Rego Park's 90th Anniversary & A Need For Restoration

Rego Park developers Henry Schloh & Charles Hausmann & co, circa mid 1920s, Courtesy of Bruce Powell

Rego Park homes, office, & stores to be erected circa mid 1920s, Courtesy of Bruce Powell

The building of Rego Park July 13, 1926, Courtesy of Bruce Powell

A Real Good Community Turns 90 & Looks Ahead
By Michael Perlman of the Forest Hills Times/Queens Ledger

Rego Park is a “REal GOod” community to live in, and residents and history aficionados now have more reasons to learn why.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Rego Park. In 1923, the Rego Construction Company, Inc. also known as the Real Good Construction Company acquired land in Forest Hills West, and named Rego Park after their advertising slogan, “REal GOod Homes.”

Their goal was to develop and market the area. On October 14, 1923, the New York Times announced that Rego Construction Co. was chartered for $75,000. The firm consisted of President Henry L. Schloh and Secretary and Treasurer Charles I. Hausmann, both of whom emigrated from Germany.

Schloh and Hausmann came upon farmland which was settled in the 17th century by Dutch and English farmers, who were followed by German and then Chinese farmers, who sold their produce in Chinatown. The sole road was Remsen’s Lane (now 63rd Drive), which was named after the Remsen family farm.

On March 25, 1925, the New York Times published, “Work will be started at once on the houses to be erected on the lots off Queens Boulevard, while the property fronting this 200-foot highway will be developed with modern, high-class apartment houses as soon as the parking and paving are completed.”

With a Bank of Manhattan Company loan, Rego Construction Company began developing 525 eight-room one-family Colonial frame houses between 63rd Drive and Elliot Avenue, which sold for about $7,500. Prospective buyers would call NEWtown 6432.

Marion Court, 62-98 Saunders St developed by Rego Construction Co, Photo by Michael Perlman, March 2010

Remo Hall, 61-40 Saunders St, Photo by Michael Perlman

Jupiter Court, 62-64 Saunders St developed by Rego Construction Co, Photo by Michael Perlman

To complement the houses, the firm developed three apartment houses, which 70 families each called home. They were the Tudor-style Remo Hall at 61-40 Saunders Street (1927), followed by the Spanish Mission-style Jupiter Court at 62-64 Saunders Street (1927), and the Spanish Mission-style Marion Court at 62-98 Saunders Street (1929).

These significant buildings by Architect Benjamin Braunstein survive mostly intact. Architecturally, Marion Court boasts terra-cotta features depicting animals, leaded glass depictions of castles, and a roof garden where residents would recreate and keep cool come summer. For two to four rooms at Remo Hall and Jupiter Court, rentals cost $46 and up.

“When the Depression hit, my grandfather refused to go bankrupt, so a lot of the money invested in his developments came from family and friends,” said Bruce Powell, Schloh's grandson. “According to my mother, he didn’t buy a new suit for 10 years, since he tried to keep everything afloat.”

The children of Rego Park had their first public school, PS 139, in 1929. Then on March 9, 1930, Schloh told the Times, “With the completion of the Queens Boulevard subway now under construction, that section must continue to gain in valuation and in development.”

That came true, as other firms developed buildings along Saunders Street and Queens Boulevard, such as the Saunders Gardens complex featuring a private park, and the Oxford-Cambridge group. A model of urban planning south of the Long Island Railroad is the early 1930s Rego Park Crescents, named after alphabetical concentric semicircular roads. Tudor rowhouses were built by Rodman & English, and freestanding homes are also found.

The Tudor and Arts & Crafts charm at the Rego Park Crescents, Photo by Michael Perlman

 The 1939 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows added to the need for residential development, such as the English-style Queens Blvd Gardens apartment complex, where four out of six acres offer lush gardens.

Commerce increased too, most notably with Art Deco limestone-appointed shops lining 63rd Drive, which once housed Woolworth and McCrory’s. Queens Boulevard shops included Bartons, Hamburger Train, Evelyn’s Bake Shop, Scott’s Seafood, and the longtime survivor Ben’s Best Delicatessen.

Howard Johnson's at 95-25 Queens Blvd with the Trylon & Perisphere monuments of the 1939 World's Fair in the background

“My favorite memory was when all the kids in the neighborhood would go to Howard Johnson’s (1940) for their birthday parties and get a free little white frosted cake,” said Jackie Kilberg of Rego Park, who fondly recalled the long-demolished Colonial mansion on Queens Boulevard, which was deemed the “Largest Roadside Restaurant In The World.”

Nearby, Boulevard Tavern hosted receptions, big bands, and singer Patti Page, while Fairyland offered amusements for children.

