Our Neighborhood: The Way it Was Archives – QNS

Spring houses, like this one in Pennsylvania, were a common sight around Queens before the borough had a network of underground pipes hooked to reservoirs providing clean water to residents.

Glendale

Finding clean water in early days of Greater Ridgewood area wasn’t easy: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

Vintage storefronts from the 1930s were created along Seneca Avenue in Ridgewood in 1985 during filming of "Brighton Beach Memoirs"

Ridgewood

Ridgewood’s starring role in a 1980s coming-of-age film: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

The Dietz Coal Company in Ridgewood not only produced coal in the early 20th century; it was also one of the area's biggest ice factories.

Ridgewood

The iceman cometh in Ridgewood: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

The Juniper North Playground at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village as it was being constructed in October 1940.

Juniper Valley’s journey from swampland to parkland in Middle Village: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

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Glendale

Bar stories across the street, and across the tracks, in Glendale: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers was the first African-American to play in the major leagues.

Addisleigh Park

Jackie Robinson’s ties to Queens go beyond the parkway bearing his name: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

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Long Island City

Crossing the history of the Kosciuszko Bridge: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

Developer Charles Henry Grosch used to live at this home on 64th Street in Ridgewood.

Glendale

One of Ridgewood’s forgotten builders: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

Bowlers at the now-defunct Woodhaven Lanes, which closed in May 2008.

Glendale

Rolling the bowling ball down memory lane in greater Ridgewood: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

Medal of Honor-winning war hero has fitting Richmond Hill tribute: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

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Ridgewood

Exploring life in Ridgewood during the Roaring ’20s: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

The Glendale honor roll, on the site of the former St. Pancras School on Myrtle Avenue and 68th Street, was erected during World War II to honor local men who went off to fight overseas.

Glendale

Glendale honor roll recognized local war heroes: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

The front page of the April 20, 1945 Ridgewood Times

Ridgewood

When Ridgewood joined the nation in marking the life and loss of FDR: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

The old Gottscheer Hall clubhouse at 657 Fairview Ave. in Ridgewood is shown in this 1940 photo.

Ridgewood

A Ridgewood social hall built by immigrants: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

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Recalling the Triangle Shirtwaist fire and its ties to Queens: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

This 1938 photo shows a home constructed on Eliot Avenue and 69th Lane.

Maspeth

Telling the story of one of the most important roads in Maspeth & Middle Village: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

The spire of St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood, looking east along Catalpa Avenue, is one of the neighborhood's most recognizable structures.

Ridgewood

The incredible growth of a Ridgewood church: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

Middle Village

A lost piece of Middle Village’s colonial history: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

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Glendale

How three lifesaving Queens ambulance corps got their start: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

A jury couldn't reach a verdict in the April 1988 trial of two men accused of killing Detective Anthony Venditti (inset) in Ridgewood in January of 1986.

Ridgewood

Seeking justice for a good cop slain in Ridgewood: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

The cobblestoned intersection of Fresh Pond Road and Metropolitan Avenue in this early 20th-century photo.

Glendale

Some of Queens’ oldest roadways have many historical twists & turns: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

The Loft Candy Store, as photographed in 1959, was located on the northeast corner of Myrtle Avenue at Onderdonk Avenue in Ridgewood.

Glendale

Glendale firm’s machine made for some sweet Ridgewood treats: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH

A high-speed ‘Train to the Plane’ that almost ran through Forest Park: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

This Verizon telephone exchange building on Fairview Avenue in Ridgewood has been connecting callers around the community for generations.

Glendale

Ringing up some Queens telephone history: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

By The Old Timer

More from Around New York

Laura Ward, Inayah Raheem, Hannah Jones, Denyce Graves, Lauren Torey and Symone Harcum attend Kick-Off Celebration for the Upcoming Denyce Graves Foundation Harvest Moon Gala at New York on Sept. 9, 2025.

Andrea Bocelli set to perform at Denyce Graves Foundation NYC Gala

Marilyn Oliva, Roberta Degnore, and Anne Maguire stand together against book bans.

Activists protest book bans in front of New York Public Library

Schneps Podcasts

Travis Greisler, Thank You For Coming Out

Things to Do with the Kids This Weekend in Long Island

New York Family

Things to Do with the Kids This Weekend in Long Island