(1)
Jamaica Avenue, south side, between New York Boulevard, and 165th Street, showing Colonial Hall, now the Queensboro Public Library. The orginial[sic] building, known as the Union Hall Academy for boys, was erected in 1792 and used as such until 1820 when a new building for the academy was erected on the west side of Union Hall Street, just north of the Long Island Railroad tracks. The original building became a female Seminary under the trustees of the Union Hall Academy and was destroyed by fire on February 12, 1841. The cornerstone of the building in this view was laid on March 11, 1843 and the seminary was reopened in May of that year and was still used as such in 1876. This structure was subsequently owned by ex-sheriff Welliam[sic] Cass Baker who had it remodeled in 1897 when it became known as Colonial Hall. It was then used as a public hall and club rooms, subsequently becoming a family hotel and rooming house. In 1922 one of the branches of the Queensboro Public Library occupied it; it was razed in May 1923. On its site is now located the Stuart Building.
1891
Eugene L. Armbruster Collection
(2), (3)
The same, years later.
1922
Eugene L. Armbruster Collection
Photo from the New York Public Library - Milstein Collection
