Niederstein's Hotel and Restaurant, 1922. In the early 1850s Henry Schumacher built a two-story wooden building and established Schumacher’s Lager Beer Saloon and Hotel. The hotel became a welcomed stopping point for Long Island farmers en route to Manhattan. Along with those coming into the city from Long Island, the establishment was also patronized by mourners who were burying their family at nearby cemeteries. During the mid to late 19th century it was common for family outings to the rural cemeteries of Queens and Broklyn on Sundays. John Niederstein, a German immigrant and cook, purchased the building in 1888 for $28,000 and greatly expanded it. It continued to be a popular spot for cemetery visitors as well as the growing local German population of Middle Village and Maspeth. The Niederstein family operated the restaurant until 1969, when it was sold to Horst and Reiner Herink. After surviving more than 150 years, serving (at least since 1888) beef goulash, weiner schnitzel, sauerbraten and bratwurst, Niederstein's closed in 2005 and the building was razed soon after. An Arby's now occupies the lot.

Storefront signage is a ubiquitous feature on New York City streets. Today, signs can barely seem worth noticing, the well-known fonts and logos blending into the scenery. But when the streets of New York were lined with mom and pop shops, the design of signs (through fonts, images, and use of space) often allowed these individual stores to stand out. The diversity of signage is especially eye-catching in historical photographs.

Join Adelaide, as she traverses through Queens and discovers its many historical and hidden secrets!