Woodhaven, Queens
Encyclopedia
Woodhaven is a middle-class neighborhood located in the borough of Queens
in New York City
, New York, United States
.
Woodhaven is bordered on the north by a public park, Forest Park
, and Park Lane South. Woodhaven also borders Richmond Hill
to the east, and Ozone Park
to the south at Atlantic Avenue. Its western border is the borough of Brooklyn
.
Woodhaven, once known as Woodville, has one of the greatest tree populations in the borough, and thus it has retained its suburban look. Schools, transportation, and park recreation are convenient.
The ethnically diverse neighborhood
is part of Queens Community Board 9
. Woodhaven's Zip Code is 11421.
Commerce is centered on Jamaica Avenue
which effectively bisects Woodhaven. On this avenue, are a large number of stores, most being small and locally owned. One of the oldest and best known was Lewis of Woodhaven, which had two locations and closed its doors in 2004.
retreated from Long Island some 20,000 years ago, leaving behind the hills to the north of Woodhaven that now are part of Forest Park, the third largest park in Queens. Southern Woodhaven is mostly flat (the lowest elevation is just under 30 feet (9.1 m) ), while northern Woodhaven gradually rises to about 105 feet (32 m) as it approaches Forest Park.
troops successfully flanked
General George Washington
's Continental Army
by a silent night-march from Gravesend, Brooklyn
through the lightly defended "Jamaica Pass" to win the Battle of Long Island
, Queens — the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War
, and the first battle after the Declaration of Independence
.
Later, Woodhaven became the site of two racetracks: the Union Course (1821) and the Centerville (1825). Union Course was a nationally famous racetrack situated in the area now bounded by 78th Street, 82nd Street, Jamaica Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. The Union Course was the site of the first skinned — or dirt — racing surface, a curious novelty at the time. These courses were originally without grandstands. The custom of conducting a single, four-mile (6 km) race consisting of as many heats as were necessary to determine a winner, gave way to programs consisting of several races. Match races between horses from the South against those from the North drew crowds as high as 70,000. Several hotels (including the Snedeker Hotel and the Forschback Inn) were built in the area to accommodate the racing crowds.
A Connecticut
Yankee
, John R. Pitkin, developed the eastern area as a workers' village and named it Woodville (1835). In 1853, he launched a newspaper. That same year, the residents petitioned for a local post office. To avoid confusion with a Woodville located upstate, the residents agreed to change the name to Woodhaven. The original boundaries extended as far south as Liberty Avenue.
In 1836, Long Island Rail Road
(LIRR) cars were pulled by horses along Atlantic Avenue
. The cars traveled with other traffic at street level and stopped at all major intersections — much as a bus does — except that people would often hop on and hop off while the car was moving. The 1848 LIRR schedule shows an intersection called Union Course (serving that racetrack) and another called Woodville (farther east).
With electrification, the LIRR constructed permanent tracks. The Union Course station was opened April 28, 1905. In 1911, the platform was widened to four tracks, and Atlantic Avenue was mostly closed to other traffic. The four tracks split the community and become the border between Woodhaven and Ozone Park. Service on Atlantic Avenue's surface tracks and seven stations between Jamaica and Brooklyn ended on November 1, 1939 and was subsequently replaced in 1942 by underground tracks and a single underground station between Jamaica and Brooklyn. With the removal of surface rail tracks, Atlantic Avenue was again a continuous roadway.
The single station in this long tunnel was the Woodhaven station (at 100th Street) on the LIRR's Atlantic Avenue Branch
, providing rail service to Jamaica
station and Brooklyn (Atlantic Terminal) until it too was closed in 1977. The Woodhaven station was also a popular stop for beachgoers and commuters who would transfer to the above ground LIRR Woodhaven Junction station for trains to Rockaway Beach and Far Rockaway. The Woodhaven Junction station was taken out of service when this section of the Rockaway Beach Branch
was abandoned in 1962.
