BARCLAY SIGN

by Kevin Walsh

Ancient Queens street sign from the FNY Archives

4 comments

Steve September 11, 2012 - 6:18 am

What year? Way before my time and the blue letters on white background I grew up with.

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Kevin Walsh September 11, 2012 - 11:10 am

I do not know. Likely early 20th Century. The renumbering started in 1915 and spread gradually.

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STEVE September 13, 2012 - 5:50 pm

In a 1910 street map the north-south streets east of Murray street in eastern Flushing were numbered as avenues, from 14th to at least 30th. The long 156th street was 16th avenue. That would make 30th avenue 170th street today. These signs were erected after 1910, perhaps between 1915 and 1920. The dual signage on 154th street was to remind the locals of the older street numbering system.

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ron s September 14, 2012 - 9:39 am

In the 60’s or 70’s there was a beaut of a sign like this on 19th ave in Astoria, saying Bowery Bay Road or Old Bowery Bay Road, from when the avenue went to North Beach (as opposed to being in an ugly factory area heading to Rikers Island Bridge today. Still regret not trying to climb up and get it.

RS

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