Historical Society Exhibit Takes Flight

Spirits were as bubbly as the champagne on Saturday, when more than 200 people filled the Douglaston Club for “Flights of Fancy,” an exhibit of aerial and ground photography offering new perspectives on northern Douglaston and its rich history.

The Douglaston-Little Neck Historical Society hosted the event in collaboration with the Douglaston Village Local Development Corporation.

“[It’s] a view of the area that’s never been seen before by the local community,” said event chairwoman Lisa Lempel-Sander.

The name arose from the idea of comparing numerous photographs taken during mapping flights over the area between the 1920s and 1950s by the Fairchild Company and recent Google Earth images.

In addition to gaining a broadened view of the neighborhood, guests enjoyed wine and desserts and were able to participate in a ring toss for donated vintages and raffles.

They were also treated to vision of what could be done with area around the neighborhood’s Long Island Rail Road station, including a clock tower for the station plaza and refurbishment of the storefronts, landscaping and pedestrian areas.

“We want to see a restoration of Douglaston Village and improvements in the area,” said architect Kevin Wolfe, a co-founder of the historical society.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by President of the Historical Society, Julia Schoeck, Lempel-Sander and internationally renowned planning expert Robert Yaro, who is president of the Regional Plan Association.

Other dignitaries attending included State Senator Tony Avella, D-Bayside, Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, D-Bayside, and Judge George Grasso, a Douglaston resident.

Extensive planning, numerous donations and a lot of hard work was required to convert the entire floor of the old Douglas brothers’ mansion at 600 West Drive into an art gallery, organizers said.

For more information, visit www.dlnhs.org.