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Northern Boulevard in the 1930s: Rare Images from Queens’ Main Thoroughfare

by Adriana Palmer

In the 1930s, Northern Boulevard was solidifying its identity as one of Queens’ primary automobile corridors. Stretching across the borough, it was a wide and busy roadway, reflecting the city’s growing reliance on cars and trucks. The boulevard’s character varied as it passed through different neighborhoods, from the industrial sections of Long Island City to the more residential and commercial areas further east.

The street was lined with businesses designed to serve the motorist. Gas stations, auto repair shops, and diners became common sights along the route. These structures were often built in the new Art Deco or Streamline Moderne styles, with clean lines, curved corners, and neon signs designed to catch the eye of drivers passing by. Northern Boulevard was one of the first streets in the borough to fully embrace a car-centric commercial model.

While the Great Depression slowed economic growth, the boulevard remained a vital commercial artery. It was a major trucking route, essential for moving goods across the borough and connecting to Manhattan. Local businesses, such as laundries, small factories, and building material suppliers, used the boulevard for their daily operations. For residents of adjacent neighborhoods like Woodside, Jackson Heights, and Corona, Northern Boulevard was a key shopping street for larger purchases and specialized services that couldn’t be found on smaller local streets.

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The opening of the Triborough Bridge in 1936 had a significant effect on the boulevard. The new bridge fed directly onto the Grand Central Parkway, which intersected with Northern Boulevard, dramatically increasing the volume of traffic. This solidified the boulevard’s status as a major regional thoroughfare, connecting Queens not only to Manhattan and the Bronx but also to the developing parkway system of Long Island.

Public transportation also played a role. Streetcar lines ran along portions of the boulevard, providing local service and connecting with the elevated train lines that crossed its path. These trolleys served residents and shoppers who didn’t own a car, linking the residential blocks to the bustling commercial strip. The combination of heavy commercial traffic, new residential development nearby, and major infrastructure projects made Northern Boulevard a scene of constant activity throughout the decade.

#1 245th Street – Northern Boulevard, 1924

245th Street - Northern Boulevard, 1924

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#2 Browvale Drive – Northern Boulevard, 1927

Browvale Drive - Northern Boulevard, 1927

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#3 Browvale Lane – Northern Boulevard, 1966

Browvale Lane - Northern Boulevard, 1966

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#4 Cloverdale Boulevard – Northern Boulevard, 1924

Cloverdale Boulevard - Northern Boulevard, 1924

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#5 Collins Place – Northern Boulevard, 1930s

Collins Place - Northern Boulevard, 1930s

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#6 Cross Island Parkway – Northern Boulevard, 1939

Cross Island Parkway - Northern Boulevard, 1939

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#7 Farrington Street – Northern Boulevard, 1930s

Farrington Street - Northern Boulevard, 1930s

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#8 Farrington Street – Northern Boulevard, 1935

Farrington Street - Northern Boulevard, 1935

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#9 Northern Boulevard – Astoria Boulevard, 1906

Northern Boulevard - Astoria Boulevard, 1906

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#10 Northern Boulevard – Grand Central Parkway, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Grand Central Parkway, 1935

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#11 Grand Central Parkwa – Northern Boulevard, 1935

Grand Central Parkwa - Northern Boulevard, 1935

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#12 Grand Central Parkwa – Northern Boulevard, 1936

Grand Central Parkwa - Northern Boulevard, 1936

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#13 King Road – Northern Boulevard, 1935

King Road - Northern Boulevard, 1935

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#14 Lawrence Street – Northern Boulevard, 1922

Lawrence Street - Northern Boulevard, 1922

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#15 Little Neck Parkway – Northern Boulevard, 1924

Little Neck Parkway - Northern Boulevard, 1924

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#16 Main Street – Northern Boulevard, 1922

Main Street - Northern Boulevard, 1922

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#17 Main Street – Northern Boulevard, 1922

Main Street - Northern Boulevard, 1922

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#18 Main Street – Northern Boulevard, 1925

Main Street - Northern Boulevard, 1925

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#19 Main Street – Northern Boulevard, 1935

Main Street - Northern Boulevard, 1935

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#20 Main Street – Northern Boulevard, 1930s

Main Street - Northern Boulevard, 1930s

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#21 Northern Boulevard – Alameda Avenue, 1927

Northern Boulevard - Alameda Avenue, 1927

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#22 Northern Boulevard – Linden Avenue, 1962

Northern Boulevard - Linden Avenue, 1962

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#23 Northern Boulevard – Bell Boulevard, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Bell Boulevard, 1930s

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#24 Northern Boulevard – Junction Boulevard, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Junction Boulevard, 1930s