Elevated transit service to Williamsburg and Lower Manhattan began in 1917 with the operation of the BMT Jamaica Line
above Jamaica Avenue.
Two Frenchmen named Charles Lalance and Florian Grosjean launched the village as a manufacturing community in 1863, by opening a tin factory and improving the process of tin stamping.
As late as 1900, the surrounding area, however, was still primarily farmland, and from Atlantic Avenue one could see as far south as Jamaica Bay
, site of present-day John F. Kennedy International Airport
.
Since 1894, Woodhaven's local newspaper has been the Leader-Observer.
The distinctive St. Anthony's Mansion (which later became St. Anthony's Hospital) stood on a large tract of land on Woodhaven Boulevard between 89th and 91st Avenues. The hospital significantly helped the scientific community in the creation of breakthroughs in Pulmonary and Heart treatments. A historical marker is placed there, and that area is now called Woodhaven Estates.
Dexter Park baseball field, which once occupied 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) in Woodhaven just east of Franklin K. Lane High School
is where baseball history was made in 1930 with the installation of the first engineered lighting system for night games.
, Richmond Hill
, and Ozone Park, many families include first generation war veterans. Local residents are quick to point out that Woodhaven is home to a great number of shared cultures, exemplifying the broad range of ethnicities present in the most diverse
county in the United States—Queens County, NY. Homes are mainly Victorian and Colonial and many are over 120 years old, thus, many home owners have been convinced by the city to restore their homes through beautification and remodeling. Consisting mainly of one-to-two family homes, the median home sales price is $456,000.
One of the oldest homes in Woodhaven is located on 87-20 88th Street. It was first located on Jamaica Avenue. Later, in 1920 the entire house was forced to move to its current location on 88th street due to the construction of the "J" elevated train system. The house was built about or prior to 1910. The J and Z trains are probably the only trains in Queens to run on limited service as they pass through the residential areas of Woodhaven every day. Woodhaven is also considered one the most convenient places for residents of New York City, given its proximity to major bus routes (e.g. Local- Q11, Q53 (Limited), Q21, Q24, Q56. Express- QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, QM21, QM24, QM25), the J and Z trains, and the LIRR.
Woodhaven's major recreational park is Forest Park, known for its golf course, tennis courts, bandshell, carousel, playgrounds, athletic fields and wooded parkland. Every month at Forest Park, the Queens Borough Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic presents Symphony, Jazz and other music events. The Metropolitan Opera, Big Apple Circus, as well as other organizations carry out recreational activities in the famous Bandshell within the park. Woodhaven remains as one of the preserved areas of Queens with traces of its history still in sight.
Every year a motorcycle parade on Woodhaven Boulevard commemorates the bravery of war veterans and collects donations for the Salvation Army
for the winter holidays. The Salvation Army forwards all of its proceeds to international organizations that can help those people that live in devastated areas such as Darfur, Ethiopia, Chad, and Bangladesh. The parade also collects toys for needy children.
Every year a street fair
takes place on Jamaica Avenue with live music, and other festivities for children. The purpose of this street fair is to appreciate diversity from the many different backgrounds the residents of Woodhaven originate.
The scene in the 1990 Martin Scorsese film "Goodfellas
", where Members of the mafia showed up after robbing the Airport showing off Mink Coats and Pink Cadillacs, took place at Neir's Tavern located on 78 Street. There is an historical marker placed outside the establishment.
Woodhaven is served by New York City Department of Education School District #27 (From Woodhaven to 271 Street).
Private Schools
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Woodhaven is bordered on the north by a public park, Forest Park
Forest Park (Queens)
Forest Park is a park in the New York City borough of Queens. It has an area of 538 acres . The park is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.-History:...
