Voelker Orth Museum

Last updated

Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary, and Victorian Garden
Voelker Orth 01.JPG
Voelker Orth house from 38th Avenue
Voelker Orth Museum
Location149-19 38th Ave. Flushing, Queens, New York, United States
Coordinates 40°45′53″N73°48′58″W / 40.764618°N 73.816114°W / 40.764618; -73.816114
Builtc.1891
Website www.vomuseum.org
NRHP reference No. 100005569
NYCL No.2272
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 18, 2020
Designated NYCLOctober 30, 2007

The Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden is a museum at 149-19 38th Avenue in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Queens in New York City. In addition to preserving a German immigrant family's 1890s home and garden, the Voelker Orth Museum engages audiences through the arts, education, nature, horticulture and local history by offering house tours, temporary exhibitions, concerts, lectures and workshops, cultural festivals, and family and school programs. Its mission is to "preserve and interpret the cultural and horticultural heritage of Flushing, Queens and adjacent communities to engage their ever-changing populations, through the experience of an immigrant family’s 1890s home." [1] The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. [2]

Contents

Description

The museum occupies a two-story house that was constructed in 1891 by a local businessman, James Bouton. It was built as an investment two years after the Long Island Rail Road opened the Murray Hill railway station nearby. The house was then purchased in 1899 by a German immigrant named Conrad Voelcker, who moved in with his wife Elizabeth and infant daughter Theresa. After Voelcker's death in 1930, the house became the home of his daughter, Theresa Voelker (later generations spelled the name without the 'c') and her husband, Dr. Rudolph Orth. [3] Their daughter, Elisabetha Orth, who lived in the house most of her life, established the organization which now runs the museum in her will. [4] When the Museum was incorporated, extensive restoration of the property was undertaken prior to opening in 2003. Photographs of the house from the early 1900s provided a reference for Graf & Lewent, the restoration architects. [5] Period rooms incorporated the Orth family furnishings from the 1930s. The property was designated a New York City Landmark in 2007. [6]

Victorian garden

A distinguishing feature of the museum is the Victorian garden, which is maintained using eighteenth century propagation methods and gardening techniques, such as hand pruning and the use of natural fertilizers and pesticides. Serving as a bird sanctuary, the garden's many varieties of berry bushes and trees attract wild birds, most commonly sparrows, mockingbirds, and robins, cardinals, and blue jays. The museum also operates a bee hive, from which honey is harvested to use in educational programs and sell in their gift shop. [7] In 2005, the Voelker Orth Museum Garden won the Long Island Nurserymen's and Landscapers Association's 2005 Gold Award. [8]

Family history

Conrad Voelcker was born in Edenkoben, Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1881, when he was nineteen years old. [9] :37 He established a printing business and German language newspaper, Der Pfälzer in Amerika, in 1884. [9] :52 After living in Manhattan, New Jersey, and Brooklyn, Conrad eventually moved to the Murray Hill area of Flushing, Queens, where he purchased a house. A few years prior, Conrad had married Elizabeth Maibach. Their first and only daughter, Theresa, was about a year old at the time of the move. [10] :5 In moving to Flushing, Conrad Voelcker was bringing his family to what was then an attractive suburb of Manhattan with a relatively short commute to work. [3] Voelcker continued selling his newspaper Der Pfalzer in Amerika until around the time the United States entered World War I in 1917, probably due to Anti-German sentiment. [3] :6 Voelcker retired from the printing business in 1925, and his nephew Carl S. Voelcker became the president and treasurer of the company. [9] :106–108

Conrad's daughter Theresa married Dr. Rudolph Orth, a graduate of Cornell University Medical School and World War I veteran. Their first daughter, Elisabetha “Betty” Orth, was born in 1926. In 1935 they adopted a nine-year-old girl, whom they renamed Barbara. [3] :6 Elisabetha Orth graduated from New York University in 1948, majoring in English Literature. She then attended the University of Texas, where she received a master's degree in Theater. Elisabetha lived with her mother in the family home for many years after her father's death in 1948. Barbara married Thomas Lipera and moved to Long Island; she now lives in Florida. Theresa Orth died in 1992, and Elisabetha died three years later in 1995 of injuries resulting from an automobile accident. In her will, Elisabetha Orth bequeathed the establishment of the Voelker Orth Museum as an educational resource. [3] :7

