Serving the Borough of Queens

143-35 37TH AVENUE - FLUSHING, NY 11354 - (718) 939-0647

NEWSLETTER

FALL 2002
 

"The borough of Queens has a glorious history, and succeeding generations should . . . be given every opportunity to review its past.

- Charles U. Powell, Long Island Forum, Feb, 1942.

Queensmark Comes To Beechhurst

By Stanley Cogan

A "Peace" of the Rock

By Stanley Cogan

Two-hundred and thirty-three years (1769-2002) of a varied existence ended on June 23, 2002, when the life of a rock came to a peaceful, temporary conclusion. At a ceremony at the landmarked Vander EndeOnderdonk House in Ridgewood, Arbitration Rock was honored by a formal ceremony, received a bronze plaque, and settled into a peaceful existence on a quiet hillside to the rear of the house.

Gaining its name as a boundary marker in a 1769 decision that defined the boundary between Bushwick and Newtown, after more than a century of disputes, the rock had an honored and quiet existence until the 1930s. At that time, repairs to Onderdonk Avenue, where it had lain for more than three hundred years, caused the rock to sink below the surface, assuming the existence of a myth. Research in the 1990s, started by William Asadorian, verified the existence and location of the rock.

Asadorian, joined by Cogan and Aida Gonzalez-Jarrin, former Director of Cultural Affairs, convinced Claire Shulman, former Queens Borough President, to bestow a $10,000 grant, enabling the Department of Environmental Protection to search for, and discover, the rock's buried location, and to bring it to the surface after some seventy years of burial. This was done in December, 2001, and soon after, was moved to the Onderdonk House. Finally, on June 23, peace was officially declared for Arbitration Rock through a beautiful ceremony.

The program, attended by fifty guests, was marked by a quiet dignity, subdued excitement, and elegant pride as dignitaries and historians traced the history and location of the rock.

A Boy Scout troop honored the Rock in its own unique fashion, as did Veronique Le Melle, Queens Director of Cultural Affairs, and Ron Schweiger, Brooklyn Borough Historian.

Refreshments and tours of the Onderdonk House were appropriate codas to this most dignified and respectful ceremony.

Assemblywoman Catherine T. Nolan, who represents Ridgewood, spoke with pride of the fact that Arbitration Rock is in her district. Veronique Le Melle, Queens Director of Cultural Affairs, spoke glowingly in place of Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President, who was unable to attend.

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Several years ago, while attending a mass at Holy Trinity for Veteran's Day, I shared some history about the monuments at the Whitestone Veterans Memorial Park, 149th Street and 15th Drive. As most of you know, I have lived in Whitestone all of my life, having gone to PS 79 from Kindergarten to graduation from the 8th grade, and made all of my sacraments at St. Luke's.

Perhaps you will drive to Varsi's for some Italian food. Take a look at the Memorial Park. You will see a very tall bronze statue of a woman in the very middle of the Park. Towards the front, facing 149th Street, stands a very imposing granite monument.

The beautiful bronze statue was dedicated on Armistice Day, November 11, 1924. It is dedicated by the citizens of Whitestone in grateful tribute to the memory of all who served in the wars of our country. The sculptor was Karl Illava, and he was striving to do a peace memorial rather than a war memorial. The work should stress the sadness, in fact, the insanity of war. His words were, "In the Whitestone Memorial, I have tried to portray a grief-stricken America, mourning her dead sons, of which the broken sword is a symbol. America, to me, represents our Womanhood and with love and reverence to those mothers who lost their most priceless possessions, their sons." Listed on the guest list for the dedication was President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge.

After World War II, the community of Whitestone erected a wooden Honor Roll at the field. The names of all the servicemen who gave their lives during all wars were put on the memorial in tiny bronze letters. The wooden structure was painted white and the letters were covered with glass.

In 1964, my father, Joseph Canariato, was honored by the American Legion for 26 years of dedicated service. At the time, he was also the President of the Whitestone Veterans Memorial Association. During that year, the Association decided to launch a campaign to raise $5,000 for the purpose of erecting a permanent monument to honor all members from the communities of Whitestone, Beechhurst, Robinwood, and Malba who served in our Armed Forces and died honorably. He sent out letters to all the residents and businesses, and personally rang doorbells to collect contributions. (He was retired at the time, so he put all his efforts into this fund-raising effort.) Mr. Joseph Ryan, owner of the Parkway Inn, and President of the Kiwanis of Whitestone, as well as a Malba resident, was very helpful to my dad. In fact, there were many people and organizations to thank.

