Part of a land grant to Dutch settlers from
New Netherland Governor
Peter Stuyvesant in 1655, the area, like much of Queens, remained farmland and forest for most of the next two centuries.
By the 1800s, the lands of four families—the Remsens, Everitts, Ludlums, and Hendricksons—formed the nucleus of this sprawling farm community in the eastern portion of the Town of Jamaica. In 1814, when the Village of Jamaica (the first village on Long Island) was incorporated, its (the village's) boundaries extended eastward to Freeman's Path (now Farmers Boulevard), and south to Lazy Lane (called Central Avenue in 1900, then Foch Boulevard in the 1920s,[a][10][9][11] thus including parts of present-day St. Albans.[12]
In 1852, the old mill pond that is now at the center of
Baisley Pond Park was acquired by the
Brooklynwaterworks for use as a reservoir.[13]
Later development
In 1872, the
Long Island Rail Road's
Cedarhurst Cut-off was built through the area, but no stop appears on the first timetables. In 1892, an area called Francis Farm was surveyed and developed for housing. There were numerous Francis families farming in the eastern portion of the Town of Jamaica in the 1880s.[14]Francis Lewis Boulevard (named for a signer of the Declaration of Independence, from Queens), which does not yet appear on maps from 1909,[15] nor in 1910,[16] is now the eastern boundary of St. Albans.
Soon, the first street lights illuminated the crossroads that is now
Linden Boulevard and Farmers Boulevard. New shops clustered around August Everitt's lone store. By July 1, 1898, the
St. Albans Long Island Rail Road station opened where the tracks crossed Locust Avenue (now Baisley Boulevard).[17][18] The station was razed and replaced with the current,
grade separated station on October 15, 1935.
In 1899, a year after Queens became part of New York City (and with the Town of Jamaica and the Village of Jamaica thereby dissolved), the new post office for the 600 residents[19]
was named St. Albans, after
St Albans in Hertfordshire, England, which itself was named after a
Saint Alban, thought to be the first Christian
martyred in England. The name had been in use for the area since at least 1894 for the name of the school district,[20]
and the LIRR station was named St. Albans when it opened in 1898. A 1909 map also shows a St Albans Avenue and a St Albans Place in the area.[15][21]
The site was originally occupied by the St. Albans Golf Course and Country Club,[22][23] which was completed in 1915.[24] The club brought rich and famous golfers, including baseball star
Babe Ruth,[25] and hosted the 1930
Metropolitan Amateur.[26] The Depression forced the golf course owners to try to sell, but plans for private development fell through. The land was seized by the federal government in 1942,[22]
and construction soon began on the
St. Albans Naval Hospital,[27] which opened in 1943.[28][29]
After construction was completed in 1950, the hospital had 3000 beds and contained a network of 76 wards.[25] The hospital was turned over to the
Veterans Administration in 1974,[30] reopening as a VA hospital two years later,[31] and more recently evolved into the Veterans Administration St. Albans Primary and Extended Care Facility.[23] A portion of the hospital site became
Roy Wilkins Park in the 1980s.[32]
Addisleigh Park subsection
Within St. Albans is the small western enclave of Addisleigh Park, a U.S.
historic district that consists of single-family homes built in a variety of styles between the 1910s and 1930s. Though originally intended as a
segregated community for
white people only, from the late 1930s many notable
African Americans have lived there.[5] Today, it remains a predominantly African American & Jamaican enclave that is more upscale than surrounding areas in southeast Queens.[33]
Between 1900 and 1940, the village of Addisleigh Park was developed by a handful of eminent white entrepreneurs including Edwin H. Brown, Gerald C. English, and Alexander Rodman.[34] Restrictive covenants were established to prohibit the sale of any of its properties to blacks.[35] A 1926 New York Times article insists, "Addisleigh, together with the St. Albans Golf Club, was laid out under the personal direction of Edwin H. Brown, and carries a land and house restriction of the highest type."[36] Two lawsuits were filed successfully by white residents who accused their neighbors of breaking the contractual segregation imposed on the neighborhood by its developers. Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the New York Historic Districts Council, says about this backlash, "It was unpleasant, as it was a case of a number of narrow-minded neighbors trying to fight what they saw as an invasion of unwanted people in their area."[37] Affluent white New York City-based public figures moved into Addisleigh Park to experience the privacy of suburban seclusion. Addisleigh Park boasted well-kept rows of
Tudor and
Colonial homes. The neighborhood's close proximity to Manhattan allowed for quick and frequent commuting. During the
Swing Era, Manhattan's
52nd Street served as the epicenter of
Swing Era live entertainment and musical innovation. For this reason, many successful African American jazz musicians began to recognize Addisleigh Park as the newest suburban haven for wealthy, influential artists.
