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What Queens looked like in the 1910s: A Glimpse through Amazing Historical Photos

Step back in time with us to the 1910s, and let’s explore the borough of Queens, New York City. Back then, it wasn’t the bustling hub we know today. It was a place where the city met the country, a unique blend of urban development and rural charm.

German, Irish, Italian, and Jewish communities thrived, each adding their own flavor to the borough’s identity. Streets buzzed with different languages, and shops displayed goods from all corners of the world. This diversity was reflected in the local cuisine.

While many areas still held onto their farmland roots, industry was making its mark. Factories sprung up, offering jobs and drawing even more people to the borough. The Steinway & Sons piano factory, a Queens landmark, employed skilled craftsmen who built world-renowned instruments.

Transportation Transformation

Getting around Queens was becoming easier. The Queensboro Bridge, opened in 1909, connected the borough to Manhattan, making commutes faster and opening up new opportunities. Elevated train lines, like the IRT Flushing Line, snaked their way through neighborhoods, further connecting communities and fueling growth.

For leisure, many flocked to the beaches of Rockaway. Families built sandcastles, splashed in the waves, and enjoyed the fresh ocean air. Amusement parks, like Rockaway Playland, offered thrilling rides and games, providing fun for all ages.

Baseball and Beyond

Baseball was a favorite pastime, with local teams drawing passionate crowds. The New York Highlanders, later known as the Yankees, played at Hilltop Park in Washington Heights, just across the Harlem River from Queens.  Fans would pour out of the stadium after games, filling the streets with cheers and chatter.

Famous Faces and Places

Queens in the 1910s was home to several notable figures. Mae West, the iconic actress and playwright, spent her childhood in Woodhaven. Fiorello LaGuardia, who would later become a beloved mayor of New York City, practiced law in Queens during this time.

Astoria was known for its large German population and its thriving brewing industry. Flushing, with its diverse community and bustling commercial center, was another popular destination.

#1 A family seated in a living room in a house in Broad Channel, Queens, 1910s

#2 The 1916 Davis Cup tennis match at the Forest Hills Tennis Club, Long Island, New York, 1916.

#3 Workers assembling airplane wings during World War I at Lowe, Willard & Fowler Engineering Company, College Point, Queens, 1917.

#4 A 1917 Mack Bulldog Model AC on Crescent Street, Queens, 1917.

#21 147th Avenue and Brookville Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#26 160th Street and Grand Central Parkway, Queens, 1910s.

#38 245th Street and Northern Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#39 Buhrman’s Lane and St. Mark’s Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#40 Alley Park East and White Plains Road, Queens, 1910s.

#41 Alley Park East and Buhrman’s Lane, Queens, 1910s.

#42 Buhrman’s Lane and West Alley Road, Queens, 1910s.

#43 Alley Pond – Alley Park – General store, Queens, 1910s.

#45 Astoria Boulevard and Main Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#47 Astoria Boulevard and 37th Street, Queens, 1910s.

#48 Astoria Boulevard and 112th Place, Queens, 1910s.

#49 Beach 19th Street and Plainview Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#65 Brookhaven Avenue and Beach 19th Street, Queens, 1910s.

#66 Brookhaven Avenue and Beach 19th Street, Queens, 1910s.

#67 Brookville Boulevard and 141st Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#68 Browvale Drive and Northern Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#71 Cornaga Avenue and Nameoke Street, Queens, 1910s.

#73 Cross Island Boulevard and 6th Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#74 Cross Island Boulevard and 14th Road, Queens, 1910s.

#75 Cypress Avenue and Cornelia Street, Queens, 1910s.

#77 Douglaston Parkway and 42nd Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#78 Dry Harbor Road and Caldwell Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#90 27th Street and Ditmars Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#91 27th Street and Ditmars Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#127 Eldert Street and Wyckoff Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#128 Eldert Street and Wyckoff Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#129 Elderts Lane and Atlantic Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#130 Elmhurst Avenue and Ithaca Street, Queens, 1910s.

#132 Farmers Boulevard and Dennis Street, Queens, 1910s.

#133 Farmers Boulevard and 133rd Road, Queens, 1910s.

#134 Far Rockaway Boulevard and Beach 32nd Street, Queens, 1910s.

#135 Flushing Avenue and Woodward Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#136 Flushing Avenue and Woodward Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#137 Northern Boulevard and Astoria Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#138 Grand Central Parkway and Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#141 Furmanville Avenue and 82nd Place, Queens, 1910s.

#143 George Avenue and Cypress Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#148 Grand Central Parkway and Edgerton Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#149 Grand Central Parkway and Parsons Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#150 Grand Central Parkway and Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#151 Grand Central Parkway and 65th Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#152 Grand Central Parkway and 168th Street, Queens, 1910s.

#153 Hillside Avenue and 162nd Street, Queens, 1910s.

#157 Hollis Avenue and Farmers Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#159 Hollis Avenue and Cross Island Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#160 Home Lawn Street and 84th Avenue, Queens, 1910s.

#161 Horace Harding Boulevard and Douglaston Parkway, Queens, 1910s.

#162 Interborough Parkway and Park Lane, Queens, 1910s.

#163 Jackson Avenue and 165th Street (East), Queens, 1910s.

#164 Jamaica Avenue and Hollis Court Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#165 Jamaica Avenue and Hollis Court Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#166 Jamaica Avenue and Hollis Court Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#167 Jamaica Avenue and Parsons Boulevard, Queens, 1910s.

#170 A boat in water outside a home in Broad Channel, Queens, 1910s

A boat in water outside a home in Broad Channel, Queens, 1910s

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Written by Henry Parker

Content writer, SEO analyst and Marketer. You cannot find me playing any outdoor sports, but I waste my precious time playing Video Games..

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