, and Park Lane South. Woodhaven also borders Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Queens
Richmond Hill is a neighborhood in central-southern Queens, New York City, USA. It is bordered by Kew Gardens to the north, Woodhaven and Ozone Park to the west, South Ozone Park to the south and South Jamaica to the east...
to the east, and Ozone Park
Ozone Park, Queens
Ozone Park is a working class neighborhood located in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens bordering Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Howard Beach, and City Line, Brooklyn....
to the south at Atlantic Avenue. Its western border is the borough of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
Woodhaven, once known as Woodville, has one of the greatest tree populations in the borough, and thus it has retained its suburban look. Schools, transportation, and park recreation are convenient.
The ethnically diverse neighborhood
is part of Queens Community Board 9
Queens Community Board 9
The Queens Community Board 9 is a local government in the New York City borough of Queens, encompassing the neighborhoods of Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Kew Gardens...
. Woodhaven's Zip Code is 11421.
Commerce is centered on Jamaica Avenue
Jamaica Avenue
Jamaica Avenue is a major avenue in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City, New York, in the United States. Jamaica Avenue starts at Broadway and Fulton Street in the East New York neighborhood in Brooklyn, and goes to the city line in Bellerose, Queens, where it becomes Jericho...
which effectively bisects Woodhaven. On this avenue, are a large number of stores, most being small and locally owned. One of the oldest and best known was Lewis of Woodhaven, which had two locations and closed its doors in 2004.
Geology
The Wisconsin GlacierWisconsinan glaciation
The Wisconsin Glacial Episode was the most recent major advance of the North American Laurentide ice sheet. Globally, this advance is known as the last glacial period. The Wisconsin glaciation extended from approximately 110,000 to 10,000 years ago, between the Eemian interglacial and the current...
retreated from Long Island some 20,000 years ago, leaving behind the hills to the north of Woodhaven that now are part of Forest Park, the third largest park in Queens. Southern Woodhaven is mostly flat (the lowest elevation is just under 30 feet (9.1 m) ), while northern Woodhaven gradually rises to about 105 feet (32 m) as it approaches Forest Park.
History
European settlement in Woodhaven began in the mid-18th century as a small town that revolved around farming, with the Ditmar, Lott, Wyckoff, Suydam and Snediker families. BritishGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
troops successfully flanked
Flanking maneuver
In military tactics, a flanking maneuver, also called a flank attack, is an attack on the sides of an opposing force. If a flanking maneuver succeeds, the opposing force would be surrounded from two or more directions, which significantly reduces the maneuverability of the outflanked force and its...
General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
by a silent night-march from Gravesend, Brooklyn
Gravesend, Brooklyn
Gravesend is a neighborhood in the south-central section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA.The derivation of the name is unclear. Some speculate that it was named after the English seaport of Gravesend, Kent. An alternative explanation suggests that it was named by Willem Kieft for the...
through the lightly defended "Jamaica Pass" to win the Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776, was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the United States Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire conflict, and the...
, Queens — the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and the first battle after the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
.
Later, Woodhaven became the site of two racetracks: the Union Course (1821) and the Centerville (1825). Union Course was a nationally famous racetrack situated in the area now bounded by 78th Street, 82nd Street, Jamaica Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. The Union Course was the site of the first skinned — or dirt — racing surface, a curious novelty at the time. These courses were originally without grandstands. The custom of conducting a single, four-mile (6 km) race consisting of as many heats as were necessary to determine a winner, gave way to programs consisting of several races. Match races between horses from the South against those from the North drew crowds as high as 70,000. Several hotels (including the Snedeker Hotel and the Forschback Inn) were built in the area to accommodate the racing crowds.
A Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
Yankee
Yankee
The term Yankee has several interrelated and often pejorative meanings, usually referring to people originating in the northeastern United States, or still more narrowly New England, where application of the term is largely restricted to descendants of the English settlers of the region.The...
, John R. Pitkin, developed the eastern area as a workers' village and named it Woodville (1835). In 1853, he launched a newspaper. That same year, the residents petitioned for a local post office. To avoid confusion with a Woodville located upstate, the residents agreed to change the name to Woodhaven. The original boundaries extended as far south as Liberty Avenue.
