Onderdonk House
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The Vander Ende - Onderdonk House via Onderdonkhouse.org |
Ridgewood Theater
Situated between rows of one-story buildings, the Ridgewood Theater’s imposing size and elegantly designed white façade make it stand out in Myrtle Ave.’s commercial area. Constructed in 1916 and designed by the prominent theater architect Thomas Lamb, the theater’s polished look reflects a time when film was trying to branch out into a national form of entertainment.
Situated between rows of one-story buildings, the Ridgewood Theater’s imposing size and elegantly designed white façade make it stand out in Myrtle Ave.’s commercial area. Constructed in 1916 and designed by the prominent theater architect Thomas Lamb, the theater’s polished look reflects a time when film was trying to branch out into a national form of entertainment.
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Ridgewood Theater |
Although it had lost most of its original luster by the time I started going to the movies (the interior was worn down, the projectors were outdated and my little brother once had a mouse for a seat-mate), it still retained its intimate, small theater charm - a contrast to the flashier chain cineplexes that seem to have taken over. Sadly, after running for over 90 years - one of the longest in the country - the Ridgewood Theater closed in March of 2008. After years of inactivity and community debate, it was recently decided that the building will become a housing residency. As a historical landmark that is protected by the Landmark Preservation, however, the façade will not change.
Radioactive Chemical House
My friend and I have an established banter that occurs whenever she wants to hang out in Queens. Given the odd and inconvenient subway and bus systems in Brooklyn and Queens, I believe my vehement resistance (i.e. “complaints) to venture into any part of Queens, other than Ridgewood, is completely justified. In retaliation to my continuous contempt, she recently sent me an article written by The New Yorker that both surprised and disturbed me. It turns out that from 1930 until 1954 the
My friend and I have an established banter that occurs whenever she wants to hang out in Queens. Given the odd and inconvenient subway and bus systems in Brooklyn and Queens, I believe my vehement resistance (i.e. “complaints) to venture into any part of Queens, other than Ridgewood, is completely justified. In retaliation to my continuous contempt, she recently sent me an article written by The New Yorker that both surprised and disturbed me. It turns out that from 1930 until 1954 the
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Former Site of the Wolff-Alport Chemical Company via queens.brownstoner.com |
sewers or buried on site. Erin Brockovich kept flashing through my mind as I read this. Anyway, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently conducted some tests and proposed to add this section of Ridgewood to the list of the country's most hazardous waste sites. This would allow funds for local clean-up and radioactive level monitoring. Charming. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful to the EPA but I'll admit that learning that my neighborhood contains toxic elements that put everyone at higher risk for cancer was a bit unexpected, and not something I wanted it to be known for.
Brooklyn/Queens Trolleys
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Tracks at 60 Place |
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Flushing trolley via junipercivic.com |
There are, of course, many other historical places in Ridgewood I could write about, including the Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park and the Ridgewood Masonic Temple (which is, funnily enough, part of Bushwick, not Ridgewood - have I mentioned that the Queens/Brooklyn boundary line causes confusion?), but I've decided not to. Partly due to laziness, but mostly because I believe these examples are more than sufficient to highlight the rich history found here and that, essentially, was the original point of researching my town. As I mentioned in the first part of my article and touched upon briefly here, I often get distracted in the idea of unfamiliar places and their pasts that I ignore the wealth of history that can be found locally, which is bizarre considering where I grew up. For many, New York City is a travel destination that promises excitement, decadence and entertainment all in one place; for me it's simply home, but it's about time I started appreciating it properly.