Cornerstone visits Queens in April, pt 3

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From Nephelie, 4-29-18.

Cusi and I met up again to continue our exploration of Queens, past and present.

We started at the Lewis Latimer House Museum, a Historic House museum and the former home of Lewis Latimer, who was a prominent African American, a self-educated inventor, artist, born 1848 and lived in Queens from 1904. His home is one of the few remaining Victorian buildings in Queens, moved from its original location to where it rests now at the edge of a recreational park. It is maintained as a historic museum, runs a summer camp and programs for school groups, and is open to visitors 3 afternoons per week. We were greeted by Joel, the caretaker of the house, who lives there as security guard, groundskeeper and docent. Joel shared his knowledge of Latimer and also of Queens history with us, including details of the long lasting carbon filament that Latimer developed (and that worked much more effectively than the bamboo one that Edison devised) plus biographical info and perspectives on Latimer’s life. He gave Cusi a booklet about the life of Lewis Latimer, and we shared a flyer about our play, which he was excited to know about.

Continuing our Queens world food tour, we chose a Korean Hot Pot restaurant on Northridge Avenue for lunch. It was quite the culinary adventure! We ended up with a boiling cauldron of chicken broth filled with amazing spices and aromatics and a table full of meats/vegetables to cook in it. All seasoned by condiments from a “make your own” condiments bar that was completely overwhelming!  A fabulous dining adventure...

We walked off our lunch with a long walk from Northridge towards Queens College. Our goal was to experience the walk from downtown Flushing to the college campus. We got turned around here and there, but ultimately made our way along Main Street, transitioning from the Korean neighborhood through Chinese neighborhoods surrounding Main Street and past the Mount Hebron Cemetery, crowded with standing stones, that borders the far side of the college campus.

We were intrigued by several markers for the Freedom Mile 

along our path and ended our walk curious to learn more about the stories of African Americans in Queens, as well as of John Bowne, an early Dutch colonist who is credited as the catalyst for the religious tolerance (for Quakers) upon which Queens was established. There is also a John Bowne Historic House, as well as schools, streets, a church and a park named after him.

 Flushing Freedom Mile ….  some of the 21 historic sites located here—many of which are NYC landmarks—and their connection to freedom. Many of the sites are also associated with the Underground Railroad, as well as activists who were dedicated to freedom and education.

By 4:30pm, we’d walked our feet off so we headed home.