In 1939, the WPA funded the recreational center, Lost Battalion Hall, which honored the 77th Division of the U.S. Army for its WWI heroism. It included a firing range and drill hall for the Queens Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

After the 1939 World’s Fair, some major Mid-Century Modern planned developments followed with Walden Terrace (1949) and Park City (1955), as well as Alexander’s department store (1963).

Due to Rego Park’s architecture, urban planning, social spaces, and accessibility, even celebrities called it home. Some were composer Burt Bacharach, actor Eddie Bracken, comic actor Sid Caesar, actress June Havoc, dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, 1945 Miss America winner Bess Myerson, comedian Marty Ingels, and producer Fred Silverman.

Rego Park Jewish Center, 97-30 Queens Blvd, Photo by Michael Perlman

Rego Park Jewish Center's mosaic mural adorns its Art Deco facade with Old Testament scenes, Photo by Michael Perlman

Rego Park Jewish Center's prominence on Queens Blvd in the late 1940s

“We have been a beacon for more than seven decades as the largest spiritual, cultural, and recreational center, and a lifeline for the Jewish community and other denominations,” said longtime resident Ruth Loewenstein of Rego Park Jewish Center. “We congratulate Rego Park on its 90th anniversary.”

The Bauhaus-style synagogue earned State & National Register of Historic Places status in 2009.

Ruth Mueller is a congregant of Our Savior Lutheran Church (1931), a charming wooden church on 63rd Drive. Mueller was born in 1922, and witnessed Rego Park’s rural to urban transformation. She lived in a frame house at 97-51 63rd Road, which had to be elevated to make the land level.

Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 92-14 63rd Drive, Photo by Michael Perlman

A charming early 1930s view of Our Saviour Lutheran Church

97-51 63 Rd with elevation, Courtesy of Ruth Mueller who born in 1922 in Rego Park. Park City now stands on this site.

Courtesy of Ruth Mueller

Courtesy of Ruth Mueller

“My life has been a very full life, and I am thankful I can remember all the history,” Mueller said. “I would see movies at the (1939 World’s Fair-inspired) Trylon Theater and the Drake Theatre (1935), go on a date with my husband and have butter crunch and pistachio ice cream at Winther’s Confectionery on Woodhaven Boulevard, swing on Weeping Willow trees, and walk five minutes to the new subway.”

“We’re a long-standing member, and we want to not only be a part of Rego Park history, but more and more a part of its heart and soul, and show simple acts of love and kindness to our neighbors,” said Pastor Matthew Popovits, a six-month Rego Park resident. “We have the world at our fingertips, since the world is in Rego Park, with its ethnic diversity, constant activity, and accessibility.”

The "World of Tomorrow" (NYWF theme) was depicted at the Trylon Theater at 98-81 Queens Blvd, which gave joy to its patrons from 1939 - 1999. Today, it is unfortunate that only a smaller quantity of its 1939 World's Fair-inspired Art Deco design exists. In Rego Park, what will the "World of Tomorrow" bring?

 
Today, Rego Park’s commerce continues to boom with the 2010 development of Rego Center featuring Century 21, Costco, and Dallas BBQ. Despite growth, it is important to preserve Rego Park’s vast concentration of historic architecture which grants a distinctive identity.

Dadras Architects, a firm led by partners Robert Dadras and Victor Dadras, participated in a Rego Park walking tour in 2012. They are the founders of the Downtown Revitalization Group, a collaborative which specializes in historic preservation, urban design, and adaptive re-use. They discovered a unique and rare Art Deco presence along 63rd Drive.

“With façade restoration work, the business district could be brought back to life, so its historic architecture will be fully appreciated,” they stated.

After touring residential Saunders Street, they commented, “This is reminiscent to a European approach to urban living in a garden community, and an excellent prototype of a design for New York City’s future.”

Looking ahead, they stated, “the 90th anniversary is a wonderful milestone, and it is our belief the Rego Park community should take this opportunity to preserve and celebrate their history as a vital part of their revitalization effort.”

More information about Dadras Architects & the Downtown Revitalization Group: http://www.dadrasarchitects.com/downtown.html

Rego Park photos courtesy of Michael Perlman & Rego-Forest Preservation Council: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/collections/72157617606028777/

Science-A-Peel Seeks A Historic Space In Forest Hills

Any ideas on a historic Forest Hills space that can be acquired, restored, and creatively reused to fulfill the mission of a highly beneficial science public charity? Building owners, developers, and community residents can contact Michael Perlman, Chair of Rego-Forest Preservation Council at unlockthevault@hotmail.com

Science-A-Peel Might Give Birth To A Forest Hills Brain Science Center

by Michael Perlman of the Forest Hills Times/Queens Ledger

http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/21428218/article-Science-A-Peel-Might-Give-Birth-To-A-Forest-Hills-Brain-Science-Center




Science is universal, from the air we breathe to the change of seasons to our manmade creations, and certainly what designates Forest Hills as “Forest Hills.” Meet Lisa O’Keefe, a dedicated Greenlawn, NY, resident who had a vision leading to the creation of Science-A-Peel, Inc. in January 2010.

