From FNY’s first Ridgewood page in 2005:
In the first decade of the 20th Century Paul Stier built more than 750 houses in Ridgewood under his own name, and after he partnered with August Bauer, they together built 200 more. The area bordered by Fresh Pond Road and 71st, Putnam and Forest Avenues had at one time been called ‘Stierville,’ since that is where many of his homes were built. He sold his single-family houses for $5,600. The short, dead end Stier Place, Putnam Avenue west of Fresh Pond Road, bears his name.
In 1915, Stier won the election for Sheriff of Queens County. This new venture proved to be his downfall. The German immigrant, who came here with nothing and fulfilled his version of the American dream, was shot dead by a crazy man in Whitestone while attempting to execute a contempt-of-court warrant in 1916. He was 42 years old at the time of his death.
Other groups of light-bricked houses in Ridgewood were built by Gustave X. Mathews and the partnership of Walter F. Ring and William R. Gibson. They make up the blocks included in the Central, North and South Ridgewood landmarked areas.
The still-active Ridgewood Democratic Club at Putnam Avenue and Stier Place, just west of Fresh Pond Road, is a building still pretty much in the same condition it was back in the 1930s, at the very least. Its original stained glass windows, still marked with an interlocking RDC, are still in place although cracked and somewhat the worse for wear. In New York, the Democratic symbol, used on ballots until recently, is a five-pointed star.
According to Charles Ober, former President of the Ridgewood Democratic Club, the building, formerly owned by Paul Stier, was purchased by the Ridgewood Democratic Club (founded 1908) in 1916. It was expanded and renovated to the current configuration in 1917 and the club moved in that year. A large two-story extension with a full basement was built to the rear of the building at that time. Shortly after the club moved into the building membership hit 1400 members; the membership hit a height of 2,000 and declined after 1950. There are currently 200 people on the club’s mailing list and approximately 100 members. The lobby of the club is rather interesting: the floor has a mosaic with the name of the club in it, and there is a painting of the founder (Carl Berger, who served as president for some twenty years) with a brass plaque under it.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
6/10/25
4 comments
Too bad you didn’t take photos inside the Ridgewood Democratic Club. Its walls are a museum of past campaign posters, such as Ferrarro/Mondale and Gore/Lieberman.
Can you get in?
The club is active. You definitely can get in. Contact Queens County Dems and they can give a schedule and info.
Click on the target pin over the building on Google Maps (enlarged aerial photo) and then click on the photos at the left. There’s a couple of interior photos mainly of the main room.