So, it was October 1975 and I’m age 18 and furiously pedaling down Rockaway Boulevard all the way out in Brookville in southeast Queens, quite a ways from home when you consider that I lived in Bay Ridge between 1957 and 1993. I was fascinated to see the median filled with Twin versions of what I learned later were type F lampposts. As far as I know, there’s no known record of their being there… who took pictures of lampposts then? Few do now! Type Fs were short in stature, and the Department of Traffic retained them there because Rockaway Boulevard runs near Kennedy Airport, and in spots around airports, lampposts are kept short in stature so pilots will not mistake them for runway lights!
I later learned that later the same year, the Type Fs were replaced with double Deskeys and those posts have since been replaced. It’s been 40 years now and I still remember this distinctly.
There’s one other thing I remember, though: I exited Rockaway Boulevard by actually crossing the road (that’s pretty dangerous, since it’s a speedway) and climbed back up to the surrounding Brookville neighborhood by using a dirt road that ran through the fields and swamps (much as nearby paved, two-lane Brookville Boulevard does). The road was signed as Springfield Lane (NOT Springfield Boulevard).
Over the years, I explored the history of this road with maps.
In 1873, few roads went through eastern and southern Queens, but the ones that did are still there. I have labeled three of the ones shown here: New York Avenue (Guy Brewer Boulevard); Rockaway Turnpike (Rockaway Boulevard) and Springfield Road (now Springfield Boulevard). The other names on the map denote who owned what property. Most of this was open country, though there’s a new development on the left. Everything west of Rockaway Turnpike is now in Kennedy Airport.
Note that Springfield Road ends at Rockaway Turnpike.
Skipping ahead 76 years to 1949, this Hagstrom map represents not what the street layout wa  actually like, but what developers hoped to build there. In reality, none of the streets south of 148th Avenue and around the creeks shown on the right were actually built; they are “paper streets” only, though Brookville Boulevard, marked by the thin red line signifying a bus route, did twist and turn through the swamps south to Rockaway Boulevard.
And, Springfield Lane also makes it all the way to Rockaway Boulevard, splitting from Springfield Boulevard south of 146th Avenue. Actually Springfield Lane is what remains of the ancient roadway of Springfield Road, laid out during the colonial era.
Hagstrom at that time expected Rockaway Boulevard to become an expressway, since it is shown with straight lines that don’t intersect the other streets. Nassau expressway was expected to parallel Rockaway Boulevard, but it was never fully built.
Much of what Springfield Lane is mapped through is still pretty much forest, an undeveloped “park” called Idlewild Park or Brookville Park on maps.
Zooming in closer, though, you can see there’s no road under the gray line.
Also, you can see that the spot where Springfield Lane met Rockaway Boulevard is now at a corporate park and parking lot and there’s no trace remaining there.
From an aerial view, you can see that Springfield Lane is a paved road as far south as this open work yard.
Springfield Lane also turns into a dirt road just south of 149th Avenue, at the top of the photo.
Another stumper: what is the circular area of cut grass all about?
Friends of Idlewild tweeted me a photo of Springfield Lane as a dirt road. I must have bicycled on this back in 1975.
This is the southern limit of today’s Springfield Lane at 149th Avenue. If you continued south, you would be on private property and would be shooed out.
And, this is the southern end of Springfield Boulevard at Sprinfield Park. Here, Springfield Lane, the true route of Springfield Road, runs off to the left.
There is a dead-end portion of Springfield Boulevard on 147th Avenue, south of here, but this is it, for all intents and purposes. The road roars south through eastern Queens, mainly as a 4-lane divided highway, from Northern Boulevard to FDNY Engine 311 / H&L 158 at 145th Road, where the other lanes peter out and Springfield Boulevard becomes a 2-lane regular road.
And one more thing: I experimented with the Clearview font for my pages dealing with roads. Those on mobiles can’t see the title cards, so I repeated it here.
What do you think?
