CHISHOLM MANSION, College Point

by Kevin Walsh

One of the long-razed and forgotten about notable buildings in Queens was the Chisholm Mansion, which was located in the midst of Herman MacNeil Park in northwest College Point overlooking the East River.

The mansion was built in 1848 by Mrs. John Rogers and given to her daughter, Mary Rogers Chisholm, as a wedding gift. The house was owned by the Rogers family until 1930 when it was acquired by NYC. The mansion, shown here in 1937, was demolished by 1940, though its location is now marked by a flagpole.

Photo from NYC Municipal Archives, which has festooned it with watermarks in order to get you to buy the photo at a minimum of $40.

5/8/13

3 comments

C Fletcher May 8, 2013 - 10:29 am

There’s a nice photo of the home at http://hermonatkinsmacneil.com/2010/05/28/macneil-park-queens-ny/

Must not have been in bad condition later in 1937, as “Mayor LaGuardia used the mansion as his “Summer City Hall” in 1937.”

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Ron Melamed May 8, 2013 - 4:41 pm

According to this article in the Long Island Star Journal, dated August 1939, they discuss the pending demolition of the Chisolm mansion. It seems the old structure was refurbished by the city and used by Mayor Laguardia as a summer headquarters.

http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201939/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201939%20-%200326.pdf

However two years later in this article, dated January 5, 1941 it seems that the mansion was scheduled for demolition within two weeks. So it seems you might have the year wrong in forgotten-ny writeup.
http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%205/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201941%20Grayscale/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201941%20Grayscale%20-%200084.pdf

More pictures with the permanent columns at the NY Public Library site:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=416150&imageID=726340f&total=8&num=0&word=Hermon%20A%2E%20MacNeil%20Park%20%28New%20York%2C%20N%2EY%2E%29&s=3&notword=&d=&c=219&f=2&k=1&lWord=&lField=&sScope=Collection%20Guide&sLevel=&sLabel=Photographic%20Views%20of%20New%20York%20City%2C%201870s-1970s&sort=&imgs=20&pos=4&e=w

Reply
Phil D April 12, 2017 - 3:16 am

As a kid growing up in the 1960’s there was a wooded area on 14 Ave where Whitepoint Shopping Center is today. We all called it Haydens because it was the site of the old Hayden’s Mansion which must have then been a spectacular old waterfront house. I remember the woods were a hangout and the foundation from the old mansion was the only thing left of it. Does anyone have any further information on this old landmark?

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