Introductory Paragraph

Richmond Hill is a little neighborhood that has been transformed and developed over the last fifty year. With many different ethnic backgrounds migrating into Richmond Hill, the community has become more diverse. More religion and traditional events have occurred because of an uprise of new cultures. Also, old obsolete homes are now being demolished and new construction are being built. Throughout the last twenty years, Richmond Hill has developed a new way of life through structural developments, culture and various types of ethnic backgrounds. Richmond Hill is not really known for anything, it's just a little town with significant meaning.

Interview Questions & Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement: Throughout the last twenty years Richmond Hill has transformed a new way of living through new structural developments, culture and different types of ethnic backgrounds.

1. How long have you lived here? I've been living here for twenty-seven years in Richmond Hill.
2. Does Richmond Hill have any significant meaning to Queens? Yes, theres a lot of history. THe famous Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor has been open for over 100 years and my parents n grandparents went there numerous times.
3. Has Richmond Hill changed over the last 20 years? Yes, "certainly." We have more different ethnic groups and we are more diverse.
4. Has there been any dramatic race domination? "I'm guessing certain areas have become more diverse." I have seen a lot of Guyanese and Trinidadians in Richmond Hill.
5. Are there any historical landmarks that mean anything to the neighborhood? We have the Ice Cream Parlor, Kew Gardens Cemetary, Phil Rizzuto (Hall of Famer) played for the Yankees and at Richmond Hill High School on the baseball team.
6. Why did you settle here, in this community? I was born and raised here because of my family generations.
7. What attracted you to the neighborhood or what motivated you towards Richmond Hill? Grandfather mover here, so it was family ritual.
8. Was the economy worth a lot when you first settled in Richmond Hill? The economy wasn't great but stable. Work was available and my grandfather and father were carpentars.
9. Were there as much businesses open today as there was 20 years ago? No, actually Richmond Hill has more development with businesses. Areas have grown tremendous for the economy.
10. Where do you see Richmond Hill in the next 25 years from now? I'm assuming ther will be more diverse communities, growing rapidly with new constructions and developed more private businesses like family owned.

Sources Component 2

N.Y. Queens Historical Society. Victorian Richmond Hill. Flushing, 1980.



There is only twenty four pages of the Victorian Richmond Hill book that illustrates maps, houses, and photos during the 1950's. The maps show how the roads and streets use to be. Most of the houses are like the one shown in my previous blog. Those are considered to be the real "Victorian" houses with the oval shaped windows, shaped with castle tops and huge rooms.
There are also maps of old neighborhoods that had different names back then. Today, those places are renamed and have been developed throughly. Photos display historical accounts and places in New York. Everything back then looked old fashioned.

Sources Component 1

Trager, Cara S. "Small Business: Guyanese merchants give Richmond Hill new flavor; Sari shops, halal meat stores thrive on once-vacant strip; youngsters defect." Crain's New York Business 17 (April 30, 2001): 30.

Richmond Hill is known as "Little Guyana" in Queens, New York. During the early 1990's a mass migration of Guyanese and Trinidadians have moved into the one and two family houses of those today in Richmond Hill. Liberty avenue most commonly known for West Indians has a wide varieties of businesses. Liberty avenue consists of sari shops, roti restaurants, halal meat stores, insurance as well as real estate and travel agencies such as Guyana Airways. With all of these businesses up, there is no vacant spaces available.
As Hindu being Guyanese religion, Phagwah is celebrated on the streets of Liberty Avenue. This brings a new culture and elevates the diversity of the old neighborhood. What was once a quiet little town is now developed into an economic market. Since, investors are trying to put up new businesses, it is much harder to put new and different types of businesses because of the tight real estate market. Richmond Hill is fulfilled with many types of diversities which makes my little neighborhood our STRENGTH.

Before 1950's

Here is what you call an old "Victorian" house. Many of these homes are located between 89 avenue and 85 avenue through a wide range of blocks. Many of these homes seem to have the castle looking type of style. Today, houses being built are no more one family houses, contractors are building three family houses or even multiple sets of two family homes. Majority of the houses around my neighborhood in Richmond Hill are like the one in the image. Houses are built by wood and have enormous amount of rooms. Usually the houses consists of five bedrooms and three bathrooms. They also have access to their basements, however the yard space and driveways are pretty small sizes. Few houses have a veranda in the front. Homeowners usually have chairs outside so they can enjoy the nice weather on the porch.
You can spot an old Victorian house also called Queensmark from a distance. Homes have a cylinder shape on at least two sides of the house. What I find really interesting about these obsolete houses are the windows. The windows have many different variety of shapes. There are the oval shaped looking windows that stands out the most that I like. The windows are shaped in different ways such as rectangular, oval, square and even circular believe it or not. Old Victorian houses are huge. The homes contain tremendous amounts of living space with two floors and an attic. I strongly believe the color of the houses are terrible. Victorian homes have colors like burgundy, light blue, all types of greenish colors and maroon.

