This is the 2nd in the current series of flashbacks (click here to see the previous flashback). And we begin with a building that was featured in that last flashback. The Woodhaven Exempt Volunteer Firemen's Association. If you recall, we had to do a bit of research in order to locate this building today -- and it turned out to be on 101st Avenue! Check out how the middle window on the 2nd Floor is a tiny bit larger in both the picture and the drawing.
One of the lessons we have learned over the past 18 months is this -- always remember to look up! There's usually some interesting stuff going on up there. Old signs or advertisements that people were too lazy to take down, or perhaps some great design work on a facade -- or in this case, perhaps a remnant of the Woodhaven Exempt Volunteer Firemen's Association? Look at the top of the building...
Could that statue in the drawing be the same at the top of the building today? This building was owned by the Catholic Church at one time, as well -- so maybe it's a statue they left behind. Either way, another reason why it pays to look up! Here's an old shot of the Baptist Church on Shaw Avenue, or as its' known today, 80th Street.
And now, back to the future ....
We're so fortunate to have so many churches with long histories -- we really must make an effort to visit each and every one of them. Here's a quick animation -- not quite perfect, but fun nonetheless....
Now, this next picture presents a bit of a mystery that we're hoping someone out there can help us solve. The Bank of Long Island building at Woodhaven. Remember, look up. The top of that building is pretty distinctive, but we can't place it.
Our research didn't turn up very much -- a few mentions in old banking books, but no address. One reader suggested Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue -- but the building didn't match what's there at all. Not even close! So, we rejected that suggestion. However, all the clues this reader found kept pointing to that location -- so we looked at our old picture of the J Train being built in 1916 and . . . there it is, The Bank of Long Island! Check out the top of the building -- check out the windows. Same building. How cool is that? So we have a bit more research to do. Was the original Bank of Long Island building torn down and replaced? Or was it a massive reconstruction? In the meantime, we tip our hat to our Project Woodhaven Sleuths - Stacey Kerr and Dee Royere. Next, we have a few more postcard views of Forest Parkway. You can see the road going straight up into the park.
Here's another old view -- same road, a few years later judging by the telephone poles.
And finally, Forest Parkway today --
Here's a great view of Forest Parkway, courtesy of the Woodhaven Yahoo Group.
This is pre-elevated train -- so it's before 1916. You can tell that it's Forest Parkway by looking at the top of the building at the right. And on a recent trip on the J Train, we were able to get up close to the top of that building:
And we'll leave off on this last note. Remember what we said earlier.... always look up! Check out that chimney on the top of the building. And then check it out on the old picture. Check out that little bump -- it was there almost 100 years ago!
You know how I like to picture this happening?
Two working stiffs, on the roof of the building at the end of a long day. Maybe they aren't the best workers in the world. Certainly not the kind of guys you'd want to move your piano! And maybe they got distracted. Or maybe they broke into a song and dance, or got into a fight with each other, who knows?
But they don't notice the bump in the chimney until they're all done for the day. They wonder if they should tear it apart and build it all over again, but the senior chap decides it isn't worth it.
"Don't worry, Stanley," he says. "No one will ever notice it. Not in a hundred years!"
If you have any comments, or would like to suggest other projects, drop us a line at info@projectwoodhaven.com or projectwoodhaven@aol.com .
