CAPTAIN OMER NEUTRA MEMORIAL PARK
From this parklet, where he once played as a child, to the distant battlefield where he fought in defense of freedom and democracy, Omer was a true leader wherever he served.
We will forever honor this son of our community for his courage, selfless bravery and his unwavering love of humanity.
DEDICATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
In 1907 when John (Jay) Phipps and his family took up residence in Westbury House, the automobile and its ubiquitous role in suburban life had already been foreseen. In a two-page spread in May of that year about the state of automobiles and their industry The New York Times noted:
The enormous growth of the automobile industry in the past ten years has been one of the most amazing commercial developments that the world has ever known. To look back at its origin of the automobile and compare its crudity with the palatial cars of the present day, to recall its limited powers and to look upon the great auto trucks that are doing the deliver work of commerce today is to conjure up the wand of a fairy godmother making coaches and fours out of pumpkins.
…It is estimated that over 250 different makes of automobiles are manufactured in the United States and that 120,000 are in use, New York State alone having over 40,000 registered machines.
Similar to today’s emerging market of EVs, automobile ownership in the 1900s was fueled by those willing to invest in an advancing technology with a high purchase price. Like other wealthy residents of Long Island, most notably William K. Vanderbilt, who championed and financed the Long Island Parkway, Henry Phipps’s three sons, Jay, Henry (Hal), and Howard had the means to own several cars at one time (a price for one of their cars would typically be north of $75,000 in today’s dollars). In accordance with New York State law at that time, newspapers and magazines regularly published lists of autos registered in the state.
In a span of three years these listings indicated that Jay owned: two Fords (1908), a Cadillac (1909); a Harrold (1910), and two new cars built by the White Automobile Company (1911). Listings also show that Jay’s brothers also owned several vehicles; Henry “Hal” Carnegie: Panard (1902), Mercedes (1905), Selden (1909), E.M.F. (1909), Hupmobile (1910) Pierce (1911); Howard: Buick (1909). Cadillac (1914), Pierce-Arrow (1914).
Customers who had the resources, like Jay and Hal, would also purchase bespoke luxury cars that were constructed for their specifications. These coachbuilders would combine the best chassis and bodies from separate manufacturers and create the ultimate luxury vehicles. The John S. Phipps archives at Old Westbury Gardens contains proposals from Hooper & Co., a London-based company that specialized in such automobiles.
Well, because of Jay Phipps, a park was constructed in his name which is home to many squirrels living in this big Oak. I think I might have seen one of them running away with the cache!