Mundane Radical: Rufus King and his Early 19th Century Farm
with David J. Gary, Research Associate
The Queens Historical Society will present an illustrated talk on the subject, Mundane Radical: Rufus King and His Early 19th Century Farm on Sunday, May 21st at 2:30 p.m. The talk will be presented at the society's Flushing headquarters, Kingsland Homestead, which is located in Weeping Beech Park at 143-35 37th Avenue. The talk is free with paid admission to the homestead, adults $3, seniors and students $2. Free, off-street parking is available in the Temple Gates of Prayer lot entered from Roosevelt Avenue at Parsons Boulevard. For further information call 718-939-0647 ext. 17 (Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).
In 1805, Rufus King and his wife, Mary Alsop King, purchased 90 acres of land and an 18th century farmhouse. The landscaped estate - home to Rufus, Mary, and their five children - grew to 122 acres and functioned as a working farm. "Rufus King's Jamaica, Long Island farm is one of the best-documented farms of the era," said lecturer and Research Associate for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, David J. Gary. Mr. Gary will help us rediscover a part of the era through a discussion of landscape changes, agricultural practices and household management during the early 19th century. King implemented agricultural ideas of the English Enlightenment and his day-to-day activities on the farm had a great influence on his political actions. King was a member of the Continental Congress, a framer and signer of the Constitution, one of the first Senators from New York State, Ambassador to Great Britain under four presidents and an outspoken opponent of slavery
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
Jamaica's Suburbs: Jamaica Estates, Holliswood, Hollis
with Urban Geographer, Jack Eichenbaum
As part of its celebration of National Historic Preservation Month the Queens Historical Society will offer a guided walking tour of Jamaica's Suburbs: Jamaica Estates, Holliswood, Hollis on Saturday, May 20th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tour goers should meet the tour guide, Jack Eichenbaum, at Hillside Avenue and Midland Parkway, the last stop of the F train, 179th Street station. The tour fee is $12 per person. Reservations are not necessary. Heavy rain cancels. For more information call 718-939-0647 ext. 17 (Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
This guided walking tour will visit three of the most desirable neighborhoods in Queens and is timed to coincide with the height of the spring blooming season when the gardens are ablaze with color. As the center of the Long Island Railroad's operations and having good highways to eastern Long Island, Jamaica grew rapidly in the late 19th century. Beginning in the early 20th century it spawned new communities planned to attract wealthy residents. Jamaica Estates and Holliswood, with their sinuous street patterns, are built upon the highest ground in Queens, the Long Island Terminal Moraine, a gigantic hill of earth deposited by the last glacier. Hollis grew along transportation routes in the 1920s and later.
Patterned after an English village, Jamaica Estates' 500 acres were laid out on gently rolling hills and heavily wooded lots. As a result most of the streets are curvilinear. Businesses were barred and only single-family, detached houses were allowed. Many of the spacious homes were built in a Tudor or colonial style. Many large trees, mostly oaks, were left standing, and much stone was used in the construction of the homes and in the retaining walls on the slopes. Front lawns are heavily planted with rhododendrons, azaleas, and flowering trees. Nestled in a glen, Holliswood also has curving streets, differences in elevations, and a forest-like quality giving way to open space. One avenue is paved with yellow brick. Hollis Park Gardens consists of five blocks of varied, tastefully designed, single-family homes dating from the 1920s, set amongst lots of trees and open space. There are Dutch Colonials and homes showing English Cottage and Spanish Revival influences. Front lawns are gracious and form a continuous green swath running the length of each block.
Sunday, June 11 2:30 p.m
Slide Lecture: Thankfully Forgotten: Fashion Fads of the 1980s
with textile and design specialist Marisa Berman Of all the decades of the twentieth century, the eighties are home to some of the most interesting and extreme fashion styles that will continue to be remembered with horror, reminiscence and denial. Marisa Berman, a textile and design specialist will be presenting this lecture and slide presentation, which chronicles the rise and fall of eighties couture. Ms. Berman holds a masters in Fashion and Textile Studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology, a BPS in Fashion Design and was the recipient of the 2004 Silver Needle Award for Outstanding Collection. Through a detailed study of eighties fads found in teen fashion magazines, films, and on musicians and actors of the time, we will examine how these fads developed and why they were lost. Such fads as the shoulder pad situation, the aerobic uniform, and watch mania will be discussed, as well as a generalized study of fad history and its function in society.
Kingsland Homestead. Free with admission: $3 adults, $2 seniors/students, members free
Sunday, June 25 2:30 p.m.
Memoir Workshop: Lasting Impressions with archivist Bonnie Marie Sauer
You do not have to be a professional writer to convey the story of your life. This program will explore simple ways to start constructing your own memoir and discover different approaches to capturing who you are. Archivist Bonnie Marie Sauer will be conducting this workshop and demonstrating the proper procedures and materials to use. Bonnie Marie Sauer holds an MLIS from Long Island University and is a Project Archivist with The Winthrop Group. Bonnie Marie has worked with Nassau County's Division of Museum Services and the Smithtown Historical Society on Long Island, in addition to individual projects including the Billy Rose Theatre Archives at the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts. The workshop will give each participant the ability to start his or her own memoir on-site. The talk will also include a light discussion on scrap booking, serving as a complement to your memoir. ****Kingsland Homestead. Materials fee: $5. Advance reservations required by June 21. To reserve call 718-939-0647 ext. 17
Summer In the Park: Children's Workshop Series
Meet at Kingsland Homestead for all of these workshops. The workshop activity will take place in the park surrounding Kingsland Homestead where parents may pick up children at the designated time.
