The Rich History of Forest Hills
Forest Hills was first settled in the 1600s by English settlers who bought the land from Native Americans for three clay white pots. Consequently, at first, the town was named Whitepot. Yet in 1906, a successful businessman named Cord Meyer bought 600 acres of land in Whitepot, and he named it Forest Hills for its close proximity to Forest Park. In 1909, Margaret Sage bought 142 acres of land from Meyer and she came up with the idea of a planned community and as a result, built the Forest Hills Gardens. This was the first and oldest of planned communities in the country. Many well-known architects at the time had a hand in the project,including Fredrick Olmstead, Jr., son of legendary Olmstead Sr., who designed Central Park in Manhattan. He modeled this private community to English-style homes, embellishing Tudor and Colonial aspects on every house. He took a liking to curved streets and a local park, saying that one can increase the values of the houses in the community. In 1911, the Long Island Rail Road Company built a station right outside the entrance of the Gardens, and President Teddy Roosevelt spoke at the opening ceremony. Today, the Station Square is paved with bricks to commemorate the event.
Forest Hills today is made up of a very diverse community. It is both very urban and rural. Austin Street and Metropolitan Avenue include a huge variety of shops, some modern and some antique, that cater to any consumer’s needs. Yet when you hit the residential area, especially the Gardens, you can experience the peaceful atmosphere of the neighborhood.
Many famous people have lived in Forest Hills. Some notable celebrities include Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld, Donna Karan, and Helen Keller. The neighborhood is also home to Spiderman; Peter Parker lives at 20 ingram Street (one of the streets).
Forest Hills was first settled in the 1600s by English settlers who bought the land from Native Americans for three clay white pots. Consequently, at first, the town was named Whitepot. Yet in 1906, a successful businessman named Cord Meyer bought 600 acres of land in Whitepot, and he named it Forest Hills for its close proximity to Forest Park. In 1909, Margaret Sage bought 142 acres of land from Meyer and she came up with the idea of a planned community and as a result, built the Forest Hills Gardens. This was the first and oldest of planned communities in the country. Many well-known architects at the time had a hand in the project,including Fredrick Olmstead, Jr., son of legendary Olmstead Sr., who designed Central Park in Manhattan. He modeled this private community to English-style homes, embellishing Tudor and Colonial aspects on every house. He took a liking to curved streets and a local park, saying that one can increase the values of the houses in the community. In 1911, the Long Island Rail Road Company built a station right outside the entrance of the Gardens, and President Teddy Roosevelt spoke at the opening ceremony. Today, the Station Square is paved with bricks to commemorate the event.
Forest Hills today is made up of a very diverse community. It is both very urban and rural. Austin Street and Metropolitan Avenue include a huge variety of shops, some modern and some antique, that cater to any consumer’s needs. Yet when you hit the residential area, especially the Gardens, you can experience the peaceful atmosphere of the neighborhood.
Many famous people have lived in Forest Hills. Some notable celebrities include Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld, Donna Karan, and Helen Keller. The neighborhood is also home to Spiderman; Peter Parker lives at 20 ingram Street (one of the streets).
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