By the end of 2018 the Greater Astoria Historical Society (GAHS) will have to move from its current location at 35-20 Broadway.
In order to pay for the move, the organization has started an online campaign to raise $20,000. Along with moving expenses, any remaining money will be used to fund future programming such as lectures, readings, walking tours and film screenings.
“Being historians we study time and how things evolve, it’s a bittersweet experience,” said Bob Singleton, the GAHS executive director.
The new space will predominantly be used to house the 2,000 square feet worth of boxed collections since the GAHS has already decided on a new administrative location at 44-02 23rd St. in Long Island City.
According to Singleton, the organization will use other existing community spaces to host its events. The organizations is viewing the move as an opportunity to evolve their programing and “become an organization that better services our community.”
The decision to move came after the largest tenant in the building which the GAHS shares, Quinn and Son Funeral Home, decided to relocate to Woodside in September after 100 years at the location.
Singleton said that the GAHS had been renting on a month-to-month lease for a few years and had known for a while that they would need to leave. By the time that the Quinn and Son decided to move, the GAHS had the majority of their inventory packed and ready to go.
This doesn’t mean that everything all programming has stopped at the GAHS; there are still two more opportunities to enjoy what the GAHS at its soon-to-be old location. They include a beer garden party tonight, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. and a reading of the holiday classic, “The Night Before Christmas,” on Dec. 8.
According to the Facebook fundraiser page, the GAHS has raised $1,815 out of the $20,000 they need.
For more information about events, visit www.astorialic.org.