$5.00 materials fee per child for each workshop. Reservations required one week prior to workshop. Call 718-939-0647 ext. 17.
Thursday, June 29, rain date Saturday, July 8 1:00-4:00pm
Our Founding Fathers: An Independence Day Craft Workshop
This workshop is designed for students entering grades 3-7. The workshop will be conducted in Weeping Beech Park. Students will engage in activities that celebrate Independence Day with specialized July 4th activity booklets, and arts and crafts. Students will have a lesson on our founding fathers and will have a great number of goodies to bring home with them for the Fourth of July.
Tuesday, July 18, rain date Wednesday, July 19 2:00-4:00pm
****Green Thumbs: An Educational Workshop
****TThis workshop is geared for students entering grades 3-7. The workshop will begin with a brief tour of Kingsland Homestead, followed by a talk about Quakerism and the history of agriculture in Queens. The workshop activity will take place in Weeping Beech Park, outside of Kingsland Homestead, where students will construct their own individual seedling gardens.
Tuesday, August 15 2:00-4:00pm
My Summer: A Scrapbook Workshop
This workshop is geared for students entering grades 4-8. Students will begin the workshop with a brief tour of Kingsland Homestead, followed by a talk on Victorian Pastimes. Students will bring in photos from their summer vacation and make a Victorian style scrapbook, illustrating the story of their summer vacation.
Guided Walking Tour
Sunday, July 9 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m
Queensboro Bridge & Long Island City Waterfront
****Take an informative walk with Urban Geographer, Jack Eichenbaum across the Queensboro Bridge into Long Island City. The bridge affords a spectacular perspective on the midtown skyline as well as an overview of much of the LIC waterfront -- where railroads and industries developed before the Civil War. Once in Queens, the tour includes LIC landmarks as well as the rapidly evolving shoreline. Approximately 2 miles. Begins at the Roosevelt Island Tramway station plaza (2nd Avenue & 60th St.) in Manhattan, ends at a #7 train station in LIC. Cost $12 (QHS members $10). No reservations necessary.
Special Event
Sunday, August 13th 12:00-1:45 p.m.
Summer Fairytales: The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre's Puppet Show and Workshop Free of charge
As a special summer treat for the community the Queens Historical Society has arranged for Central Park's widely acclaimed Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre to travel to the playground in Weeping Beech Park, bordering Kingsland Homestead, to put on a spectacular puppet show and conduct a unique workshop. The audience will have the opportunity to view three productions by the Swedish Marionette Theatre, including "Princess", "The Emperor's New Clothes", and "The Ugly Duckling". A workshop that will enable the audience to participate in making their own puppets will follow the productions. The Queens Historical Society will have various craft and literature booths outside Kingsland Homestead following the workshop. Bring the whole family and come join QHS for this very special summer treat from our friends at Central Park's Swedish Marionette Theatre.
Looking Ahead…
Saturday, September 9 1:30 p.m
Annual Members' Meeting
Come join your fellow QHS members at Kingsland Homestead to learn about the past year's activities and exciting plans for the upcoming year. Refreshments will be served.
Special Event
Saturday, September 9 3:00 pm
Queens Jazz: The Music of Dizzy, Satch & Other Legends with Carol Sudhalter's Astoria Jazz Band
This five piece jazz band will bring you back in time with an afternoon of great jazz for the whole family to enjoy. Be sure to come ready to jive to the songs of these jazz greats from Queens. The concert will take place in Weeping Beech Park, which is the park that surrounds Kingsland Homestead. Admission is free. In the event of rain, the concert will be held down the street in the Dr. William O. Benenson Pavilion, 36-17 Parsons Boulevard.
Lectures at Kingsland Homestead - Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Free with admission: $3 adults, $2 seniors/students, members free
September 10
Douglaston Hill: Queen's Newest Historic District
The neighborhood of Douglaston Hill was designated a New York City Historic District last year. Mr. Joe Hellmann of the Queens Preservation Council, the Douglaston and Little Neck Historical Society and the Society for Industrial Archaeology will be presenting a slide lecture on this NYC Historic District. He will be examining the rich and unique character of this neighborhood, with its winding landscaped streets that contain over six hundred houses and a distinct historical background.
September 24
Flushing, Then & Now: A Virtual Walking Tour
Memorabilia collector, Mr. Victor Annaloro will be presenting his vast collection of photograph post cards, which showcase the past and present sights of Flushing, providing for a virtual walking tour of the neighborhood. This presentation will enable the audience to transport themselves back in time to the streets of Flushing and then back to the present to compare the changes that have occurred in this Queens neighborhood.
Exhibitions celebrating the 40th anniversary of Kingsland Homestead’s designation as the first landmark in Queens:
Kingsland: From Homestead to House Museum
This permanent, panel exhibition uses copies of photographs, documents and maps as well as newly created images to tell the story of Kingsland Homestead and the people who called it home for over 200 years.
Family Life at Kingsland
The lives of the members of the Doughty, King and Murray families who lived at Kingsland are explored through the use of original photographs, documents, books, scrapbooks, diaries, costumes, furniture, decorative arts and other personal items from the QHS collection.
Persistence: A Celebration of Landmarks in Queens – Past, Present, Future
Newly taken color photographs of the 50 + landmarks and the six historic districts in Queens are displayed together with ten color photographs of other Queens buildings deserving of landmark status.