From Modest Beginnings to Million-Dollar Real Estate: The Story Behind 342 E. 29th Street and the Vision of Bernhard von Rappaport

 

From Modest Beginnings to Million-Dollar Real Estate: The Story Behind 342 E. 29th Street and the Vision of Bernhard von Rappaport

Today’s historic spotlight takes us to 342 E. 29th Street in Brooklyn, a modest yet million-dollar home that tells a far grander story than its quiet facade suggests. Built in 1899, this unassuming residence was once home to Bernhard von Rappaport and his wife Susan, key figures behind the Rappaport Realty Co.

Although difficult to fully appreciate through a modern Google Street View, the house stands as a symbol of early 20th-century Brooklyn architecture and the foundation of a family legacy that would help shape suburban Long Island.

A Real Estate Visionary

Bernhard von Rappaport wasn’t just a Brooklyn homeowner—he was a real estate mogul with an eye for opportunity and community development. By 1939, he had already made his mark across several neighborhoods including Flatbush, Bay Ridge, and Bethpage.

That year, local papers reported on one of Rappaport’s most ambitious projects: the Bethpage Parkway Estates.

"Sales of 10 homes since Columbus Day in the new Bethpage Parkway Estates on Hempstead Turnpike at Bethpage, were reported today by B. V. Rappaport, builder..."

The Birth of Bethpage Estates

These homes, located adjacent to the entrance of Bethpage State Park, were designed to be affordable yet stylish, attracting weekend crowds and eager buyers. Designed by Carl Salminen, a Flushing-based architect, the homes reflected English and Colonial influences and came in both bungalow and two-story styles.

Priced around $3,300—the equivalent of roughly $70,000 today—each home featured:

• A large living room, dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms

• Space for two additional rooms upstairs

• A detached garage

• 60x100 landscaped lots

• Modern amenities like brass and copper plumbing, fully equipped linoleum kitchens, and poured concrete waterproofed foundations

Streets and sidewalks were also installed, making it a fully planned and livable neighborhood from the start.

A Builder with Vision

By the time of this 1939 article, Mr. Rappaport had:

• Filed plans for 26 more homes

• Already begun construction on 12

• Was completing foundations for another 12

• Controlled more than 800 lots in the area

He wasn’t just building homes—he was building neighborhoods.

From Brooklyn Brownstone to Long Island Dream

The story of 342 E. 29th Street is a powerful reminder that real estate history isn’t just about buildings—it’s about the people who dreamed big, saw possibilities where others didn’t, and changed the fabric of our communities.

Next time you pass by a quiet Brooklyn street or a suburban Long Island block, think of Mr. Rappaport and the legacy he left—starting from a modest home in Brooklyn and growing into a builder of dreams.

Do you live in one of the homes built in the Bethpage Estates? I would love to see a picture or hear a story from you!

Massive Fire Destroys Meadowbrook Furniture Building on Sunrise Highway

 

Massive Fire Destroys Meadowbrook Furniture Building on Sunrise Highway

In November, 1964, Over 100 volunteer firefighters from the Bellmore Fire Department battled a devastating early morning blaze that completely destroyed the Meadowbrook Furniture building on Sunrise Highway, between Bedford and Bellmore Avenues. The fire broke out shortly after midnight on Sunday and raged for more than four hours.

According to Chief Ernest J. Schneider of the Bellmore Fire Department, all seven pieces of departmental equipment and members from all three Bellmore fire companies responded to the alarm, which came in at 12:10 a.m. Fire crews remained on the scene until approximately 2:30 a.m. to fully contain the flames.

The Wantagh Fire Department was called in to assist, while the North Bellmore Fire Department stood by at Bellmore Headquarters to cover any additional emergencies.

Several firefighters were overcome by heavy smoke during the operation. Tony Allen was transported to Meadowbrook Hospital (now Nassau University Medical Center) for treatment due to smoke inhalation. Despite the intense conditions, the volunteers worked tirelessly to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

The building was owned by Jerome Bossen of 2140 Bellmore Avenue (now commercial space), who also owned Meadowbrook Lumber Company. Bossen described the structure as a total loss, with damage he called "considerable." The Meadowbrook Furniture business was operated by William Ronnerman and Sons of Sayville.

