Fresh Meadows Queens

Early history

The origins of the name “Fresh Meadows” trace back to the period before the American Revolution. This area, once part of the Town of Flushing, was characterized by extensive salt meadows, similar to the original “Flushing Meadows”. However, the hilly terrain south and east of the village of Flushing boasted freshwater springs, giving rise to lush “fresh meadows”. Fresh Meadows Road, which follows a similar path today under various names including Fresh Meadows Lane and part of Utopia Parkway, served as a crucial route from the landing place at Whitestone to the village of Jamaica. In 1805, James Smith advertised the sale of his 60-acre farm “on the road to Fresh Meadows and Flushing” in The Evening Post.

During the American Revolution, British troops marched through the area, and General Benedict Arnold and his troops utilized farms in the vicinity. General Arnold even conducted drills with his troops on the current location of M.S. 216. To facilitate the movement of military supplies from British ships at Whitestone Landing to the troops encamped further east, a new road was constructed, connecting Fresh Meadows Road with Hempstead. This road originated near the intersection of Utopia Parkway and 73rd Avenue, close to a local landmark along Fresh Meadows Road known as the “Black Stump” – a large tree struck by lightning and burned. The road derived its name from this distinctive feature and became known as “Black Stump Road”.

Parsons Nurseries and Kissena Park

In 1868, Samuel Parsons established Parsons Nurseries, one of the earliest commercial gardens, near what is now Fresh Meadows Lane. Parsons Nurseries played a pivotal role in introducing exotic trees and shrubs to the United States. Through a team of collectors, they sourced exotic plants from around the world, and their advertisements in gardening magazines showcased these unique specimens. By the late 1880s, Parsons Nurseries was annually importing 10,000 Japanese maples into the United States, facilitated by Swiss immigrant John R. Trumpy. Additionally, Parsons Nurseries was responsible for introducing the California privet to the United States from Japan. Samuel Parsons’ sons, Samuel Bowne Parsons and Robert Bowne Parsons, later assumed control of the nursery. Samuel Bowne Parsons, in particular, contributed significantly to the revitalization of Central Park’s plantations while serving as Superintendent of Parks in 1886.

Samuel Bowne Parsons bestowed the name “Kissena” upon the lake on his property, believing it to be derived from the Chippewa word meaning “it is cold”. Originally used as a mill pond, Kissena Lake later became a site for ice cutting, a process where surface ice from lakes and rivers is collected and stored in ice houses for use or sale as a cooling method, predating the availability of mechanical refrigeration. The lake also served as a habitat for wood ducks throughout the 1900s. Adjacent to the lake was a water pumping station.

Fresh Meadow Country Club

In 1921, Benjamin C. Ribman, a resident of Park Slope, along with others from the Unity Club of Brooklyn, embarked on a project to construct a golf course. They selected the intersection of Fresh Meadow Lane and Nassau Boulevard as the location due to its suitability for golf and convenient access to other parts of the city. The group purchased 106 acres of land in late 1921, followed by an additional 26 acres the next year. Renowned golf course architect A. W. Tillinghast was enlisted to design the course.

Originally, the club was intended to be named “Woodland.” However, after learning that a golf course with the same name already existed in Boston, the founders opted to change it to “Fresh Meadow Country Club.” Despite the discrepancy in location names, the golf course was situated southeast of Flushing, near the present-day location of the Long Island Expressway close to 183rd Street.

Fresh Meadow Country Club officially opened on May 30, 1922. The inaugural round of golf was played by former NCAA golf champion Jesse Sweetser and club professional Willie Anderson, with Sweetser emerging victorious by a two-stroke margin. Notable attendees at the dedication ceremony included New York State Supreme Court Justices Mitchell May, Edward Lazansky, and Harry Lewis, as well as Borough President Maurice E. Connolly.