718.939.0647 Office Hours (by appointment): Find Us Mon – Fri: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm www.queenshistoricalsociety.org Museum Hours: 143.35 37th Ave. Flushing, NY 11374 Tues, Sat, Sun: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm NEWSWORKING TO PRESERVE OUR PAST IN ORDERLETTER TO PROTECT OUR FUTURE FALL 2016 CONTENT Annual Meeting Report 1 Annual Meeting Report am res dicit qui quia pos int tiunt, sit etus, quibusdam eici erum odi con cusdam exeribusamet laboriberis dellitatemCatum accii inte Executive Director Letter eum quodisquid quia qui aut ad vercemovis hoctusque nicus. Serfex 2 Nelliasperio. Et utatet ilic totae quaeper essinih nequideps, que tu clemus converf ecienatque Message from QHS President ilique entinihicil in parchit aut duciurit, si od face tabus is addumus. Aximmo itandam, Educational Programs mi, voluptur? Idendio. Caborempore placcul clut ore condaciam te, nondem actum 3 Collections News luptatem dolenda esequi cus eicia cum necere ina, comprorum ineque factam prorit; Cat optatemquate porem. Nam late quaspe con vidienat,Bore atae net aut pro quas intio Growing up in Queens rempore nducim qui doles et voloris sum, quisque consequo dolupta deris alibus. Ebis 4 Memories from High-school simi, culluptatem sed et laccum nima dolorro vitatis moditae ritatus debisque sequatur, omnimi, quidel modigna tempore dolorendi omnis aliqui nust aut ra culpa illor adi alit, Queens the New Deal delitae pudita nonsedis volumqu ideliqui velibusam quias ium, qui aut liquo to inusae 5 Does this look Familiar? res si rectur abore volo blaccum et rectiore comnisc ipient ut que ini aliatur? volum fugit, velitiae nimint incide optatest Uptiamenis is dolupta niscienducid qui cor Programs and Events esto cus asi odisci volorit iberum que natum ma a cupta quiat.Is as remquia autem unt 6 Supporters etur, voles dionsed quaeper natiunt faccus invende lectibe aquidis sincia nos maior re mosam quae aut utest ut faciaep tatiorem con si omnienimi, quuntib usantem dolendae Programs and Events nitia audiste mporem qui rae sequisciis eatem conseque voluptis es perum rerupta int minci 7 Supporters sime natur autation reicit quo blaute et que es tem doloreh enduntus essimet idust, sit delenih icabo. Everisin nonsecae eroviducias experias et volore, evelitatus, occumFiciistia molupta tiunt, sit etus, quibusdam eici erum que de provitati dolenimpe nost ipsam et qui 8 Membership Form laboriberis dellitatem oditia vendae nonsenima FALL 2016 | 1 A letter from the Executive Director Branka Duknic It this age of magnet High Schools the his- that I received all my Education from tory of the schools that are “magnetized” NYC Public Schools. is Lost. “ Here’s s song to her we love The class of June 1956 refused to let Jamaica tried and true. Source of all our tradition die and will be celebrating a dearest aims the school of Red and Blue”. 60th Reunion this October at the Great The school song for Jamaica High School. Neck Inn on October 18th. We have June 1956 was a busy day at the house. celebrated our classmates achievements Both my sister’s graduation from JHS109 and I salute the spirit of those who count and mine from Jamaica was scheduled on Jamaica High School as their Alma Mater. the same day. Diana graduated from the Members of our class have visited the Queens Theater on Jamaica Ave in the Queens Historical Society and they ap- morning and as luck would have it they plaud the effort to preserve our Borough’s split our High School graduating class of History. Alumni from our school have 914 into 2 sections fortunately I graduated distinguished themselves in many walks in the afternoon. I played 3rd Trombone of life and now live here and across the in the High School band which played country . for the ceremony. The selections included I would like to remember the classmates the March from the Prophets by Mey- that made my time at Jamaica and a time erbeer and In a Persian Garden . I went to learn new things, meet new people that from High School to Queens College and I count as friends even today. Patricia B.Sherwod Graduated from there in 1960[BA} 1963 Image Credits: Frank DiStefano {MsED} and a MLS . I take great pride A Message from Queens Historical Society President Patricia B. Sherwood Our current exhibit, “Toys and Games Working meetings regarding the From the Attic and Beyond!” has had and Kingsland Roof Replacement project continues to have exposure in community began in the Spring and are continuing. newspapers and television. Thank You We hope that the completion will be done Joseph Brostek for reaching out to the before the end of 2018. press as well as Senior organizations Branka and I attended a Welcome Party and residences. Everyone who comes for John Krawchuk recently. He is the through the doors seems to enjoy the new