In 1948, the United States Supreme Court ruled that racially restrictive covenants violated the equal-protection clause of the 14th Amendment, though by that year, Addisleigh Park had already become a haven for world-famous African Americans in jazz and sports.[38] The neighborhood was declared a historic district by the
NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2011.[5]
Demographics
Based on data from the
2010 United States Census, the population of St. Albans was 48,593, a change of -1,453 (-3%) from the 50,046 counted in
2000. Covering an area of 1,778.68 acres (719.81 ha), the neighborhood had a population density of 27.3 inhabitants per acre (17,500/sq mi; 6,700/km2).[2]
The entirety of Community Board 12, which mainly comprises Jamaica but also includes St. Albans and Hollis, had 232,911 inhabitants as of
NYC Health's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 80.5 years.[39]: 2, 20 This is slightly lower than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods.[40]: 53 (PDF p. 84) [41] Most inhabitants are youth and middle-aged adults: 22% are between the ages of between 0–17, 27% between 25 and 44, and 27% between 45 and 64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents was lower, at 10% and 14% respectively.[39]: 2
As of 2017, the median
household income in Community Board 12 was $61,670.[42] In 2018, an estimated 20% of St. Albans and Jamaica residents lived in poverty, compared to 19% in all of Queens and 20% in all of New York City. One in eight residents (12%) were unemployed, compared to 8% in Queens and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 56% in St. Albans and Jamaica, higher than the boroughwide and citywide rates of 53% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018[update], St. Albans and Jamaica are considered to be high-income relative to the rest of the city and not
gentrifying.[39]: 7
Housing
St. Albans housing consists mostly of detached, one and two-family homes.
Linden Boulevard is the major shopping street. In 2011 The New York Times reported that many foreclosures were occurring and there was a high level of unemployment. At that time, many black people were moving from St. Albans to the
Southern United States.[43]
Police and crime
South Jamaica and St. Albans are patrolled by the
NYPD's 113th Precinct, located at 167-02 Baisley Boulevard.[6] The 113th Precinct ranked 55th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010.[44][45] The 113th Precinct also has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 86.1% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct reported 5 murders, 28 rapes, 156 robberies, 383 felony assaults, 153 burglaries, 414 grand larcenies, and 138 grand larcenies auto in 2018.[46]
Engine Company 275/Ladder Company 133 – 111-36 Merrick Boulevard[48]
Engine Company 317/Ladder Company 165/Battalion 54, at 117-11 196th Street.[49]
Health
As of 2018[update],
preterm births and births to teenage mothers are more common in St. Albans and Jamaica than in other places citywide. In St. Albans and Jamaica, there were 10 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 21.4 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide).[39]: 11 St. Albans and Jamaica have a low population of residents who are
uninsured. In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 5%, lower than the citywide rate of 12%.[39]: 14
The concentration of
fine particulate matter, the deadliest type of
air pollutant, in St. Albans and Jamaica is 0.007 milligrams per cubic metre (7.0×10−9 oz/cu ft), less than the city average.[39]: 9 Eight percent of St. Albans and Jamaica residents are
smokers, which is lower than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers.[39]: 13 In St. Albans and Jamaica, 30% of residents are
obese, 16% are
diabetic, and 37% have
high blood pressure—compared to the citywide averages of 22%, 8%, and 23% respectively.[39]: 16 In addition, 23% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%.[39]: 12
Eighty-six percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which is slightly less than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 82% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", higher than the city's average of 78%.[39]: 13 For every supermarket in St. Albans and Jamaica, there are 20
bodegas.[39]: 10
St. Albans is covered by the
ZIP Code 11412.[51] The
United States Post Office operates two post offices nearby: the Saint Albans Station at 195-04 Linden Boulevard[52] and the Rochdale Village Station at 165-100 Baisley Boulevard.[53]
St. Albans Park is bounded by Merrick Boulevard, Sayres Avenue, and Marne Place. It includes facilities for cricket, handball, and tennis, as well as fitness equipment, playground, and spray showers. The land was acquired by the city for use as a park in 1914, and it was slightly expanded in 1968.[55]
