-day East Hills and would eventually commission [[Stanford White]] to design their mansion, [[Harbor Hill]].<ref name=":0" /> In 1924, the [[Prince of Wales]], who later abdicated the throne of England to marry Mrs. Simpson, was entertained at the Mackay estate. Aviation pioneer [[Charles Lindbergh|Charles A. Lindbergh]] rested at the Mackay estate in 1927 after returning to the United States following his historic solo flight to Paris, France.<ref name=":0" />

=== Village of East Hills (1931 – present) ===
The Village of East Hills was incorporated on June 24, 1931, and its first election was held a couple weeks later on July 8 in barns at the Mackay estate.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":81" /> Reasons for incorporating included the desire by many locals to be excluded from paying taxes for sanitary sewer systems, highways, etc., the desire to not be part of the Roslyn Sewer District and to keep businesses out, and to maintain local control through municipal home rule powers.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Kroplick|first=Howard|date=January 4, 2021|title=Why East Hills became an incorporated village separating from Roslyn's plans in 1931|url=https://www.roslynlandmarks.org/news/how-east-hills-became-a-village|url-status=live|access-date=October 11, 2021|website=Roslyn Landmark Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174218/https://www.roslynlandmarks.org/news/how-east-hills-became-a-village |archive-date=October 29, 2021 }}</ref> Many of the proposals opposed by the locals were proposed when Roslyn first wanted to incorporate, as early plans called for that village's proposed boundaries to include what would become East Hills.<ref name=":8" /> As such, the residents decided to incorporate East Hills as a separate village.<ref name=":8" />

Mr. Willets was elected as Mayor and John Mackay, Stephen Willets, Ellen A. Hennessy, and Catherine Hechler were elected as the Village Trustees.<ref name=":0" /> Charles Hechler, the husband of Mrs. Hechler, was appointed as the Village Clerk.<ref name=":0" />

The name of East Hills was chosen based on its geography and location.<ref name=":81">{{Cite book|last=Winsche|first=Richard|title=The History of Nassau County Community Place-Names|date=October 1, 1999|publisher=Empire State Books|isbn=978-1557871541|location=[[Interlaken, New York]]|pages=}}</ref> The "East" reflects the village's geographic location adjacent to and east of Roslyn, and the "Hills" reflects the hilly geography of the village.<ref name=":81" />

The post-war era ushered in a huge population boom and suburbanization throughout the United States, which led to the construction of many new developments in the Village of East Hills. One of these developments, Strathmore, was developed by [[Levitt & Sons]] in the late 1940s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=East hills anniversary 090216|url=https://issuu.com/theislandnow1/docs/east_hills_anniversary_090216_2b10d7b73e6ad7|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Issuu}}</ref> Another large-scale development built during this time, the Country Estates subdivision, was developed by [[Country Estates, Inc.|Country Estates, Incorporated]] over Clarence Mackay's former estate.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=August 28, 1955|title=Housing Development Is Planned On Part of North Shore Estate: Foundling Block Sold to Builders|work=[[The New York Times]]|via=<!-- [[ProQuest]] --><!-- Needs URL -->}}</ref> Prior to building the Country Estates in East Hills, the firm developed the Flower Hill Country Estates development in nearby [[Flower Hill, New York|Flower Hill]].<ref name=":2" /> A third notable development, Norgate, was developed by Gustav A. Mezger and the Homeguard Realty Corporation.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=28 May 1939, p. 45 – ''The Brooklyn Daily Eagle'' |url=http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/52639958/?terms=|access-date=October 11, 2020|website=Brooklyn Public Library}}</ref>

Additionally, in order for the [[Roslyn Union Free School District]] to adequately serve the influx of families, the Moore & Hutchins-designed East Hills Elementary School was opened between the Canterbury Woods and Fairfield Park developments in 1953.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=East Hills School, Roslyn, New York. View from southwest, to south facade|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2018749821/|access-date=September 27, 2020|website=Library of Congress}}</ref>

On Labor Day 2006, the [[Park at East Hills]] opened on the land previously occupied by the [[Roslyn Air National Guard Station]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://villageofeasthills.org/park/park-history/|title=Park History {{!}} Village of East Hills|website=villageofeasthills.org|access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> It has a pool, nature walks, senior facilities, and tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts. The construction of the park was financed through the sale of bonds; carrying and operating costs are paid through taxes.<ref name=":7" />