UNION TURNPIKE

by Kevin Walsh

UNION Turnpike, seen here just east of Utopia Parkway and the St. John’s University campus, begins its lengthy run to New Hyde Park, Nassau County, from Myrtle Avenue and 86th Street. It appears on a Queens 1909 Bromley atlas as Union Avenue between Metropolitan Avenue and Brushville road (today’s 188th Street) in 1909, but by 1913 it had been mapped as Union Turnpike from Myrtle Avenue to the Queens line.

Unlike actual “turnpikes” it was unlikely that an actual toll was charged, with a large log, or pike, turned to admit traffic after the fee was paid (those were mostly phased out by the turn of the 20th Century). This was one of the few roads in NYC called a “turnpike” until 2007, when a section of Jamaica Avenue between Cross Island Parkway and the Nassau line at Little Neck Parkway was made into a western extension of Jericho Turnpike. Booth Memorial Avenue’s name until 1964 was North Hempstead Turnpike, as it pointed east toward the Nassau County town, formerly within Queens County.

Since the early 1930s, a lengthy section of Union Turnpike has served as the service road on either side of the Jackie Robinson (Interboro) Parkway, between Forest Hills Gardens and 141st Street in Briarwood. It has a center median for most of its length, a grassy one in Glendale at its west end. It passes Forest Park, Parkway Village, St. John’s U, Jamaica Estates, Hollis Hills, Cunningham Park, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, and pokes briefly into Nassau County, reaching its east end at Marcus Avenue and New Hyde Park Road.

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10/9/23

33 comments

Pete October 9, 2023 - 9:32 pm

I lived in Parkway Village for my first 10 years in the 1950s. Crossing Union Turnpike was a regular routine to get to the A&P. The sound of traffic was constant and drag racing late at night.

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Gina Ross October 11, 2023 - 4:56 pm

A&P is now Key Food. There’s always traffic, but no drag racing.

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Pete October 12, 2023 - 11:12 am

Yes I forgot, it was a Key Food not A&P. Myers luncheonette and Dottie’s luncheonette at the corners, a pizzeria and more along the block. In the late 1950s for a short time, delinquents would illegally race the long stretch from Main Street to Parson’s Blvd. It was not an ongoing event.

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Mitch45 October 20, 2023 - 10:14 am

It was Grand Union for many years. There was a Key Food between 147th and 149th Streets on Union. Now its a Dollar General.

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Laz Rojas October 22, 2023 - 10:12 pm

I lived in Jamaica on 171st Street between Hillside and Jamaica Avenues from 1979 to 1987, and I remember doing groceries at the Grand Union on Union Turnpike just east of Utopia Parkway.

andy October 9, 2023 - 10:35 pm

Union Turnpike’s name derives from the Union Racecourse, a 19th century horse venue (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Course for more history about Union Course, an ancestor of Belmont Park.

There was another “Turnpike” in Queens for many years as well, but its name was changed. North Hempstead Turnpike was re-named Booth Memorial Avenue in the mid-1960s.

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Kevin Walsh October 10, 2023 - 8:57 am

Since Union Course was in Woodhaven, well south of the road, I would question that as the road’s namesake.

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andy October 10, 2023 - 9:40 am

According to the Wikipedia article I cited, Union Course Racetrack was located between today’s 78th and 85th Streets, Jamaica Avenue on the north, and Atlantic Avenue on the south. Union Turnpike’s west end is at Myrtle Avenue, on the north side of Forest Park. Dropping directly south for about a mile, mostly through today’s Forest Park, one will reach Union Course’s location. So it make sense to me that Union Turnpike is named for the old race course, because it appears to connect the race course site with areas to the east, where the horses were probably raised.

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therealguyfaux October 10, 2023 - 2:27 pm

There’s always the chance it was named for the Northern States in the Civil War.

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FNY Fan Skipper October 11, 2023 - 3:27 pm

The Wikipedia article mentioned with the reference between the race course and the turnpike is “unsourced* (no references), and has been removed. Nearby Trotting Course Lane (now Woodhaven Boulevard) being named for the course is a more-likely scenario.

(Note to Kevin: please delete the other “same” comment I made, I had a few typos in it. Thanks!)

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chris October 10, 2023 - 2:34 am

Reminds me of that sequence of R. Crumb drawings called “A short history of America”

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Steven Goldleaf October 10, 2023 - 6:42 am

I lived on Union Turnpike for over twenty years, opposite the bottling plant that later became a Stop and Shop. On the other side of my building was acres and acres of forest park.

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redstaterefugee October 10, 2023 - 10:39 am

I too had a Union Turnpike Address for nine years (Alley Pond Co-op). Immediately behind Alley Pond Co-op is Alley Pond Park which includes a remnant of the once privately owned Vanderbilt Parkway that ran from 188 St to Suffolk County. It was a toll road until Robert Moses commissioned the Grand Central Parkway/Northern State Parkway; both are toll-free. This is proof that competitive markets are benificial

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redstaterefugee October 14, 2023 - 10:51 am

P.S.: Because Union Turnpike is long & straight it was a magnet for “drag racing” both real & imaginary. For instance, when I lived on Union Turnpike I used it to commute to my workplace in Jamaica. I would encounter numerous traffic lights along the way to 164 St where I’d turn left. One morning as I waited for the light to turn green I heard a loud V-8 exhaust note. it emanated from a “Fox chassis” 5.0-litre Mustang. I was the owner of a ’96 Nissan Maxima; it was powered by a 3-liter twin OHC V-6 & it was a real “stealth fighter”. it was quiet but quick (I won’t bore you with the technical details that made it so). I knew that this guy would challenge me & I was prepared. The light turned green, and the Mustang was “full of sound & fury, signifying nothing”; the rear wheels turned but they weren’t gaining traction. Meanwhile, all I had to do was press the accelerator; & because the Maxima was front-wheel drive most of the weight was on the drive wheels & the V-6’s quite ample torque provided silent seamless acceleration. The Mustang was left behind & he didn’t catch up with me until we had to stop at the next light. I’m sure the owner’s day was ruined by a middle-aged guy in a four-door premium sedan; I hope he matured and realized that life has more important challenges.

