Astoria Pretty

History on display at the Greater Astoria Historical Society.

1928 Atlas of the Borough of Queens, featuring (a now-extinct neighoborhood?) Norwood, Hunter’s Point, Ravenswood, Steinway, Wellfare Island (today we call it Roosevelt Island), Ward’s Island (today it is also called Randall’s Island), and more.

Historic 1800s-era Long Island City flag, on display at The Greater Astoria Historical Society. (11.9.11, Broadway and 36th St.)

Photographs of “Astoria’s flat iron building” before and after telephone wires were installed, on display at the Greater Astoria Historical Society. (11.9.11, Broadway near 36th St.)

On display at Socrates Sculpture Park. (7.011)

And a little feel-good story about NYC activism that WENT SOMEWHERE! and made CHANGE!

From SocratesSculpturePark.org:
Socrates Sculpture Park was an abandoned riverside landfill and illegal dumpsite until 1986 when a coalition of artists and community members, under the leadership of sculptor Mark di Suvero, transformed it into an open studio and exhibition space for artists and a neighborhood park for local residents. Today it is an internationally renowned outdoor museum and artist residency program that also serves as a vital New York City park offering a wide variety of free public programs.

Lawrence Cemetery, founded in 1703 (or possibly as early as 1656), is an official city landmark located on 20th Road near 35th St. From the New York Times: Among the dozens of prominent figures buried there is Maj. Johnathan Lawrence, a member of the state constitutional convention in the 1770’s; Gen. Albert Gallatin Lawrence, a Civil War hero; Abraham Riker Lawrence, a State Supreme Court justice who was related to the Rikers of Rikers Island, and John L. Lawrence, the first president of the Croton Aqueduct. (06.11, 20th Rd. near 35th St.)

A historic house near the Steinway Mansion displays lingering evidence of Astoria’s original street names: Winthrop Av (now 20th Ave.) and Albert St., named for a Steinway (as in Steinway Piano Factory) son (now 41st St.). (08.11, 20th Ave. and 41st St.)

Trinity Lutheran Church, established in 1890, taken at night. This iteration of the church opened in 1927 and is now listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Of note from Wikipedia: A Guinness World Record was set at this very church in Astoria on July 18, 2009, for the “Largest Musical Saw Ensemble.” The record, part of the annual NYC Musical Saw Festival (in Astoria since 2002) was organized by Natalia Paruz at Trinity Lutheran Church, with the participation of 53 people playing the musical saw together. (7.28.11, 31st. Ave. and 37th St., taken with Instagram)

Depressingly, at 88 acres, this graveyard is bigger than any other park in Astoria or East Elmhurst. 

St. Michael’s Cemetery, established 1852, at night. Of note, American composer and pianist Scott Joplin was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave in this cemetery and his grave site was only honored 57 years after his death. Now St. Michael’s hosts an annual retrospective of his works.

(8.8.11, Astoria Blvd./Grand Central Parkway and 73rd St., taken with Instagram.)