John E. Lockwood House, June 3, 1927. Lockwood, a commission merchant who had previously lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn, purchased this Astoria mansion upon his retirement in 1864. The estate was previously owned by a Sanford, but does not appear on the 1840 J. Price Map of the Villages of Astoria & Ravenswood. In his retirement, Lockwood became a member of the Astoria Board of Village Trustees, and was appointed, at times concurrently, as Police, Health, and Fire Commissioner, while refusing to run for public office. In his lifetime, Lockwood’s estate included grounds between Broadway, 30th (which was renamed Lockwood Avenue, having previously been called First Avenue), and 31st Streets. Today, the building is hemmed in by 20th century apartment buildings.

Presbyterian Church of Astoria, 1927. The Presbyterian Church of Astoria began services in 1846 in a local schoolhouse. Within a year the congregation had planned and funded a Gothic style church with a tall steeple. That building served as the church until after the First World War, when it became apparent that the community needed a larger building. The cornerstone for the church seen in this photograph was laid in 1922. The church was a Georgian style (which made it look older than its actual construction) and was deigned by a Flushing architect named A. Edward Richardson. By 2000 the congregation had severely depleted. The building itself was in need of extensive and expensive repair. The church decided (with much opposition from the community and local preservationists) to demolish the church in favor of a new complex with senior citizen housing, a pastor’s residence, a day care facility and a smaller church space which would allow for community activities and events.

Famous Players- Lasky Corporation Studios, ca. 1920. Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture and distribution company created in 1916 through a merger. The new firm built this film studio in Astoria because of its proximity to the Broadway theatre district. The first two Marx Brothers films were shot here in 1929 and 1930. In 1932 all Paramount studio operations (which Famous Lasky was now part of) were moved to California. Between 1942 and 1971 the studios were used by the Army Pictorial Service for training films. Since 1993 Sesame Street has filmed here and in 2013 it became New York City's only backlot.

Second Reformed Church of Astoria, beyond the BMT/IRT Astoria Line elevated tracks, March 14, 1931.

Most Precious Blood Church, 1932. This 1932 church was designed by architects Henry J. McGill & Talbot F. Hamlin. Hamlin was not only a practicing architect but also a noted architectural historian and founder of the Avery Architectural Library at Columbia University. McGill was known for his intricate detail work, which can been seen in the limestone facade carvings, the stylized cross motif above the entrance, and the neo-Byzantine arched entrance surround of this church. Perhaps the most unique feature of the church and a specific indicator of the time of its construction, is the Art Deco metalwork that crowns the tower. The metalwork depicts a repeating pattern of abstract peacocks and flowers and was meticulously restored in 2011.

“Adam Krakenberg, Wagon and Auto Blacksmith,” June 2, 1927. Entrance to the adjacent apartment building is visible at left. The ramshackle workshop was likely demolished shortly after this photo was taken.

Second Church of Astoria, Reformed in America, 1927. The church congregation (called in various places the Second Reformed German Protestant Church) was organized in the 1850s. The church building was not constructed until the congregation had secured appropriate funds, some time after the Civil War, likely the late 1860s. By 1870 the church reported "with cheer" that ," their meeting's on the Lord's day have been well attended."