5/27/15
33 comments
I lived in Springfield Gardens, on Belknap St, from 1960 until 1972. During the summer of 1969 I rode my bicycle to Rockaway Beach just about every day. Much more pleasant than taking the bus. I would ride down Springfield Blvd. and then Springfield Lane to Rockaway Blvd. I remember Springfield Ln. as being paved all the way to Rockaway Blvd., otherwise I would have taken Brookville Blvd. (AKA Swamp Rd.) I didn’t like Brookville because it was narrow with heavy bus and car traffic. At least on Rockaway the lanes were wider and the road was straight. My friends thought I was crazy (they were probably right!) but I never had an incident.
Yes, you are both right. Springfield Lane did go to Rockaway Turnpike. It was a nice shortcut going from northern Queens to get to Woodmere or Hewlett. Even in the 1960’s the road was not well kept.
As kids we would call Brookville Blvd …Rat Road. People would dump lots of garbage along both sides and we would always see rats along it. We went down it not too long ago, it must have been high tide because water was coming onto the road from both sides. The police closed it off by the time we got back.
I think that the circular area of cut grass off of 149th Avenue between 223rd and 224th Streets is a cricket ground.
Indeed, the cricket field was constructed as a nod to the area’s growing Indo-Caribbean population. The corporate park that blocks Springfield Lane from reaching Rockaway Boulevard was completed in 2002.
This air cargo facility took away nearly 8 acres of parkland and created a traffic light on a mile-long uninterrupted stretch of Rockaway Boulevard. It annoys many motorists who wonder why there is a set of cargo warehouses in the middle of a wetland. The project was approved by the community because the lost parkland by compensated by expanding Idlewild Park to the north and east. According to state laws, any time that parkland is lost, it must be made up by acquiring new parkland nearby.
Until the mid-60s, I definitely remembered travelling on Springfield Blvd./Lane. It was a narrow, winding, paved roadway connecting with Rockaway Blvd. at its south end. Travelling between northern Nassau County and the Rockaways, I used it to go between the Belt Parkway and Rockaway Blvd. Because the area south of 147th Avenue is so swampy, it frequently flooded and must have been closed and demapped at some point (my guess) after 1970.
I drive past this area all the time. Within the past year, the City extended Springfield Boulevard down to 147th Avenue (connecting it with the former dead end off 147th Avenue) and cut off the turnoff to Springfield lane pictured above. The northern end of Springfield Lane now dead ends just short of Springfield Boulevard.
Interesting…
Springfield Blvd., the short block by Springfield Park, used to end at 147th Ave.I recall only one house on the East side of Springfield Blvd.There was an auto junk yard, Springfield Auto Wreckers right there. Owned for many years by Pat Kagan and Henny Wiegand, two great guys. I remember it well in the 60’s and 70’s, then they retired and sold to new owners. That was Sector Adam of the 105th Pct. I worked it for many years in a patrol car.
Yep; Pats junkyard. I was a customer. We had Teddy Josiah’s up Springfield Lane too. Great guy, many of us kids worked there.
Hi Freddy,
Great to see your post! We used to hang out with Eddy Schermer, Johnny Rall, and Petey Elson,. I lived at 145-74 221st Street from 1950 to February 7, 1972 when I went in the Air Force. I remember playing in the lots across from the fire station, and the one from Big Al’s and Little Al’s, and Browns grocery store. I also remember going in your above the ground pool with your mother watching over us.. I didn’t appreciate how lucky we were at the time.
what about the Dew Drop Inn, and weren’t there 2 junkyards, 1 on 147 ave owned by Bill Fass? & the other on the south side of 147 ave, was a dirt road for many years no way it was paved back then, Taking Brookville Blvd to Rockaway was the lesser of 2 evils, also Parisi Air freight across from the bar
Tom Sexton here, Jack, and I recognize your name from being around the corner from you. I believe my older siblings were friends of you and your sister, and my parents friends of yours. I have no clue how I got to this article, but hello from the family!
We lived on Springfield Blvd. across from Springfield Park and right before the bend in the road. It passed by the “Deliver’s” residence (where Mrs. Trumpy and her brother “Al” [as we knew him] the janitors in PS52 lived), and on past the Du Drop Inn, the neighborhood watering hole. Directly across 147th (Cherry) Avenue and on the right side of the boulevard, a family by the name of Hetzel lived. Where the road split and became Springfield Lane, a family by the name of Bergimini (sp?) lived, and I believe that there was another house along the way too. I remember the junk yard too. Anyway, we were dislocated by the city because there was supposed to be a street widening project that it seems the funds were not even appropriated for. Houses all the way down the road were taken via eminent domain and either relocated or destroyed. Living on that road was great in the winter. We would cross the boulevard to the pond to see if the “parky” put a skating today sign up. And half the neighborhood would be out on the ice until the wee hours of the day. My parents would flick the Christmas lights to let us know when it was time to come home. And it was a nice walk through the park and up the streets to school. Fond memories of Springfield when it was a quaint little neighborhood – where people knew each other and looked out for one another – and it was a simpler time. Great post. Thanks.
