Marie Armbruster, Rosa Armbruster and Ernest Weiden as portrayed by students from the Immaculate Conception School of Jamaica Estates, NY.
Maria: My name is Maria and my first husband’s name was Adam Lippert. We had two lovely daughters, Katie and Rosa. They were born during the Civil War and shortly after the end of the War my husband died. I met and married my second husband Charles Armbruster and we moved to Richmond Hill in 1870 and stared the Richmond Hill Hotel, which was on Jamaica Avenue. We had a thriving business and accommodated many guests and my husband often held grand balls in the hotel. Sadly Charles died young and I was left to take charge with my two daughters and I was able to meet this challenge. I opened a huge picnic area behind the hotel and erected a large dance platform as well. My daughter Katie had died from consumption but I had my sweet Rosa to help me. Let me introduce you to her now. Rosa!
Rosa: My name is Rosa Lippert and I remember growing up in Richmond Hill when it was considered the country. We had a country store and small schoolhouse. I helped my mother run the Richmond Hill Hotel and that was no small feat for a widow with two daughters. But we survived and that was when I met Ernest Weiden. He was a tall handsome man and I fell in love with him instantly. We married and he helped my mother and I with the business and soon over the running of it. In 1892 we built a huge hall on the dance platform that my mother had built earlier. It was one of the largest halls in Queens County and held many events from Balls, Political Conventions to gala dances. The hall was rented out every day to one organization or another. It was around this time that I helped to raise money for the creation of Jamaica Hospital. I ran a number of socials for the benefit of the hospital and they sent me this Ernest tell them about our children.
Ernest: My name is Ernest Weiden and Rosa and I had all three who were born in the Richmond Hill Hotel. When we opened the large hall in 1892 we decided to call it Columbia Park Hall. We picked that name because we were celebrating the 400th Anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. In that same year a volunteer fire department was formed and it was named the Columbia Hose Company in honor of Columbus as well. I became a member of that organization and we had many adventures in those early days of fire fighting.
Maria: I would like to speak to you about my greatgrandson Frederick E. Heuppe who has recently joined us. He was born on December 18, 1933. He received his BA at St John's University and PhD at NYU. He was a Fulbright Scholar in the 1950's and taught German literature at St. John's for almost 40 years. He was also the chairman of its Foreign Language Department. He was very active in the community. Our family has been associated with Richmond Hill and Kew Gardens for over 130 years and we are very proud our contributions and very proud our Frederick!
Presented May 22, 2004 by The Richmond Hill Historical Society, Maple Grove Cemetery, and The Immaculate Conception School of Jamaica Estates, NY (Dr. Charlene Jaffie, principal).
Copyright © 2004 Carl Ballenas & Nancy Cataldi.
No claim to Old Kew Gardens [.com] color photograph.
No claim to Old Kew Gardens [.com] color photograph.
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