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The institution once housed a courthouse, a bank, the area’s first library, a sheriff’s office (two vacant jail cells are still there), and various singing societies. Nowadays, the site, which obtained landmark status in 1970, houses a community cultural center offering programs such as karate, piano lessons, lectures, workshops, historical exhibits, a summer concert series, and a resident theater company. Inside scoop: Poppenhusen opened the first free kindergarten in the United States on July 1, 1870. Address: 114-04 14th Road, College Point, and www. poppenhuseninstitute.org. Flushing Quaker Meeting House The Friends Meeting House was built in 1694. It is the first house of worship in Flushing and New York City’s oldest structure in continuous use for religious purposes. It is also the second oldest Quaker meeting house in the United States. The early Quakers did not use headstones until the mid 1820s, so it is difficult to determine all of those who are buried in the graveyard, but it is the final resting place for a number of prominent Quakers. Noted abolitionists William Burling and Matthew Franklin, Samuel Leggett, who founded The New York Gas Light Company, John Murray Jr., who co-founded the Free School Society and The Society for the Manumission of Slaves, are a few. Inside scoop: The hours are limited right now. There is worship every Sunday at 11 am, and the house is open for tours. All are welcome, but it’s best to call ahead of time to make sure it’ll be open. Address: 137-16 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, and www.nyym.org. Bayside Historical Society Founded in 1964, the Bayside Historical Society advocates for preservation and protection of the area’s historical spots. The society maintains two landmarked properties: the Officer’s Club at Fort Totten Park, where the society is based; and the Lawrence Cemetery, located in a wooded area at the corner of 216th Street and 42nd Avenue. The Officers’ Club, also known as “The Castle,” features a Gothic Revival style. Completed in 1887, the building 62 QUENS IN YOUR POCKET • www.itsinqueens.com 62


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