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Richard George, the president and founder of the BBPA, donated the records to the Archives at Queens Library.
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Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a photograph its control number. The Beachside Bungalow Preservation Association of Far Rockaway Inc. Records, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
The Beachside Bungalows Preservation Association of Far Rockaway Inc. (BBPA) was formed by Betzie Parker White of 197 Beach 24th Street; Roger White (at that time was Betzie's ex-husband) of 172 Beach 24th Street; and Carole Lewis of 168-A Beach 24th Street, 174-A, 187 and189 Beach 24th Streets in September 1984. Ms. White was the head or was titled the Chairman. Ms. White established the organization as a non-profit 501 (c) 3 on December 1988.
The purpose of this organization is to improve the quality of life in Far Rockaway by embarking on neighborhood improvement, preservation, education and cultural programs, primarily from Beach 24-27th Street and to “preserve the bungalows because they’re a piece of the city’s history and a reminder of what the Rockaways was” as stated by Richard George to the New York Newsday in 1989.
Ms. White and Mr. White are deceased.
Richard George became a Board Member in 1985 and then Chairman in about 1990. He served on the Board of Director as President until 1991. In 1991 he went off the board to be the Director and work in the office funded by the New York Foundation headed by Madeline Lee. (Richard George Email January 10, 2009)
Born to Alfred and Carmela George, Mr. George grew up watching his activist mother form the 97th Place Block Association in Corona, Queens. As a youth Richard George often went to the Rockaways in the summer and grew an affinity to the area. In 1979 Richard George began his career in antique porcelain and lacquer restoration in New York City. Richard George and had an extensive clientele. He learned the importance of preserving of important artifacts from early China to Europe and the United States. In 1982 when he was looking for a summer place found the bungalows in Far Rockaway to be an ideal waterfront location in Queens and close to Manhattan. Through his preservation work Mr. George saw the importance of preserving these rare and endangered bungalow structures of Rockaway's early twentieth century heyday. In 1986 bought and moved into his own bungalow in 1986. Upon moving into the neighborhood Richard George saw the sharp contrast between the beauty of the waterfront and the surrounding degradation of the community and decided to join the BBPA to help combat many of the issues plaguing the area.
The Rockaways, with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Jamaica Bay to the north, is an 11 mile peninsula off the southern corner of Queens. The allure of the beach and the proximity of New York City brought beachfront communities in the early twentieth century with a host of middle class neighbors into the area, primarily of Jewish and Irish heritage, making the area a seaside resort and the city’s favorite playground, as described by the New York Times (Kaplan, 1997). Many middle and working class households escaped to the Rockaways on either daytrips or took longer getaways by renting one of the many bungalows that were in the area at the time. A small number of residents owned their bungalows and were part of the year-round community (Kaplan). After World War II for a variety of reasons too numerous and complicated to delve into in this creator’s sketch much of the Rockaways stopped becoming a destination for vacationers. The Rockaways’ western enclave of Rockaway Park, Belle Harbor and Neoponsit has managed to withstand the difficulties that have plagued the rest of the Rockaways, for many reasons, including political influence and segregated housing policies (Kaplan and Stein, S. (1987). Therefore, upon speaking of the difficulties of the Rockaways, the writer of this creator’s sketch concentrates on the eastern part of the Rockaways.
The 1950’s and 1960’s saw many public housing developments built and soon Rockaway contained over fifty percent of all the housing projects in the borough (Kaplan). The arrival of nursing homes and group homes established for released mental patients created a further burden for the local economy and city services (Kaplan). The 1970’s saw the budget of New York City decrease and with it came cuts to city services, such as cuts to schools, libraries, hospitals, parks, sanitation, and the police and fire department. During this decade, poverty tripled and “while the entire city suffered and bled from these reductions, declining neighborhoods such as the Rockaways hemorrhaged” (Kaplan).
The trends evident since World War II were still being seen in the 1980’s. Richard George saw these problems and wanted to improve the quality of life for himself and the residents of the bungalows from Beach 24th – Beach 27th Street. With the help of concerned year round residents Richard George and the BBPA sought to improve the quality of life in the Rockaways. They sought to procure grants for a variety of projects, such as the acquirement of a windmill to reduce energy, summer art classes for youths and street cleanup among others. Their efforts were rewarded in 1990 when the BBPA received a $30,000 grant from the non-profit New York Foundation to set up an office, hire two staff workers and organize programs for the community, therefore establishing the BBPA as a legitimate organization.
The activities of the BBPA have included but not limited to the production of a quarterly newsletter, community clean-ups, an annual Art and Culture Street Fair, an eight week summer fine arts course for youths, emergency food programs, establishing a community garden, baseball summer league for youths, application assistance for residents for telephone, gas, electric and housing, and a block watch.
Some of his accomplishments over the years include greening programs, a new ramp for Beach 24th Street and the recent rezoning to the neighborhood character and height and scale of the bungalows. There is a renewed interest in the area from creative people in New York who do not want to travel far to enjoy the beautiful beaches and Atlantic Ocean.
As of the writing of this finding aid, the BBPA is in existence and Richard George still lives in Far Rockaway.
