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Interview with John Kilpatrick about College Point

1) How Long have you lived in the neighborhood ?
He has lived in the neighborhood since 1937

2)What attracted you to the neighborhood ?
His parents came from the Bronx. A co worker of his fathers lived in College Point and told them to look at it. His parents fell in love with all the trees/ You weren’t able too see the sky at the time due to the high density of the trees. There was also three beaches and numerous boat yards where people used to catch crabs and lobsters.

3)When did the change in the neighborhood happen ?
The change began around the 1960's and 70's. It went from a small town into an industrial town. At one point there was a Ferry that used to run from the Bronx into College Point and very few cars were around at that time.

4)What changed first ?
The first change to College Point was the development. At one time there were lots that had piles of dirt that they used to play as kids that has now been developed into factories. There were only about three to four factories within the town and now there is around 200.

5)Have you seen any changes in the ethnicity within the neighborhood ?
When he first moved into College Point it was almost all German and over time Asians began moving in and nowadays the Hispanics are moving into the town.

6) What ethnic group has risen or declined ?
The German Population has shown a decrease over the years. In recent years the Asians and Hispanics are rising.

7)What ethnic group is dominant in the neighborhood ?
It has Gone from Germans to Asians to Hispanics.

8)Has the population increased or decreased over the years?
The population has increased dramatically over the years. At one time when you walked down the street you knew everyone by name, and it often took you some time to get to where you wanted since you would acknowledge everyone.

9)What is the biggest change you have witnessed ?
Industry has been the biggest change it went from one and two family homes too industry that began to develop everywhere. All of the empty lots that consisted within College Point has been bought by companies to build factories or multifamily homes.

10) What so you like most about it ?
The best part of College Point is the small town environment. The change came over time which made it subtle and slow so you became accustomed to it.

Extra Information about College Point

One time there were only few families that had cars and there were not more than three cars on a block .

College Point had the most bars in any city in the US.(35)

Car fair was expensive, so it was not a through town , you would come into College Point and then you would have to turn back around to go back.

There were numerous yacht clubs at one time that the kids used to help dock boats.

As kids he used to play tag at night in sailboats with other kids on the water.

Thesis Statement

The commercialization of College Point has redefined it from an isolated town to an industrialization hub.

Two Points
There is only a few roads to gain access to the town that sits on a peninsula

College Point is the home of over 200 factories

Library Resource 2

The New York Times, 2003, C; Business/Financial Desk, 5

College Point is now considered an industrial hub. For over the last 25 years many companies have made College Point its home and distribution headquarters. For companies the first thing they look for is how can they make the most money and spend the least. For transportation of there products College Point is a prime location since it provides easy access to local airport and major highways. They not only get a great location for the company but they save money since they get real estate tax breaks though the Industrial Development Agency.

Over the years the number of companies that call College Point has increased. There are more than 200 companies that are already established with the cooperate park of College Point. All of the new wave of development is said to be a result of the shrinking number of city owned parcels. The companies saw a prime opportunity to save money and better themselves and acted fast in developing wherever they could. There are only a few spaces left that companies haven’t taken for themselves and they will soon be lost to the next company that comes along.

Library Resource Pre 1950

The New York Times, 2004, 14; The City Weekly Desk; F.Y.I., 2

The Poppenhusen Institutes was in 1868 thanks to in most part of the donations on Conrad Poppenhusen. He was the most Celebrated benefactor who had immigrated from Germany in 1843. When he allied with Charles Goodyear and moved to manufacturing rubber products during the war effort he became wealthy enough to donate the required amounts to College Point to construct the institute. When the institute open it was quite the sight to see, due to the elegance it had within itself. When you walked through the doors the first sight you see is a grand piano and the 30 foot ceilings.
The Institute provided community services for more than a century. People who associated themselves with the institute and know the history and story behind it fought to make sure that it would always stand strong and stay a symbolic presence for College Point. When it was threatened destruction the people rallied and in time the institute was made a landmark for New York. Till this day it stands strong in the year 2007 among the new commercialize town it gives us that sweet taste of the past

10 Questions

1) Howlong have you lived in the neighborhood?
2)What attracted you to the neighborhood?
3)When did the change in the neighborhood happen ?
4)What changed first ?
5)Have you seen any changes in the ethnicity within the neighborhood ?
6)What ethnic group has risen / declined ?
7)What ethnic group is dominant in the neighborhood ?
8)Has the population increased or decreased over the years ?
9)What is the biggest change you have witnessed ?
10)What do you like most about it ?

Poppenhusen Institute

Sitting on 14th road and 114th street is a single Victorian Structure which is surrounded by small houses and low - rise factories, exudes importance that gives a certain bravado. This is the Poppenhusen Institute which was built in 1868. It was constructed with the donations from Conrad Poppenhusen who is called the benefactor of College Point. When it was built it housed the Justice of the Peace, the first College Point Savings Bank, German Singing Societies, and the first Library in the area. It included a courtroom, Sheriff’s Office that contained 2 jail cells, as well as the first free kindergartens in the United States in 1870.Within the Institute lays a auditorium that seats 200 people and there is also a museum that exhibits the history of College Point and of Conrad Poppenhusen. The Poppenhusen Institute was recognized as an New York City Landmark in 1970.

In 1980 the trustees felt with the German people moving away that they should make a change with the Institute. They had decided that instead of continually spending money on the maintenance that they would sell the building. They began selling the historical pieces and documents that lay within this historical building. With each piece that was sold, a piece of the history of College Point and Poppenhusen was lost with it. When this became public the residents of College Point began to fight back to save the Institute because they didn’t want to lose yet another Structure due to development. The residents won the battle when it was taken to court and the Poppenhusen Institute still lay in the same spot as it has since 1868. All of the interior and exterior remain the same; the interior is still intact but the outside has been worn down during the years which promoted it to be repainted.

Still standing strong is the Poppenhusen Institute which has been through all of the changes that College Point has seen. It is one of the few structures that still stands that resembles what College Point is. Conrad Poppenhusen was the face and benefactor of College Point and he still lives on through this structure that stands strong and sticks out amongst factories and houses around it. As long as it still stands the history and character of the town will never be lost