Old Quaker Meeting House (Queens) facts for kids
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Old Quaker Meetinghouse
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 Location in New York City
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| Location | 137-16 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, Queens in New York, New York |
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| Built | 1694-1719 |
| Architectural style | American colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 67000015 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 24, 1967 |
| Designated NHL | December 24, 1967 |
The Old Quaker Meeting House in Flushing, Queens, New York City, is a very old and important building. It's a historic Quaker place of worship, built way back in 1694. Today, it's still used by the Quakers for their Sunday meetings. Because of its long history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1967. It also became a New York City designated landmark in 1970.
Contents
A Look Back: The Meetinghouse's Story
Building a Place of Worship
The Old Quaker Meeting House started as a small wooden building in 1694. It was built on land bought by John Bowne and John Rodman. The first meeting there happened on November 24, 1694. This first part is now the eastern third of the building you see today. The building was made bigger between 1716 and 1719. It was the second Quaker meeting house on Long Island. The first one, built in Oyster Bay in 1672, is no longer standing.
Standing Up for Freedom
Quakers came to the area from the Netherlands in 1657. They met in people's homes at first. One person, Henry Townsend, was fined for letting Quakers meet in his home. Quakers were not always welcome back then. They even met in secret in the woods sometimes.
Later, John Bowne offered his home for meetings. He was sent away to Holland for refusing to pay a fine. But he came back two years later to fight for religious freedom. The group wrote the Flushing Remonstrance. This was a letter asking for religious freedom for everyone. In 1663, a letter was sent to Governor Stuyvesant. It asked him to stop treating Quakers badly.
Inside the meeting house, there's a special wall that can be moved up and down. This wall used to separate men and women during business meetings. After their separate discussions, the wall would be raised for the main religious meeting.
A War-Time Hospital
During the American Revolutionary War, the British Army took over the Meeting House. In 1776, they used it as a place for soldiers to sleep. It was also a prison and a hospital. After the war ended in 1783, the Quakers got their building back. They started using it for worship again.
Keeping the Building Safe
By 1976, the old building needed many repairs. Its strong wooden parts were getting old. A team of volunteers helped check the site. They looked for old items under the floor. This helped them plan how to fix the building safely.
In 2005, the city set aside money for more repairs. These repairs would fix the roof, gutters, and windows. Even though the building needs work, it is still open. Meetings and Sunday School still happen there every week.
The Historic Graveyard
The Old Quaker Meeting House has a graveyard with many unmarked graves. These graves are very important to the Religious Society of Friends. In 2012, there were concerns about a construction company working next to the graveyard. The Quaker community worried that some graves might have been disturbed.
Many old graves don't have headstones with names. This was a common practice long ago. Some people believe that John Bowne and his wives might be buried there. The Quaker community is working to make sure this historic graveyard is protected.
Why It's a Landmark
The Friends Meeting House in Flushing is a very special place. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1967. This means it's one of the most important historic sites in the whole country.
In 1970, it also became a New York City Landmark. The city said it has "special historical and aesthetic interest." They noted it shows how New York City grew and changed. It's also the oldest place of worship still standing in the city. The building is a great example of early American colonial architecture.
See also
- John Bowne House
- List of the oldest Christian denominations in the United States
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Queens
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Queens
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New York City