I lived on 145th Road a block from Springfield Boulevard from 1949 till 1972. Springfield Lane was important to us kids as George (Teddy) Josiah’s junk yard was there. His house was an immaculate farm house at the edge of the yard. Teddy hired kids to work the yard and I credit him for my automotive lifestyle. At the corner of Rockaway Boulevard was “Karl’s Airport Inn”. It had a reputation as a brothel.
I graduated with your sister Laurel in 1962 from PS52. Lots of stories there! I remember the Delivers as good friends; I worked with Pete at the Sunrise Drive In Theatre. Charlotte was Mom’s good friend. I think Dennis Desiderio STILL lives on 146 Avenue. I’m so glad I stumbled upon your post! Thanks so much for the memories.
Charlotte recently passed away, she was the last surviving member of the Deliver family, trumps still own the house up the block from the old du drop inn.
Thanks Mike. They were a fixture in the old neighborhood and it seemed everyone knew at least one member of the family.
Hi Honey,
I hope you Laurel, Diane and Norman are still doing well. My dad Joe Mc Guire used to hang out at the Du Drop with your dad. They were both NY Sanitation workers. Austen Danay, who was an iron worker and a full blooded Mohawk Indian used to hang out there too. He used to drive a blue jeep. I remember playing with you guys around your house on Springfield Blvd. Dennis Desiderio, my best friend for 65 years lived across the on 146th Avenue from you. He’s the one who told me he saw your post on the Du Drop Inn, but he told me he never responded. Unfortunately he will never can since he died about 1 AM July 23rd 2019. He had 4th stage lung cancer in the lower lobe of his left lung. That was not what killed him. His oncologist, Dr. Garcia in Lake Success put him on chemotherapy for two years. He had been taking tumeric for inflation, but Garcia told him to stop because he wouldn’t know if the drug was working. He did stop, and at first it took three days for him to recover, but after two years it was taking six days. He kept losing weight, which he told Garcia about, but according to his mom, who turned 100 February 25th, he told him not to worry about it. I saw him hat my mom’s in Franklin Square in October2018, and told him to explore other options because the oncologist was going to get paid whether he lived or died. I didn’t know how soon that would happen. I got to my mother’s on June 20, 2019,and I tried to call him, but didn’t get an answer, which wasn’t unusual if hie was out shopping with his mom. He called on Sunday the 23rd, and told me he was feeling bad on Friday so he called 911. He said he though of not calling, but when the EMTs got there his heartbeat was 170, and they couldn’t detect a pulse. He was admitted with a diagonis of sever malnutrition. While he was in LIJ Valley Stream, which used to be Franklin General, they were giving him nonfat milk and low fat yogurt, when he needed every calorie he could get. They gave him solid food, which caused coughing fits, which I later found out were due to the esophageal muscles atrophying from the malnutrition. His family doctor didn’t have practice privileges there so they assigned an internist on their staff. I thought he was not good.Dennis’s cousin Lynn got power of attorney because Mrs. Desiderio was considered incompetent because she was distraught, and could not hear well, but wouldn’t wear a hearing aid. Lynn had open heart surgery that saved her life so she wouldn’t contradict the doctors. On Tuesday June 25th when I finally got to see him he looked like a refugee from a concentration camp. He was having breakfast, and he said he needed to go to the bathroom so I helped him in an out. His mother and his cousin Peggy came in, and within a few minutes a doctor and a nurse ran in followed by two other doctors. They kicked us out, and we had to wait almost an hour to get back. He had another episode where his heartbeat went up to 160 and his blood pressure was below 40. This went on for 3 1/2 weeks and the hospital just wanted to get rid of him. He was supposed to be sent to a rehab hospital on July 16th, but the night before he had another episode where his heartbeat went to 160. They were still going to send him, but I confronted the internist with what happened the night before, and he agreed to keep him another day to observe him. He didn’t have an episode on the 17th so they released him to the rehab hospital. When he got there the dietician put him on pureed food, and thickened liquids, but he was to the point he really needed a feeding