It was founded as a public charity in New York State, with a mission of implementing a greater participatory level of public education in the science field. Science-A-Peel was coined to “peel back the layers to better understand how science addresses modern day issues.”

Now O’Keefe has high hopes of further developing that vision by opening the first science center of its kind in New York: a Brain Science Center in Forest Hills. She is gathering input on potential sites and drumming up community support.

The center would be viable to all; inclusive of ESL needs, the hearing and sight-impaired, and physically handicapped. In addition to coordinating diverse events, exhibits would be hands-on, interactive, utilize animatronics, and consistently rotate.

“There is no branch of science and no aspect of life that cannot be linked to the brain and then questioned,” she said. “Why do artists use certain colors in paintings, and why do sports improve brain function?”

Science-A-Peel will seek related sponsors, such as art galleries and sports organizations, and visualizes bonding with various Queens organizations. A brain museum would also be unique, since there are only two other brain museums, one in Europe and another in Wisconsin, according to O’Keefe.

Science-A-Peel is trying to acquire a Forest Hills building with old world charm between 3,000 and 9,000 square feet. A low-end purchase or a tax donation would be ideal, where the donor’s name would be used as part of the center’s name.

Possibilities are commercial properties, theaters, religious sites, banks, and firehouses, as long as it is asbestos-free. With a contractor on board who restored historic homes and museums throughout New York and Connecticut, the firm agreed to restore the center’s historic façade. If distinctive decorative features exist within, those would also undergo restoration and be incorporated into an interior showcasing hands-on exhibits.

A great example of creative reuse is Binghamton’s Roberson Museum and Science Center, which sensitively converted the historic Roberson Mansion.

O’Keefe values preservation, not solely upon aesthetic beauty, history, and culture, but as a science.
“Architecture is an important part of the hard sciences, based upon the materials used or how a building is constructed,” she said. “It also reflects social sciences, where you get a glimpse of the builder and a community’s people.”

One may speculate, “Why Forest Hills?” O’Keefe views Forest Hills as a heavily populated, accessible, and diverse area. Its board of directors shares in that diversity.

“They are uniquely qualified to devise exhibits that address diverse learning styles of the general public,” stated O’Keefe, who has a background in teaching, broadcasting, and government. “One board member is a psychologist specializing in Autism, and another opened 22 science centers in the U.S.”

Despite some great teachers and science centers, New York State has the 7th lowest proficiency in science, according to O’Keefe, who put part of the blame on budget cuts.

“Many students are not performing in the highest percentiles, such as ESL students or students with learning disabilities,” she said. “Teachers only have so much time with students, so Science-A-Peel developed diverse methods of getting students interested in learning science.”

One example of how Science-A-Peel will interact is by offering customized lesson plans for free, as well as composing material in a few languages.

Naomi and Gregory Sam of Bayside bring their eight year-old daughter Kristen Sam to Forest Hills’ Belle Arti Center for the Arts weekly. “Science programs are weak, basic, and repetitive in Queens elementary schools, so visiting this center would expose our daughter to more science and a different way of learning,” said Naomi.

Kristen expressed her interest in future visits. “I’ve been learning about the solar system and matter in school, but I want to learn about volcanoes, hurricanes, and tornadoes,” she said.

Business owner Peter Kambitsis of Ripe Juice Bar and Exo Café recognizes potential for a science center. “Forest Hills has a diverse and very educated crowd, and it is great to introduce something that will help develop our education,” he said. “Everything is easily accessible, too.”
As for potential sites, he said, “I envision a science center along Metropolitan Avenue where real estate is more economical and there are historic businesses such as Eddie’s Sweet Shop. If a site cannot be secured in Forest Hills, Flushing Meadow’s New York State Pavilion should be a candidate under a public-private partnership.”

As our brain convinces us to question nature, it is intriguing to determine what led O’Keefe on her path. Her greatest influences are her parents. On a personal level, they taught her about reputation and living life to the fullest with passion, honesty, and integrity.

“On a professional level, I have admired their career paths and have incorporated their zeal and knowledge in my own life,” she said.

Her father, Lt. Col, John F. Vallone (retired USAF), worked with the Atlas-Agena rocket and transitioned to head the recovery missions for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space missions for the Middle East, Africa, and Indian Ocean. Her mother, Louise Vallone, had a unique teaching background which helped advance her knowledge of the sciences.

