Woodhaven, Queens

Woodhaven Boulevard, Main Road, Large abundance of trees

Woodhaven once known as Woodville, is home to a wealthy mix of middle to upper-class residents, mostly a middle-income neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. This neighborhood traditionally preserves its suburban looks. Woodhaven is situated between Forest Park and Richmond Hill and serves one of the most diverse communities in Queens. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 9.^[1]

Woodhaven also has one of the greatest tree populations in the borough and resides approximately 10-15 minutes west from the border between Queens and Nassau County. The convenience from schools to transportation to community involvement and park recreation in Woodhaven serves most of the well-known features in this neighborhood.

Commerce is centered on Jamaica Avenue which effectively bisects Woodhaven. On this avenue, from Forest Parkway on the west to Richmond Hill, Queens, on the east, are a 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 recently closed its doors. Woodhaven is bordered on the north by a public park, Forest Park, and a street named Park Lane South. Woodhaven also forms the border with the neighborhood of Ozone Park.

History

Woodhaven began in the mid-1700s as a small town that revolved around farming. The first European settlements here were by the Ditmar, Lott, Wyckoff, Suydam and Snediker families. One of the greatest battles from the American Revolutionary War took place in Woodhaven, near present-day Forest Park (Golf Course). 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 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 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, and the few inhabitants voted to change the name of the village to Woodhaven.

In 1836, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) cars were pulled by horses along Atlantic Avenue. The train 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 the train while it was moving. The 1848 LIRR schedule shows an intersection called Union Course (serving that racetrack) and another called Woodville (farther east).

Two Frenchmen named Charles Lalance and Florian Grosjean launched the village as a manufacturing community 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. Majority of homes in Woodhaven as stated are one- two-family homes. Technically, it is a mixed neighborhood of single family homes (detached or in rows), and also preserves its suburban-type look from mostly cobble-stone sidewalks to old-fashioned looking lamp posts. Many proclaimed that because of Woodhaven's rich history, sometimes it can remind one of a haunted place with hills going up and then along many areas of the neighborhood.

Culture

Today, Woodhaven is a residential area with a mixed and low-dense population, consisting mainly Eastern Europeans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and a small number of Latinos. Local residents are quick to point out that Woodhaven is home to a great number of shared cultures and this demonstrates the broad range of ethnicities present in the most diverse county in the United States -- Queens County, NY.

Oscar winning actor Adrien Brody grew up in Woodhaven.^[2] Mae West also lived in Woodhaven, and made her debut performance there.^[3] A historical marker is outside the venue.

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 Train is probably the only train in Queens to run on limited service as it passes 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 and the J train, and LIRR. Woodhaven is served by school District 27, and its major point of recreation is Forest Park. Every month at Forest Park, you would be able to see the Queens Borough Orchestra playing Jazz and other music, as well as other recreational activities in the famous Bandshell within the park. Woodhaven remains as one the classical areas of Queens with its history preserved.

The geology of the area of Woodhaven also notes a spectacular landscape, making this location some of the most geological altered places in Queens from a 30-50 feet hill up to Forest Park to the many trees that diversify this area's boundaries to its outer limits and especially the 20,000 year old Wisconsin Glacier.

References

External links

• 1870 map of Woodhaven (west)
• 1870 map of Woodhaven (east)
• Woodhaven Forest Park Golf Course
• Queens Library, Woodhaven opened in early-to-mid 1800's
• Woodhaven Residents' Block Association -- The "Guardian of Woodhaven" and the Borough's oldest Civic Organization

Neighborhoods in the New York City Borough of Queens
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