tube. When he was in the hospital they had a heart monitor and oxygen concentration monitor plus 3-4 liters of oxygen. At the rehab hospital they did not give him a heart monitor or oxygen concentration monitor, and only 1 liter of oxygen, which was the minimum that could be given. The last time I saw him he was having a coughing fit when I got there on the 22nd. The guy across the hall asked if he was OK since he had been coughing for an hour. He was very jaundiced. Someone finally arrived, and she went and got a nurse, who I thought was only there to do damage control for the hospital. When he was in the regular hospital his physical therapist said if his oxygen concentration went below 89 they would increase his oxygen. When the rehab nurse put the oxygen concentration monitor on his finger it was 69%. They sent him to intensive care at another hospital, but because he was so malnourished that the antibiotics could not help. He was sent to hospice around midnight, and died around 1 AM. I never trust doctors. They only give drugs and think they have all the answers. Got to be responsible for your own health.
Sorry to go off like this, but the doctors killed my best friend.
Remembering better times in Springfield Gardens.
P.S. It took 50 years to widen Springfield Boulevard. It’s too bad you all had to move.
Jack Mc Guire
Hello i am Mrs TRUMPY’S grandson.I grew up in the house in between springfield lane and springfield blvd .WE JUST SOLD HOME last year
Hay Jack. Glad you’re still on the green side of the grass. We sure as hell saw a lot of changes in the area. One thing I’ve noticed is that there’s NO mention or map references ANYWHERE for PS 137. I wonder why. How are Jimmy and Patty? Where do you live now?
I remember the intersection of Rockaway Boulevard & Springfield Boulevard. Yes, the sign at Rockaway Boulevard was Springfield Boulevard, not Lane. This was a narrow, bumpy stretch of road that either was not paved or was overtaken by sand & gravel. Another oddity was on Rockaway, the cast iron posts were phased out sporadically beginning around 1974 or so, not all at once. Many hung on for years after. On the dirt Springfield Boulevard, there were modern mast arms on telephone poles. The intersection of Rockaway & Springfield held on until 1979 or so, when the road was closed with mounds of dirt blocking the old entryway to Springfield. There was a signal at this intersection that was removed at this time. I can not understand why they did not repave Springfield instead of closing it off.
Desiderio? Still have that old Indian bike?
He had a chopped Harley 74 that he bought in Harlem. Unfortunately the second gear plate was missing. His first bike was a Czech Jawa. One night coming home from Queensborough Community College on Springfield Boulevard some guy in a muscle car hit him at around 70 MPH. He ended up about 500′ from the point of impact. Dennis had complained about the NY helmet law that had gone into effect about 6 months earlier. He had a visor that covered his eyes, but not his whole face, and he was wearing a leather jacket. At the time he had a full beard and mustache. He departed from the bike when it hit a curb. He then was thrown through a privet hedge, and slid across a brick stoop, and was knocked unconscious. He came to my house about four days later. The end of his nose was sanded off, and he had scabs on the exposed parts of is cheeks. His beard and mustache saved the res of his face, and though his leather jacket was torn, it kept him from any torso wounds. What was amazing to see was his helmet had about a quarter inch groove along the top. That’s what saved his life. His parents made him sell the Harley. The front wheel and fork on the Jawa were twisted almost 90 degrees, and was a total write off.
Kevin did you know that on The other side of Meadowmere in back of where Lowes and KMart are now was once a bunch of houses on stilts? My family called it a boathouse. When Kennedy Airport was built they filled in some of the waterways and that changed the current. It made it too strong and the houses started falling in the water and all were eventually condemned by the city.
Thanks Jack. Last I heard he still lives in that wonderful small house on 146 Ave.
I remember coming back from an altar boy trip at Rye Playland and having to get diverted down Springfield lane when Eastern flight 66 crash landed on Rockaway blvd in front of us back in 1975 then coming back up Brookville which was behind the crash to get back onto Rockaway Blvd/Turnpike to take that back home to Far Rockaway.
