a resource of information on the origin & future of Richmond Hill, NY USA

updates to richmondhillhistory.org

MEMORIAL DAY
Marching in the Parade!
This photo of the Richmond Hill Historical Society was taken during the Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 25, 2008. The Parade went along Metropolitan Avenue from Ascan Avenue to Woodhaven Blvd. in Forest Hills. Many thanks to All who were able to attend! Photo by member Ray Aviles.

VICTORIAN TEA AT FOREST PARK
Its Tea Time!
Saturday, May 31st, 2:00 PM
You are cordially invited to join us for Tea! A Victorian Tea with all the Victoriana elegance and ambiance that accompanies such a tea party. Food delights, music, games, and more. Details to follow in future updates.

 

FRED GRETSCH, JR.
Noteworthy Person of Richmond Hill
"That Great Gretsch Sound"
Fred Gretsch, Jr. is considered a "pioneer" musical instrument manufacturer that led the way to modern technical advancements that are still used today. His family name bears the highly acclaimed "Gretsch Guitars" and "Gretsch Drums". He attended and graduated Richmond Hill High School in 1922.
Read more about Fred Gretsch, Jr. here.

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Spirits Alive!
Slideshow

Many thanks are due to Joseph DeMay Jr. who has created another beautiful powerpoint slideshow of the 2006 Maple Grove Cemetery "Spirits Alive!" Walking Tour.

To view the online powerpoint slideshow click here.

Mr. DeMay has contributed a great deal to the Richmond Hill Historical Society and is now a Board Member of the Historical Society as well as the webmaster for the website www.oldkewgardens.com. This website contains a great deal of historical information regarding Kew Gardens including other slideshows of the "Spirits Alive!" Walking Tours here.

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Maple Grove Cemetery
New Historic Book Available
This exciting book on the history of Maple Grove Cemetery contains more than 200 photographs and interesting text that follows the 130 year history of the cemetery to today's current time. This is the second book written by authors Nancy Cataldi and Carl Ballenas for Arcadia's Images Of America series. Their first book, "Images of America: Richmond Hill", was about the history of Richmond Hill.

The book contains four chapters, the first being the "Creation of a Historic Cemetery". The second chapter is titled: "Memorials and Aesthetic Beauty" and showcases some of the lovely monuments and sections of the cemetery. The third chapter, "The Remarkable Dash Between Life and Death", introduces the interesting stories of the people buried there, some well known in the world, and others that have been forgotten. The last chapter is titled: "Today's Community Spirit" and details the resurgence of the cemetery as the heart of the community. Since the cemetery is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this chapter defines the hard work of the cemetery and it's involvement in making a difference in the neighborhood through partnerships with local groups. It is a complete and informative book that shows how historically significant Maple Grove Cemetery is.

Order Information:
Books are available to order through Maple Grove here.