The three Bellmore fire companies involved in the firefighting efforts included:

• Advance Hook, Ladder & Engine Company

• Hose Company No. 1, led by Captain Walter Valentine

• Engine Company No. 2, led by Captain Joseph Rutkowski
  Deputy Chief Albert Green was also present during the operation.

Photographer Bertoli and members of the Bellmore Life staff were on the scene to capture images of the fire and the heroic efforts of the volunteer firemen.

Though the Meadowbrook Furniture building was a complete loss, the spirit of community and quick response of local departments helped prevent further tragedy.

They did not rebuild the original store in its old location, and the company quietly closed sometime after the 1970s, without ever reestablishing itself elsewhere.

Robert Mulligan—A Boy, A Dream, and a Homemade Plane

 

Robert Mulligan—A Boy, A Dream, and a Homemade Plane

In a story that captures the spirit of perseverance and ambition, 16-year-old Robert Charles Mulligan of Bellerose, built and flew his own airplane in 1938 after saving his earnings for more than two years. Robert’s goal wasn’t fame or thrill-seeking—it was pure passion for aviation.

Starting with nothing but determination, Robert earned his money as a soda jerk and invested every dime into building his dream plane. He completed the aircraft using a motorcycle engine and took off from the then-active Roosevelt Field—now the location of Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, Long Island.

With just a short hop over the field, Robert demonstrated the impossible was possible with enough grit and vision. He didn’t need fancy training or deep pockets—just unshakeable belief in his dream.

Whatever Happened to Robert Mulligan?

It is not surprising that by 1942, Robert was working for the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation that manufactured naval aircrafts. After the company folded at the end of World War II, Robert enlisted in the National Guard. He died in 1991 at the age of 69 in Miami, FL as a husband, father and grandfather. I can only imagine that he left amazing stories with those who knew him. If any readers know more about his life story, I would love to hear from you!

Legacy of Roosevelt Field

Robert’s takeoff site, Roosevelt Field, holds its own legendary status—it’s the same airfield where Charles Lindbergh departed for his historic transatlantic flight in 1927. Today, the field has transformed into Roosevelt Field Mall, a place of commerce layered over the dreams of past aviators like young Robert.

The Moral of Robert’s Story?
Never underestimate the power of persistence. Robert Mulligan didn’t wait for opportunity—he built his own wings.

Bootleggers, Trawlers, and a Deadly Chase off Bay Shore – 1926’s Real-Life “Waterfront” Drama

Bootleggers, Trawlers, and a Deadly Chase off Bay Shore – 1926’s Real-Life “Waterfront” Drama

Fans of the hit show Waterfront—which dramatizes how modern-day smugglers use fishing vessels to transport illegal drugs—might be surprised to learn this tactic isn’t new. Nearly a century ago, real-life bootleggers off Bay Shore, Long Island, were doing the very same thing—using fishing trawlers not for cod, but for contraband liquor.

On the night of Wednesday, September 8, 1926, federal dry agents launched a covert mission from a humble rowboat off Bay Shore. Their target? Two fishing trawlers suspected of smuggling liquor during Prohibition—a dangerous game known locally as "fishing for liquid gold."

Shots rang out as the agents approached the trawler Edward Westerbeak, but the officers managed to board. In the chaos, two crew members leapt overboard into the dark Atlantic waters. One of them, William “Big Bill” Apsch, a well-known Bayshore fisherman from Smith St. and Russian immigrant and one of the South Shore’s most successful rum runners, was later found washed ashore. He left a wife and two young children. His partner vanished without a trace, believed to have drowned trying to reach land.

Onboard the Westerbeak were 800 cases of champagne, whiskey, and wine. Nearby, another trawler—Maude S. II—was also seized with 650 cases of liquor and three local baymen taken into custody: George Murdock, William Murdock, and William Allcock.

The federal agents had received an anonymous tip that led them to Bayshore by car. Disguised as ordinary fishermen, they quietly rented a rowboat and paddled out into the dark waters to intercept the bootleg fleet.

