Mall Eighteen facts for kids

Mall Eighteen is a special park in New York City. The city bought this land in 1913 and finished making it a park in 1918. Back then, the eastern part of this park was a busy area for the College Point Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station. The park is named after 18th Avenue, where it is located.

The Story of College Point

The area around College Point was first settled in 1645. That's when Dutch Governor Willem Kieft bought the land. He then let Dutch and English families live there. College Point got its name from St. Paul's College. This college was open for a short time, from 1838 to 1850.

Growth and the Railroad

College Point was mostly a quiet, rural town until the mid-1850s. Then, a rubber factory boss named Conrad Poppenhusen came to the area. He helped it grow quickly with new factories and businesses. To bring more people and customers to College Point, Poppenhusen paid for a train line. This was the Whitestone Branch of the LIRR, built in 1869.

The train line ended at Whitestone Landing. Each train station along the way had lovely Victorian-style buildings. In its early years, College Point was a popular place for summer fun. People enjoyed its places to eat and stay by the water. The area around the train station became the main center for the village of College Point.

Remembering Our Veterans

In 1930, American Legion Post 853 shared names of local soldiers. This group of war veterans from College Point listed those who died in World War I. A stone monument was built to honor them. It has 20 names on a bronze plaque. When it was first put up, the monument also had two captured cannons, cannonballs, and a flagpole.

The Railroad's End

During the Prohibition (when alcohol was illegal), many places to eat and hotels in College Point closed. Fewer people rode the Whitestone Branch train line too. The LIRR suggested letting the city use the railway as a subway line. But the city didn't agree. So, the LIRR decided to close the line.

On February 16, 1932, the very last train left College Point. The busy streets around Mall Eighteen became quiet. The old train station was turned into a warehouse.

Mall Eighteen Today

The College Point War Memorial is still there today. It shows how much the neighborhood cares about its community. It remembers its veterans in a place that was once the heart of the town. This spot also used to connect College Point to the rest of the city.