“She taught me word game associations to help memorize facts, and diverse hands-on activities to increase my learning in a fun, active way,” O’Keefe said. “This was vastly ahead of its time, and proved decades later to be the way to educate diverse learners.”

Nicole Crowley coordinates creative fundraising events for Science-A-Peel, which educates the public about science in a family-based environment. In August 2012, she hosted a charity night in Maspeth and “The Amazing Kreskin” in Port Washington.

“The Great Greenlawn Sciencebed Race & Parade” is held annually. In the summer, there will be a traveling science exhibit, and Science-A-Peel will visit schools and libraries which request it.
Now in its fifth season, their weekly show “Science Is Appealing” highlights a branch of science and its relation to modern day issues, such as overpopulation and its environmental compromise, as well as bees, neuroscience, and radiology.

The public can be a co-host. Segments air on Cablevision channel 115 and are recapped at www.scienceapeel.com. In addition, Science-A-Peel’s interactive mission is fulfilled through website features including “Ask The Scientist” and the “Science Resource.”
“At all of our events, we are meeting people from Queens who show an interest,” said O’Keefe.

The public has been responding favorably by donating beneficial products for future exhibits, such as computers, flat screen televisions, and kits for robotics, earth science, and microscopes. Donation and sponsorship opportunities help make learning much more accessible and enjoyable. Enrich your brain by interacting with Science-A-Peel, and play a role in your future by offering a permanent home in Forest Hills.

The QueensWay: Queens' Own Rendition of The High Line?

A Step Closer To The QueensWay

by Michael Perlman of the Forest Hills Times/Queens Ledger

http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/21301330/article-A-step-closer-to-the-QueensWay

Hop aboard the QueensWay!

Not to catch a train, since the trains were taken out of service on the LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch Line in 1962, but for the visualized first linear park and cultural greenway of its kind in Queens, stationed atop of an abandoned industrial relic with Forest Hills trestles bearing a stone inscription of “1908.”

Some 60 years since its abandonment, Queens is one step closer towards achieving a High Line of its own, but will not necessarily echo Manhattan’s elevated stretch overlooking the Hudson River.

On December 19, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $467,000 Environmental Protection Fund grant by the State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to the Trust for Public Land (TPL). This would fund a feasibility study to determine the likelihood of converting a 3.5-mile stretch along the former LIRR line into an elevated public park.

As part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2030, all New Yorkers should live within a 10 minute walk of a park. The QueensWay would achieve that, serving around 250,000 residents living within a one-mile radius.

The QueensWay would bridge the Queens communities of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Woodhaven, Glendale, Richmond Hill, and Ozone Park to Forest Park, and also bridge Queens residents through recreation, the arts, and historic and environmental preservation.

A much-needed green space may feature a pedestrian and bike path that would offer a bird's eye view of neighborhoods, and enable access to nearby bike lanes en route to Rockaway Beach and Jamaica Bay‘s recreational spaces, as well as five subway lines, numerous commercial districts, and schools.

“Over the next year, we will conduct environmental and engineering analyses, as well as a community visioning that will determine costs to turn a blighted rail line into an uninterrupted bike and walking path,” said Marc Matsil, New York State director of TPL. “The project would help catalyze economic development and celebrate the immense cultural diversity of Queens."

Since 1972, the non-profit has preserved more than three million acres from the inner city to the wilderness, and helped generate over $34 billion in public funds for conservation.

“Over the past 15 years, we assisted in the acquisition, development, and construction for successful projects such as the 17-mile West Orange Trail, the 18-mile Santa Fe Rail Trail, and New Paltz’ 12-mile Wallkill Valley Rail Trail,” said Matsil.

TPL joined forces with Friends of The QueensWay, a group founded in late 2011 by neighborhood advocates, which launched an online petition generating 2,130 signatures in favor of the project.

“It will help connect neighborhoods to green space that do not have access, help the local economy by bringing more folks to established shopping areas such as Austin Street, and help develop new opportunities along the QueensWay,” said Andrea Crawford, chair of CB9 and a member of the QueensWay Steering Committee.

“The project would create an estimated 700 construction jobs and 800 to 1,000 permanent jobs,” added Matsil.

The QueensWay would also foster friendships among residents of Queens’ ethnically diverse neighborhoods.

“There are greater than 100 ethnic groups within a mile, and we want to celebrate our diversity through cultural programs,” said Matsil, adding that its artistic and cultural scene will be a blank canvas of sculptures and ethic foods.

The lack of maintenance for 60 years has led to graffiti and hazardous conditions, including rusty tracks and large weeds engulfing litter such as aerosol cans, plastic bags, and abandoned cars, but that would be cleaned up.

