Sunnyside Gardens Neighborhood History
Project
Between May and December 2000, Place
in History carried out a two-phase initiative to document
and publicize the history of Sunnyside Gardens, Queens, one
of America’s first planned Garden Suburbs.
In Phase I of the project, Place in History
conducted an in-depth examination of the past and present
of this pioneering housing development.
This effort focused on the
evolution of the Sunnyside community, and the history
of disputes over residents' right to lay claim to formerly
public space.
In the course of Phase I, Place in History
combed secondary sources, gathered primary records and memorabilia,
and interviewed those few longtime Sunnyside residents who
remember the community's first few decades of existence.
In Phase II, Place in History presented
its findings to the Sunnyside community in an innovative,
multimedia exhibition at the Fall 2000 Skillman Avenue street
fair.
Partners and Sponsors
Without the assistance and resources
of Dorothy Morehead, director of the Sunnyside Foundation,
this project would not have been possible; we at Place
in History are grateful to her for putting everything into
place and leading us to all of our sources.
In addition, we would like to thank Bea
Badian, Jerry Modica, and Maxine Shacker, who talked with
us at length about their memories of Sunnyside.
We also would like to acknowledge all
of the people who spoke with us at the Skillman Avenue Street
Fair, including:
Elena Acosta
Dan Allen
Isabel Bocchino
Anne Cody
Molla Corson
Kim Edel
Barbara Gilbert
Maria Guzman
Walter Iwachiw
Patricia Noel
Carole Smargon
Patrick Sweeney
Howard Weiner
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