NYC:Queens hoods-Flushing

Heading east brings us into the hood known as Flushing. It goes from Booth Mem Ave to 31st Rd with Bayside Ave and the Van Wyk Expwy (I-678) between Parsons Blvd with Rose Ave and Kissena Blvd and the GCP. This hood is both residential and commercial. Originally the first residents were the Matinecoc Indians. In 1645, it was settled by the Dutch West India Co who chartered it as Vlissingen, meaning salt meadows. The English decided to Anglicize the name to which they chose to call it Flushing. In 1657, the Flushing Remonstrance was signed to allow for religous freedom especially since a number of Quakers came here. John Browne, who lived here in 1661, was arrested for having meeting with the Quakers by Peter Stuyvesant, but was allowed back after the English took over the colony. In 1790, Kingsland Homestead was built for Joseph King, who owned it until it was sold to the Murray family. In 1853, the Flushing & Northside RR built its tracks to allow for transportation by train. In 1873, the Central RR of LI was built to make Flushing into a transit hub, but it closed down in 1879. In 1903, Frank R Wallace sold acres of land to realtors George Appleton and WB Richardson, who created the Waldheim houses, which meant wooden houses in German. In 1913, the LIRR decided to elevated the tracks and placed Main St, on the Pt Washington Branch, after the station's name so that it wouldn't be confused with Bridge St, which was served from the Whitestone Branch until it stopped service in 1932. In 1928, the Flushing IRT came to the area, though it stopped here. In 1939, the World's Fair was located over in Flushing Meadows and Corona Pk, which featured the NYC Pavilion and Time Capsule as well as being flagged by the Trylon and Perisphere. Unfortunately, not much was saved especially the structures that were the main sight. In 1964, a new World's Fair was placed in Flushing Meadows and this time with newer places. The Unisphere became the biggest sight and can be seen around the area in some places. Another major feature was the construction of Shea Stadium, which became the home of the NY Mets, who were founded two years earlier, since then. In 1968, the Queens Historical Society was founded and placed their location in the Kingsland Homestead. Around this time, the Queens Zoo and Botanical Garden was founded as well. In 1978, the Singer Bowl (now Louis Armstrong) was built for the US Open, and it was played there until the opening of Arthur Ashe Stadium in 1997. More recently, Flushing has recieved a number of immigrants who are both Chineese and Korean, and they even gave NYC another Chinatown, though it was not all like the one in Manhattan. Several of the old houses were saved and made part of the Flushing Freedom Mile in which it even includes the former town hall. Kissena Pk features a number of recreational sites for residents of the area. You can get here by taking the subway to Willets Pt-Shea Stadium (7), and Flushing-Main St (7) as well as the Pt Washington Branch of the LIRR to the Flushing station. Here is what you will find in Flushing.
































































































































































































More to come...