On Sunday, November 21, 1965 the beautiful granite monument was unveiled. The memorial was designed by my father and uncle (Vincent Canariato) and constructed by John Prowse Memorials. The dedication and unveiling booklet states "it is the aim and purpose of the Whitestone Veterans Memorial Association that there shall always be in the minds of the people of this large community, the knowledge that those who answered the call of duty and those who died did not perish in vain and that our leaders will always strive for peace. May God bless our land." My father gave the Welcome Address and the Dedication Speech that day. I remember it so very well and was so proud of him. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the "Burying of those names of the servicemen listed on the original wooden Honor Roll by Mrs. Donnelly, mother of Frank Donnelly, who was a Gold Star Mother." Today, there's a copper list of all the names that were buried, and two names were young men from my block where I lived on 147th Street.

Over 500 boys from Whitestone went off to serve in World War I. One perished on the field of battle, Edward M. McKee. In 1919, the American Legion was established here in Whitestone on Clintonville Street and 10th Avenue. It was named McKee Post after Edward.

Pauline Giudice

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Ancestors Locked Away: In The Poorhouse Or The Penitentiary

By Ruth Utley

We'd all like to think that we descend from royalty, scholars, inventors, and other fine, upstanding successful folk. However, many family researchers will find themselves stumbling across less prestigious ancestry - relatives who were imprisoned, institutionalized, poverty-stricken or even, orphaned. This brings about a whole new challenge to the information-gathering process, which we will explore over the next few issues of the newsletter.

During your research, you may discover a seemingly "missing link" in you family chain. You know, that suddenly untraceable son that your great-great grandfather had by his second wife. Well, he might have fallen upon hard times, or maybe he got caught stealing the neighbor's pig. Now you must sift your way through institutional records! Fear not, although such searches may require a little extra time and patience, there are resources available to help you find your "missing" links. For this issue, let's take a peek at finding information on those who were incarcerated and those who were poverty-stricken.

If that relative was imprisoned:

Prison records can be found on many levels - from local to federal to military. It would be helpful if you had some idea of where that relative last resided, so as to narrow down the locale of the correctional facility. For example, if you know that the "missing" ancestor lived in Flushing in the early 1900s, you'd probably want to check records in New York City and Long Island area prisons first.

Newspaper archives can also be a valuable source of information when seeking out incarcerated ancestors. A report of the crime for which he or she was convicted, or perhaps press coverage of a trial might lead you to the name of the prison where he or she was incarcerated or the court where the trial took place. Court records are also an excellent resource.

If your ancestor was from the New York area:

NEW YORK STATE NEW YORK CITY
New York State Commission of Correction New York City Department of Corrections
Department of Correctional Services 60 Hudson St
State Office Building Campus New York, NY 10013-4393
Albany, NY 12226

If that relative was in a poorhouse:

Before there was the Welfare system as we now know it, individuals who were unable to support themselves were sent to poorhouses. These facilities were tax-supported residential institutions. Some people requested help from the community "Overseer of the Poor"; others were sent there if they were found panhandling.

One example in our area was the Jones' Institute, located in the town of Oyster Bay (then Queens County, currently Nassau), for the poverty-stricken of the towns of Oyster Bay and North Hempstead. The property was held by trustees, under the will of a Mr. Samuel Jones. It housed an average of 127 "inmates."

Finding poorhouse records for Queens and Long Island residents may not be as difficult as you think. A law passed in 1875 required New York State poorhouses to record inmate information on a specific certificate form for all inmates currently residing there and for all subsequent admissions. Copies of these certificates had to be submitted to the State Board of Charities. Those are housed at the New York State Archives and have been microfilmed. Also, the Long Island Studies Institute, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, houses several poorhouse records for Queens County.

Poorhouses were generally treated as households in the federal census - listing staff, as well as inmates. Unfortunately, researchers looking for a poorhouse inmate on a census would have a problem finding them, as they were often not in the same county or locale as the individual's original residence. Also, census records are generally listed by "head of household", which, in a poorhouse was generally the Superintendent - a name unlikely to be known by a researcher. -

However, in order to make this process easier, Linda M. Crannell, known as the Poorhouse Lady, is working via her website, The Poorhouse Story, (httpH:www.poorhousestory.com) to extract and compile poorhouses listed in federal census records.

