By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
Douglaston Hill, the picturesque neighborhood that features lovingly preserved historic homes, is celebrating its 150th year as one of New York City's first “garden suburbs.”
According to the Douglaston-Little Neck Historical Society, the “Map of the Village of Marathon,” today known as Douglaston Hill, was filed with the township of Flushing on July 23, 1853.
The filing of the map marked the official transition of the territory from farmland owned by local farmer Jeremiah Lambertson to an early suburb, according to the society.
The boundaries of Douglaston Hill are Northern Boulevard, Douglaston Parkway, the Long Island Rail Road and the Udalls Cove Upland Ravine Park.
Lambertson, whom the society believes may have been banking on the coming of the railroad to increase his property's value, bought his farm in 1843, then subdivided it into lots and sold it at auction in 1853.
“Lambertson's creation of large 200-foot by 200-foot lots laid out in an urban grid represents the genesis of a New York City suburb,” said Bill Sievers, vice president of the historical society, in a historical summary of the anniversary. “The neighborhood is still largely intact, allowing people today to see firsthand how suburban life in the city evolved.”
Douglaston Hill, whose historic homes were largely developed in the early 20th century after construction of the East River railroad tunnel made commuting to Manhattan feasible, contains many examples of American Foursquare, Tudor, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and American Craftsman architectural styles.
A series of exhibits and tours of historic homes are being planned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Douglaston Hill, culminating in a reception at a time and place to be announced, said Sievars.
Notable in the sloping, tree-lined district are Zion Episcopal Church, dedicated in 1830, as well as the former St. Peter's African Methodist Episcopal Church on 243rd Street, founded in 1872.
The community has been home to everyone from Matinecock Indians to black oystermen to English and Dutch colonists, merchants and builders.
Douglaston Hill was added to the state and national registers of historic places in 2000, and its boosters have been seeking landmark status from the city ever since.
The Landmarks Commission is still reviewing the application, Sievers said.
A city landmark designation would require building owners within the Douglaston Hill historic district to get permission from the Landmarks Preservation Commission before making changes other than ordinary repairs and certain interior alterations.
Even without the threat of penalties for making renovations out of keeping with the neighborhood's character, residents of Douglaston Hill have preserved the area's homes voluntarily out of a sense of pride and tradition-sometimes over several generations.
“People tend to stay here and preserve what it is,” said Sievers.
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
