A free tour of the historic Lawrence Cemetery, a NYC landmark that remains one of Bayside's last true links to its colonial past, will be given by Bayside Historical Society (BHS) on Saturday, November 6 at 2 p.m.

Located at 216 St. and 42 Ave., the cemetery is a plot of land that was part of the original patent granted to John Lawrence by the Dutch in 1645, and it is the resting place for several prominent individuals in Bayside history, including a former NYC mayor and a one-time president of the NY Stock Exchange.

Though this parcel of land was held and maintained by the Lawrence family for more than 300 years, it eventually fell into disrepair as family members dispersed throughout the nation. It wasn't until the 1960s that Joseph Brown, founder of the Bayside Historical Society, spearheaded efforts to restore it. The cemetery was declared a landmark in August, 1967 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. BHS has since maintained the property.

For more information, call (718) 352-1548; or visit baysidehistorical.org. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; New York City Council Member Daniel J. Halloran; and New York State Senator Frank Padavan.