So if times were hard for your great-grandfather or your great-great granduncle's back-yard distillery got him locked up, you can find out what happened to them! We'll look at tracing other institutionalized groups in upcoming issues of the Newsletter.

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Q&A

By James Driscoll

Vice President for History

Quite a while ago a Newsday reporter called asking about James Fenimore Cooper and The Last of 'the Mohicans. The reporter had heard that Cooper had worked on his famous novel while staying with a friend in the Ravenswood section of Astoria and wanted to know if we had any information about this.

A* At the time we were asked, we didn't know anything about Cooper's friend, Colonel George Gibbs, or his stay in Ravenswood. However, what happens frequently is that we find information that answers old questions while working on new ones. Such was the case with this enquiry about Cooper, when I came across the name of Colonel George Gibbs in Vincent Seyfried's book on Long Island City. This discovery led me to do some research on James Fenimore Cooper.

According to his own letters, Cooper and his family spent the summer of 1825 with Gibbs at his Sunswick estate on the East River in what later became know as Ravenswood. This was during the time he was working on his most famous novel The Last of the Mohicans, so it may be safe to assume that he wrote some of the book while staying at Sunswick.

It's hard to imagine it, knowing the site today with its factories and Con Edison plant, but according to contemporary accounts this was a beautiful spot along the East River. Cooper appears to have enjoyed his stay with the Gibbs. He was particularly fascinated with Hellgate, which is just north of Sunswick. This treacherous waterway between Ward's Island and Astoria, where the East River meets the Long Island Sound, was a graveyard for ships. One of the scenes in a novel Cooper wrote more than twenty years later called Jack Tier describes a ship passing through Hellgate and barely making it. In the same novel Cooper mentions Ravenswood and his old friend Gibbs. In the story, while the ship is passing Sunswick on its way to the Sound, one of the characters, a ship's captain, bemoans the fact that the area is changing. The fine residence that was good enough for the Delafields and Gibbs, he says, was giving way to a community of pretentious English-style villas that was called Ravenswood, "though there is neither ravens or woods to authorize this name." Some of Manhattan's richest citizens, taking advantage of the site's beauty and the short commute, were building country homes along the beautiful shoreline.

In the novel, when the ship passes the village of Astoria the captain says the place used to be called Hallet's Cove, and says: "This Astoria was a very different place, and is one of the many suburban villages that are shooting up, like mushrooms in a night, around the Commercial Emporium." It's interesting that Cooper is complaining about the suburbanization of Queens way back in the 1840s. There are still some buildings left from Astoria, "the suburban village," but nothing at all of the "hamlet of villas" called Ravenswood. The wealthy abandoned this community in the late 1800s, when it started to become industrialized.

Cooper's friend Gibbs was an interesting character in his own right. The son of a wealthy Rhode Island shipowner, he married Laura Wolcott, the granddaughter of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and purchased the Sunswick estate from the Delafield family around 1810. More interested in academics than business, he was widely respected for his work in geology and horticulture. After he died in 1833, his widow sold the estate to developers and moved to a house on Greene Street in Manhattan. Active in many social causes, she was, according to her grandson's memoir, a strong abolitionist and hid fugitive slaves in the basement of her home. In studying the Gibbs family, you can see why James Fenimore Cooper would have considered Sunswick a great place to spend the summer and a congenial place to work.

From a friend of QHS

Another very interesting Newsletter. It was nice to read your front-page article by a longtime friend Ned Kaufman, who included good news about the young new Weeping Beech trees.

Margot Gayle

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Community Calendar

By Judy Wulkan

QUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM 719-347FARM 21st Annual Antique Motorcycle Show. Various makes and models of motorcycles that have been out of production for 10 years or more will be on display in the apple orchard. Participants will compete in the "Slow Race" and the "Blind Sidecar Race". A People's Choice Trophy will be awarded. Guided tours of the historic farmhouse, hayrides, petting zoo, music and food.
Free parking available.
Admission $3, children age 6 and under free.
Sun., Sept 6, 11:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.

20th Annual Queens County Fair. Traditional county fair with competitions in livestock, produce, and arts and crafts. Early American craft demonstrations, pie-eating contest, free games for children, hayrides, petting zoo, carnival rides. Civil War encampment, magic shows, Country Western music and dance. Irish and German bands, Bavarian Garden, craft and food vendors. Tours of the historic farmhouse.
Adm. $5, children 12 and under $3.
Sat. & Sun., Sept. 21 & 22, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 P.M.

