February 25, 1974 Small fire in the basement. Police investigating this as an arson as a gas container was found in the area. Fire was reported by an occupant at approximately 0430. Masten’s was officially named “The Shamrock Bar and Hotel” and was located at 60 East Main Street. The owner, Wally Masten, was a custodian at the Kings Park High School.
Courtesy of Barry Charlotte on Facebook:
Masten’s was located at the eastern edge of the firehouse parking lot. The lot was unusual in that one property line (western) had a very sharp angle to Main Street. Very odd…until you look at some very old maps. Here was the lay of the old landscape. Meadow Road did not exit onto Indian Head Road, it actually ran into east Main Street at a sharp angle (hence the sharp angle to the Masten’s property line). Here’s the kicker – that WAS east Main Street! The 25A extension from Main Street to St. Johnland came along a long time later. Main Street in Kings Park actually ran directly into Meadow Road (at the Masten’s location). The LIRR came later and the roads were reworked to what they are today.
NOTE: I have photos of a fire that caused extensive damage to this building in the “Winter of 1978”. No other information though.
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