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unisphere</span> Steel structure in Queens, New York

The Unisphere is a spherical stainless steel representation of the Earth at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, U.S. The globe was designed by Gilmore D. Clarke for the 1964 New York World's Fair. Commissioned to celebrate the beginning of the space age, the Unisphere was conceived and constructed as the theme symbol of the World's Fair. The theme of the World's Fair was "Peace Through Understanding", and the Unisphere represented the theme of global interdependence, being dedicated to "Man's Achievements on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flushing, Queens</span> Neighborhood of northern Queens in New York City

Flushing is a neighborhood in the north-central portion of the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood is the fourth-largest central business district in New York City. Downtown Flushing is a major commercial and retail area, and the intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue at its core is the third-busiest in New York City, behind Times Square and Herald Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis Howard Latimer</span> African American inventor (1848–1928)

Lewis Howard Latimer was an American inventor and patent draftsman. His inventions included an evaporative air conditioner, an improved process for manufacturing carbon filaments for light bulbs, and an improved toilet system for railroad cars. In 1884, he joined the Edison Electric Light Company where he worked as a draftsman. The Lewis H. Latimer House, his landmarked former residence, is located near the Latimer Projects at 34-41 137th Street in Flushing, Queens, New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens Museum</span> Art museum in Queens, New York

The Queens Museum is an art museum and educational center at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, U.S. Established in 1972, the museum has among its permanent exhibitions the Panorama of the City of New York, a room-sized scale model of the five boroughs originally built for the 1964 New York World's Fair. It also has a large archive of artifacts from both the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs, a selection of which is on display. As of 2018, Queens Museum's director is Sally Tallant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flushing Remonstrance</span> Demand for religious liberty made to Peter Stuyvesant in 1657

The Flushing Remonstrance was a 1657 petition to Director-General of New Netherland Peter Stuyvesant, in which some thirty residents of the small settlement at Flushing requested an exemption to his ban on Quaker worship. It is considered a precursor to the United States Constitution's provision on freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Bowne House</span> Historic house in Queens, New York

The John Bowne House is a house in Flushing, Queens, New York City, that is known for its role in establishing religious tolerance in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens Botanical Garden</span> Botanical garden in New York City

Queens Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located at 43-50 Main Street in Flushing, Queens, New York City. The 39-acre (16 ha) site features rose, bee, herb, wedding, and perennial gardens; an arboretum; an art gallery; and a LEED-certified Visitor & Administration Building. Queens Botanical Garden is located on property owned by the City of New York, and is funded from several public and private sources. It is operated by Queens Botanical Garden Society, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kew Gardens Hills, Queens</span> Neighborhood in Queens, New York City

Kew Gardens Hills is a neighborhood in the middle of the New York City borough of Queens. The borders are Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to the west, the Long Island Expressway to the north, Union Turnpike to the south, and Parsons Boulevard to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Point, Queens</span> Neighborhood of Queens in New York City

College Point is a working-middle-class neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is bounded to the south by Whitestone Expressway and Flushing; to the east by 138th Street and Malba/Whitestone; to the north by the East River; and to the west by Flushing Bay. College Point is a mostly residential ethnically diverse community with some industrial areas. The neighborhood is served by several parks and contains two yacht clubs.