Roy Wilkins Park is located between 115th Avenue and Merrick and Baisley Boulevards. It contains facilities for baseball, basketball, cricket, handball, swimming, tennis, and track-and-field, as well as a recreation center, fitness equipment, playground, and spray showers. The land, formerly a naval hospital, was given to the city in 1977.[56] It is named for civil rights activist
Roy Wilkins.[57]
Daniel M. O'Connell Playground is located between Murdock Avenue, 112th Road, and 197th and 198th Street. It contains basketball and handball courts, fitness equipment, a play area, and spray showers. The playground is named for World War I veteran Daniel M. O'Connell.[59]
Liberty Rock is a boulder in Liberty Triangle park at the intersection of Farmers Blvd. and Liberty Ave.[60]
The Liberty Rock is a symbol of the history and culture of the African American community in St. Albans. The painting of the rock in red, black, and green, the colors of the Pan-African flag, represents the community's commitment to civil rights, group identity, and fostering ties between all people of African descent. The location of the rock, at the intersection of St. Albans and Hollis neighborhoods in Jamaica, highlights its significance as a shared symbol for the entire community. The Liberty Rock serves as a symbol of resistance and resilience, reminding the community of its rich cultural heritage and ongoing struggle for equality and justice.[61]
Education
St. Albans and Jamaica generally have a lower rate of college-educated residents than the rest of the city as of 2018[update]. While 29% of residents age 25 and older have a college education or higher, 19% have less than a high school education and 51% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 39% of Queens residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher.[39]: 6 The percentage of St. Albans and Jamaica students excelling in math rose from 36% in 2000 to 55% in 2011, and reading achievement increased slightly from 44% to 45% during the same time period.[62]
St. Albans and Jamaica's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is more than the rest of New York City. In St. Albans and Jamaica, 22% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per
school year, higher than the citywide average of 20%.[40]: 24 (PDF p. 55) [39]: 6 Additionally, 74% of high school students in St. Albans and Jamaica graduate on time, about the same as the citywide average of 75%.[39]: 6
Schools
Public
Public schools are operated by the
New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). St. Albans contains the following public elementary schools which serve grades PK-5 unless otherwise indicated:
W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963), sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author and editor. W. E. B. Du Bois and
Shirley Graham Du Bois, both lived at 173-19 113th Road[73]
Roy Wilkins (1901–1981), longtime NAACP Head, Civil Rights activist[78]
Jazz legacy
Famous stride pianist
Fats Waller was the first well-known musician to move into Addisleigh Park at the peak of his career in the late 1930s. Waller had grown up in the Church (his father was a pastor).[100] He subsequently had his home in Addisleigh Park fashioned with a built-in Hammond organ.[101] He died in 1943 from bronchial pneumonia.
In 1937, jazz pianist and bandleader
Count Basie moved his orchestra from Kansas City to New York. Count Basie's orchestra performed at world-famous Manhattan venues including the
Roseland Ballroom, the
Savoy Ballroom, and the Woodside Hotel. In 1946, Basie and his wife, Katy, bought a home in Addisleigh Park, where the couple lived until 1973 when it was sold to bandleader/singer/pianist, Robert (Bubber) Johnson.[102]
Singer, film actress, and Civil Rights Activist
Lena Horne also moved into the Addisleigh Park neighborhood in the year 1946.
Soon after Horne, jazz trumpeter and bandleader
Mercer Ellington, son of jazz great
Duke Ellington, moved into Addisleigh Park in 1948. Eight years earlier, he had worked for renowned jazz trumpeter
Cootie Williams as his road manager. Cootie Williams bought a home in Addisleigh Park in 1947.[103] While residing in Addisleigh Park, Mercer Ellington employed
Dizzy Gillespie,
Kenny Dorham, and
Charles Mingus. Throughout the 1940s, Mercer and his father, Duke Ellington, frequently borrowed musicians from one another's ensembles.
Saxophonist
Earl Bostic moved to Addisleigh Park in 1948, the same year Bostic's sextet hit success with their first single "Temptation".[104] Bostic was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the early 1930s, he played with Midwestern territory bands before moving to New York City in 1938 to play with Don Redman. Bostic's second hit, "Flamingo", was produced in 1951, while he was still living in Addisleigh Park. In 1956, Bostic and his wife left Addisleigh Park to settle in Los Angeles. Earl Bostic died onstage from a heart attack in Rochester, New York, in 1965.
