Council Member Robert Holden and Newtown Historical Society Team Up to Showcase the Area’s Evolution

Newtown Historical Society is pleased to announce that its latest exhibit, “Historic Maps of Newtown,” is now on display at 58-38 69 Street, 2nd Floor, during regular business hours at Council Member Robert Holden’s office. The exhibit covers all of what was Newtown Township, situated between the East and Flushing Rivers.

The collection contains 19th and 20th century maps by publishers such as Wolverton, Dripps, Belcher Hyde, and FW Beers, as well as a gigantic planning map of the Interboro Parkway from 1933, a never-built traffic diversion proposal for Broadway and Queens Blvd from 1924, a panoramic view of Kew Gardens at Queens Blvd from 1936, and an aerial photograph of Middle Village from 1931. Several of the items are believed to be one-of-a-kind.

Regarding the 3×12 foot Interboro Parkway map, Christina Wilkinson, President of Newtown Historical Society, stated, “You can picture Robert Moses leaning over this map, examining the path the highway would take. It’s a huge and incredibly detailed hand-drawn sketch.”

The exhibit is a mix of items from the collections of Council Member Holden and NHS.

“I have been collecting historic maps and photos for decades and it is my pleasure to display some of them alongside Newtown Historical Society’s collection,” said Council Member Holden. “I thank Christina Wilkinson and the Newtown Historical Society for bringing this wonderful exhibition to the office for the public to see.”

The exhibit will be on display through the end of 2025.