(This will be displayed in a giant cherry wood glass frame with photos and the information below)
Our Landmarks
John F. Kennedy International Airportis a majorinternational airportlocated in the borough ofQueensinNew York City, United States, 12 miles (20km) southeast ofLower Manhattan. It is thebusiest international air passenger gatewayinto theUnited States,thefifth busiest airport in the United Statesand the busiest airport in the New York City airport system, handling 56,827,154 passengers in 2015.Over ninety airlines operate out of the airport, with non-stop or direct flights to destinations in all six inhabited continents. The airport features six passenger terminals and four runways. It serves as a hub forAmerican AirlinesandDelta Air Linesand is the primary operating base forJetBlue Airways. In the past, JFK served as a hub forEastern,National,Pan Am, andTWA.
Opened asNew York International Airportin 1948,it was commonly known asIdlewild Airportbefore being renamed in 1963 in memory ofJohn F. Kennedy, the35th President of the United States, following hisassassination.
AirTrain JFKis a 3-line, 8.1-mile-long (13km)people moversystem andelevated railwayinNew York Cityproviding a 24/7 service toJohn F. Kennedy International Airport. It is operated byBombardier Transportationunder contract to thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey, the operator of the airport. The service operatesall day, year-round. The system finally opened on December 17, 2003.
There are precious few memorials to St. Albans/Addisleigh Park’s jazz heritage. In 1899, a year after Queens became part of New York City (and with the Town of Jamaica and the Village of Jamaica thereby dissolved), the new post office for the 600 residents was named St. Albans, after St Albans in Hertfordshire, England, which itself was named after a Saint Alban, thought to be the first Christian martyred in England. The name had been in use for the area since at least 1894 for the name of the school district. There already was a road in the area called St. Albans Avenue, and the LIRR station was named St. Albans when it opened in 1898.
The St. Albans Golf Course, built in 1915, brought rich and famous golfers, including baseball star Babe Ruth. The Depression forced the golf course owners to try to sell, but plans for private development fell through. The federal government in 1942 seized the land, and construction soon began on the St. Albans Naval Hospital, which opened in 1943.The Veterans Administration received the St. Albans Extended Care Center, now known as the VA St. Albans Community Living Center, from the U.S. Navy on March 14, 1974.
The VA St. Albans Community Living Center provides primary care and offers specialized geriatric programs and restorative rehabilitation. Geriatric programs provide comprehensive evaluation and safe, effective management of elderly cognitively impaired veterans. An outpatient Adult Day Health Care Program and Home Based Primary Care Program exists and cares for physically disabled, medically-complicated elderly veterans who are at risk of nursing home placement or recurrent hospitalization. A comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation Domiciliary program, providing incentive therapy, vocational counseling and independent living skills training for patients seeking to return to independent living, is provided at the VA St. Albans Community Living Center.
Many famous jazz musicians used to live in St. Albans, particularly in some of the large houses in the small western enclave known as Addisleigh Park.
Southern Queens’ ascendance as a mecca for jazz musiciansbegan in 1923 whenClarence Williams,a successful musician and entrepreneur from Plaquemine, Louisiana, purchased a home and eight lots at 171-37 108th Avenue.
Home of Web Dubois 173-19 113th Ave
Dressed in a tuxedo, civil-rights leaderW.E.B. Du Boismarried an activist nearly three decades his junior on Feb. 27, 1951, in a posh house in southeastQueens. The exterior of theAddisleigh Park, or to many St. Albans, home whereDu Bois, 83, wedShirley Graham, 54, is remarkably unchanged from what the couple's friends would recall. But it also remains unlandmarked at a time when a building boom is sweeping across the borough.
William James"Count"Basie(August 21, 1904– April 26, 1984)[1]was an Americanjazzpianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. His mother taught him to play the piano and he started performing in his teens. Dropping out of school, he learned to operate lights for vaudeville and to improvise accompaniment for silent films at a local movie theater in his home town ofRed Bank, New Jersey. By 16 years old, he increasingly played jazz piano at parties, resorts and other venues.
