Kingsland Homestead
Encyclopedia
Kingsland Homestead, located in Flushing
, Queens
is a New York City
landmark
and member of the Historic House Trust
. It is the home of the remains of a landmarked, weeping beech tree, believed planted in 1847 and located
near the 17th Century Bowne House, the location of the first Quaker meeting place in New Amsterdam
. The homestead houses and is operated by the Queens Historical Society
and is open to the public as a museum
.
sea captain Joseph King, who bought the home in 1801. The house was moved for the first time in 1923 when a proposed subway extension
put it in danger and it was moved to the site of a stable
, also built by King. The house was threatened again in 1965, by the construction of the Murray Hill Shopping Center, but the community was able to save the house and in that same year it was one of the first buildings in the City to be declared a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. When further construction threatened the house in 1968, the then three-year old Kingsland Preservation Committee (now the Queens Historical Society) arranged for the transfer of the house to its present location. After significant delays, the Homestead was officially dedicated as a museum in March 1973. In October 1996 a $330,000 renovation
that completely restored the house and included the addition of track lighting and a sprinkler system to protect the house was completed. Further structural work was required in 1999.
, although it has included a wide range of exhibits since its dedication as a museum. A World War II
exhibit highlighted what happened in Queens during the War and included local newspapers from the time as well as real-estate ads that highlighted the borough's growth, and an exhibit on slavery
showcased its impact in Queens and on Long Island
.
tree. The beech tree, one of only two living landmarks in New York City when it was designated in 1966, is believed to have originated in Belgium
, where Samuel Parsons
purchased a budded shoot and brought it with him to America
and it is believed to be the source of all weeping beeches in the United States.
The tree survived for 151 years before succumbing, following a 30-year decline and fear that she would fall. Seven direct descendants
remain in the park, shadowing the Homestead. A funeral
was held for the tree in December 1998 by the city's Parks Commissioner while they decided what to do with the remains of the tree. In March 1999 it was decided that the remains of the tree, save for a ten-foot section that would remain in the park as a memorial, would be given to artists to use for sculptures and benches along a heritage trail in downtown Flushing.
Flushing Meadows
Flushing Meadows is an American short film by Larry Jordan, with director Joseph Cornell. The film is 8 minutes long, in color, 16mm, and silent....
, Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
is a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
and member of the Historic House Trust
Historic House Trust
The Historic House Trust of New York City was formed in 1989 as a public-private partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to preserve the historic houses located within New York City parks, although most of the houses were not originally city-owned...
. It is the home of the remains of a landmarked, weeping beech tree, believed planted in 1847 and located
near the 17th Century Bowne House, the location of the first Quaker meeting place in New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
. The homestead houses and is operated by the Queens Historical Society
Queens Historical Society
The Queens Historical Society, which was founded in 1968 after a merger with the Kingsland Preservation Commission, is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Queens, New York and interpreting the history of the borough as it relates to various historical periods...
and is open to the public as a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
.
About the house
Kingsland was built by Charles Doughty in approximately 1785 and the name "Kingsland" is believed to derive from Doughty's son-in-law, BritishGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
sea captain Joseph King, who bought the home in 1801. The house was moved for the first time in 1923 when a proposed subway extension
History of the New York City Subway
The New York City Subway has a long history, beginning as many disjointed systems and eventually merging under City control.-Early steam and elevated railroads:The beginnings of the Subway came from various excursion railroads to Coney Island and elevated railroads in Manhattan and Brooklyn...
put it in danger and it was moved to the site of a stable
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
, also built by King. The house was threatened again in 1965, by the construction of the Murray Hill Shopping Center, but the community was able to save the house and in that same year it was one of the first buildings in the City to be declared a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. When further construction threatened the house in 1968, the then three-year old Kingsland Preservation Committee (now the Queens Historical Society) arranged for the transfer of the house to its present location. After significant delays, the Homestead was officially dedicated as a museum in March 1973. In October 1996 a $330,000 renovation
Renovation
Renovation is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.-Process:The process of a renovation, however complex, can usually be broken down into several processes...
that completely restored the house and included the addition of track lighting and a sprinkler system to protect the house was completed. Further structural work was required in 1999.
Exhibits
The Homestead has been interpreted to the Victorian eraVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, although it has included a wide range of exhibits since its dedication as a museum. A World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
exhibit highlighted what happened in Queens during the War and included local newspapers from the time as well as real-estate ads that highlighted the borough's growth, and an exhibit on slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
showcased its impact in Queens and on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
Weeping Beech
Within the main park that houses the Homestead is the 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) Weeping Beech Park, once dominated by a landmarked 60 feet (18.3 m) weeping beechWeeping Beech
The Weeping Beech, Fagus sylvatica "pendula", is a cultured variety of the deciduous European Beech. It is considered the most picturesque of all the weeping trees....
tree. The beech tree, one of only two living landmarks in New York City when it was designated in 1966, is believed to have originated in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where Samuel Parsons
Samuel Parsons
Samuel H. Parsons Jr. . Parsons was a well-known American landscape architect remembered primarily for his "Beaux-Arts" designs in New York City, the development of Central Park, San Diego’s Balboa Park, and for serving as a founding member to the American Society of Landscape Architects...
purchased a budded shoot and brought it with him to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and it is believed to be the source of all weeping beeches in the United States.
The tree survived for 151 years before succumbing, following a 30-year decline and fear that she would fall. Seven direct descendants
Kinship
Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
remain in the park, shadowing the Homestead. A funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
was held for the tree in December 1998 by the city's Parks Commissioner while they decided what to do with the remains of the tree. In March 1999 it was decided that the remains of the tree, save for a ten-foot section that would remain in the park as a memorial, would be given to artists to use for sculptures and benches along a heritage trail in downtown Flushing.
External links
- Kingsland, Weeping Beach Park, 143-35 Thirty Seventh Avenue, Flushing, Queens, NY: 5 drawings and 1 data page at Historic American Building Survey
- Queens Historical Society: Kingsland Homestead