Some residents with homes along its path voiced worries about crime, but it is desolate areas that are often an invitation to crime. Communities along the QueensWay’s path would be safer, as Friends of The QueensWay ensured that the stretch would be well-lit, monitored, and operate during specific hours. And TPL's goal is green infrastructure, which would pose the benefit of reducing stormwater.

Despite the extensive benefits outlined in the QueensWay proposal, Ozone Park Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder has supported reactivating the rail line to increase transit options ins southern Queens. Crawford believes reactivating the rails are not feasible, but says Goldfeder's goals can be met by reopening shuttered LIRR stops and developing bus routes.

The creative reuse of Manhattan’s 1930s-era High Line is a similar success story. Since its abandonment in 1980, some only saw a rusty structure meriting demolition, but in 1999, Friends of the High Line formed and raised funding and partnered with the city. June of 2009 marked the first section’s opening.

The High Line spared a historic railway which once delivered goods to the Meatpacking District, reused tracks to cultivate native plants and wildflowers, and introduced food kiosks, sitting areas, and water features.

“Here lies the space and creativity to do amazing things that don't necessarily raise the rents or pull the same amount of tourists, but could enlighten and enrich the communities that are a part of it,” said designer Gil Lopez, an urban ecological advocate of the QueensWay. “The bike path component sets apart the QueensWay, as well as emphasizes the need for alternative forms of transportation locally.”

Lopez envisions more diverse uses that retain the natural woodland character to highly programmed areas with seating, covered areas, and possibly outdoor dining and entertainment.

“The gardens should be diverse, from community gardens with individual plots to borough/city-managed areas maintained by the Parks Department,” Lopez said. “Areas can also be managed by non-profits.”

Forest Hills resident Travis Terry and his firm Capalino+Company worked with the Friends of the High Line, and he is now a proud member of the Friends of The QueensWay Steering Committee.

“As studies have shown, rail-to-trail conversions have a positive economic impact on the neighborhoods where they exist,” Terry said. “According to the New York Times, the High Line is responsible for over $2 billion in private investment, the creation of thousands of jobs, and a flourishing local business sector.”

“We have been in communication with the Queens Chamber of Commerce, will engage community residents who wish to bring ideas to the table, and will work with the City of New York and private philanthropies,” added Matsil.

To play a role, join facebook.com/FriendsofTheQueensWay

Civic Virtue To Be Snatched From Queens Today?

Shame Cam: In 4 hours, this historic view may be gone forever

 Will this be known as the day that Civic Virtue/civic virtue died in Queens?

Starting at 7 AM today, Queens' historic Civic Virtue, a historic public work of art will reportedly be confiscated by our city, chiseled away from its Angelina Crane Fountain, and be transported to Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery on "long-term loan." Potentially according to the City Charter, long-term loan indicates a period of 3 years. Queens citizens pay their fair share of taxes, so public art belongs to us. We need to launch a further investigation and demand its return to Queens and its restoration! 

Does Queens have a Democracy? Would political forces dare to remove other famed works such as the Statue of David, Venus de Milo, or Perseus holding up the head of Medusa?

Jon Torodash, Founder of Triumphofcivicvirtue.org has been leading a "good fight" to have Civic Virtue retained and restored in Queens, which is where it has remained for 71 years. Torodash will be at the site, documenting its move. Kudos to his dedication and transparent nature in the face of political greed as witnessed over the years locally.

Case Studies of Political Greed?

--  A public servant known as our ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner called Civic Virtue sexist at his February 2011 press conference, and sent a request to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, calling for its removal from Queens. In the meantime, he was caught sexting not long after, and then resigned from public office. 

 -- Queens BP Helen Marshall wants her rendition of a statue placed on top of the historic fountain base that would remain after Civic Virtue's removal. First, she envisioned a glass addition to the back of Queens Borough Hall which lead to the elimination of at least 20 healthy cherry trees in spring 2012, and then she refuses to restore Civic Virtue at her community's request, permitting its removal.

Civic Virtue holds a mirror up to the wrongdoings of our politicians, as it denounces societal corruption & vice, and some public servants just cannot bear the truth.

According to Triumphofcivicvirtue.org:

"Tomorrow, December 15th, Triumph of Civic Virtue is slated for removal. We have heard from a supporter, who has been serving jury duty in the area and spoke with the workmen, that removal will start at 7 AM. Apparently, they have already been sawing through the base. Jon Torodash will be down at the site filming the removal, both to make sure that it is done properly and to take record of the disgrace the event symbolizes. We welcome you to come out and witness this sad event."
http://triumphofcivicvirtue.org/2012/12/14/statue-to-be-removed-tomorrow/

RALLY To Spare Civic Virtue In Queens, Dec 8 at 11:30 AM

PLEASE ATTEND: SAT, DEC 8th at 11:30 AM, RALLY TO SPARE CIVIC VIRTUE STATUE IN QUEENS!