In 1935, Basie formed his own jazz orchestra, theCount Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them toChicagofor a long engagement and their first recording. He led the group for almost 50 years, creating innovations like the use of two "split" tenor saxophones, emphasizing the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, using arrangers to broaden their sound, and others. Many musicians came to prominence under his direction, including the tenor saxophonistsLester YoungandHerschel Evans, the guitaristFreddie Green, trumpetersBuck ClaytonandHarry "Sweets" Edisonand singersJimmy RushingandJoe Williams. Basie's theme songs were "One O'Clock Jump", developed in 1935 in the early days of his band, and later "April in Paris".William Basie was born to Harvey Lee and Lillian Basie inRed Bank, New Jersey.His father worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy judge. After automobiles replaced horses, his father became a groundskeeper and handyman for several wealthy families in the area.Both of his parents had some type of musical background. His father played themellophone, and his mother played the piano; in fact, she gave Basie his first piano lessons. She took in laundry and baked cakes for sale for a living. She paid 25 cents a lesson for piano instruction for him.
Basie was a member ofOmega Psi PhiFraternity. On21 July 1930, Basie married Vivian Lee Winn, in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. They were divorced sometime before 1935. Sometime in or before 1935, the now single Basie returned to New York City, renting a house at111 West 138th Street, Manhattan, as evidenced by the 1940 census. He marriedCatherine Morganon 13 July 1940 in the King County courthouse in Seattle, Washington. In 1942, they moved to Queens.The Basie's bought a whites-only home in the new neighborhood of Addisleigh Park in 1946 on Adelaide Road and 175th Street, St. Albans.On April 11, 1983, Catherine Basie died of a heart attack at the couple's home in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. She was 67 years old.Basie died ofpancreatic cancerinHollywood, Floridaon April 26, 1984 at the age of 79.
Count Basie’s home on Adelaide Road and 175th Street, St. Albans
Ella Fitzgeraldperformed for 58 years, won 13 Grammy Awards and sold in excess of 40 million records. “The First Lady of Song” was born in Newport News, VA, and was orphaned young in life. She was discovered in an amateur contest sponsored by Harlem’s famed Apollo Theatre in 1934 and was soon the featured vocalist inChick Webb‘s band.
Ella lived on Murdock Avenuebetween 179th and 180th Street. She moved to Addisleigh Park in the 1950s.
Milt Hinton, The dean of jazz bassists,“The Judge” was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi and moved to Chicago with his family in 1921. After working through the 1920s a s afreelance musician with such legendary jazz artists including Zutty Singleton, Jabbo Smith, Eddie South, Erskine Tate, and Art Tatum, he joinedCab Calloway‘s band in 1936, remaining with Cab for 15 years. Milt Hinton was also an educator and author,teaching at Hunter and Baruch Colleges.
Milt Hinton lived in this houseat 113th Avenue and Marne Place. Hinton was a Queens resident from 1950 until his death in 2000.
Lena Hornewas born in Brooklynin 1917 and has been performing since she was a teenager. She danced and later sung at the Cotton Club beginning in 1933 and made her first recordings in 1937 with Teddy Wilson’s orchestra. She joinedCharlie Barnet‘s orchestra in 1940, and while Barnet’s behavior was exemplary (he was one of the first white bandleaders to hire African Americans) she tired of the draining segregation and racism that was such a constant durng that time. Upon signing with MGM in 1940, she shrewdly had a clause written in that prevented her from depicting domestics, in a jungle native role, or other cliché images. Her appearance in 1943’sStormy Weatherwas a sensation; her rendition of the title song was her biggest hit and remains her signature song. Lena Horne left Hollywood in the early fifties to concentrate on her singing.
178th Streetbetween 112th Avenue and Murdock Avenue. Like many of her contemporaries, Lena Horne resided here beginning in the 1940s.
James Joseph Brown(May 3, 1933– December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer and bandleader. The founding father offunkmusic and a major figure of20th centurypopular musicand dance, he is often referred to as the "Godfather ofSoul".In a career that spanned six decades, he influenced the development of several music genres.
Brown began his career as agospelsinger inToccoa, Georgia. He joined anR&Bvocal group, the Gospel Starlighters (which later evolved into theFlames), in which he was the lead singer.First coming to national public attention in the late 1950s as a member of the singing groupThe Famous Flameswith the hit ballads "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown built a reputation as a tirelesslive performerwith the Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. His success peaked in the1960swith thelive albumLive at the Apolloand hit singles such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". During the late 1960s he moved from a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music-making that influenced the development of funk music.By the early1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of theJ.B.swith records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". He also became noted for songs ofsocial commentary, including the 1968 hit "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown continued to perform and record until his death fromcongestive heart failurein 2006.
The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, lived in this house which formerly belonged toBart Williams, trumpeter withDuke Ellington, onLinden Boulevard and 176th Street.