Annual Apple Festival. Large variety of apples, apple products and pressed cider available. The nation's largest apple cobbler will be baked on site. Hayrides, free children's games, food. House tours. Make your own scarecrow.
Admission and parking free.
Sun., Oct. 6, 11:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

Children's Fall Festival. Halloween fun for children of all ages. Wear your costume! Visit the haunted house. Traditional games: sack races, trinket-in-the-haystack. Hayrides, pony rides, petting zoo, Country Western music and dancing, house tours. Craft and food vendors. Historic House tours.
Admission $3 per person.
Haunted house open from 1-7 P.M., recommended for ages 4-12, add'1$3 per person.
Sun., Oct. 2, 11:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

Halloween Haunted House. Recommended for ages 412. Halloween treats and hayrides. Mulled cider, pumpkins and apples for sale.
Admission to haunted house $3 per person,
hayrides $2 per person. Sat. & Sun., Oct. 26 & 27, Thurs., Oct. 31, 4:00-7:00 P.M.

Country Western Dance Lessons. No partner necessary; wear leather-soled shoes.
No reservations required.
Admission $6 per person.
Every Tues. night, 7:30-9:00 P.M.

KING MANOR MUSEUM 718-206-0545 Tours of the Museum on Thurs. and Fri. every %2 hour 122 P.M., and Sat. & Sun. every %2 hour, 1:00 5:00 P.M.
Admission: Adults $5, seniors and students $3, children 413 $2. Families (up to 2 adults and 3 children) $12.
Please note: Closed Fri., Sept. 20.
ONGOING EVENTS The Fox Lectures. Roy Fox, Caretaker of King Manor and former radio show host, talks about Rufus King's life and accomplishments. By appointment for groups of 25 minimum.
1. The Power of the Unknown Citizen: Rufus King's life.
2. "Second Time Around":  The Writing of the U.S. Constitution. Learn about King's role in shaping this document.
3. Seized with Cramps: King's antislavery views.

Walking Tour of Jamaica. Available by appt. for groups of at least ten.
Fee: Adults $5, children $2.

School Tours of King Manor. By appt. on site. Fee: $5 per student. Teachers, staff, chaperones, bus drivers free.

Constitution Weekend. Celebrate the anniversary of the U.S. Constitution with a free tour of the home of one of its authors. Sign one copy of the Constitution! FREE. Thurs. - Sun., Sept. 12 - 15, regular Museum hours.

Prospect Cemetery Talk and Tour. Lecture about this historic cemetery by Cate Ludlum, President of the Prospect Cemetery Association, followed by tour. Sun., Oct. 19, 10:30 A.M.

Happy Birthday, Mary! Celebrate the birthday of Mary Alsop King, wife of Rufus King. Admission included with Museum admission. Thurs. - Sun., Oct 17 - 20, during regular Museum hours.

Wine Tasting. Join Linda Lawry, director of the International Wine Center, as she discusses wine in the early Republic. Sample wines similar to those owned by Rufus King in the period rooms of King Manor. Call King Manor for ticket prices and reservations.
Thurs., Oct. 24, 6:30-8:00 P.M.

Digging Up the Past: The Archaeology of New York City. Archaeologist Christopher Ricciardi will discuss excavations in New York City, using slides and artifacts. Admission: FREE. Sat., Oct. 26, 2:00 P.M.

Wampum. Arthur Kirmss will make wampum beads using early 17th and 16th century tools and techniques. Admission included in Museum admission. Sun., Oct. 27, during regular Museum hours.

Behind the Scenes Tour. Visit all 29 rooms of historic King Manor on this special tour. Wine and cheese reception follows. Admission $15. Sat., Nov. 9, 3:00 P.M. It's on the (Historic) House.

Enjoy a free tour of King Manor. Thurs. - Sun., Nov. 21 - 24, regular Museum hours. A Federal Christmas. Exhibit features holiday celebrations from the early 19th century. Admission included with regular Museum admission. Exhibit opens Fri., Nov. 29; runs through Dec. 29, during regular Museum hours.

QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN 718-886-3800 Just For Kids!
African Mask Making. Dirk Joseph from the Afrikan Poetry Theatre will teach you how to create an

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Community Calendar

(continued)

interesting masks to take home. Fee $5, members $4. Sat., Sept. 7, 12 noon.

