If anything, in 1931 Winchester Boulevard was a bit more developed than Hillside Avenue out in Hollis Hills. Both were dirt roads that got muddy in a hurry after the rain. Not much going on here that year, but looks can deceive. A forlorn service station stands on Hillside at left. But consider that “Model Homes” shack on the right. Already, developers had their eyes on this stretch of Hollis Hills near the Creedmoor Hospital complex, which replaced the Creedmoor Rifle Range of the 19th Century. Street names like Winchester, Musket and Range pay tribute to it.
Already, gateposts marking what would be 233rd and 234th Streets have been installed. And, note the buildings off to the right.
Those Spanish Colonials…unusual for Queens side streets this far east…are still there, on 233rd and 234th Street. Undoubtedly the development had a name, which I have yet to find. If you look at this section in 1940sNYC the area had been built up, with paved streets and curb trees, all in the span of nine years.
In 2022, both Hillside Avenue and Winchester Boulevard are multilane behemoths. With a touch of class on the side streets.
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4/30/25
6 comments
great picture, I was just at that intersection an hour ago! A reminder that despite how crowded it is now, it was quite different 90 years ago. With the recent city of yes zoning changes there may be more changes in the next 20 years.
This reminds me of a similar Spanish colonial housing tract on the south side of Union Turnpike near Bayside. However, that development featured one-story homes with tile roofs. This architectural style is unusual for the Northeast. However, here in Arizona, in the heart of the southwestern desert, this style of architecture is common & curved ceramic tile roofing is nearly ubiquitous. I’m glad to see that my former habitat remains as attractive as it was when we departed twenty years ago.
It looks like the same poles are still standing,see the one thats leaning in both pictures
Michael, I *do* see the one you mean, and if true — I mean, the thing having survived ~90 years — that is really incredible. Nice catch!
I grew up in Hollis Hills (and wrote about it for the New York Times real estate section) and both Hillside Avenue and Winchester Boulevard, as well as the area around Creedmoor, are outside the neighborhood’s borders. Hollis Hills is bounded by the Clearview Expressway to the the west, Springfield Boulevard to the east, Grand Central Parkway to the south, and the old Vanderbilt Motor Parkway to the north. Here’s the link to my “Living In” article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/realestate/hollis-hills-queens-quiet-surroundings-and-a-diverse-community.html
Its too bad the IND never extended into eastern Queens. A branch line under Union Turnpike stretching from Queens Boulevard to the city line at Lakeville Road would have served many thousands of Queens residents who have had to rely on the Q46 bus for decades. A Union Turnpike branch would have served communities like Kew Gardens Hills. Hillcrest, Fresh Meadows, Jamaica Estates, Hollis Hills, Bayside and Glen Oaks to name
just a few. And there would have been direct subway service to St. John’s University, Cunningham Park and LI Jewish Hospital. The road not taken.