Piercing Shop in Roslyn, vatStateShort

Roslyn was initially settled by colonists in the year 1643. It was originally called Hempstead Harbor, but its name was changed to Roslyn in 1844 due to postal confusion regarding all the other “Hempsteads” scattered about Long Island. The name “Roslyn” was selected as the new name, as its location in a valley reminded officials of Roslin, Scotland.

Roslyn was incorporated as a village on January 11, 1932. Its first Mayor was Albertson W. Hicks, who was unanimously elected two days later, on January 13.

In the late 1940s, the 217-unit Roslyn Gardens co-op development was built. Located off of Warner Avenue, it was built in part with funding from Title 608 of the Federal Housing Administration and was the first major rental housing development built in the New York area under Title 608’s then-new provisions. The complex was designed by architects Max M. Simon and T. E. Merrill.