Sources

http://www.richmondhillhistory.org/quickinfo.html
Looking at this website made me realize how old Richmond Hill is. During the 1800's Richmond Hill was being developed. Even though not a lot of imperative buildings were being built during that time, the neighborhood still established historical places such as a cemetary, post office, schools and parks.

Around the Way

Around the streets of Richmond Hill Queens is formed into a triangular shaped neighborhood. Since I live next door to Richmond Hill High School the neighborhood seems to be filled with laughter, shouting, cursing, and music. There is always parking on the streets unless, the homeowners don't use their driveways. Richmond Hill borders Kew Gardens, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Jamaica. Where Jamaica Ave. and Myrtle Ave. meet is Richmond Hill's birth place.

When I hear the word "Richmond Hill" or even begin to think and imagine about my neighborhood my mind is fast to react to Richmond Hill High School. Since I'm an alumni there and live on the same block I always keep my eye out. I witness all the students approaching my block shouting and screaming and jumping all around. As they pass my house garbage is deposited on my property. My temper rages and these young adolescents better hope I didn't see a thing!

On the other hand, my neighborhood has numerous amount of mini markets and pizzeria stores. Around my way are a lot of West Indian people ethnicity wise. However, over the last two years there are a tremendous amount of Punjabi's and Indians moving into the areas of Richmond Hill. Ive lived in Richmond Hill for at least thirteen years so I always feel calm and relax as I walk around the areas of Richmond Hill.

Famous Trailors

Roaming the streets of Richmond Hill, Queens New York is not the Manhattan life with all the lights and people walking around everywhere, all times of the hour. As you see the corner of 113 street on 89 ave. are huge red and gray trailors of Richmond Hill. Incoming freshmen are usually scheduled for classes outside of the building. The principal doesn't want freshmen inside the building because they are less mannered. Also, whenever the school does have visitors it might look embarressing to have young reckless teenagers around the main floors disturbing other classrooms.
The trailors were put up about eight years ago due to the massive population growth of students. Around the neighborhood are filled with West Indians, Punjabi's, and Hispanic ethnics. Despite the fact, Richmond Hill does get a little loud and noisy at times. I hear students yelling from the trailors and even sometimes banging on the windows. Also, the trailors are used for detention purposes and in-house suspension. It's filled with the trouble makers and so called "bad" students. There is no space for any sports activities since the trailors were made, but I guess it's for the better.
Inside the trailors are decent size room. There's a bathroom in each room and consists about thirty seats. There are about twenty-six trailor classrooms. The lights and blackboards are flashy and new. I had past experiences learning inside those same trailors. Every year I had at least one trailor class so it always felt good to come outside the main building and have some freedom. The sight of Richmond Hill and its trailors will never leave my vision as long as I still live here.

Forgotten Places

During the 1940's many buildings, houses and even monuments were being built all over the state of New York. Today, we are developing and more heavily enhancing our way of living. For example, contractors are now destroying all obsolete homes and replacing them with new furnished houses. The site http://www.forgottenny.com/ convinces others to help save old fashioned churches, houses, and buildings. Also, the site focuses on how important these buildings mean something to a certain neighborhood.
All over New York we have beautiful sceneries of many places. However, some businesses, houses and even mini-markets are gone! Every business has customers that love their food, clothing or anything the business might sell. Some people are tournished and feel the depression of historic landmarks. There are over 10 pizzerias that have gone under the forgottenny website within the last month. People are given they're best to help save a 160- year old church. They have created a new blueprint to help save the old church. Places like CollegePoint, Bayside, Forest Hills, and Whitestone are domilishing ranch houses.
The site is useful for everyone. It provides information and photos on what is occuring around the communities of New York. I strongly, believe everyone needs to know about historic places that were once put up in their neighborhood. The purpose of the site exists to a number of events. It acsents the sentimental value of historical landmarks forgotten through lack of interest or even technology. Nowadays, everyone is using the computers instead of going out on their own to find research. Photographs and pictures are accessible online all the time, this stops the use of going to the library. Sooner or later, no one will be writing on pen or paper.
In conclusion the site www.forgottenny.com has many different perspectives. People should value their historic landmarks before they know its gone. Like some people try to help and save their historic monuments in their town are showing there full attention to what's going on.

Mission Statement

Richmond Hill is a quiet neighborhood that has already been developed. There are many different kinds of ethnic backgrounds that live among the borders of Richmond Hill. Not too many remarkable landmarks have been placed in Richmond Hill, but it contains several historical landmarks such as the library, schools, cemetary and even obsolete homes. My neighborhood doesn't have various apartment buildings such as the Bronx, Manhattan or even Brooklyn. Richmond Hill is filled with houses, which makes you assume that the population is less than other parts of New York. Majority of the people that live in my neighborhood are West Indian. Around my community, there are alot of businesses open like bars, roti- shops and deli's. Richmond Hill is not really known for anything, it's just a little town with significant meaning.