I remember the creeks that flowed through Springfield Gardens near me on 145 Road. All traces of the bridges seem gone but there were 2 between 222 Street and the “Fur Factory”. Springfield Lane was popular with us kids as Josiah’s junk yard was there. Everyone loved “Teddy” and his wonderful wife. Their old farmhouse was gorgeous inside and out.
I can still hear the noise from the Pumping Station (really a filtration plant for Brooklyn’s water supply. The conduit is still underground under South Conduit Boulevard. We used to explore from the park up the creek to WAY north of the parkway; it’s all underground now. Anyone who remembers the area, please contact me. I don’t know where my car keys are but 60 years ago is like yesterday.
Hi Fred…We don’t know each other but my family lived in Springfield over 80+ years….My Dad lived with his parents on 179th. and in 1963 My Dad bought the house my siblings and I grew up in on 145th. Drive just around the bend where 145th. and 184th. street meet at the park. There were six of us…me number 5…We all went to Christ The King Parish and school…I moved out of town the fall of 1992…One of the last family’s My mother sold the house in 1998. She and my younger sister moved to Howard Beach where she has been since…She will be 92 this November. My family knew the Desiderio’s on the other side of the pond. Did you know John and Everitt Adams that had the house on the corner of 145th. Drive and 184th.Street…They were our Aunt And Uncle…they had their house moved from IdleWild Airport back in 1945. Aunt Everitt died in 1993 and Uncle John past in 1995. Lovely people and He manicured that home of 3 house lots for so many years…So Many stories of Springfield….Football and baseball in the park….Summer movies…the parks dept. would bring in trailers to have people from the community to be together for a night out…I also graduated from SFGHS…BACK….in 1983…wow seems so long ago….what are some of your memories of the old town? please share….Thanks in Advance…Sincerely, David M. Joscher
Hi David,
I was in your sister(?) Pam’s class at Christ the King. We were the very first graduating class there in 1962. Dennis Desiderio was my best friend for 65 years. Unfortunately his oncologist killed him. He died July 23,2019. Mrs Desiderio is in an assisted living facility out in Sayville. She turned 100 February 25, 2020.
I lived on 221st Street just south of 146th Avenue. I remember playing ball with the parish league at Springfield Park. I used to love to sled in the Hollows, and skate on Springfield Pond. I don’t know if you remember Charlie Bruno. His father was my coach one year. So was my own father. We used to hang around with Dickey Johnson, who lived across from the park, and Joey Piangozza, who were both in our class at CTK. My sister Pat graduated in 63, and my brother Jim in 65.
Hi. I didn’t know the folks you indicated, but I was from the other side of the park. I went to PS 137 and there is NO record of the school existing that I can find. Had a ball growing up there from 1949 till I got married and moved out in 1972. Thanks for writing; love to throw the bull with you!
Warm regards,
Fred
Hi its Dave Joscher from Old Springfield Gardens…You can reach me by my email…address…My74pontiac@gmail.com….email me anytime we can talk about
the old days and your memories and mine as well…Would be nice to chat Fred…All the Best…Dave 🙂
Hi Fred,
I went to 137 also from September 1954 until June 1958 when I transferred to Christ the King grammar school. I was just thinking my sister Patty may have been in your class at 137 until she also transferred to CTK . I also think Richie Kotz got left back from our class into yours. He and his brother David ended up being janitors at public schools. Dennis Desiderio said the janitors had more power in the schools than the principals. The reason you can’t find anything on 137 is that NYC knocked it down and sold the land for houses. It seems that the family that donated the land for they wanted to have a local school rather than kids having to go to PS 52. When they challenged the city on not replacing it they said the family had to come up with the deed restriction. When they couldn’t find it the city sold the land. Typical NYC. I’m glad I live in Texas!
Do you remember Garrone’s Garage on Springfield Blvk. neare South Conduit, and the big hog they had in back? Across the street was Brown’s grocery store and Rickey Rowan lived upstairs. I also remember Junior with the GTO who lilved next door to you.
Miss Springfied from then, but I wouldn’t want to live there now.
My Dad was FRed Trumpy lived on springfield lane