New York's 6th congressional district is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in New York City, located entirely within Queens. It is represented by Democrat Grace Meng. A plurality of the district's population is Asian-American, and a majority of its population is non-white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Armstrong House</span> Historic house in Queens, New York

The Louis Armstrong House is a historic house museum at 34-56 107th Street in the Corona neighborhood of Queens in New York City. It was the home of Louis Armstrong and his wife Lucille Wilson from 1943 until his death in 1971. Lucille gave ownership of it to the city of New York in order to create a museum focused on her husband.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Quaker Meeting House (Queens)</span> United States historic place

The Flushing Friends Quaker Meeting House, also the Old Quaker Meeting House, is a historic Quaker house of worship located at 137-16 Northern Boulevard, in Flushing, Queens, New York. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1967 and a New York City designated landmark in 1970. Today, it still serves as a Quaker Meeting, with meetings for worship taking place every Sunday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis H. Latimer House</span> Museum in Queens, New York

The Lewis H. Latimer House, also called the Latimer House or the Lewis Latimer House, is a historic house located at 34–41 137th Street in Flushing, Queens, New York City. It was constructed in the Queen Anne style of architecture between 1887 and 1889 by the Sexton family. It served as the home of the African-American inventor Lewis Howard Latimer from 1903 to 1928, and is now operated as a museum dedicated to the inventor's work. In addition, this museum-house also illuminated the life and achievements of other black scientists. The house remained property of the Latimer family until 1963. Currently, the Lewis H. Latimer House is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, operated by the Lewis H. Latimer Fund, Inc., and is a member of the Historic House Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsland Homestead</span> Historic house in Queens, New York

Kingsland Homestead is an 18th-century house located in Flushing, Queens, New York City. It is the home of the remains of The Weeping Beech, a landmark weeping beech tree, believed to have been planted in 1847. The homestead is also close to the 17th-century Bowne House, the location of the first Quaker meeting place in New Amsterdam. The homestead is operated by the Queens Historical Society, whose quarters are inside; the homestead is open to the public as a museum. The Kingsland Homestead is a member of the Historic House Trust, and is both a New York City designated landmark and a National Register of Historic Places listing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vander Ende–Onderdonk House</span> Historic house in Queens, New York

The Vander Ende–Onderdonk House, also known as the Van Nanda House, is a historic house at 1820 Flushing Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens, New York City. It is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Synagogue of Flushing</span> Reform synagogue in Queens, New York

The Free Synagogue of Flushing is a Reform Jewish congregation and historic synagogue located at 41-60 Kissena Boulevard in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. The synagogue's establishment is based on the free synagogue movement, started by Stephen Samuel Wise. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kissena Creek</span> Buried stream in Queens, New York

Kissena Creek is a buried stream located in the neighborhoods of Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, and Kew Gardens Hills in the New York City borough of Queens. Kissena Creek originates in a now-filled swamp within Kew Gardens Hills and Pomonok in central Queens, flowing east to Hillcrest. The creek then travels mostly north and west, largely flowing beneath Kissena Park Golf Course, Kissena Park, Kissena Corridor Park, and Queens Botanical Garden, before merging with the Flushing River in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weeping Beech (Queens)</span> United States historic place

The Weeping Beech was a historic tree located at Weeping Beech Park in Flushing, Queens, New York City. It was the mother of all European weeping beeches in the United States.

References

  1. "Voelker Orth Museum: Who We Are". Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  2. "Weekly listing". National Park Service.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Driscoll, James (2003). The History of Murray Hill & The Voelker Orth House. Voelker Orth Museum.
  4. "Commending the Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden upon the occasion of celebrating its 10th Anniversary on July 28, 2013". New York Senate Open Legislation. February 23, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  5. "Voelker-Orth House Museum Restoration". Graf & Lewent Architects, LLP. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  6. "Voelker-Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden in Queens Given New York City Landmark Status" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. October 30, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 17, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  7. Rhoades, Liz (September 3, 2009). "A bee-utiful project harvests 40 lbs. of honey". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  8. Duke, Nathan (March 2, 2006). "Victorian House in Flushing Wins Gold Award for Garden". New York Post.
  9. 1 2 3 Hartkopf, Herbert (2007). Die Voelcker Brothers: Edenkoben--New York und "Der Pfälzer in Amerika". Ludwigshafen am Rhein: pro MESSAGE oHG. ISBN   9783934845374.
  10. Kurshan, Virginia. "Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden" (PDF). New York City: Landmarks Preservation Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2013.