Douglaston–Little Neck Queens

Early settlement

The earliest known inhabitants of the area that would later become Douglaston–Little Neck were the Matinecock Native Americans, who thrived on the seafood in Little Neck Bay.

In the 17th century, early Dutch settlers were attracted to the region because of its fertile land and abundant fishing opportunities. European settlers began to settle in the area, drawn by its strategically located harbor. Subsequently, both the British and Dutch peacefully acquired control of the Matinecock lands, with the exception of a small area called Madnan’s Neck. Thomas Hicks, from the Hicks family, which later established Hicksville, along with a group of armed settlers, forcibly expelled the Matinecock in a confrontation at the present-day intersection of Northern Boulevard and Marathon Parkway.

19th century

In 1796, Thomas Hicks’s estate transitioned to Thomas Wickes, and later in 1819, to Wyant Van Zandt, a prosperous merchant who erected a grand Greek Revival mansion in the vicinity. Presently, this mansion serves as the home of the Douglaston Club, a private club offering amenities such as tennis courts, social gatherings, and swimming pools. In 1835, George Douglas purchased 240 acres of land, including Van Zandt’s mansion. Following Douglas’s passing in 1862, the estate passed on to his son, William Douglas.

Douglaston Hill, the oldest section of the neighborhood, features residences dating back to the turn of the 20th century, exhibiting Queen Anne and Victorian architectural styles. Laid out with expansive lots in 1853, it was part of an early movement in the United States aimed at creating suburban gardens. Designated as a New York City Historic District in December 2004 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Douglaston Hill Historic District was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

The settlers flourished by cultivating produce for the Manhattan market, with the area serving as a dock on Little Neck Bay. The Little Neck and Douglaston stations commenced operations in 1866 on the North Shore Railroad (now the Long Island Rail Road’s Port Washington Branch), catering to the community and dock area. Northern Boulevard evolved into a commercial and cultural center, featuring landmarks like the Little Neck Theater, a 576-seat cinema inaugurated in 1929 at the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Morgan Street. Sadly, the theater ceased operations in 1983.

Between the 1860s and the 1890s, small hard clams (quahogs) harvested from Little Neck Bay were esteemed delicacies, gracing the tables of prestigious restaurants in New York and various European capitals. Over time, the term “littleneck” or “littleneck clam” became a standardized size classification for all hard clams, irrespective of their origin.

20th century

In the early 20th century, the Rickert-Finlay Realty Company of Manhattan acquired 175 acres of the Douglas family’s land and established the Douglas Manor Association, initiating the development of a planned community. Many residences in this area were constructed in architectural styles popular at the time, including Tudor, Mediterranean, Colonial Revival, and Arts and Crafts. In 1997, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Douglas Manor as the Douglaston Historic District, ensuring that new constructions or external alterations would require the commission’s approval. Subsequently, the Douglaston Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

A historic Matinecock cemetery once stood on Northern Boulevard between Cornell Lane and Jesse Court. The cemetery was captured in one of the last photographs taken by the Daily News in August 1931, shortly before it was relocated to accommodate a widened Northern Boulevard. The cemetery’s remains were transferred to the Zion Episcopal Church of Douglaston and laid to rest beneath a stone marker inscribed with the words “Here rest the last of the Matinecoc.”

Other regions of Douglaston–Little Neck underwent development in the latter half of the 20th century. Douglaston Park boasts a blend of spacious older residences along with Capes, Tudors, and ranch-style homes dating from the 1960s. Areas adjacent to the Douglaston Shopping Center predominantly feature attached single-family homes built from the 1950s to the 1970s, such as Beech Hills, Deepdale, and a development colloquially referred to as the “Korvette’s Houses” due to the former proximity of an E.J. Korvette department store. Additionally, four-story condominiums were added in the mid-1980s.

In addition to the Douglaston Historic District and Douglaston Hill Historic District, both the Allen-Beville House and Cornelius Van Wyck House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.