By Stephen Stirling
Located at 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing's Voelker-Orth House has been on the fast track to landmark status for the last several months, gaining all of the key approvals from the Council and Landmarks Preservation Committee in two weeks' time. Liu said he did not anticipate any roadblocks leading up to the designation and jokingly said he would eat his hat and boots if the approval process did not go smoothly.Built sometime around 1890 – the exact date of construction is not known – the Voelker-Orth House was built with a variety of materials and rooflines and sits on a 10,000-square-foot lot. German immigrant Conrad Voelker bought the home in 1899 and it remained in his family until 1996, when the last remaining heir, Elizabeth Orth, died. She left instructions in her will to turn the house and grounds into a museum of Queens history and environmental education, which it has served as for the last decade.Today, the century-old museum houses a bird sanctuary and Victorian garden, both of which are open to the public.Roland “Chuck” Wade, president of the Voelker-Orth Museum's board of trustees, said Elizabeth Orth would have been proud to see the historic home gain landmark status.”Mrs. Orth was an unassuming, quiet lady,” Wade said. “She loved gardens, she loved birds, she loved history and she knew the importance of preserving the history of Flushing so that future generations would appreciate the contributions of past residents.”The Voelker-Orth House joins a host of other recently landmarked buildings and neighborhoods in Queens, which has seen more designations in the last five years than any other borough.Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