In 1836, Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
(LIRR) cars were pulled by horses along Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue (New York City)
Atlantic Avenue is an important street in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. It stretches from the Brooklyn waterfront on the East River all the way to Jamaica, Queens...
. The cars traveled with other traffic at street level and stopped at all major intersections — much as a bus does — except that people would often hop on and hop off while the car was moving. The 1848 LIRR schedule shows an intersection called Union Course (serving that racetrack) and another called Woodville (farther east).
With electrification, the LIRR constructed permanent tracks. The Union Course station was opened April 28, 1905. In 1911, the platform was widened to four tracks, and Atlantic Avenue was mostly closed to other traffic. The four tracks split the community and become the border between Woodhaven and Ozone Park. Service on Atlantic Avenue's surface tracks and seven stations between Jamaica and Brooklyn ended on November 1, 1939 and was subsequently replaced in 1942 by underground tracks and a single underground station between Jamaica and Brooklyn. With the removal of surface rail tracks, Atlantic Avenue was again a continuous roadway.
The single station in this long tunnel was the Woodhaven station (at 100th Street) on the LIRR's Atlantic Avenue Branch
Atlantic Avenue Branch
The Atlantic Branch is an electrified rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. Partly underground and partly elevated, it runs from Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn to Valley Stream, in Nassau County, where it becomes the two-track Long Beach...
, providing rail service to Jamaica
Jamaica (LIRR station)
Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers...
station and Brooklyn (Atlantic Terminal) until it too was closed in 1977. The Woodhaven station was also a popular stop for beachgoers and commuters who would transfer to the above ground LIRR Woodhaven Junction station for trains to Rockaway Beach and Far Rockaway. The Woodhaven Junction station was taken out of service when this section of the Rockaway Beach Branch
Rockaway Beach Branch
The Rockaway Beach Branch was a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in Queens, New York City, United States. The line left the Main Line at Whitepot Junction in Rego Park heading south via Ozone Park and across Jamaica Bay to Hammels in the Rockaways turning west there to a...
was abandoned in 1962.
Elevated transit service to Williamsburg and Lower Manhattan began in 1917 with the operation of the BMT Jamaica Line
BMT Jamaica Line
The Jamaica Line is an elevated rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States. It runs from the Williamsburg Bridge southeast over Broadway to East New York, Brooklyn, and then east over Fulton Street and Jamaica Avenue to...
above Jamaica Avenue.
Two Frenchmen named Charles Lalance and Florian Grosjean launched the village as a manufacturing community in 1863, by opening a tin factory and improving the process of tin stamping.
As late as 1900, the surrounding area, however, was still primarily farmland, and from Atlantic Avenue one could see as far south as Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay is located on the southwestern tip of Long Island in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, and the town of Hempstead, New York/hamlet of Inwood...
, site of present-day John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
.
Since 1894, Woodhaven's local newspaper has been the Leader-Observer.
The distinctive St. Anthony's Mansion (which later became St. Anthony's Hospital) stood on a large tract of land on Woodhaven Boulevard between 89th and 91st Avenues. The hospital significantly helped the scientific community in the creation of breakthroughs in Pulmonary and Heart treatments. A historical marker is placed there, and that area is now called Woodhaven Estates.
Dexter Park baseball field, which once occupied 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) in Woodhaven just east of Franklin K. Lane High School
Franklin K. Lane High School
Franklin K. Lane High School is a public high school in New York City, United States. The school is administered by the New York City Department of Education as H.S. 420.-Location:...
is where baseball history was made in 1930 with the installation of the first engineered lighting system for night games.
