The History

In 1929, despite the onset of the “Great Depression”, construction began on the Manhasset Valley School giving families throughout Manhasset an opportunity to choose between parochial (St. Mary’s) and public education for their children. While the Valley School was originally integrated, a shift in the student population took place over a thirty year period so that by 1960 the school had become nearly an all Black school. In 1964 the Federal District Court ruled that the Valley School was segregated. The School Board’ voted to close the Manhasset Valley School and assign its students to the Plandome Road and Munsey Park Schools. (The Shelter Rock School wasn’t built until 1968.)

In 1964 the building became a Community Service Center for the Town of North Hempstead. After operating the building for 16 years, in March of 1980, the Town gave the building to the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC. For the next 18 years (from 1980 to 1998) the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC and the Head Start Program were operated by the EOC of Nassau County. Following a lawsuit over ownership of the building, the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC and the EOC of Nassau County parted company in 1998; the Head Start Program separated from the Nassau County EOC in July of 2000.

Once the courts determined that the building did, in fact, belong to the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC plans began in earnest to obtain money through grants and donations to begin some much needed renovation and rehabilitation of the property.
With the help of the Manhasset Community Fund, the building’s façade was restored, repaired, sanded, primed and painted. This work included everything from the cupola on the gym roof to the columns, doors, and steps at the gym entrance;
With support from the Town of North Hempstead Community Development Agency, an extensive abatement project took place, and work began to upgrade the building’s heating, electrical, plumbing, and fire alarm systems;
With support from the Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli, funds from the New York State Dormitory Authority were obtained and used towards the rehabilitation of the building;
The Building Trades Unions completed most of the demolition work in the gym at no charge to the agency paving the way for work to begin in earnest;
Horace and Amy Hagedorn, through the Long Island Community Foundation of the NY Community Trust, contributed the money needed to complete the rehabilitation of the gym and bring the building into compliance with ADA requirements by providing for the installation of an elevator, a handicap ramp to the front door, and handicap accessible bathrooms in the gym lobby and on the third floor.
In the fall of 2006 the building was formally rededicated as the Hagedorn Community Center.