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER PETER F. VALLONE JR.

For Immediate Release, December 7, 2012
Contact: Nicole Gelber
718-274-4500
914-469-2567

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

VALLONE: “DON’T TAKE OUR VIRTUE!”

Council Member joins Community Board 9 to protest relocation of historic “Civic Virtue” sculpture

Tomorrow, Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. will join Community Board 9 Chair Andrea Crawford, District Manager Mary Ann Carey and residents of Queens at a rally protesting the City Design Commission’s recent ruling to permanently relocate the Triumph of Civic Virtue statue to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn from Queens Borough Hall. The cemetery has stated that the statue may be moved in the next week!

The Design Commission ruled on November 13th to move the statue without input from the public, despite most Queens residents wanting the sculpture to remain in the borough. Community Board 9, which has always supported keeping Civic Virtue in Queens, is also greatly disappointed by the decision and the lack of consultation with residents and community leaders.

WHAT: Triumph of Civic Virtue Rally
WHEN: Saturday, December 8th, 11:30 AM
WHERE: In front of statue, next to Queens Borough Hall (120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens)
PHOTOS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/8235435205/

* Triumph of Civic Virtue advocacy group: http://www.triumphofcivicvirtue.org

* Forest Hills Times/Queens Ledger column by Michael Perlman: http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/21027503/article-Civic-Virtue-is-lost-to-Queens

Civic Virtue At Stake In Queens

The Forest Hills Times/Queens Ledger features "Civic Virtue Is Lost To Queens?" by Michael Perlman:

http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/21027503/article-Civic-Virtue-is-lost-to-Queens

Queens is about to suffer the historic loss of a prominent public work of art, an unofficial landmark, and the meaning of civic virtue.

On November 13, the NYC Design Commission approved a move of the Triumph of Civic Virtue, a statue situated west of Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens, to Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery. A public statue is slated to undergo a move to a privately owned cemetery on “long-term loan,” according to published reports. This decision was quietly made by the city, without the Queens community having any say in the process.

Civic Virtue kept an eye on passersby at the intersection of Queens Boulevard and Union Turnpike since 1941. After decades of neglect by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), Civic Virtue is not only corroding from the elements and physical abuse, but the city enclosed it with a jail-like fence in summer 2012, barring public interaction.

On July 17, the Daily News broke the news of a "secret plan” to transport it to the Brooklyn cemetery, in which DCAS was negotiating its future.

Much of the present controversy was ignited in February 2011, when former Congressman Anthony Weiner and Councilwoman Julia Ferreras staged a press conference at the statue. Weiner called Civic Virtue “sexist” and “anti-woman.” He then addressed a letter to DCAS calling for its removal from Queens.

In 2007, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall told the New York Times, “Vice is portrayed in the form of a woman. I have no enthusiasm for restoring the Civic Virtue statue.”

Green-Wood Cemetery has now pledged to finance Civic Virtue’s restoration, but ironically, history would be fragmented as the statue would be detached from its foundational Angelina Crane fountain; the latter of which would remain in Queens.

On November 26, 2012, Marshall’s spokesman, Dan Andrews, told the Times that the borough president hopes to restore the fountain and create a place paying tribute to women in history.

Since when is Civic Virtue sexist? An artist's vision is bound for misinterpretation, and Civic Virtue is often devalued through political debate. It depicts a muscular nude Hercules who stands over, but not atop, two mermaid-like sirens, which allegorically represent Vice and Corruption. It denounces societal wrongdoings, which some politicians cannot bear as they pass the statue en route to Queens Borough Hall.

Four omni-directional dolphin-head sprouts surround a fountain at its base. An inscription reads “This Fountain Was Erected By The City Of New York With Funds Bequeathed By Mrs. Angelina Crane.” Also engraved is “Mac Monnies 1920.”

The Classical 22-foot stone-and-White Georgia marble sculpture was designed in 1920 by the last major American Beaux Art sculptor, Frederick William MacMonnies, and was carved and placed by the Piccirilli Brothers. Thomas Hastings was the architect.

In 1922, Civic Virtue watched park-goers in City Hall Park. When some misinterpreted the statue as anti-women, it earned the nicknames “Tough Guy” and “Fat Boy.” On May 29, 1941, the 24-ton statue was transported to Kew Gardens, after Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia despised eyeing the statue’s backside from his City Hall window.

On October 7, 1941, Queens Borough President George Harvey stated, “For 12 years, Queens has really had civic virtue, but has never been able to prove it. We can now!” There were 50 invited guests including Adolph Weimann and A.F. Brinkerhoff of the National Sculptors Society, as well as 200 cheering onlookers.

