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Kew Gardens Civic Association |
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105 82nd Road Kew Gardens, NY 11415
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| Kew Gardens Civic Association in Kew Gardens |
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The Kew Gardens Civic Association, which has had so much to do with the progress of the Community, has had an interesting history. It was organized in March, 1914 at the home of a Mr. Cook who at that time was a resident of the section.
At this meeting, W.C. Cuntz was elected president; R. Lawrence, secretary-treasurer. The first few meetings were held at the homes of members, but very soon the regular meeting place was transferred to the Richmond Hill [Union Hall] Club which was located on the south side of Hillside Avenue a few doors east of Lefferts Avenue.
This Club ultimately formed the nucleus of the Kew Gardens Country Club and the old [Union Hall] club building gave way later to a row of small apartment houses. The Country Club has always generously permitted the association to hold its meetings at its new home.
In the association's second year, that is, in 1915, James F. Pierce was elected president; W. H. Smith, vice president; and Charles S. Clark, secretary-treasurer.
As required by the by-laws, an executive committee of five members was named, the selection being W. C. Cuntz, Charles Earl, Harry Hoffman, J. F. Sniffen and J. Arthur Finchbeck.
The by-laws of that day also required that there should be appointed by the president four standing committees, namely: sewer and light, streets and water, transportation and schools.
At this period, as shown by the little "Year Book" printed in 1916, there were enrolled eighty-nine members.
The association's first noteworthy achievement was that of having the Kew Gardens electric lighting system placed under ground. This was a result attributable wholly to the efforts of the association.
In a call sent out by the secretary on November 20, 1915 for a meeting on the twenty-ninth of that month there occurs the following statement:
"Unusually important business will be discussed including the subject of the installation of modern electric light poles. This will be the only opportunity which the association will have to thresh this matter out and take such action as may be deemed necessary to prevent unsightly poles being placed in Kew Gardens."
There was a protracted fight ahead which the association fought to a victorious conclusion, but before it was won prices rose so high that the job of the installation of wires underground cost substantially more than originally estimated and the Kew Gardens Corporation (in accordance with the agreement that the property owners would pay the difference between the cost of an underground system and the overhead plan) paid a deficit of more than $1,000 as well as the substantial sum it had to pay as property owner. |
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105 82nd Road Kew Gardens, NY 11415 |
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Phone: 718-263-7180 |
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