director of the Historic House Trust. “jogs of memories.” Smiles appear on We are looking forward to him visiting faces and eventually turn into wide grins. our house soon. Kingsland is a member Comments from yesteryear are shared. of the Trust since we are located on Parks Carol Costello has been coaching the staff Property. in the writing of grants for much needed We also met recently with Senator Toby funds. Up to date we received an award Stavisky to ask for State funding. Capital Patricia B.Sherwod from Con Edison. funding is needed to erect an appropriate Image Credits: Anthony O’Reilly Jim Driscoll recently attended an fence and signage for the Moore-Jackson unveiling of a WPA “found mural” at Cemetery. Autumn is here! Frost is in the New York City Health and Hospital The staff and volunteers are working with “ the air. The Queens Historical site on 164th Street. This work of art by the Board every day. New forces are so Society is ever changing and William Palmer had been discovered appreciated and I thank them for their in the basement and now has a place of support and allegiance. also remaining the same. honor in the lobby. Extensive research ” on the artist was conducted by Patrick Thank you for your donations: Branka Duknic, our Executive Director is back Symes. Robert Miller from her maternity leave. She and her husband Mary O’Hara We are in the process of reviewing our Arthur and Millicent O’Meally welcomed a wonderful baby boy into the family site rental agreement. This means of this summer in the moth of June. revenue is very important to us. We Hope to see you at the coming programs. Andrea Zrake has left to investigate new horizons; have to be cognizant of the fact that any P.S. Look for the raffle of the handmade Daniela Addamo is here as Educational Director activity in the museum is a reflection on afghan made by Fran Varon at the and Outreach Coordinator. the mission of our historical house. Holiday Historic House event. 2 | FALL 2016 Public Programing Updates Daniela Addamo With the start of a new season we are unique histories! Be sure to check the website enthusiastic to begin our newly developed to find out how to purchase tickets. public and educational programs. As The Queens Archaeology Talk, part of our mentioned in the President’s letter, Con lecture series this past summer, has been Edison has just approved a grant for an rescheduled to take place Sunday, October educational project to be facilitated at QHS 23rd with Professor Jim Moore of the Queens called “Now It’s Electric!”. This program College, City University of New York. Along will use strategies and methods that will with this lecture, Professor Moore has assist in the development of knowledge and been involved with QHS and plans to do appreciation for life and the use of power in excavations in Moore-Jackson Cemetery in Colonial America, to the use of electricity the future. in the 20th century and its innovative applications in the 21st century. Engaging in In addition to the “Now It’s Electric” interactive lessons and activities, the student workshop, we have added a brand new will develop skills in communication and workshop in our educational programs creativity. The workshop will feature various called “Victorian Crafts: Silhouette Portraits”. scientists who advanced the discoveries in the This program was inspired by the Victorian field of electrical engineering and physics. History of the Kingsland Homestead and will teach students about popular items of style In the spirit of the holiday season and culture during Victorian times. This is approaching, we are eager to announce our a fun, hands on class that allows students to 29th Annual Holiday Historic House Tour learn as they create their very own silhouette taking place on Sunday, December 11th. This portraits. is a great opportunity to see seven historic houses in Queens and learn about their What is New in the Collection? Richard Hourahan James Grabow of Morristown, New Jersey has donated many artifacts from his grandparents’ cold water flat in the Dutch Kills section of Long Island City. Collectively they recreate the life of hard-working people enduring the Great Depression of the 1930s— kitchen items, sewing materials, clothing, tools, etc. Life was extremely hard—Mr. Grabow has also provided a sobering and sometimes humorous narrative of the family’s life—after-school activities such as shooting rats under the Queens Borough Bridge with an air rifle, after- school work such as plucking rats out of the brine vat at the Heinz Pickle factory at 5 cents per hour and gathering discarded coal from Silvercup Bakery to heat the apartment. These items may be worth very little in monetary terms; however, as history they are a rare instance of material culture evoking a traumatic period of the United States.