Both vessels were eventually towed to Manhattan's Barge Office, their illicit cargo adding to the mounting federal evidence against local rum-running operations.

While the tale ended in tragedy for "Big Bill" Apech, his story is a vivid reminder that the use of the sea for smuggling has a long and deadly history. In many ways, it mirrors what we see dramatized today on shows like Waterfront—the difference being, in 1926, the cargo was liquor, not narcotics.

Bayport Cove Auction of 1907: Who Bought the Great South Bay Dream?

 

Bayport Cove Auction of 1907: Who Bought the Great South Bay Dream?

On Saturday, July 6, 1907, history was made in Bayport, Long Island. Seventy-six plots of land fronting the Great South Bay and Merrick Road were sold by John L. Parish, Auctioneer, in an "absolute, unreserved auction." According to the New York Daily Tribune ad from June 23, 1907, the lots were marketed as an "unusual opportunity" to own waterfront property in what was called the "Aristocratic Section of Long Island."

Each plot was approximately 100 feet by 150 feet, and the promise of free transportation, proximity to the Bayport LIRR station (just two blocks away), and a private pier made this an irresistible offer—especially for summer residences of bankers, brokers, capitalists, and even “professional men.”

What is Merrick Road Today?

“Merrick Road” referred to in the ad is likely what we now know as Montauk Highway (NY-27A). This major route still runs through Bayport and connects the South Shore of Long Island from Babylon to Montauk. The stretch of land described in the auction ad may very well correspond to what is now the Bayport Marina or the Bayport-Blue Point Beach, both located just south of Montauk Highway and about two blocks from the Bayport LIRR station.

Who Bought the Property?

While specific names of early buyers from the 1907 auction aren’t readily available in public record databases, this section of Bayport soon filled with summer homes and seaside retreats. Over the decades, the area attracted attention from prominent families and celebrities.

It’s been said that Anne Hathaway and Isabella Rossellini have either owned homes or summered in Bayport Village, adding to its reputation as an artistic, tranquil enclave. Rossellini’s long-standing ties to Long Island through her environmental and farming efforts (at her nearby Brookhaven property) lend some credibility to this rumor.

Who Lives There Today?

While we can’t share private owner details for privacy reasons, Bayport remains a highly desirable hamlet, known for its beautiful waterfront, historic homes, and close-knit community. Property values in the area reflect the enduring charm first marketed back in 1907. It remains one of the last true village-style communities on the South Shore.

If you have family records, photos, or deeds connecting you to this 1907 auction or early Bayport ownership, I’d love to hear your story in the comments!

 

The Forgotten Stories of Baldwin’s Tinney Estate and Its Mysterious Neighbor

Many people in Baldwin, Long Island, still recognize the name of the Tinney Estate, once owned by the famous vaudeville comedian Frank Tinney. In 1928, the sprawling estate was sold off and subdivided into 300 residential lots, forever changing the landscape of the area. The Tinney home itself once stood proudly at Foxhurst Road and Gardner Street—the latter now known as Grand Avenue.

But fewer people know the intriguing story of the grand Spanish villa that stood directly across from Tinney’s estate. In 1927, this impressive home went up for sale under bittersweet circumstances: its prominent female owner was preparing to return to California. While she waited for a buyer, she decided to auction off much of her lavish lifestyle—including a stunning collection of fur coats.

Above photo: August 26, 1928 - ""New York Times; For Release Sunday, August 26, 1928: Dwelling in Foxhurst Road, Baldwin, Long Island, directly opposite the 300 "Tinney Estates" lots which will be sold at auction by major William Kennelly on Saturday September 8th at 2 pm on the premises"

Prior to the home auction, the 1927 classified ad captures a vivid slice of that moment in time:

FOR SALE — Lady returning to Hollywood, Calif., offering at a big sacrifice a number of most beautiful fur coats, which were bought for studio use only, and positively not worn on street. They are the finest selections: squirrel-trimmed caracul, fox-trimmed, leopard-trimmed with seal, beaver, etc. Also two gentlemen's fur-lined overcoats. Please call 10 a.m. Spanish Villa with for sale sign outside, opposite Frank Tinney Estate, Foxhurst Rd., Baldwin.

