Queens, in its early age, was a sustainable environment for native peoples. They were able to consume fin fish and shellfish from the bays and creeks, game and migratory fowl from the forest, and small fruits and nuts in the wild.
The first Dutch, or the first European for that matter, came to Queens in 1614 through Hell’s Gate in the East River. Englishmen came from the north and east.
Queens was named in honor of Queen Catherine of Braganza, wife if King Charles. It became an official county on November 1, 1683. Queens went through American Revolution from late 1770s to early 1780s, road privatization starting in 1800 and urban development in 1830s. LIRR was electrified through Queens seventy years later, and Queensboro Bridge opened in 1909. By early 1900s, farms and open fields began to be replaced by new streets and one family houses.
After World War II, more apartments fitting for city life came to life, and such growth brought progress to education as well. Queens College was established in 1937.
Flushing was settled in 1645. In 1657, Quakers in Flushing participated in the most significant event at that time, which was the opposition of Governor Stuyvesant’s laws. He tried to limit the worship place to Dutch Reform Church. Flushing Remonstrance, the Quakers’ response, can be seen as first declaration of independence in addition to a forerunner to the First Amendment. John Bowne, whose namesake is Bowne House, openly allowed Quakers to express their religion in 1662. He even won in a court case for religious tolerance. Flushing’s residents, who acted similar to Bowne, established principles that were the backbones of U.S. Bill of Rights.
The World’s Fair of 1939-1940 was hosted in Flushing, which was prepared since 1936. It made Flushing become recognized by national audience, and propelled the elimination of the inspiration of “valley of ashes” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Corona dumps. It became the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park which now hosts Olympics-size swimming pools and cool ice rinks (Hartman).