Chinese Landscape Painting. Learn the fundamentals of traditional Chinese landscape painting. All materials included. Fee $5, member $4. Sat., Sept. 21, 12 noon.

Children's Garden. For ages 5-14. Learn to plant, maintain and harvest flowers, vegetables, and herbs; design butterfly, rock and herb gardens. Workshops, crafts, field trips.
Fee $65, members $55.
To register, call the Education Dept., ext. 229.
Fall Session: Sats., Sept. 7 28, 9:30 A.M.- 12 noon.

A Fondness for Fall. Get ideas for fall planting while strolling around the Garden with Fred Gerber. Admission FREE. Sat., Sept. 14, 12 noon. Tea House. Ellen Lii, owner of Ten Ren Tea and Ginseng Co., will talk about the great variety of Chinese teas. Admission FREE. Sun., Sept. 29, 2:00 P.M. Family Events Annual Pumpkin Patch. Assorted pumpkins for sale in the Plant Shop courtyard. Free admission to pumpkin painting workshop for children with purchase of pumpkin. Prizes awarded for scariest and silliest jack-o-lantern faces.
For ages 3 and up.
Admission $5, members $4.
Sun., Oct. 27, 1:00-4:00 P.M.

Haunted Garden. Meet Count Dracula and assorted ghosts and goblins! Children should come in costumes; prizes awarded to best-dressed ghouls. Take a tour, make a "green-haired" monster to take home and munch on Halloween treats.
Admission $4, members $3.
Thurs., Oct. 31, 3:00-5:00 P.M.

BAYSIDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 718-352-1548 North Fork Winery Tour. Call Society for details.
Sat., Sept. 28.

Totten Trot.
Call Society for details.
Sat., Oct. 26.

LA GUARDIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 718482-5154 Zorro! Ballet for young audiences. Creative costume contest. Free treats for children.
Tickets $10.
Sat., Oct. 26, 2:00 P.M.

Native American Celebration. Akwesasne Mohawk singers and dancers.
Tickets $8.
Sat., Nov. 23, 2:00 P.M.

From the QHS Bookshop...

Three publications of special interest to the history-minded reader have recently been added to our offerings:

Flushing in the Civil War Era, 1837 to 1865
Vincent Seyfried, 2001
Queens Community Series, 190 pages, illustrated $35 (shipping/handling $5)

Whatever Happened to Dexter Park
Henry W. Schramm, 1998
157 pages, illustrated. $20 (s/h $4)

A Modern Arcadia, Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. and the Plan for Forest Hills Gardens
Susan Klaus
University of Massachusetts Press, 2002; hardcover; 207 pages; illustrated $39.95 (s/h $5)

To order send a check (include shipping and handling charge) to:

Queens Historical Society

143-35 37Th Avenue

Flushing, NY 11365

Or, stop by Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-S: 00 p.m. or Saturday-Sunday, 2:30-4: 30 p.m.

7

President's Report

June 16, 2002
Sherida Paulsen, Chair
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Municipal Building, NY 10007

Dear Ms. Paulsen,

There are a number of events/programs in Queens of which you and the Commission should know. They are important to the borough, and, because of their nature, deserve public knowledge. Arbitration Rock, 1769 This "landmark," marking the separation of Brooklyn and Queens since 1769, has been a local icon since its recent unearthing, where it had lain buried for some seventy years, and its removal to the nearby landmarked Onderdonk House. I have enclosed a copy of its news release. Even though this is too short a notice about it, you and/or a Commission member are most cordially invited to the public ceremony on Sunday, June 23`d. Cornell Burial Grounds, Far Rockaway, 1693 This landmarked family burying ground, in the far reaches of Far Rockaway, has been landmarked since 1970. In 1990, because of its neglected condition, I was asked by the Commission to restore it to a landmarked appearance. Since then, the Cornell Cemetery Corporation has been doing just that for twelve years!

The work is finally coming to an end, and we hope that in the Fall we can present to the public the results of our labors. At such time we would be very honored by your presence at the dedication. Moore-Jackson Burial Grounds, Woodside, 1733 This landmarked family burial ground was landmarked in 1997. 1 take great pride in having been responsible for that designation. In 1998, ownership of the burial ground was transferred to the Queens Historical Society by a surviving family member. Since that date, in addition to the concerned care of a local resident, Ceil Pontecorvo, for twenty-three years, we have been working with her to maintain the cemetery. In addition, archaeological work was done by Celia Bergoffen, S.O.P.A., in 1999. This work, of course, met with the approval of the Commission.