Fast forward 71 years, Queens residents are now calling for an immediate halt of its slated transport to Brooklyn, and seek answers. Jon Torodash, a 30-year-old resident of Forest Hills/Kew Gardens founded TriumphofCivicVirtue.org, an advocacy group aimed to preserve Civic Virtue where it sits in Queens, and acquire funding for its restoration. Through social media, it sparked the interest of over 100 supporters and continues to grow.

Upon learning about Civic Virtue’s politically related endangerment, Torodash’s immediate response was “righteously indignant.”

“A sense of civic virtue motivated me,” he said. “The statue is a Neo-Classical interpretation of an American idea; namely the importance of open and honest government. The urge to move it reflects a person’s uneasiness with his or her own corruption.

“DCAS and the Design Commission have a mandate to preserve public art residing on public grounds,” Torodash added. “It is their obligation to Queens residents who pay their share of taxes.”

According to the Design Commission’s online bulletin, the public is “encouraged to submit their testimony in writing at least 3 business days in advance of the meeting date.” For Civic Virtue, TriumphofCivicVirtue.org noted, “The Design Commission’s public hearing was held on Tuesday, November 13, but the public bulletin about the hearing was not finalized online until Friday, November 9 at 9:48 PM, which is not 3 business days.”

As for the group’s next course, “Triumphofcivicvirtue.org will be investigating the Design Commission’s public hearing procedure,” said Torodash.

“Many of us emigrated to the USA precisely because it’s not like the corrupt 'Old World,’ so how the hell does something so nefarious get pulled off in the free world?” asked Architect Ivan Mrakovcic, president of the Richmond Hill Historical Society.

“I want a full accounting of who is responsible for this blatant attempt of theft of our public art,” he continued. “The only heads that need to roll are the duplicitous staff of DCAS, and whoever they answered to. Community Board 9 was ignored too.”

John Scandalios, a 2013 candidate for City Council, pointed fingers at ex-Congressman Weiner for being a major cause of the Civic Virtue debate.

“It is more than odd that a U.S. Congressman, who resigned his office following the media reporting his lewd behavior, found such an important piece of New York City art history so objectionable, that he attempted to sell this statue on Craigslist without having authority,” he said.

“Would people like to have pieces of art history such as the statue of David or Venus de Milo banished to cemeteries, just because some elected officials find it tasteless and offensive?” Scandalios asked. “Which elected official will stand up now for what's right, and undo the wrong of a past shamed elected official?”

Councilman Peter Vallone answered Scandalios’ plea.

“I am looking into the legality of the Design Commission’s hearing, and I want to see if their notice was sufficient,” he said. “Two weeks after Hurricane Sandy, they sent out a mass email with items being considered for the entire city. Many people had their email down at that time, including City Council. Not one citizen I know of testified, and I first found out about the hearing through the New York Times blog, after it took place.

“If Civic Virtue was against women, I wouldn’t stand for it as a father of two daughters,” said Vallone. “If you oppose this statue, then you have to oppose Perseus holding the head of Medusa. This is a complete misunderstanding of Greek mythology, and Civic Virtue should be restored right where it is.”

A rally to spare Civic Virtue for Queens’ sake of civic virtue is planned among community representatives later in the week. “We are always looking for volunteers, and supporting their own ideas as to how,” Torodash stated.

Stay tuned for updates on www.TriumphOfCivicVirtue.org.

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs To Host Centennial Gala

Rego-Forest Preservation Council is proud to support the preservation and any historically-accurate restoration of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Forest Hills.

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs To Host Centennial Gala

by Michael Perlman of the Forest Hills Times/Queens Ledger

http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/20960017/article-Our-Lady-Queen-of-Martyrs-to-host-centennial-gala

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs photos by Michael Perlman

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Roman Catholic Church is a sacred and scenic cornerstone in the heart of Forest Hills, and has been for generations. Now parishioners, alumni, and family and friends have the chance to be part of history in the making.

The “100 Years of Gratitude Centennial Dinner Dance Gala” will take place on December 3, at 6 p.m. at Russo’s On The Bay, 162-45 Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach. All proceeds will benefit the church.

This conclusive centennial gala will mark a new chapter, while rejoicing its deeply rooted history of development and the growth of Catholicism since the congregation’s founding in 1912 in Forest Hills.

The gala will follow the glory of the November 18th Centennial Mass of Thanksgiving by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, and the June 3rd Centennial Concert, which featured the Sacred Music Society and honored Reverend Monsignor Joseph Funaro upon his retirement. Rev. Paul R. Sanchez is the new pastor.

As religious buildings age and congregations sometimes dwindle, this church has fared well in both areas, but is in need of funding for restoration and improvements. According to the church’s website, the Centennial Campaign seeks to raise $1,240,000, and $1,440,541 has been pledged by 433 families to date.