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Sergey Kadinsky October 10, 2023 - 12:34 pm

Two more tidbits about Union Turnpike:
1. It follows the border of the former Towns of
Flushing and Jamaica.
2. Prior to 1970, it was designated as New York State Route 25C.

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Tom+M October 11, 2023 - 8:22 pm

I believe the “border” follows the GCP moreso than The tpke. When you get out to Springfield Blvd it follows Braddock Ave to Jamaica Ave\Jericho Tpke. Now thats the borders of the 3rd & 4th wards (not todays political wards). You could be right that originally the border between flushing & jamaica was union tpke. 3rd ward being Flushing, 4th being Jamaica

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FNY Fan Skipper October 10, 2023 - 1:06 pm

Technically, U Turnpike is not a service road for the Interboro (JRP), as there is no collection/distribution of traffic between the two roads. The section of U that straddles the JRP is U’s main road with service roads serving Queens Boulevard. I’ve bicycled down that main road part of Union Turnpike, it’s an awesome ride, but I only did it once, luckily there was no traffic then! Also, I worked in the building across from the Forest Park Crescent back when it was Coca-Cola circa 1995. I parked on the paved-over tracks of the LIRR’s Rockaway Beach branch.

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Mitch45 October 10, 2023 - 1:59 pm

I’m not sure why Union Turnpike is mentioned here. It is anything but “forgotten”.

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Kevin Walsh October 10, 2023 - 10:34 pm

I’m not sure why people question the manner in which the website owner writes the blog. If you do not like what’s featured, you are free to not read it. Forgotten NY examines unwritten and untalked-about aspects of things you see in NYC every day. I am sorry if it doesn’t match your strictures. Perhaps some rules should be drawn up delineating what topics I choose to feature?

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andy October 11, 2023 - 6:23 pm

Amen!

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Mitch45 October 20, 2023 - 10:15 am

Yikes, take it easy Kevin.

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Kevin Walsh October 20, 2023 - 7:09 pm

I stand by my remark. I prefer to determine what should be written about on a website that I photograph every image and write every word for.

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Tom+M October 20, 2023 - 8:09 pm

Go for it Kevin. Love this website. have been with you for just about day 1

Kenneth Buettner October 11, 2023 - 6:14 am

The past is all around us; “forgotten” or not. Kevin’s postings open the door to interesting dialog, with people sharing diverse knowledge and first-hand witness. Over the years I have learned much more about my native city than I could ever have learned from simple text books. I, for one, am delighted to ramble around New York in time and place.

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Nikima October 14, 2023 - 11:11 am

Yes! HUZZAH!! I learned more city history from FNY than I did in all my years as a NYC public shock student!

I still remember discovering FNY way back. It was right around the time PBS did their ‘Walk Around Brooklyn’ with David Hartman & Barry Somebody. My mind was blown when they showed me the history of things I passed by every day. They gave me explanations for things I hadn’t even considered! I googled “Brooklyn history” which lead me to FNY. I consumed the whole site in a few sittings, then waited for each additional article. Pouring over the pictures like I was standing there myself. Don’t let it be a neighborhood I was familiar with. I even took on a new major in college because this website opened my eyes to something glorious about city history I just hadn’t realized before. I’m here for it as long as Kevin is up for it

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Kevin Walsh October 14, 2023 - 2:16 pm

Barry Lewis

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Evan Cooper October 11, 2023 - 6:41 am

Kevin: Please keep up the great work, write about anything that intrigues you (because loyal readers love it), and ignore the comments of people who have nothing better to do than complain.

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philipe October 11, 2023 - 9:18 am

Years ago I forgot much about Union Turnpike, especially after long nights at Pour Richards Pub and The Sly Fox.

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Pete October 11, 2023 - 5:15 pm

I very much appreciate this Union Turnpike memory. I have always enjoyed reading every entry on this blog. The dedication Kevin has put into this website over the years is highly commendable.

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Carmel Furtado October 11, 2023 - 8:56 pm

Just to the lower left of the photo was Gantry’s Pub (in the 70’s). The Sly Fox was at the other end of the block and was “upscale”. But working at Gantry’s paid my way through college. It was a lot of fun.

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Lauren Carl October 12, 2023 - 8:43 pm

I lived close to Union Tpke near St John’s University. Walked up the hill on 168th Street to Jamaica HS every day. Frequented candy stores, restaurants, hair cutting shops and yes Sky Fox Inn and Poor Richards Pub. Later, I lived in Bayside and went to Alley Pond Park. Great memories.

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Suzanne Landes October 13, 2023 - 10:14 pm

I lived in Parkway Village and worked at Dunkin Donuts near St. John’s. Loved it when the basketball team would come on and get munchkins. The bazaar at St. Nicks and White Castles.

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Charles Faro December 4, 2023 - 6:47 pm

I remember White Castle on Union Tpke & Parsons the cars would meet there then drive to the Clesrviee Expressway which at that time started there because it was not open to Hillside Ave and race there

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