Culture
Today, Woodhaven is a mostly residential semi-suburban neighborhood with a low-density population, consisting mostly of European and Latin Americans, a small number of African Americans, and a growing number of Asian Americans. As in nearby Queens Village, HollisHollis, Queens
Hollis is a neighborhood within the southeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens. A predominantly African American community, the boundaries are considered to be the Far Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Rail Road to the west, Hillside Avenue to the north, Francis Lewis Boulevard to...
, Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Queens
Richmond Hill is a neighborhood in central-southern Queens, New York City, USA. It is bordered by Kew Gardens to the north, Woodhaven and Ozone Park to the west, South Ozone Park to the south and South Jamaica to the east...
, and Ozone Park, many families include first generation war veterans. Local residents are quick to point out that Woodhaven is home to a great number of shared cultures, exemplifying the broad range of ethnicities present in the most diverse
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
county in the United States—Queens County, NY. Homes are mainly Victorian and Colonial and many are over 120 years old, thus, many home owners have been convinced by the city to restore their homes through beautification and remodeling. Consisting mainly of one-to-two family homes, the median home sales price is $456,000.
One of the oldest homes in Woodhaven is located on 87-20 88th Street. It was first located on Jamaica Avenue. Later, in 1920 the entire house was forced to move to its current location on 88th street due to the construction of the "J" elevated train system. The house was built about or prior to 1910. The J and Z trains are probably the only trains in Queens to run on limited service as they pass through the residential areas of Woodhaven every day. Woodhaven is also considered one the most convenient places for residents of New York City, given its proximity to major bus routes (e.g. Local- Q11, Q53 (Limited), Q21, Q24, Q56. Express- QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, QM21, QM24, QM25), the J and Z trains, and the LIRR.
Woodhaven's major recreational park is Forest Park, known for its golf course, tennis courts, bandshell, carousel, playgrounds, athletic fields and wooded parkland. Every month at Forest Park, the Queens Borough Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic presents Symphony, Jazz and other music events. The Metropolitan Opera, Big Apple Circus, as well as other organizations carry out recreational activities in the famous Bandshell within the park. Woodhaven remains as one of the preserved areas of Queens with traces of its history still in sight.
Every year a motorcycle parade on Woodhaven Boulevard commemorates the bravery of war veterans and collects donations for the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
for the winter holidays. The Salvation Army forwards all of its proceeds to international organizations that can help those people that live in devastated areas such as Darfur, Ethiopia, Chad, and Bangladesh. The parade also collects toys for needy children.
Every year a street fair
Street fair
A street fair is a fair that celebrates the character of a neighborhood. As its name suggests, it is usually held on the main street of a neighborhood....
takes place on Jamaica Avenue with live music, and other festivities for children. The purpose of this street fair is to appreciate diversity from the many different backgrounds the residents of Woodhaven originate.
The scene in the 1990 Martin Scorsese film "Goodfellas
Goodfellas
Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese...
", where Members of the mafia showed up after robbing the Airport showing off Mink Coats and Pink Cadillacs, took place at Neir's Tavern located on 78 Street. There is an historical marker placed outside the establishment.
Woodhaven is served by New York City Department of Education School District #27 (From Woodhaven to 271 Street).
Schools
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
- St Thomas the ApostleThomas the ApostleThomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
Roman Catholic Elementary
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Woodhaven include:- Adrien BrodyAdrien BrodyAdrien Brody is an American actor and film producer. He received widespread recognition and acclaim after starring in Roman Polanski's The Pianist . Winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 at age 29, he is the youngest actor to do so...
(born 1973), Oscar winning actor, grew up in Woodhaven. - William F. BrunnerWilliam F. BrunnerWilliam Frank Brunner was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Woodhaven, Queens, he attended the public schools, Far Rockaway High School at Far Rockaway and Packard Commercial School at New York City...
(1887–1965), United States Representative from New York. - George GershwinGeorge GershwinGeorge Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
(1898–1937), composer of many famous show-tunes, was born at 242 Snedeker Avenue (now 78th Street). - Brian HylandBrian HylandBrian Hyland is an American pop recording artist who was particularly successful during the early 1960s. He continued recording into the 1970s...
