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Sound Beach - How It Grew

Needed services gradually came to Sound Beach. The Sound Beach Fire Department was formed in 1930. At first it was housed in the building that is presently Bob Bedrossian Real Estate. To report a fire, someone had to go to the large steel gong in two locations and pound it with a hammer to alert the firemen. Later a small brick building was erected. Today, there is an imposing structure with sophisticated equipment for responding to fires and other emergencies. It is still, as it was in the beginning, a fine and effective volunteering organization.

In the early 1930's, Sound Beach had its own police department with an office in the community house. There were well over a dozen policemen serving to protect the infant community. John Broccone was the town's one and only motorcycle cop. Later, as the Township of Brookhaven evolved, the town police became responsible for Sound Beach's protection and the Sound Beach force was disbanded. Today, we are served by the Suffolk County Police Department.

Mail delivery was another service that became important to the early residents. Arthur Calace, Sr. had built a grocery store in the town square (Where Rubino's restaurant now stands). Mr. Calace had all the mail for Sound Beach delivered to him in Miller Place. He then brought it back to his store for people to pick up as they shopped. Next, a Post Office was set up in a small store in the square (a beauty parlor is currently at that location). Eventually, the post office got its own building on Bayville Road across from the firehouse. Today, the Sound Beach Post Office is a modern bright brick building with friendly and efficient workers. Home delivery was established, although many people still get their mail from post office boxes. They enjoy meeting their friends and neighbors and exchanging news, just as they did in the old days.

They also met at church. Mass was said in a variety of places - upstairs in the community house, on benches outside the local tavern, in a small country church on New York Avenue, in a tent, and finally in a large structure known as St. Louis De Montfort Catholic Church. The Sound Beach Community Church on Echo Avenue also developed into a beautiful building.

At that time, in the 1940's and 50's, the square was bustling with stores. In addition to Calace's Superior Market, there was Muller's Mom & Pop store, a laundromat run by the Goldberg's and then the Nelson's (later Sam the Butcher's Deli & Meat Market), currently it is Deli Express. A Gulf gas station (Matt's Body Shop) and an icehouse soon appeared. As time went on, Marvin's Sweet Shoppe and a variety store opened. At one point there was a Bohack's and Caggiano's Drug Store, where Shenanigan's now stands. A celebrity operated a business from this building called "Paul Berlenbach's Ringside Restaurant". The owner, Paul Berlenbach had once been boxing's light heavyweight champion in 1925. Prior to that he was to United States 1920 Olympic Wrestling gold medal winner. Each summer, Paul would feature a contest to award a trophy to the prettiest girl in Sound Beach. It was a great event that was enjoyed by all. The Calace's built a restaurant and taverns further up the road. It also has endured to this day, though the name has changed over the years (Cataldo's, Boyle's, Shorty's). Today it is Hartlin's Inn. From the first generation to the third and fourth, Sound Beachers have had wonderful times, enduring friendships, and happy memories.

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