85-26 61st Rd
1938-39

In 1926, Bishop Thomas Molloy appointed Fr. Francis Scullin to establish a church that would serve the people in the fast-growing community of Rego Park. A temporary building was erected on 55th Avenue, which hosted the Church of the Ascension for over 10 years.

The congregation purchased 75 lots at Woodhaven Boulevard and 61st Road in 1931, but did not begin construction of a church until 1938. The complex included a school, rectory and convent, and by 1945 it had 1,500 students from grades 1 through 5, with a teaching staff of 32 Sisters of Charity.

Six years later, the name of the church and school was changed to Resurrection Ascension, and in 1954, the Marist Brothers joined to teach boys in grades 6 through 8. The internal structure of
the Catholic Church underwent a series of changes during the 1960s. This allowed for lay teachers to join the school.

A series of auxiliary buildings were added during the 1990s and 2000s, but the complex maintains its cohesiveness and overall integrity.

61-40 Woodhaven Blvd
1955, A. F. Meissner

Thomas Kearns Sr. started his funeral business in 1900 in Brooklyn, and expanded to Queens in 1926. He worked with his sons, and built a parlor in South Ozone Park and later in Rego Park.

In 1950, the design of the new Long Island Expressway slated their location at Woodhaven Boulevard and 60th Ave. for demolition. Thomas Kearns Jr. purchased a new lot a few blocks south, and hired architect A.F. Meissner, who had designed Kearn’s Richmond Hill branch, an innovative award-wining design that maintained the efficiency required for a funeral home.

The slightly curved structure has stone veneer, limestone trim, concrete, brick, among other new materials. The interior features wood panelling, glass and metal details. Meissner also designed the landscaping surrounding the parking lot, as well as a wood frame addition. It was awarded first prize and a bronze plaque from the Queens Chamber of Commerce for the best commercial structure of 1955.

After the success of Remo Hall, Jupiter & Marion Court, apartment buildings became the preferred typology for the development of the northern section of Rego Park. By the late-1930s, the south side of Queens Boulevard and Saunders Street were lined with six-story brick structures, which featured a variety of classical and more contemporary features.

The Savoy, also known as Savoy Gardens (1936, 62-82 Saunders St), is an interesting example of Tudor Revival, with a recessed façade that features towers inspired by castles and pitched roofs. The main entrance has a three-point-arch and decorative stone, highlighted by a carved coat-of-arms-inspired ornament.

The Sterling (1939, 61-41 Saunders St) and The Oxford/Cambridge (1939, 63-07 Saunders St & 95-08 Queens Blvd) were also designed by Benjamin Braunstein, and although they feature less ornamentation than their neighboring predecessors, they maintain the characteristic recessed facade with a courtyard. The main entrance of both buildings is highlighted by Corinthian columns/pilasters and an arched pediment. They also included corner windows, bay windows on the second floor, arched brick accents and stone bands.

Parker House (63-84 Saunders St) and The California (64-20 Saunders St) were built in the 1950s, maintaining the overall characteristics of earlier structures, but include mid-century modern elements to the design of the main entrance. This would become a distinctive feature of the apartment buildings of this area, which appear to be uniform as a group, but have very unique entryways.

93-29 Queens Boulevard 
1938-1939

After 36 years of owning the property, the Works Progress Administration was able to fund the construction of this two-story Art Moderne building. It was equipped with a firing range and drill hall for the Queens Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion, and was dedicated to the 77th Division of the U.S. Army for its heroism in the Battle of Argonne in France during WWI.

Two murals of “The Lost Battalion” were painted by Oscar Julius in 1938 in the current gymnasium, which honored the hundreds of American soldiers who had given their lives. A tributary limestone inscription was also included in the façade, as well as bronze tablets of the Statue of Liberty.

Over the years, the building hosted a series of events, such as a welcome reception for enrollees of WWII, a birthday for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, dance festivals, boxing matches, and testimonials for Presidents Truman and Eisenhower. In 1960, it was placed under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department, the Queens VFW moved to an upstairs office and the American Legion relocated. Today, it serves the community as a recreation center for people of all ages.

61-40, 62-64, & 62-98 Saunders Street
1927-29 Benjamin Braunstein

After the completion of their first group of single- family homes, and in response to an increase in property value, the Rego Construction Company hired architect Benjamin Braunstein to design three walk-up apartment buildings.

Braunstein, a Constantinople native, had started his practice in 1921, and became known for his multi-family residential designs in the Tudor and Colonial Revival styles in Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens, and Bayside. He received several design awards from the Queens Chamber of Commerce, and one of his works, the Hawthorne Court Apartments, was designated as a NYC Landmark in 2014.

The Tudor-style Remo Hall and the Spanish Mission-style Jupiter Court were built in 1927. Each feature an array of terra cotta details and ornamentation, as well as recessed facades and courtyards which maximize fresh air and light.

Marion Court was built two years later, also in the Spanish Mission-style. It features animal-themed
carvings, leaded-glass depictions of castles, and a roof garden, and it is the only building of the three to feature a lobby.

With 70 units each, they were considered one of the Company’smajor achievements. Photos: (top) Remo Hall, (middle) Jupiter Court, (bottom)
Marion Court.

93-40 & 93-54 Queens Blvd
1941, Jacob M. Felson

In 1895, Sam Minskoff emigrated to the US from Ukraine, starting a construction business in 1908. In 1940, Minskoff set his sights on Rego Park, hiring prominent architect Jacob Felson to develop two apartment buildings on Queens Boulevard.

The six-story brick structures have Classical style features, including carved ornaments, balusters on the cornice, and triangular pediments. The three-center arched doorways at the main entrances are flanked by two columns. Unfortunately, recent renovations to the façades have removed many of the original ornamentation.

Born in Russia, Felson immigrated to the US with his parents in 1888. He studied at Cooper Union and began to practice architecture in 1910, becoming president of Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. in 1938. Felson specialized in designing apartment buildings, but also created movie theaters and private homes. Examples of is work can be found in the Upper West Side/Central Park West, Upper East Side, Riverside-West End, and Grand Concourse Historic Districts.

94-05 Queens Boulevard 
1976, Kahn and Jacobs

During most of the 20th century, this was the location of “Boulevard Tavern” or “The Boulevard.” Opened by owners Harry and Mabel Le Vay in 1929, for many years it was the only eatery in the area.

The Spanish style building could seat up to 500 people, and became a popular venue for locals and community leaders. It notably hosted politicians like John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy during the 1960s as they addressed their constituents. It was sold and demolished in 1973.

In its place, a large brick structure with a base of slab granite was built to house the AT&T Communications Center, and the Pinkerton Security Corp. The design was one of the last works of the famed architectural firm Kahn & Jacobs, founded by Ely Jacques Kahn, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. Although Kahn died in 1972, and Jacobs retired the following year, their office continued working steadily for the next few years, merging and eventually dissolving in 1978.