(born 1943), famous for his recording of the song Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot BikiniItsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" is a novelty song telling the story of a shy girl wearing a revealing polka dot bikini at the beach, who in the first verse is too afraid to leave the locker where she has changed into her bikini; in the second, she has made it to the beach but sits...
. - Danny KayeDanny KayeDanny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
(1913–1987), actor, singer and comedian who grew up on Bradford Street. - Lynn Pressman RaymondLynn Pressman RaymondLynn Pressman Raymond was an American business executive who joined her husband Jack Pressman in developing and growing the Pressman Toy Corporation, and was an innovator in creating and licensing toys based on hit television programs and professional athletes in her two decades as president of...
(c. 1912–2009), toy and game innovator who was president of the Pressman Toy CorporationPressman Toy CorporationPressman Toy Corporation is a toy manufacturer based in New York City which was founded in 1922 by Jack Pressman. It currently focuses on family games and licensed products. Its slogan is "Games people play... - Betty SmithBetty SmithBetty Smith, née Elisabeth Wehner , was an American author.-Biography:Born on December 15, 1896 in Brooklyn, New York to German immigrants, she grew up poor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and attended Girl's High School. These experiences served as the framework to her first novel, A Tree Grows in...
(1896–1972), author. A historical markerHistorical markerA historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
is outside the house on Forest Parkway (across the street from the Woodhaven Library) in which she wrote A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in 1943. In this best-selling novel, the widow Nolan marries a policeman with a civil service job and moves to Cypress Hills where it is quiet and there are trees. - Barry SullivanBarry Sullivan (actor)Barry Sullivan was an American movie actor who appeared in over 100 movies from the 1930s to the 1980s.Born in New York City, Sullivan fell into acting when in college playing semi-pro football...
(1912–1994), film and TV star. - Fred Trump (1905–1999), real estate developer.
- Mae WestMae WestMae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
(1893–1980), lived in Woodhaven, and made her debut performance there. A historical markerHistorical markerA historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
is outside the venue.
See also
- Forest Park CarouselForest Park CarouselForest Park Carousel is a historic carousel located in the Woodhaven section of the New York City borough of Queens. It was built in 1903 and moved to its present site in 1972 from Dracut, Massachusetts, after the previous carousel was destroyed by fire in 1966. The carousel contains 52 figures,...
- St. Matthew's Episcopal ChurchSt. Matthew's Episcopal Church (Woodhaven, New York)St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, also known as St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and Close, is a historic Episcopal church at 85-45 96th Street in Woodhaven, Queens, New York. Located behind the church is the Wyckoff-Snediker Family Cemetery....
- Wyckoff-Snediker Family CemeteryWyckoff-Snediker Family CemeteryWyckoff-Snediker Family Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in the Woodhaven section of the New York City borough of Queens. It is located behind St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. It has grave markers that denote burials dating from 1793 to 1892...
External links
- 1870 map of Woodhaven (west)
- 1870 map of Woodhaven (east)
- Historical Markers of Woodhaven
- Woodhaven Forest Park Golf Course
- Queens Library, Woodhaven opened in early-to-mid 1800s
- Woodhaven Residents' Block Association -- The "Guardian of Woodhaven" and the Borough's oldest Civic Organization
- Woodhaven entry in Encyclopedia of New York City by Vincent Seyfried, Edited by Kenneth T. Jackson. New Haven, Yale University Press. 1995 as presented on site of Congressman Anthony D. Weiner
- Woodhaven and Union Course entries in Old Queens, N.Y. in Early Photographs By Vincent F. Seyfried, William Asadorian
- Woodhaven on the "Forgotten NY Neighborhoods" site
- Forest Park's History and 20,000 year-old Glacier
- Sperling's Best Places
- Project Woodhaven