Very recently, we received a grant from Margaret M. Markey, State Assemblywoman. For perhaps nearly a century, except for the care mentioned above, the cemetery has received minimal or no care. Consequently, most of it has become an overgrown, litter-filled dumping ground, an insult to an early, respected Queens family, the Moore family, and to the landmark designation.

Because of the grant, we will be able to do major, complete surface cleaning and restoration, and pave the way for continued archaeological work. Eventually, the burying grounds will be restored to the beauty and dignity that it deserves. Queensmark/Beechhusrst, 2002 Perhaps you have heard of the Queens Historical Society's program, our Queensmark program. It is based on the premise that although many structures and sites in Queens may never receive landmark status (although a firehouse in Corona and a library in College Point received that designation), they do deserve special recognition because of their architectural, cultural, and historical significance.

To date, starting in 1996, the following Queens communities have each received twelve Queensmarks (beautiful 9" bronze plaques) that are fastened to their front facades: Richmond Hill, College Point, Hunter's Point, Jackson Heights, Corona/East Elmhurst, Astoria, Woodhaven and Beechhurst.

I have enclosed the Beechhurst program, presented last month.

The Queensmark program has become a borough favorite, with justification. We plan to honor Whitestone next, and, at such time, we hope that you will honor us with your presence. Orth House Museum, Bird Sanctuary, and Victorian Garden Of all the programs described above, this one is unique. A Flushing house and grounds were willed to Queens Historical Society, Queens Botanical Garden, and Theodore Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary. Representatives of these three institutions, having formed a Board of Directors, have been having the 1809's house and grounds totally restored, and hope to have a grand opening in the Fall. The enclosed newspaper article presents an accurate and vivid description of the house and project with the photograph doing justice to the house and grounds.

This will be a very special place in the near future. You are welcome to visit it at any time.

So ...that's what's been happening preservation-wise, compliments of Queens Historical Society.

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President's Report (continued)

In return for all of this information, perhaps you could answer one question, namely, what is the hoped-for landmark status of the Brinckerhoff Burying Ground in Fresh Meadows? As President of Queens Historical Society, I have led the quest for landmark designation of this forlorn, neglected piece of Queens heritage and history (1736). There was a public hearing several years ago, requesting that designation, and, since then, nothing ...Can you tell me anything regarding its case?

I plan to do research at the Commission in the near future, and perhaps at that time we will be able to meet and continue verbally, this letter. Sincerely,

Stanley Cogan
President
Queens Historical Society

The Response

Dr. Stanley Cogan, Queens Borough Historian
City of New York Office of the Borough Historian of Queens
120-55 Queens Boulevard - Room 216
Kew Gardens, NY 11424

Dear Dr. Cogan:

Re: Brinckerhoff Cemetery, Block 7135, Lots 54 and 60, 182°d
Street (between 63'd and 73`d
Avenue)

Chair Paulsen has referred your letter to me for response. She appreciates all you have done for the designated and proposed landmarks in Queens. Regarding the Brinckerhoff Burying Ground, there is currently no resolution as to its landmark status. As you noted, the Brinckerhoff Burying Ground was heard on December 5, 2000. The Commission staff continues researching the various legal issues concerning this property. I am sure you understand that before any decision on designation, the Commission must have all the facts concerning the legal status of this property.

Do not hesitate to call me if you need any additional information or if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued vigilance.

Sincerely yours,

Ronda Wist

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Through 3/2/03-The Twentieth Century Borough: One Hundred Years of Modern Architecture in Queens. Compelling vintage photographs and images explore a century of modern planning and building in New York's largest borough. Kingsland Homestead is open Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 11. A Day of Remembrance. Celebrate America's freedoms on the Flushing Freedom Mile with continental breakfast, Concert for Freedom, escorted trolley and site tours. Flushing Town Hall, Kingsland Homestead, Bowne House, Friends Meeting House. 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. FREE.