It makes one wonder: could this Hollywood-bound lady have been Mary Imogene Robertson, better known as Mary Nolan—a.k.a. the infamous Ziegfeld girl “Bubbles” Wilson? Nolan’s scandalous affair with Frank Tinney was a nationwide sensation in the 1920s. The two shared a tempestuous relationship that included public fights, physical abuse, and ultimately heartbreak.

The Tragic Tale of Mary Nolan

Mary Nolan was born Mariam Imogene Robertson on December 18, 1902, in Louisville, Kentucky. As a teenager she moved to New York City, where she was discovered by Florenz Ziegfeld and transformed into the dazzling stage personality Imogene “Bubbles” Wilson. She quickly became one of the most talked-about showgirls in America.

Her fame skyrocketed—but so did scandal. Her highly publicized affair with the married Frank Tinney ended her Broadway career after she attempted to press assault charges against him. Blacklisted by the Ziegfeld Follies, she fled to Europe and reinvented herself as a film star in Germany.

When she returned to America in 1927, she tried to bury her old reputation under a new name: Mary Nolan. She landed film roles at Universal and MGM, appearing alongside stars like Lon Chaney and John Gilbert. But a string of abusive relationships, battles with drug addiction, and run-ins with the law caused her once-glittering career to dim. By the 1930s, she was working in low-budget “Poverty Row” films and eventually found herself performing in nightclubs just to survive.

Nolan’s final years were marred by hospitalizations and poverty. In 1948, at just 45 years old, she died from an overdose of sleeping pills, alone in a small Hollywood bungalow. Her tragic story faded quickly into the shadows of Hollywood history.

A Whisper of the Past

Standing on Foxhurst Road today, you’d never guess the storied past of this peaceful Baldwin neighborhood. Where once grand estates loomed—one home to a famous comedian, the other possibly to his notorious lover—the streets are now lined with modest family houses.

Yet if you listen closely, perhaps you can still hear the faint echoes of laughter from Tinney’s parties or imagine the elegant lady at her Spanish villa across the way, selling off furs that had only ever brushed studio lights.

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Babylon Scandal of 1891

 

Babylon Scandal of 1891: Citizens Rally Behind Teacher Miss Alice Grout

In the quiet hamlet of Babylon, Long Island, December of 1891 brought more than the usual chill of winter — it carried a storm of controversy that shook the village’s trust in its local school leadership.

The incident centered on Miss Alice Grout, a respected teacher in Babylon’s public school system. Miss Grout, known not only for her excellent teaching credentials but also for her involvement in local society, found herself abruptly suspended by Principal Frederick H. Lane. The reason? Her absence from a recent teachers’ institute, allegedly without permission.

Pictured: Location of the Babylon Public School on Carll Ave, a block from Main St. in 1873

However, Miss Grout firmly defended her position. She stated that she had been too ill to attend and backed her claim with a doctor’s certificate. Despite this clear evidence, Principal Lane refused to reconsider, and Miss Grout was left barred from her classroom duties.

The matter came to a head at the next meeting of the Babylon Board of Education. A friend of Miss Grout brought her case before the board, leading to a heated discussion that laid bare the tensions simmering beneath the surface. In the end, the board ordered Principal Lane to reinstate Miss Grout, a directive he was obliged to follow. The beloved teacher returned to her classroom shortly thereafter.

But the affair did not end there. Indignant citizens, alongside members of the board, began probing deeper, eager to uncover what personal bias or hidden animosity might have motivated Principal Lane’s questionable decision. There were murmurs in the village of charges to be brought against him, with many predicting sensational developments that could shake the administration to its core.

This episode serves as a vivid illustration of community solidarity in late 19th-century Babylon. The support for Miss Grout was not merely about one teacher’s fate; it reflected the town’s insistence on fairness and transparency in its institutions. Moreover, it demonstrated how even small towns were not immune to intrigues and power struggles — or to the collective will of citizens determined to uphold justice.

As records stand, Miss Grout continued her work, bolstered by the loyalty of her friends and neighbors. The outcome for Principal Lane remains less clear, yet this incident certainly placed him under the critical eye of both the board and the public he served.