Jack Roosevelt"Jackie"Robinson(January 31, 1919– October 24, 1972) was an American professionalbaseballsecond basemanwho became the firstAfrican Americanto play inMajor League Baseball(MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke thebaseball color linewhen theBrooklyn Dodgersstarted him at first base on April 15, 1947. The Dodgers, by signing Robinson, heralded the end ofracial segregationin professional baseball that had relegatedblack playersto theNegro leaguessince the 1880s. Robinson was inducted into theBaseball Hall of Famein1962.
Jackie Robinson Housewas a Brooklyn home of baseball greatJackie Robinsonfrom 1947 when he was awarded Rookie of the Year with theBrooklyn Dodgersthrough 1949 when he was votedMost Valuable Player. It was declared aNational Historic Landmarkin 1976.
However, his other house at 112-40 177th Street in theAddisleigh Parkneighborhood of Queens, was the Robinsons' home from 1949 to 1955 is not currently landmarked.
FAMOUS PEOPLE OF QUEENS
Eddie "Lockjaw" / Davis / St. Albans / Jazz MusicianAdam / Philllips / Queens / Comedian/Actor
Adrien / Brody / Woodhaven / Actor
Al / Heath / St. Albans / Jazz Musician
Al / Jolsen / Forest Hills / Singer / Yes
Al / Roker / St. Albans / Television Weatherman / Yes
Al / Sears / Jamaica / Jazz Musician
Alan G. / Cohen / Queens / Owner NHL Florida Panthers
Alan G. / Hevesi / Forest Hills / NYC Comptroller
Albert J. / Johnson / Jamaica / Jazz Musician
Alicia / Keyes / Queens / Singer/Songwriter/Producer / Yes
Andrew / Cuomo / Holliswood / Frmr Secretary of Housing and Urban Dvlpmt / Yes
Angela / Lansbury / Douglaston / Actress / Yes
Anita / Loos / Bayside / Actress
Anne / Hosansky / Jamaica / Author/Freelance Writer
Anthony / Mason / Springfield Gardens / Basketball Player
Anya / Von Bremzen / Jackson Heights / Journalist/Cookbook Author
Arlo / Guthrie / Howard Beach / Singer/Songwriter / Yes
Arthur / Buchwald / Hollis / Author / Yes
Arthur / Garfunkel / Forest Hills / Singer/Actor / Yes
Arthur / Prysock / Queens / Singer
Assata / Shakur / Jamaica / Revolutionary
Barry / Commoner / Flushing / Biologist / Yes
Barry / Lewis / Kew Gardens / Historian
Baruch / Blumberg / Far Rockaway / Nobel Prize Winner / Yes
Bela / Fleck / Queens / Banjoist/Composer / Yes
Benny / Goodman / Jackson Heights / Jazz Musician
Bernadette / Peters / Ozone Park / Actress / Yes
Bernadine / Healy / Long Island City / Physician / Yes
Bernard / Kalb / Flushing / Author/Political Analyst / Yes
Bill / Doggett / Flushing / Jazz Musician
Bill / Kenny / Elmhurst / Member of the musical grouup the Ink Spots
Bill / Mitchell / St. Albans / Co-Founder of St. Albans Historical Jazz
Billie / Holliday / St. Albans / Jazz Singer / Yes
Billy / Moro-Wey / Queens / Painter
Bix / Beiderbecke / St. Albans / Jazz Musician / Yes
Bob / Cousy / St. Albans / Basketball Player / Yes
Bob / Keeshan / Forest Hills / Actor/Producer / Yes
Brook / Benton / St. Albans / Singer / Yes
Buck / Clayton / Jamaica / Jazz Musician
Buddy / Johnson / Jamaica / Jazz Musician
Buddy / Rich / Forest Hills / Jazz Musician / Yes
Burt / Bacharach / Kew Gardens / Songwriter / Yes
Burt / Young / Bayside / Actor
Burton / Richter / Far Rockaway / Nobel Prize Winner / Yes
Buster / Keaton / Beechhurst / Actor/Director / Yes
Calvin O. / Butts / Queens / Minister / Yes
Cannonball / Adderly / Corona / Jazz Musician / Yes
Carol Heiss / Jenkins / Ozone Park / Figure Skater/Coach / Yes
Carroll / O'Connor / Forest Hills / Actor / Yes
Cecil P. / Taylor / Corona / Pianist / Yes
Charles / Camarda / Ozone Park / Astronaut
Charles Dana / Gibson / Flushing / Illustrator / Yes
Charles Honi / Coles / East Elmhurst / Tap Dancer
Charles M. / Williams / St. Albans / Jazz Musician