Bostic's neighbors on Murdock Avenue were
Ella Fitzgerald and her then-husband, famous bassist and cellist
Ray Brown. Fitzgerald owned her Addisleigh Park home from 1949 until 1956.[105] During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Fitzgerald had become one of the most recognizable names of wide-release swing music in the United States. She met Brown in 1946 while on tour with Dizzy Gillespie's band.[106] The couple divorced in 1952.[106] Between the years 1949 and 1956, Fitzgerald sang scat with various bebop bands. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush in 1992.[107]
Vicksburg, Mississippi native and famous jazz bassist
Milt Hinton moved into Addisleigh Park in 1950.[101] In his younger years, he had lived and worked in Chicago alongside celebrated jazz musicians Art Tatum and Eddie South. He moved to New York City for a job in Cab Calloway's orchestra in 1936. Hinton bought a home on 113th Avenue in Addisleigh Park in 1950. He lived in the neighborhood until his death in 2000.
Saxophonist
John Coltrane bought a home on Mexico Street in Addisleigh Park in the year 1959.[108] Coltrane had just met tremendous critical success after his collaborations with
Thelonious Monk and
Miles Davis. In January 1960, Coltrane released Giant Steps, his first album with Atlantic Records. Giant Steps is considered to be the album that catapulted Coltrane into jazz legend.
^The name Foch was chosen to honor Marshal
Ferdinand Foch, following World War I.[8] While most of Foch Boulevard still exists, the alignment east of Farmers Boulevard is now part of
Linden Boulevard.[9]
^"1929... News". Archived from
the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010. LOWERRE Secured Light Charles LOWERRE, treasurer of the St. Albans Lions Club, has succeeded in having the Police Department promise to put a traffic control light at the Foch and Farmers boulevard intersection at St. Albans.
^Gottlieb, Jeff (January 2006).
"History of Jamaica"(PDF). Central Queens Historical Association. Archived from
the original(PDF) on July 13, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
^"Baisley Pond Park". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^
ab"1909 map". Archived from
the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2009. St Albans Avenue was name of 118th Ave east of 196th Street. (Francis Lewis Boulevard is not on the map.) Also, St. Albans Place was the name of 121st Road. (See
Queens, NY, Street Name Changes 1914-May 1951.)
^
abSystem, VA NY Harbor Healthcare (April 15, 2013).
"Veterans Affairs". VA NY Harbor Health Care System. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
^"The New St. Albans Golf Course". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 25, 1914. p. 37. Retrieved January 9, 2020 – via Brooklyn Public Library; newspapers.com .
^
abHirshon, Nicholas (April 8, 2008).
"Queens building boom knocking out link to players like Babe Ruth". NY Daily News. Archived from
the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2009. To build the U.S. Naval Hospital at Linden Blvd. and 179th St. in 1950, crews destroyed the historic St. Albans Golf Club, where Yankees icon Babe Ruth played regularly from the late 1920s through the 1940s.
See also:
^
abcJohnson, Kirk (February 2, 1997).
"Black Workers Bear Big Burden As Jobs in Government Dwindle". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2007. Its roots and its reputation as New York's premier black middle class enclave go back further than that, to the 1940s, when Count Basie and Lena Horne and Jackie Robinson and Hal Jackson made their homes in St. Albans.
^
abcCowan, Jane.
"Addisleigh Park: Enclave of Greats in African-American History, Wholly Intact 20th Century Garden City Suburb and Site of Important American Housing History." Historic Districts Council (2008) . Accessed March 9, 2009.
^Hamill, Denis.
"Shine Light On Karl Grossman"Archived September 28, 2020, at the
Wayback Machine, The Independent, February 11, 2020. "If you visit Fire Island on Valentine’s Day with someone special and marvel at the preserved natural beauty, give thanks that a gutsy kid reporter named Karl Grossman from St. Albans, Queens biked east as a young man because he fell in love with newspapering and a Long Island gal named Janet Kopp at Antioch College."
^Keepnews, Peter.
"His Big Break Canceled, Comic Adapts", The New York Times, March 31, 2005. Accessed June 12, 2023. "Mr. Bodden, 42, who begins a four-night headlining engagement at Carolines on Broadway tonight, is a former jet mechanic from St. Albans, Queens."
^Ambrose, David.
"Alex Katz's Early Drawings Reveal His Potential", Whitehot, June 2017. Accessed November 18, 2023. "Many of these drawings were made while riding the E Line from his families’ home in St. Alban’s, Queens to the East Village and back."