‘A Garden In The City’

The Queens Historical Society has announced its Winter 2005-2006 slide lecture series at its Flushing headquarters, Kingsland Homestead. The Homestead is located 2 1/2 blocks from downtown Flushing at 143-35 37th Avenue between Parsons Boulevard and Bowne Street.

The winter series of slide talks begins on December 11th with ‘The History of Jackson Heights’ by author, Daniel Karatzas. Karatzas documented the development of Jackson Heights, America’s first garden and cooperative apartment community, in his book ‘Jackson Heights – A Garden in the City’. The lecture begins at 2:30 p.m.

On December 18th the society’s President, James Driscoll will discuss his newly published book ‘Flushing, 1880-1935’, which has just been released by Arcadia Press in its Postcard History series. Through vintage postcards and photographs, Driscoll will explore the extraordinary history of Flushing from the ‘Gilded Age’ to the ‘Great Depression’. The lecture begins at 2:30 p.m.

On January 8th Driscoll will discuss ‘The Story of Corona’, whose early factories made porcelain, portable houses, and from 1893 into the 1930s, Tiffany glass. The talk begins at 2:30 p.m.

To mark African-American History month in February, author Kathleen Velsor will discuss the stories in her newly published historical novel, ‘Brother & Me’, which is about the Underground Railroad on Long Island. This program is scheduled for February 9th at 6:30 p.m. And on February 26th at 2:30 p.m. authors James Driscoll, Richard Hourahan and Kathleen Velsor will recount the little-known stories of the heroes, both African American and white, of the Anti-Slavery Movement. Their new book is entitled, ‘Friends of Freedom: The Anti-Slavery Struggle in Queens and Long Island’.

The author’s books will be available for purchase and signing. The lectures are free with admission: $3 adults, $2 seniors and students, QHS members free. While at the museum, visitors can see three new exhibitions about the history of Kingsland Homestead, the families who lived there, and the landmarks of Queens. Free, off-street parking for the lectures is available in the Temple Gates of Prayer lot entered from Roosevelt Avenue at Parsons Boulevard. Call 718-939-0647 ext. 17.