Queens Boulevard. Looking east showing steam shovel in subway excavation.
Forest Hills, N.Y.
1930
Queens Boulevard. Looking east showing steam shovel in subway excavation.
Forest Hills, N.Y.
At the far left of this image is a brick corner building. It was constructed in 1927 for a Masonic temple but as the development of Forest Hills boomed in anticipation of the new subway line (the construction pictured here was subway work) the need for a bank arose. The Georgian Colonial style building became the Boulevard Bank within a few years (with the local real estate developer's sign at the top). It was still owned by the Masons who used a second-floor space. One of the first executives of the new bank was Fred Gretsch, a guitar maker who lived nearby. (Gretsch Guitars are now world famous.) Since 1966 the building has been home to the Sterling National Bank.