Saturday, September 21. Sunnyside to Jackson Heights Walking Tour with Jack Eichenbaum. Visit highlights of modern planning and architecture - Sunnyside Gardens, Jackson Heights Historic District, Phipps Gardens, Mathews Flats, early truck-oriented industrial buildings featured in the current exhibition at QHS. 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Meet at "Sunnyside" sign on the south side of Queens Blvd. At 46"' St. (#7 train - 46"` St.) Ends in Jackson Hts. (#7 train - 82 St.) $10/$7 QHS members.

Sunday, September 22. Music of the Early 20t'h Century. Bob and Eva Gabriel and friends return to Weeping Beech Park for a concert and sing-a-long. 3:00 p.m. FREE. Bring a lawn chair. (Indoors, if rain).

Tuesday, September 24. The Twentieth Century Borough: One Hundred Years of Modern Architecture in Queens Slide Talk with Architectural Historian, John Kriskiewicz. The curator of the current exhibition at QHS will use compelling vintage photographs and images to reveal the story of transformation of Queens from Farmland to modern borough. Flushing Public Library, 41-17 Main St. 6:00 p.m. FREE.

Tuesday, September 24. Spotlight on Whitestone. Slide talk with Historian, Vincent Seyfried. Whitestone Public Library, I51-1014'h Rd., 2:30 p.m. FREE. (cont'd p. 12)

9

From the Executive Director

The Promise of Modernism

Have you been to Kingsland Homestead to see our current exhibition, The Twentieth Century Borough; One Hundred Years ofModern Architecture in Queens? If not, I invite you to plan a visit. One hundred compelling vintage photographs and images reveal a century of modern planning and building in our beloved borough. Many of the photographs are works of art in themselves and evoke happy memories of days and places. Viewing the chronicle of 20`" century design is guaranteed to evoke pangs of nostalgia for those special places of our personal and collective pasts: the Victor Moore Arcade in Jackson Heights, the Futurama exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair, Bloomingdales in Fresh Meadows ....

This Fall QHS is also offering you the opportunity to return to those happy days and places through a series of programs designed to bring The Twentieth Century Borough theme to "life".

On September 28th curator of the exhibition, John Kriskiewicz, will share his insights during an escorted bus tour to some of the highlights of 20"' century modern building and planning in Queens, Today, across the borough of Queens, you will find a century's worth of these "aspirations of progress," says our guide. Reserve early; seats are limited.

On September 21st we offer Sunnyside to Jackson Heights, a walking tour with Urban Geographer Jack Eichenbaum: visiting Sunnyside Gardens, Jackson Heights Historic District, Phipps Gardens, Mathews Flats and other highlights of modern planning and architecture.

The 20th century theme will also be explored through music. Two free outdoor concerts are planned for this fall. Bob and Eva Gabriel and friends return to Weeping Beech Park on September 22°d for Music of the Early 20`x' Century. A concert of Late 20`h Century Music for Flute and Guitar on October 13`h will feature original compositions performed by Stephen Josephs and Amy Schindler.

If you are an "armchair" traveler, you will have the opportunity to discover The Twentieth Century Borough through a series of free slide presentations at the Flushing Library and other branches. The first slide presentation, One Hundred Years of Modern Architecture in Queens is by architectural historian and curator, John Kriskiewicz at the Flushing Library on September 24. And talk about nostalgia. Author Mario Monti, will present Counters, Stools & Booth Service: Queen Diners, Yesterday and Today on October 20'h at the Flushing Library. Did you know that there are over 8 diners in Queens? More than any other borough! .

Check `Program Highlights' in this newsletter for complete details. We are pleased to offer a full Fall schedule with a variety of programs. Hope to see you with us as we explore and celebrate the promise of modern architecture. Mitchell Grubler

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Your donation could easily double (or triple) at no extra cost to you. Many firms have generous "MATCHING GIFT" programs which they encourage their employees to use. Ask if your company has such a program.

Membership in the Queens Historical Society begins in May and ends in April of the following year. Please make checks payable to the Queens Historical Society at 143-35 37th Avenue, Flushing, New York 11354.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

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Saturday, September 28. The Twentieth Century Borough: One Hundred Years of Modern Architecture in Queen Bus Tour led by Architectural Historian, John Kriskiewicz. The curator of the current exhibition at QHS will take us to visit some of the highlights of the 20Th Century modern building and planning in Queens. Begins and ends at Kingsland Homestead. 1:00-4:00 p.m. $25/QHS members $20. Limited space. Reserve early.