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#25 Northern Boulevard – 190th Street (West), 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 190th Street (West), 1930s

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#26 Northern Boulevard – Browvale Drive, 1927

Northern Boulevard - Browvale Drive, 1927

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#27 Northern Boulevard – Browvale Drive, 1927

Northern Boulevard - Browvale Drive, 1927

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#28 Northern Boulevard – Little Neck Parkway, 1890

Northern Boulevard - Little Neck Parkway, 1890

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#29 Northern Boulevard – Marathon Parkway, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Marathon Parkway, 1930s

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#30 Northern Boulevard – Collins Place, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Collins Place, 1930s

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#31 Northern Boulevard – Collins Place, 1932

Northern Boulevard - Collins Place, 1932

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#32 Northern Boulevard – Linden Place, 1922

Northern Boulevard - Linden Place, 1922

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#33 Northern Boulevard – Linden Place, 1922

Northern Boulevard - Linden Place, 1922

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#34 Northern Boulevard – Linden Place, 1910

Northern Boulevard - Linden Place, 1910

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#35 Northern Boulevard – 190th Street (West), 1935

Northern Boulevard - 190th Street (West), 1935

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#36 Northern Boulevard – 190th Street (West), 1935

Northern Boulevard - 190th Street (West), 1935

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#37 Northern Boulevard – 190th Street (West), 1935

Northern Boulevard - 190th Street (West), 1935

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#38 Northern Boulevard – Lawrence Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Lawrence Street, 1935

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#39 Northern Boulevard – Kings Road, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Kings Road, 1935

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#40 Northern Boulevard – Kings Road, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Kings Road, 1935

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#41 Northern Boulevard – Kings Road, 1936

Northern Boulevard - Kings Road, 1936

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#42 Northern Boulevard – Kings Road, 1922

Northern Boulevard - Kings Road, 1922

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#43 Northern Boulevard – Kings Road, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Kings Road, 1935

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#44 Northern Boulevard – Kings Road, 1922

Northern Boulevard - Kings Road, 1922

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#45 Northern Boulevard – Newton Road, 1937

Northern Boulevard - Newton Road, 1937

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#46 Northern Boulevard – Newton Road, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Newton Road, 1930s

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#47 Northern Boulevard – Newton Road, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Newton Road, 1930s

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#48 Northern Boulevard – Farrington Street, 1922

Northern Boulevard - Farrington Street, 1922

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#49 Northern Boulevard – Glenwood Street, 1927

Northern Boulevard - Glenwood Street, 1927

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#50 Northern Boulevard – Harper Street, 1938

Northern Boulevard - Harper Street, 1938

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#51 Northern Boulevard – Lawrence Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Lawrence Street, 1935

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#52 Northern Boulevard – Lawrence Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Lawrence Street, 1930s

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#53 Northern Boulevard – Lawrence Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Lawrence Street, 1930s

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#54 Northern Boulevard – Lawrence Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Lawrence Street, 1935

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#55 Northern Boulevard – Kings Road, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Kings Road, 1935

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#56 Northern Boulevard – Lawrence Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Lawrence Street, 1930s

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#57 Northern Boulevard – Linden Street, 1922

Northern Boulevard - Linden Street, 1922

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#58 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1939

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1939

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#59 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1936

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1936

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#60 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1930s

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#61 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1922

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1922

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#62 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1906

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1906

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#63 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1935

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#64 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1930s

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#65 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1925

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1925

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#66 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1925

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1925

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#67 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1924

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1924

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#68 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1934

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1934

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#69 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1939

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1939

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#70 Northern Boulevard – Prince Street, 1937

Northern Boulevard - Prince Street, 1937

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#71 Northern Boulevard – Prince Street, 1936

Northern Boulevard - Prince Street, 1936

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#72 Northern Boulevard – Bowne Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Bowne Street, 1930s

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#73 Northern Boulevard – Union Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Union Street, 1935

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#74 Northern Boulevard – Union Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Union Street, 1930s

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#75 Northern Boulevard – Union Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Union Street, 1930s

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#76 Northern Boulevard – Union Street, 1921

Northern Boulevard - Union Street, 1921

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#77 Northern Boulevard – Union Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Union Street, 1935

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#78 Northern Boulevard – Union Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - Union Street, 1935

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#79 Northern Boulevard – 127th Place, 1935

Northern Boulevard - 127th Place, 1935

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#80 Northern Boulevard – 41st Avenue, 1932

Northern Boulevard - 41st Avenue, 1932

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#81 Northern Boulevard – 31st Street, 1939

Northern Boulevard - 31st Street, 1939

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#82 Northern Boulevard – 37th Street, 1939