Charles S. / Colden / Whitestone / Supreme Court Justice/Founder of Queens College
Charlie / Mingus / Jamaica / Jazz Musician / Yes
Charlie / Shavers / Corona / Jazz Musician
Charlie / Spivak / Jackson Heights / Jazz Musician
Chick / Corea / Cambria Heights / Jazz Musician / Yes
Chris / Cimino / Ozone Park / Television Weatherman
Christian / Finnegan / Astoria / Comedian/Co-Star of the Dave Chapell Show
Christopher / Lorenzo / Bayside / Rap Music Executive
Christopher / Walken / Bayside / Actor / Yes
Claire / Shulman / Whitestone / Frmr. Queens Borough President
Clarence / Irving / St. Albans / Founder of Black American Heritage Foundation
Clarence / Johnson / St. Albans / Founder of the Black American Heritage M
Clark / Terry / Bayside / Jazz Musician / Yes
Clement C. / Moore / Elmhurst / Author / Yes
Colin / Powell / Hollis / Secretary of State / Yes
Cornelius / Lawrence / Bayside / Mayor of New York
Count / Basie / St. Albans / Jazz Musician / Yes
Crockett / Johnson / Elmhurst / Author / Yes
Curtis / Jackson / Jamaica / AKA "50 Cents" Rap Artist
Cyndi / Lauper / Ozone Park / Singer/Songwriter / Yes
Dale / Carnegie / Forest Hills / Author/Speaker / Yes
Darryl DMC / McDaniels / Queens / Rapper Member of Run DMC
David / Caruso / Forest Hills / Actor
David / Ignatow / Whitestone / Magician / Yes
David / Peng / Queens / Taiwan 1976 Olympic Team
Dayal, Daur / Khalsa / Queens / Author
Debra / Wilson / South Ozone Park / Comedian
Dee Dee / Ramone / Forest Hills / Co-founder of the Ramones
Dick / Van Patten / Kew Gardens / Actor
Dina / Meyer / Forest Hills / Actress
Dizzy / Gillespie / Corona / Jazz Musician/Composer / Yes
Don / Donaldson / Corona / Jazz Musician
Don / Rickles / Jackson Heights / Comedian / Yes
Donald / Manes / Flushing / Frmr Queens Borough President
Donald / Trump / Jamaica Estates / Real Estate Developer / Yes
Donna / Karan / Forest Hills / Fashion Designer / Yes
Douglas / Florian / Kew Garden Hills / Author/Illustrator / Yes
Drea / De Matteo / College Point / Actress
Eagan / Eddie / Rego Park / Police Officer
Earl / Bostic / St. Albans / Jazz Musician
Eddie / Bracken / Astoria / Actor / Yes
Eddie / Layton / Forest Hills / Organist for the New York Yankees
Edward / Willella / Bayside / Ballet Dancer / Yes
Edwin / Swanston / Hollis / Jazz Musician
Elizabeth / Elcik / Middle Village / Illustrator
Ella / Fitzgerald / St. Albans / Jazz Singer / Yes
Ellen / Baker / Bayside / Astronaut
Elton / Fax / Long Island City / Painter
Eric / Holder / Elmhurst / U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C.
Ernie / Grunfeld / Forest Hills / Basketball Player
Estee / Lauder / Corona / Business Executive / Yes
Ethel / Merman / Astoria / Singer/Actress / Yes
Eva / Taylor / Jamaica / Singer
Fatty / Arbuckle / Beechhurst / Actor / Yes
Floyd / Flake / St. Albans / Frmr. U.S. Resprsentative/Minister / Yes
Fran / Drescher / Flushing / Actress / Yes
Francis / Lewis / Whitestone / Merchant
Francis Ford / Coppola / Woodside / Film Director / Yes
Frank W. / Wess / St. Albans / Jazz Musician
Fred C. / Trump / Jamaica Estates / Real Estate Developer
Gene / Krupa / St. Albans / Jazz Musician / Yes
Gene / Simmons / Queens / Member of the Rock Band KISS / Yes
George / Anacona / Kew Gardens Hills / Author / Yes
George Big Nick / Nichols / Jamaica / Jazz Musician
George J. / Maharis / Astoria / Actor
First Name / Last Name / Location / Occupation / Biography Available
George J. / Tenet / Flushing / Frmr Director of the CIA / Yes
Geraldine / Ferraro / Forest Hills / Politician / Yes
Gertrude / Ederle / Flushing / Swimmer / Yes
Glen / Miller / Jackson Heights / Jazz Musician/Band Leader
Gordon / Powell / St. Albans / Jazz Musician