Sunday, October 6. Flushing Freedom Mile Guided Tour in Chinese! Yi Min Yao from the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program will conduct this tour to historic sites in the downtown Flushing area. Departs from the Flushing Mall stage area, 133-31 39Th Ave. 2:00 p.m. FREE.

Monday, October 7. Spotlight on Kew Gardens Hills Slide Talk with Jeff Gottlieb. Kew Gardens Hills Public Library, 72-33 Vleigh Place. 6:30 p.m. FREE.

The Twentieth Century Borough: One Hundred Years of Modern Architecture in Queens Slide Talks with QHS Vice President for History, Jim Driscoll. FREE.

Tuesday, October 8. Fresh Meadows Public Library, 193-20 Horace Harding Expwy., 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 10. Steinway Public Library, 21-45 3 1st St., 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 13. Late 20th Century Music for Flute and Guitar. Stephen Josephs and Amy Schindler will perform original compositions at this Meet the Composersponsored concert in Weeping Beech Park. 3:00 p.m. FREE. Refreshments. Bring a' lawn chair (indoors, in the event of rain).

Sunday, October 20. Counters. Stools & Booth Service: Queens Diners, Yesterday and Today Slide Talk with Author Marlo Monti. There are over 80 diners in Queens, the largest number of diners in the city. Flushing Public Library, 41-17 Main St., 2:00 p.m. FREE.

Annual Student Art & History Contest. All Queens fourth graders are eligible. Drawings should be historic buildings in Queens. Entries accepted Sept. 30-Nov. 1. Info. & registration forms at QHS or the schools. Entry fee $1. Awards presentation - mid-November. Date, time & location TBA.

Ongoing: Kingsland Homestead, 143-35 37Th Ave., Flushing. Tours - Tues., Sat., & Sun., 2:30-4:30 p.m. or by appt. QHS research library, slide and video presentations, Flushing Freedom Mile Group Tour. By appt. Call QHS 939-0647.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL QHS - 718-939-0647

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stanley Cogan 15ce President,for History . . . . . . .James Driscoll I<ce President,for Operations . . Arthur O'Meally Recording Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . .Peter Byrne Membership Secretary . . . . . .Catherine Williams

Lee Cogan Millicent 0'Meally
Connie DeMartino Jeffrey A. Saunders
Aida Gonzalez-Jarrin Ruth Utley
QHS Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Kerson, Esq.
Trustees Emeritus
Edward M. Murray, In Memoriam
Mary-Jane Boltizar Ponce Vincent Seyfried
Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Grubler
Collections Manager . . . . . . . . Richard Hourahan

ADVISORY BOARD
Jack Eichenkaum Richard Gelman
Joan Kindler'~ Winifred Latimer Norman
Hon. William Friedmann Lucy Nunziato

NEWSLETTER STAFF
Editor . Lee Cogan
Associate Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruth Utley
Printing & Graphics . . . . . . . . .Artrite Inc.

QUEENS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
143-35 37TH AVENUE FLUSHING,
NEW YORK 11354
Tel: (718) 939-0647 Fax: (718) 5399885 http://www.preserve.org/queens email: qhs@juno.com

BUSINESS HOURS: MON thru FRI 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

TOUR HOURS:
TUES, SAT, SUN 2:30 - 4:30 PM

OHS IS FUNDED IN PART BY PUBLIC FUNDS FROM THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS: THE OFFICE OF THE QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENT: THE NYS OFFICE OF PARKS. RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. WITH SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
OF SENATORS FRANK PADAVAN, SERPHIN R. MALTESE. ASSEMBLYMAN BRIAN M. MCLAUGHLIN AND THE QUEENS LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION; THE VOELKER-ORTH MUSEUM: THE DECENTRALIZATION PROGRAM. A REGRANT PROGRAM OF THE NYS COUNCIL ON
THE ARTS. ADMINISTERED BY QUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS: THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE HISTORIC HOUSE TRUST; NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANK: THE CHARLES D. FARBER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION; FLUSHING SAVINGS
BAN(: ASTORIA FEDERAL SAVINGS: CORDMEYER DEVELOPMENT CO.: ROBERT UHER. VIRGINIA W. WEMPLE: TIME WARNER CABLE: CHAPIN HOME FOR THE AGING: RIDGEWOOD SAVINGS BANK: THEISS. LIPNER 8 C0. LLP: FRIENDS AND C0. AND OUR MEMBERS

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