Northern Boulevard - 37th Street, 1939

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#83 Northern Boulevard – 43rd Street, 1939

Northern Boulevard - 43rd Street, 1939

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#84 Northern Boulevard – 48th Street, 1939

Northern Boulevard - 48th Street, 1939

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#85 Northern Boulevard – 51st Street, 1925

Northern Boulevard - 51st Street, 1925

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#86 Northern Boulevard – 51st Street, 1931

Northern Boulevard - 51st Street, 1931

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#87 Northern Boulevard – 60th Street, 1925

Northern Boulevard - 60th Street, 1925

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#88 Northern Boulevard – 61st Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 61st Street, 1930s

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#89 Northern Boulevard – 77th Street, 1924

Northern Boulevard - 77th Street, 1924

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#90 Northern Boulevard – 77th Street, 1923

Northern Boulevard - 77th Street, 1923

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#91 Northern Boulevard – 78th Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 78th Street, 1930s

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#92 Northern Boulevard – 80th Street, 1923

Northern Boulevard - 80th Street, 1923

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#93 Northern Boulevard – 81st Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 81st Street, 1930s

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#94 Northern Boulevard – 82nd Street, 1924

Northern Boulevard - 82nd Street, 1924

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#95 Northern Boulevard – 83rd Street, 1924

Northern Boulevard - 83rd Street, 1924

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#96 Northern Boulevard – 84th Street, 1923

Northern Boulevard - 84th Street, 1923

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#97 Northern Boulevard – 86th Street, 1924

Northern Boulevard - 86th Street, 1924

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#98 Northern Boulevard – 88th Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 88th Street, 1930s

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#99 Northern Boulevard – Junction Boulevard, 1925

Northern Boulevard - Junction Boulevard, 1925

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#100 Northern Boulevard – 102nd Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - 102nd Street, 1935

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#101 Northern Boulevard – 113th Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - 113th Street, 1935

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#102 Northern Boulevard – 114th Street, 1936

Northern Boulevard - 114th Street, 1936

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#103 Northern Boulevard – 147th Street, 1924

Northern Boulevard - 147th Street, 1924

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#104 Northern Boulevard – 147th Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 147th Street, 1930s

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#105 Northern Boulevard – Parsons Boulevard, 1927

Northern Boulevard - Parsons Boulevard, 1927

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#106 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1927

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1927

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#107 Northern Boulevard – 123rd Street, 1927

Northern Boulevard - 123rd Street, 1927

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#108 Northern Boulevard – 120th Street, 1935

Northern Boulevard - 120th Street, 1935

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#109 Northern Boulevard – 147th Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 147th Street, 1930s

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#110 Northern Boulevard – 153rd Street, 1922

Northern Boulevard - 153rd Street, 1922

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#111 Northern Boulevard – 161st Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 161st Street, 1930s

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#112 Northern Boulevard – 162nd Street, 1909

Northern Boulevard - 162nd Street, 1909

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#113 Northern Boulevard – Auburndale Lane, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Auburndale Lane, 1930s

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#114 Northern Boulevard – 192nd Street, 1927

Northern Boulevard - 192nd Street, 1927

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#115 Northern Boulevard – 192nd Street, 1927

Northern Boulevard - 192nd Street, 1927

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#116 Northern Boulevard – 195th Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 195th Street, 1930s

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#117 Northern Boulevard – 196th Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - 196th Street, 1930s

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#118 Northern Boulevard – 223rd Street, 1939

Northern Boulevard - 223rd Street, 1939

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#119 Northern Boulevard – 230th Street, 1927

Northern Boulevard - 230th Street, 1927

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#120 Northern Boulevard – Douglaston Parkway, 1922

Northern Boulevard - Douglaston Parkway, 1922

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#121 Northern Boulevard – Douglaston Parkway, 1924

Northern Boulevard - Douglaston Parkway, 1924

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#122 Northern Boulevard – 245th Street, 1927

Northern Boulevard - 245th Street, 1927

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#123 Northern Boulevard – 245th Street, 1927

Northern Boulevard - 245th Street, 1927

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#124 Northern Boulevard – Browvale Drive, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Browvale Drive, 1930s

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#125 Prince Street – Northern Boulevard, 1935

Prince Street - Northern Boulevard, 1935

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#126 Northern Boulevard – Main Street, 1930s

Northern Boulevard - Main Street, 1930s

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#127 Queens – 80th Street – Northern Boulevard – 34th Avenue

Queens - 80th Street - Northern Boulevard - 34th Avenue

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Written by Adriana Palmer

Blogger, Editor and Environmentalist. A writer by day and an enthusiastic reader by night. Following the Jim Roh's prophecy “Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.”

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