JUNCTION Boulevard’s name is somewhat mysterious. Literally, from Latin, “junction” means “joining” or where things come together. But what originally came together here in western Queens? My guess is either a group of railroads or trolley surface lines, which I plan on researching. I have walked Junction Boulevard’s length in two separate trips and will likely put together a FNY page on it. Currently, the “junction” could be of neighborhoods. These sort of lines are fluid, and heated arguments occur about where the undefended border is, but loosely speaking, west of Junction Boulevard you’re in Elmhurst or Jackson Heights, and east, you’re in East Elmhurst and Corona.
I’m always fascinated when I can find evidence of NYC’s old trolley routes. I have known about the trolley pole on the corner of Junction Boulevard and Corona Avenue for some time. A trolley line ran on both streets; that may be the “junction” right there.
Here’s a photo of the corner in 1940, with the same apartment building in place. And, an actual trolley! on my TROLLEYS FNY pages, actual photos of trolley cars are hard to find, I admit. If you look carefully, that trolley pole has been moved as it’s on Corona Avenue here, and on Junction Boulevard in 2024 and for the past few decades. I wonder what’s the story behind that. I can now see the extant pole in place after looking at it carefully.
The trolley line was likely replaced by the Q58 bus, which winds from Ridgewood through Corona to Flushing, originally using Strong’s Causeway to get through Flushing Meadows, but now the Horace Harding Expressway.
Hey, I’m likely taking tomorrow, March 5, 2024, off from writing a page, since I have a speaking gig at Neir’s Tavern, 88th Avenue at 78th Street in Woodhaven, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of This Thing of Mine. If you’re in the area, stop in, I’ll be speaking and showing off some vintage FNY pix at 8 PM.
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3/4/24