Odd Fellows Hall

Written By Dino DiPietro

Here is the detailed history of the Odd Fellows Hall in Huntington (Huntington Station, Suffolk County, NY):

🏛️ Construction & Early Use

  • The hall was built in 1909 at 1000 New York Avenue, Huntington Station

  • It became an important meeting place and social center for African American residents, serving that role from 1922 to 1945

🔄 Changes in Function

  • After its primary role as a social hub, the building was repurposed multiple times:

    • Functioned as a kosher butcher shop,

    • Later became Brothers Barber Shop,

    • And also housed an auto repair shop

🏚️ Demolition & Commemorative Efforts

  • The structure was demolished in 2017 to make way for the Gateway Plaza revitalization project

  • In 2020, the Town of Huntington installed a historical marker at the site to honor its legacy. The marker describes the hall’s origins as a fraternal meeting place and social center for the Black community

🌟 Community Recognition

  • The 2021 dedication ceremony at Gateway Plaza, which now occupies the site, included local leaders, the NAACP Huntington Branch, and members of the Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church

  • The plaza was renamed to honor Paul H. Johnson, Sr., who had been active in the hall during his youth—as a Boy Scout meeting there—and was later recognized for his contributions as a civil rights activist

📍 Summary

  • Location: 1000 New York Ave, Huntington Station, NY

  • Built: 1909

  • Role (1922–1945): African American community center under the Odd Fellows banner

  • Later uses: Kosher butcher, barber shop, auto repair

  • Demolished: 2017

  • Commemorative marker: Installed in 2020

  • Civic recognition: Gateway Plaza renamed in 2021, honoring Paul H. Johnson, Sr.

Dino DiPietro