Ancient Hixtory
Wonderful articles about the history of Hicksville, researched and written by Ron Wencer. This complete monthly series spans 4 years, from May 2018 until April 2022. Enjoy!
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- Ronald Wencer
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The Magic of Hicksville's Mike Caruso
Each year, connoisseurs of fine automobiles attend the Salon Rétromobile in Paris. At the 2019 Salon, Ivan Dutton Ltd exhibited five superbly restored vehicles to showcase the company's work. Four were classic Bugatti's - but the fifth was a storied Midget racer, powered by half of a Bugatti engine, and built in a salvage yard in Hicksville.
Built by Mike Caruso, its presence amidst hundreds of the world's most prized cars was a reminder of two facets of his unique legacy: his outstanding success as a builder of racing cars, and his role in the preservation of a number of classic automobiles.
Partial view of Ivan Dutton "stand" at Salon Rétromobile, Paris, February 2019
photo provided by Mark Thomas
Click here to continue reading April 2019: Automotive Alchemy
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- Ronald Wencer
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While doing research for Hixtory, I sometimes come across oddball or interesting items that I just file away, because by themselves they won't make a real story. This edition is a collection of such things. I hope that they're of interest to you.
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- Ronald Wencer
- Category: Ancient Hixtory
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Pope-Toledo photo Courtesy of the National Automotive History Collection, Detroit Public Library
(see complete photo credit in "Sources" section, below).
Caruso photo from www.carusomidgetracing.com/racing-photos.html
Click here to continue reading February 2019: Hicksville Racing
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- Ronald Wencer
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Once, on a Christmas Eve in Hicksville, a tail light ignited a street fight between village residents and New York State Troopers. At its climax, the Troopers were backed against a wall by a crowd of 40 men, some of them armed, and many of them likely half-drunk. By the time the ruckus was over, several Hicksvillians had been arrested for their part in the riot. During the subsequent arraignment (at which guns once again were drawn) there was talk of charging some of the villagers with sedition. After all, this was 1917, and unpatriotic remarks uttered in time of war could not be tolerated.
Click here to continue reading January 2019: The Tail Light Riot
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1974 U.S. Postal Service Christmas Stamp
A couple glides through an endless snowscape, with no sound but jingling sleigh bells, the rhythm punctuated now and then by a horse's whinny or snort. It's like a scene from a romantic movie - and yet, the Currier and Ives lithograph shown below once would have fit Hicksville very well.
New York State Archives Digital Collections
Click here to continue reading December 2018: 1974 U.S. Postal Service Christmas Stamp
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- Ronald Wencer
- Category: Ancient Hixtory
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1924 photo by Triangle Studio of Photography (edited)
alternate versions available from Bettman Archive, Library of Congress, other sources
see Notes at end of this article
Click here to continue reading November 2018: A History Too Conveniently Overlooked
