The Great Freeport Estates
Stromberg Park
The Home of John Stromberg
"It was one of the beauty spots of Freeport and known to almost everyone who visits this pretty progressive village."
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 7 September 1902: page 2.
Stromberg Park was located in the northeast section of Freeport. This property was originally owned by the Raynor family. About 1894, the property was purchased by Professor Delwin K. Brown, a noted instructor in penmanship. Around about 1900, Brown sold the property and house he built there to John Stromberg, a composer and orchestra director. According to a newspaper account, Stromberg Park included 23 acres of "park-like grounds", a beautiful home surrounded by stately trees, tennis and croquet courts, a large barn and carriage house, a dairy and fruit house, poultry yards, and a duck pond. The house was described as "artistically decorated and handsomely furnished." Stromberg spent hundreds of dollars creating ornate ceilings especially in his music room which featured lyrics and musical symbols. Stromberg originally called his property Russell Park after his friend actress Lillian Russell.
Unfortunately, Stromberg did not live long enough to enjoy his beautiful estate. In 1902, Stromberg committed suicide after a long illness. In 1904, Stromberg's widow married real estate developer Charles Sigmond. The property was divided into housing lots and several of the streets were named after people associated with vaudeville theater. These streets include Weberfield Avenue, Russell Avenue, Templeton Street, and Jesse Street.
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Image:
1906 Property Map: Freeport Memorial Library
