History of Garden City Historical Society
With the first crash of the wrecking
ball into the façade of the Garden City Hotel, Long Island, New York's
premiere hotel servicing notable individuals from around the world, and the community’s third
hotel on
the Stewart Avenue property, a small group of onlookers vowed to preserve the architectural
and historical heritage of their village. Two years later in 1975, seven
residents banned together to form the Garden City Historical Society. They
held the first meeting on
November 17, 1975
and filed for a provisional charter from the New York State Board of
Regents.
The
Early Years
The next three years saw the Society
increase its original 138 membership several fold, and pursue a campaign
of historical awareness through lectures and presentations, and an
education program for school children. A 26-member committee catalogued
the 54 Stewart-era houses remaining in the Village and succeeded in having
them listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Society
commissioned the sculpting of a bust of Charles Lindbergh, which is
permanently displayed in the Garden City Public Library, and began
exhibiting yearly in the library’s main showcase. Members encouraged
interest in the magnificent Cathedral of the Incarnation, and taped
community resident interviews. The Society also secured republication
rights to the pictorial history book of Garden City written by former
Village Historian Mildred Smith.
The
Stewart-era Apostle House
In 1975, the Episcopal Diocese donated
the home it owned at 89 Fifth Street to the newly formed Society.
The house, one of 9
identical homes known as “Apostle Houses,” was built in 1872 as part of
Alexander T. Stewart’s visionary planned community of Garden City. In
1892 the Diocese built St. Mary’s School next door to the home. For a
time, the building, which never served as a private residence, housed
classes and offered boarding for faculty. In 1902 when St. Mary’s
expanded its facility, the house was moved across Cathedral Avenue
on Fifth Street. In the late 1970s and early 80s, Society members restored the home,
planted Victorian gardens and held meetings there.
Relocation
of Apostle House
In July 1988, the Society’s “Apostle
House” was moved to its current location on Eleventh Street, thanks to the generous offer from the
Village
of Garden City
to provide the site. Five years later, the Society discovered the home had
been deregistered from landmark status because of the move, and renewed
the process to effect its listing. In the mid-1990s, the Village provided
additional land to the east and north to accommodate the current driveway
off Eleventh Street.
Restoration
and Future Plans
The Society is currently renovating the
“Apostle House,” in which, in the footsteps of A.T. Stewart, the board
of directors envisions the creation of the Garden City Historical
Society Museum, exhibit hall and meeting place. In 2002-3, a fire
sprinkler and fire and smoke alarm systems were installed, and additional
work was begun. The Society also continues to seek preservation of
historic property and artifacts within the Village, offer educational
presentations, and increase awareness of Garden City’s unique heritage.
