In the early 20th Century, Queens featured hundreds of striped poles featuring directional signs to different neighborhoods and even out-of-borough locations. This one, photographed in 1931, pointed to Flushing, Brooklyn, Richmond Hill, New York, Hollis, and Merrick Boulevard. Another sign points to “Queens,” but since we’re already in Queens, I’m unsure what was meant. Perhaps the civic center, then clustered near Newtown Creek.
[“Queens” probably referred to Queens Village; a LIRR tower near the Queens Village station is signed “Queens.” There was also a town in Staten Island (Richmond County) called “Richmond.”]
The sign was at North Hempstead Turnpike and Nassau Boulevard in what is now called Fresh Meadows; the roads are now called Booth Memorial Avenue and the Horace Harding Expressway, respectively.
12/6/12