In the series ... "I REMEMBER THE ROCKAWAYS"... Stevie S. Stevens writes about
"A Landmark Intersection "

By the year 1911, a new two-story brick (faced) building now occupied the southeast corner of Central and Mott Avenues (Photo #2). This structure carried the label "Smith Building" At the time, on the southeast corner of Central and Cornaga Avenues (only one block south) ~ sat a major bank. The Far Rockaway Bank (later to be replaced by the Chase Manhattan). The bank president was a gent named "Smith." Inasmuch as the Far Rockaway Bank had taken to underwrite (the notes) on the construction of the new building located one block north, it is quite possible that this is the very reason for the "Smith" namesake. However, this is still unclear.

Photo #2, Central Avenue in 1915 - Postcard Collection of Stevie S. Stevens (Click on Image to enlarge)

It must be noted that most period postcards (such as our Photo #2) were usually derivations off of regular photographs. A postcard manufacturer would engage a series of camera men to "snap away" at a variety of places and upon review of the outcomes, selections were made and cards were produced from those original prints. Our Photo #3 was part of the group taken on a sunny day in August of 1925 — and it is of the exact same set and taken with the exact same camera as our Photo #2. This is the town of Far Rockaway at the end of the first quarter of the twentieth century!

Photo #3, Original Smith Building - Central Avenue (1915) - The Auer-Sullivan Collection (Click on image to enlarge)

A devastating fire in 1927 (most probably accompanied by a gas explosion) destroyed the original Smith Building (Photo #4). By that time, commercial property was at a premium and there was absolutely no question whether or not to rebuild such a pivotal and valuable property. The existing structure was a total loss (the second story offices had collapsed into the first floor) and shortly after our (unfortunately) grainy press picture was taken, the devastated remains were broken up and hauled away in preparation for a new, larger, and more modern office building.

Photo #4, Smith Building Destroyed by Fire - The Auer-Sullivan Collection (Click on image to enlarge)

Photo #5, NEW Smith Building (1931) - Postcard Collection of Stevie S. Stevens (Click on image to enlarge)

Our Photo #5 shows the final outcome - the "new" four-story Smith Building — a structure still standing today - some 78 years later. The entrance to the upper floors was now located under a grand arch on the Mott Avenue side and the building was assigned a new street number - 1931 Mott Avenue - a numeral conveniently reflecting the year in which the place was first opened to the public.

By the year 1941, which is when our Photo #6 was taken, the Smith Building had been established as a well-recognized "landmark" in the town of Far Rockaway. This photograph displays the Smith Building most of us remember from our own youth - with a Cushman's Bakery on the main or street level. This particular picture could just as easily been taken in 1950 (it was not) because even in the early 50s this is pretty much the way this intersection appeared.

Three-quarters of a century later, still standing today - the Smith Building occupies the southeast corner of Central and Mott Avenues. Of course the famous bakery is only a fleeting memory now, having gone out of business in 1958.

Photo #7, Central Avenue & The Smith Building today - October 3rd, 2007 - Photo by V. Steidl (Click on image to enlarge)

The Central Avenue of today is still recognizable (Photo #7). With a shifting population and the introduction of strip malls and large shopping centers, this area is no longer a major commercial influence. All of the original stores (Photo #6, see top of page 1) are long gone. Many of the commercial store fronts once lining the one-block strip have been demolished. Back in the mid 1970s, the city closed off the street for several months to enlarge sidewalks and to add walking routes for parking convenience. The general idea was to renovate the commercial hub to make it more attractive and more inviting for shoppers. But time has taken its toll - and the buying and spending have simply moved away.

email: steviesstevens@cs.com