By Eliza-Ann Coakes, age 10
The history of Long
Island City, Astoria
goes back a long time.
I have some facts and information on the history of our beautiful neighborhood.
Every single site in Long Island City has a little history to it.
I was able to track back all the way to 1890 to find that my Great Grandma and
Great Grandpa Stroud lived in Astoria, Queens. My Mom helped me track some of my family tree.
It was very exciting for me to find out where my roots came from.
In this report you will see many other important facts about Long Island City and Astoria, New York.
Some of the landmarks go back as far as the 1800's and are still alive today.
Long Island City was once part of a town called New Town, until it was incorporated as a city in 1870. Long Island City was settled by the Germans early in the 19th century. Lots of streets and a section were named Steinway when Theodore Steinway, a piano manufacturer, located his plant there in 1853. Steinway Piano was a very rich and big establishment. Mr. Steinway had a lot of hard times and hardships to make the big business that he has today. Steinway Piano Co. is still located in Long Island City.
Our police department is the 108th precinct. Our proud men are still working hard today even though uniforms have
changed.
A great landmark that is very important to the public is Thomas M. Quinn and Sons Funeral Home.
Quinn's Funeral Home has over 60 years of history in it. This funeral home has seen many famous people come there.
When you die, you want to have the best. Well, Quinn's can give that to you. They serve the public
the best way they know how. They even provide a service to the people who are left behind in dying grief.
Quinn's serves sad people every day and still they smile. When the family goes
there to make arrangements for a death they are sad, but Quinn's family gives them something special, plenty of comfort. That's why they still exist today, because
they know how to please the public. Quinn's has a lot to
offer. Ten years ago they
started a program for all
families that have touble
coping with losing someone in their life. The program is called Quincare.
Two museums in Long Island City are: The Isami Noguchi Museum, which has a sculpture garden, and The Museum of the Moving Image, which is all about films.
Long Island City, Astoria Queens has a lot to offer you if you just look into itŐs history. In just ten years of my life, I have seen a lot, played a lot and enjoyed a lot of our great neighborhood.
- originally published in the Spring 1995 issue of ZuZu
