Welcome to Part 1 of this historical presentation, a captivating look into the foundational years of our community through a compilation of anecdotes and records from the Women’s Club of Forest Hills and the Forest Hills Bulletins spanning 1915 to 1924. Step back in time to the early 1910s, when Forest Hills was a burgeoning village evolving from thriving farmland into a bustling modern suburb. This chapter captures a unique period of grand transformation, marked by the completion of the Long Island Railroad Station, the opening of the iconic Forest Hills Inn, and the widening of Queens Boulevard. Through rare photographs and archival accounts, this video segment sets the stage by bringing to life the vibrant atmosphere, the physical growth, and the collective excitement of a neighborhood beginning to rise from Station Square up the Terraces.
As the local landscape rapidly changed, a vibrant social fabric emerged—steered in large part by the visionary and determined women of the community. What began as a modest Mother’s Club in 1912 quickly blossomed into the highly influential Women’s Club of Forest Hills, an organization dedicated to the social, artistic, intellectual, and civic betterment of the village. This presentation illustrates how these women balanced lighthearted community fun—like the legendary 1915 “Bachelors vs. Suffragettes” ball game—with a fierce commitment to serious local issues, from anti-mosquito health campaigns to vital Red Cross war relief efforts during World War I. Join us as we explore how these pioneering residents fostered a spirit of civic responsibility and leadership, establishing a foundation that permanently shaped the character of Forest Hills.
