The Interview

Here is the interview with John Smith, a resident of Queens Village since 1957.

Question 1: How long have you lived in the neighborhood of Queens Village?
J.S.: "I have lived here ever since I can remember. I grew up here and still live here 'til this day. This year would make it 50 years that I've been here."

Question 2: What attracted you or your family to move to this neighborhood?
J.S.: "Well, my parents moved here prior to when I was born. I guess it would be because of the type of people that were here already. Most of us were Italian families of middle income. It was like a 'normal' neighborhood to grow up in."

Question 3: What schools did you attend while growing up in this neighborhood?
J.S.: "My brothers and I all went to St. Gregory's Catholic School from grades 1 to 8. I then went to Martin Van Buren High School up the block. I hated Catholic School because all the priests would 'teach' me to do one thing while they were being hypocrites and doing the opposite."

Question 4: Have you seen any dramatic changes within the scenery and have they improved or degradeed the look of Queens Village?
J.S.: "A lot has changed here. There's a heck of a lot more businesses here now a days. There has been an increase in churches, car dealers, auto body shops, and corner stores. Before there would be one corner store we would all go to but now they're all over the place. It's great that we have that but the young teenagers are hanging out in front of there doing god knows what. Oh! I remember that Theatre on Jamaica Avenue used to be a real theatre before they made it into a religious center. I would say that Queens Village has changed into a more "Corporate America" neighborhood with still some hints of suburbia that lies within it. It's actually a better neighborhood if you really look at it."

Question 5: What is your most memorable childhood memory that you can think of that happened in Queens Village?
J.S.: "I remember playing stickball over there at Braddock Park with my friends and brothers afterschool and on Saturdays. We were all on YMCA baseball team. We broke this man's window one time we all ran out of there like our lives were on the line. Everytime I drive by that house I always remember what happened there."

Question 6: What are your favorite parts of Queens Village and why?
J.S.: "My favorite parts.....that would have to be the neighborhoods with the houses that are still standing from back when I was your age. These houses really show the origin and roots of Queens Village. By just looking at these houses you get memories of your past but as they slowly are demolished and 4 family houses are being put up Queens Village begins to lose it's 'originality'."

Question 7: Has there always been a diverse variety of ethnicities in Queens Village as it is today and which ethnicities are they?
J.S.: "No. Today, there is a huge variety of races here. When I was a kid, it was mostly Italian families with few black families here and there. There were also a lot of Jews here too. but now there are people from the West Indies, Asia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Germany, and a whole lot more. It's remarkable how all these ethnicities came in within the last 35 years. As soon as all the Italians moved out a huge amount of African American families moved in as well as Hispanic families."

Question 8: Is there any store or monument that still stands today that you remember from your childhood and what is it?
J.S.: "Well the school and church that I went to when I was a kid still is up and running. I don't know how old it actually is but it's been around for a while. St. Gregory's Catholic Church."

Question 9: What was the neighborhood like back when you were a teenager?
J.S.: "The neighborhood was quiet. It was like a typical ideal American community. There were of course few minor crimes here and there but other than that it was 'normal.' We (the boys) would all go to the YMCA and hangout or play baseball. Everybody pretty much knew each other and greeted each other. But as times change, it slowly became a more 'isolated' society where everyone at once just ignored each other. We all would just hangout with each other."

Question 10: What do you think about the new developments going up in Queens Village? Are they a disgrace or something to be desired?
J.S.: "Well, they just build that new school over there on Jamaica Avenue which I think would really bring up the property value of our houses. It also improved the look over there in that area. There used to be a huge empty lot and now that that school is there it's great! But what really annoys me is the new houses that are being built. They tear down a one family house and convert it into a 4 to 6 family house. It's disgusting! It really is a gross and disgusting advancement in our community. It doesn't even look right! It's just like putting a builing in the middle of an open field. It doesn't look right!"