May 20, 1916 – Sept. 9, 1916
May 20, 1916 – Sept. 9, 1916 (Volume 1: Issue No. 18 – No. 26)
By early summer of 1916, Forest Hills Gardens was emerging as a community defined not only by thoughtful planning and architecture, but by organized civic life. The summer issues reflect a town growing in confidence, expanding traditions, strengthening institutions, and reinforcing its identity as a cohesive community.
The Fourth of July Celebration
The third annual Fourth of July celebration marked a milestone in the social life of the Gardens. Centered in Station Square and Olivia Park, the day-long program drew residents and guests in record numbers and transformed Station Square into the ceremonial heart of the community.
The morning opened with a formal raising of the new 108-foot flagpole in Flagpole Green. Once the boom of the decorated racing yacht Columbia, the pole became a lasting civic symbol.
The Official Forest Hills Gardens Flag raised for the first time on July 4, 1916 in Flagpole Green
Afternoon activities focused on families, with races and games, including a baby carriage race, filled Station Square. The evening saw a costumed parade of residents which led into an old-fashioned circus beneath the arches of Station Square, followed by music and dancing late into the night. Refreshment booths operated for the benefit of the Red Cross, and the Square was closed to traffic to accommodate an estimated crowd of 5,000 people.
The July 4 celebrations were spread throughout the Gardens and included a performance in Olivia Park featuring an allegory titled “The Happy Stranger” written by Renaud and Harold Conway about a how a happy stranger ultimately came to settle in The Gardens. The performance utilizedOliva Parks natural amphitheater design, had a string orchestra and quartet of mixed voices, as the act showcased the community’s harmony between nature and art, and highlighted Forest Hills Gardens as a place to which one could belong.
Mosquito Mitigation & Public Health
In the summer of 1916, the community came together proactively to tackle a mosquito outbreak. The Anti-Mosquito Committee was formed to address the issue and took an organized approach to community well-being.
Community maintenance efforts emphasized drainage, inspection, and education to reduce breeding grounds near Station Square and residential areas. Exhibits demonstrating mosquito larvae were displayed locally to reinforce awareness and education.
Neighboring communities such as Flushing and Kew Gardens, along with the Health Department, joined the control effort and pushed for mitigation of the salt marches in Jamaica Bay, contributing to the rise and spread of mosquitos. The committee reported visible success during the Fourth of July celebration, noting the absence of mosquitoes during the large outdoor gathering.
Summer in Full Swing
Theodore Roosevelt attends The National Tennis Championship matches at The West Side Tennis Club on Labor Day. The event drew record-breaking crowds of 8,000 – 12,000 spectators daily, and over 2,500 cars were parked in the Gardens.
