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Rufus King Manor |
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Grace Episcopal Church, 1862 |
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Jamaica Ave. market |
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La Casina, Art Moderne Style, 1934 |
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Jamaica Savings Bank, Beaux Arts Style, 1898 |
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The Firehouse, 1925 |
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Kurtz Store, Art Deco Style, 1930s |
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Valencia Theater, 1929 |
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Clock, Union Hall St. |
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Register Bldg, Italian Renaissance, 1898 |
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Prospect Cemetery, 1668 |
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Antique Poster, Archer Ave. |
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LIRR Jamaica Sta., 2003 |
Jamaica Ave. was an ancient trail for Native Americans. The English acquired the land from the Dutch in 1664, naming it "jameco," the Canarsie word for beaver. Jamaica was the first village of modern Queens and grew up along Jamaica Ave. in a span of about 15 blocks between Sutphin and Merrick Blvds. Rufus King, a signer of the Constitution and early advocate for the abolition of slavery moved to Jamaica Ave. in 1805. He created a Federalist-style manor, now a museum. Walt Whitman was a resident while a typesetter for the Long Island Democratic newspaper in the 1840s. King Kullen was the 1st supermarket in the U.S. Let's not forget this was the home of 50 Cent and the origin of hiphop.
The area grew as a transportation hub, beginning with the 1834 Brooklyn and Jamaica RR Co. The Long Island RR was completed in 1913. The AirTrain rail link to JFK was completed in 2003, the station has the flavor of the Sydney Opera House ! The architecture between 150th and 163rd St. is spectacular, including the finest Beaux Arts building in the outer boroughs, the Jamaica Savings Bank.