Kew Gardens, Queens, evolved with the dawn of the 20th century. The
lush, hilly terrain--the backbone of Long Island--is situated north of
the Victorian village of Richmond Hill. In 1910, Alrick Hubble Man noted
the 1909 completion of the Queensborough Bridge and envisioned a modern
sister community to Richmond Hill in this northern terrain. He developed
Kew Gardens, offering people the ability to have homes in an area of
breathtaking country beauty while continuing to work in the city. The
century-old Kew Gardens Civic Association, formed in 1914, remains a
vibrant, active organization. Its members were a large force behind the
advancements in Kew Gardens; in 1915, they fought for underground wiring
to prevent the installation of unsightly electric poles, and they
continue to serve the community today.