Richmond Hill Historical Society – The Richmond Hill Historical Society was founded in the early 1980's as a chapter of the Queens Historical Society.

Welcome to richmondhillhistory.org

2021 MEMBERSHIP: Join Here where you can either pay your Membership online or print out a form and mail it with your check (payable to the Richmond Hill Historical Society) to The Richmond Hill Historical Society 112-13 84th Avenue Richmond Hill, NY 11418. Thank you for your continued support!

Rare Book from 1905: “The Story of Richmond Hill,” was written in 1905 by Kate Matson Post (1855-1936) for the benefit of the building fund of the 20th Century Club. Her father Rev. William Agur Matson (1819-1904) was the third rector of the Church of the Resurrection on 118th St. from 1877-1887 when he retired. Rev. Matson continued to live in Richmond Hill, on Division Ave. (now 84th Ave. near 115th St.) until his death in 1904. Kate’s sister Frances Clark Matson took the photographs and her daughter Estelle Alma Post drew the flowers on the cover. Click here for Book

Photo Feature: “Welcome to Historic Richmond Hill” was installed on April 20, 2017 courtesy of the NYC Parks Dept and our Council Member Eric Ulrich. The sign is located in Forest Park on Park Lane South near Myrtle Ave. just before the Buddy Monument. The official dedication was held on Friday, June 2, 2017, with Council Member Eric Ulrich. Photo: MK Moore

Richmond Hill High School First Annual Yearbook – 1900. Courtesy Carl Ballenas
Click here for the PDF of the Yearbook from 1900.
Click here for selected early RHHS Dome Yearbook Covers through the years.
Read more about the history of Richmond Hill High School here.

The community of Richmond Hill was featured on This Old House website in 2009.
RHHS Dome Yearbook Covers through the years: View selected covers here. Image scans of covers courtesy of Kevin McLoughlin!
Our previous photo feature was Forest Park’s Jackson Pond courtesy of Frank Loeber!

Archive Museum

The Society has its own Archival Museum was written and photographic history about the Richmond Hill community is preserved. The museum is now located at Kearns Funeral home on 115th Street and Myrtle Avenue, and is open for viewing by appointment.

Publications

The Richmond Hill Historical Society has published several books on the history of Richmond Hill:

Images of America: Richmond Hill
Images of America: Maple Grove Cemetery
Richmond Hill: A Children’s Tale and Coloring Book

News & Updates

New York State Historic Preservation Board Nominates Richmond Hill for State and National Registers of Historic Places

We are delighted and proud to announce that the State Historic Preservation Review Board held its quarterly meeting on Thursday, December 6, 2018, and voted unanimously to recommend the Richmond Hill Historic District for nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places! The area will be formally listed on the State Register early…read more

Open Meeting: Fri. 3/13/19 7:30 PM at the Archive Museum with a presentation on the Battle of Long Island during the American Revolution (at the site of Oak Ridge in Forest Park) and how it relates to Richmond Hill and Woodhaven history.

Open Meeting: Friday, December 13, 2019 7:30PM “A Christmas Caroling Tribute”. All invited to attend this event. Presented by Carl Ballenas & Aquinas Honor Society. Location: Leonard Center 86-13 112 St, Richmond Hill. Free Admission and refreshments served. See Flyer for more details:read more

We are deeply saddened to announce that Ivan Mrakovcic, the President of the Richmond Hill Historical Society, passed away on February 27, 2020, after a valiant battle with brain cancer.

Ivan was one of the founding members of the Richmond Hill Historical Society in 1997 with the late Nancy Cataldi and other like minded-individuals who looked to preserve historic Richmond Hill. Ivan loved this community and worked tirelessly in so many ways to preserve its historic character and charm. His perseverance resulted in the establishment of…read more

Photos

Memorial Day Sunday, May 28, 2017. Flags were planted around the Buddy Monument and at the Sgt. Schaefer Memorial in Forest Park with fellow Richmond Hill Historical Society Board Member, Diane Freel. Photos: Helen Day

Historic Districts Council, 2017 Celebrate Launch Party: February 15, 2017 PHOTO: (L-R) Simeon Bankoff, HDC Exec Dir; Dan Allen HDC Board President; Ivan Mrakovcic RHHS President; Joanne Tanzi RHHS Board Member; Helen Day RHHS Vice President.

Facebook Links: The Richmond Hill Historical Society supports the landmarking of the Forest Park Carousel.

Please visit our friends at the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, which greatly supports our efforts for a Historic District and honors the memory of our former president, Nancy Cataldi.