QUEENSLINE
SEPTEMBER 1939: RAPID DEVELOPMENT
TAKES OVER ASTORIA, LONG ISLAND CITY
ON THE WEB
VISIT US ONLINE AT QNS.COM
CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:
www.facebook.com/timesledger
www.twitter.com/TimesLedger
www.instagram.com/qnsgram
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | SEPT. 25-OCT. 1, 2020 13
In conjunction with the Greater
Astoria Historical Society,
TimesLedger Newspapers presents
noteworthy events in the borough’s
history.
Welcome to July September 1939!
The Star Journal found space to
note the effects of rapid development
taking place in our vicinity.
It specifically cited the “gradual
disappearance” of local landmarks
that were “sharply emphasized by
the razing of the old Astoria Hotel”
at the base of Astoria Boulevard, as
well as the imminent demolition of
the Nelson Memorial chapel on Star
Square in Long Island City.
“The old Astoria Hotel had become
such an accepted part of the Astoria
scene for old timers,” the Journal
weighed in to say, “that it will be
a long time before they will pass the
empty site without a feeling of nostalgia
for the rollicking days of yore.”
Long Island City residents, too,
would feel amiss as the city slated
their very own Nelson Chapel at
Queensboro plaza to be torn down.
Not only was the chapel a beloved
local church, but it also served the
community as a motion picture theater
and even as a storehouse for
prize fighting equipment (among
which was the actual ring used in
the famed Tunney-Dempsey match
in Chicago).
Interest in restoring the chapel as
a place of worship was led by the late
Bishop Charles Nelson, “a picturesque
and respected figure” who was
a carpenter by trade — and an avid
boxer on the side!
The Nelson Memorial Chapel had
a varied history behind it. A church
originally occupied the site as early
as 1876, which eventually made way
for one in 1892 (the building the good
Bishop eventually restored in 1928).
In 1909 the church was combined
with the Grace ME Church at Hunter’s
Point; thereafter, an African
American congregation occupied it.
After this congregation left, it was
where the locals came together to
view motion pictures.
After Bishop Nelson died in 1934, a
tiny group of congregants continued
to use his church while the city took
measures to improve the surrounding
area. Along with its mounting internal
debts (along with its rent, the
church couldn’t even afford its own
minister) the church was straddled
with the higher city taxes and simply
couldn’t make ends meet. The city
took over its property for a parking
lot. T
he Star Journal ran an ad many
today would appreciate: it announced
that Tri-Borough Beverage, distributors
of Cold Keg Beer, was to move to
Astoria Boulevard – what is now its
present location. The public was cordially
invited to visit its “new and larger
quarters” by mid-month after the
company settled into its new location.
That’s the way it was in September
1939
For further info, call the
Greater Astoria Historical
Society at 718-278-0700 or www.astorialic.
org.
LETTERS POLICY
Letters should be typed or neatly handwritten, and those longer than 300
words may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters must include the
writer’s name and phone number for verifi cation. Names may be withheld
from publication if requested, but anonymously sent letters will not be
printed. Letters must be received by Thursday noon to appear in the next
week’s paper. All letters become the property of Schneps Media and may
be republished in any format.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORY:
Another 12 businesses in Queens lose liquor licenses
due to COVID-19 violations
SUMMARY: New York state cracked down on another 22 New York
City businesses, including 12 in Queens, that broke Governor Andrew
Cuomo’s executive orders on social distancing and banning
indoor consumption of alcohol at bars and restaurants during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
/www.astori-alic.org
/TimesLedger
/qnsgram
/www.astori-alic.org
/www.astori-alic.org
/timesledger
/QNS.COM
/QNS.COM
/timesledger
/TimesLedger
/qnsgram