The Beachside Bungalows Preservation Association of Far Rockaway, Inc. (BBPA) Records document the everyday activities of the organization, the founder, Richard George and life in Far Rockaway, Queens. Much of the records consist of Richard George and the BBPA’s activism to improve the quality of life in Far Rockaway through neighborhood improvement, preservation, education and cultural programs, primarily from Beach 24-27th St. The records are in the form of artwork, correspondence, dvd’s, financial records, maps, newspaper clippings, photographs and posters to, from and about government agencies, politicians, civic leaders and neighbors.
Arrangement: Folders are arranged by subject and the contents of the folders are in chronological order.
Organization: Folders are grouped by series, sub-series and sub-sub-series.
Researchers must use this scope and content note in combination with the creators sketch and inventory to uncover pertinent information.
The series Blue Cross (1 folder, 1992) contains letters from BBPA to the insurer Empire Blue Cross and local politicians in support of “ending an unfair, discriminatory practice by for-profit insurers that cause higher rates for customers of not-for-profit insurers like Empire Blue Cross.”
The series City of New York Parks and Recreation (4 folders, 1992-1995) contains correspondence from the BBPA to local politicians and the City of New York Parks and Recreation of the BBPA’s efforts in mass cleanup and landscaping of Beach 24-Beach 27th street. The sub-series Bus Trips is in regards to programs offered by the City of New York Parks and Recreation as well as the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum for free group transportation along with seasonal field trip programs. One should also examine related series Daytrips (1 folder, 1993); and Fieldtrips (1 folder, ca. 1993).
The series Clippings (7 folders, 1984, 1986-1993, 1995, 2008) contains newspaper clippings about life in Far Rockaway, both past and present. As well as information on Richard George, BBPA and the bungalows including the annual street fair, landmark status, illegal demolition of bungalows and the Kissena Corridor.
The series Department of State (1 folder, 1991) contains correspondence from the BBPA to the Department of State regarding inquiries into potential funding sources.
The series Derech Emunoh Synagogue (1 folder, 1993) contains correspondence from the BBPA to local politicians regarding the preservation of the synagogue and of the BBPA’s support.
The series Easement Information (2 folders, 1988-1992, 2000) contains correspondence from the BBPA to and from lawyers, local politicians and Zion Halili regarding easement abuse by two distinct entities, Goldfarb Properties and Zion Halili/Far Rockaway Associates.
The series Food Program (24 folders, 1991-1995) is in regards to the emergency food pantry established by Richard George to help feed over 200 residents. One should also examine related series Catholic Charities (1 folder, 1992-1993); City Harvest (1 folder, 1992); Coalition Against Hunger (1 folder, 1992-1994); Community Food Resource Center (1 folder, 1993-1994); Food Guide Resources (1 folder, ca. 1991); Human Resources Administration (6 folders, 1992-1995); Interfaith (2 folders, 1991, 1993-1994); and Rockaway Food Committee (1 folder, 1992).
The series Grant Applications (12 folders, 1988, 1990-1995) are either requests for applications, submissions of, or awarded grants. The researcher should also consult Chase Manhattan Bank (1 folder, 1993-1994); Funding Requests (1 folder, 1990-1992).
The series Good Day New York (1 folder, 1991) documents the BBPA’s efforts to promote the mural project as well as the work of the BBPA in the community on the television program.
The series Greening Project (1 folder, 1991) is about the BBPA’s effort of the cleaning and greening of Far Rockaway, particularly between Beach 24th-27th street. With the aid of the City of New York Parks and Recreation, the Council on the Environment of New York City, Open Space Greening Program and Operation Greenthumb the BBPA was able to lease a plot of land and plant a community garden, they also planted a variety of fauna in and around the neighborhood. The researcher should also consult City of New York Parks and Recreation (4 folders, 1992-1995); Clippings, 7 folders (1984, 1986-1993, 1995, 2008); The Council on the Environment (1 folder, 1991-1992); Country Gardens (1 folder, 1992-1993); Green Thumb (2 folders, 1991-1994).
The series Land Use Committee Meeting, (1 dvd, 2008) is a dvd documents a meeting to rezone parts of the Rockaways.
The series Street Fair (31 folders, 1986, 1988-1993) contains information on the annual street fair organized by the BPPA and includes vendor lists and inquiries, photographs of street fairs from 1990 and 1991, expenses and receipts, original artwork by students for the poster contest, list of entertainment and their contracts. The researcher should also consult Clippings, 7 folders (1984, 1986-1993, 1995, 2008).
The series Tours (6 dvd’s, 1996, 2002, 2008) are dvd’s regarding tours of the bungalows and life in the Rockaways.
The series Wavecrest (3 folders, 1991, 1998-1999) documents the BBPA’s efforts in stopping Goldfarb Properties from eliminating the Wavecrest Gardens public pedestrian walkway located between Beach 25th street, Beach 19th street, Seagirt boulevard and the public beach. The researcher should also consult the series Easement Information (2 folders, 1988-1992,2000).
The series Work Memos (1 folder, 1991) are memoranda, typed and handwritten to various office employees of BBPA.
Folders are arranged by subject and the contents of the folders are in chronological order.
Folders are grouped by series, sub-series and sub-sub-series.
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]