Parishioners expressed a bond and recognized the church’s commitment to the community. Parishioner BarbaraAnn Balzaretti Flannery, a member of the Sacred Music Society, will always recall the immediate welcome she and her husband received upon moving to Forest Hills six years ago.

“I have made friends for life, and we are truly part of an amazing family,” she said. “Our Lady Queen of Martyrs is such an important part of Forest Hills history, and I have always favored a magnificent, traditional cathedral. As a musician, the acoustics enable a glorious sound from the organ and orchestra when we have our Christmas concert, a sound that can be heard even from the street.”

Regina Judith Faighes, a parishioner for over 10 years and a lector and choir member, highly anticipates attending the Centennial Gala.

“As this Centennial year draws to a close, I will be a part of the generation that will begin our parish's next century,” she said. “Our church, school, rectory, and convent are architectural gems that are esthetically pleasing even to people who are not members of our Catholic faith. The beauty of these structures augments their sacredness, and I am grateful it did not undergo the modernization that happened to other churches its age following Vatican II.”

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs was modeled after England’s Durham Cathedral, which was erected from 1093 to 1130, and conveyed Medieval ties. The church’s campus is one of the most pristine, stately, and memorable sites in Forest Hills, and spans Queens Boulevard, Ascan Avenue, Austin Street, and 72nd Road.

Its architecturally harmonious buildings of three decades cast a Tudor Neo-Gothic presence within a suburban country setting, which passersby would not typically expect to encounter along the highly civilized Queens Boulevard. Regal architecture is complemented by mature Sycamore and Oak trees, a landscaped perimeter, and inner gardens.

The church’s sanctuary building at 110-06 Queens Boulevard was the recipient of a 1st prize architectural award in the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s annual building competition in December 1939.

Designed by architects Maginnis & Walsh of Boston and erected by the Edmund J. Naughton Building Corp. for a cost of $365,000, it was part of a $2,000,000 building plan. The groundbreaking took place on May 18, 1938, where Reverend Joseph R. McLaughlin told the operator “Now do your stuff.”

After the church was able to acquire a square block, McLaughlin shared his vision of a church and a rectory on December 3, 1936. It came to fruition when the church opened on November 5, 1939. In front of 3,000 attendees, Bishop Molloy led a dedication ceremony on May 30, 1940. The church signified the enthusiastic nature of a small Catholic community in Forest Hills, but with expanding demographics due to the nearby 1939-1940 World’s Fair, the new church became an icon in the eyes of many.

Backtracking, in January 1929, the church’s Parochial School at 72-15 Austin Street won a 1st prize award in the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Institutional Buildings category. It was also designed by Maginnis & Walsh, and erected by Laurence J. Rice. To the benefit of the 22-year-old Forest Hills community, the sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary opened the school on September 9, 1928, and would later teach its students. Through 1939, the 500-plus seat School Hall hosted church services, and in 1984, it was named McLaughlin Hall in homage to the first pastor.

A three-story convent would rise on 72nd Road in 1953. In December 1954, it was also the recipient of a 1st prize architectural award by the Chamber. It would house 24 sisters of the teaching order, and contain a chapel. Carved in stone, the convent features a life-sized statue of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs.

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs’ 100 years can be traced to November 13, 1912, when permission was granted by Bishop Charles E. McDonnell for a Sunday Mass in Forest Hills. The Bishop was noted for the development of Catholic schools and churches to address Catholic immigrants’ spiritual needs.

Margaret Dealy offered her Forest Hills home for Mass. On May 28, 1916, a humble wood-framed chapel was dedicated by the bishop, but succumbed to fire on April 29, 1929.

The current church’s interior is grand yet warm, with its vaulted ceilings, archways, columns, and abundant stained glass. The perspective from the pulpit area makes it seem more intimate. The church is cruciform in layout, reminiscent of most early churches.

Architectural features are enriching, and offer a lesson in religious history. For example, The Pieta is one of many limestone carvings found over the arched main portal and secondary entrances on Ascan Avenue, as well as the Queens Boulevard portal.

Ornamental carvings include the Scale of Judgment and the Ten Commandments tablets, and the pelican brass gate in front of the altar. Wooden pulpit statues include St. Augustine.

The extensive quantity of multi-sized and shaped stained glass windows of the campus’ Weymouth granite, Indiana limestone, and Deer Island granite trimmed façades offer varying motifs and biblical lessons. A rectangular steeple bears dominance over Queens Boulevard, and a traditional spire adds uniqueness to Austin Street.

“The architecture and stained glass are magnificent, and with its illuminated façade at night, as our Administrator and former pastor Msgr. Funaro so well phrased it,” said Faighes, “it is a beacon of faith on Queens Boulevard.”