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Ditmars-Steinway, Queens: The Steinway Mansion and the Riker–Lent–Smith Homestead

Ditmars-Steinway, New York

Steinway Mansion from its front lawn
— AML KING, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ditmars-Steinway is a neighborhood name in the New York City borough of Queens. It is recorded in Wikipedia's article on Astoria, which writes of a convergence point "bearing the neighborhood name 'Ditmars-Steinway'." The Riker–Lent–Smith Homestead and Cemetery is a historic house and cemetery that the same encyclopedia places "in the Steinway and East Elmhurst neighborhoods of Queens in New York City," and its published address is 78-03 19th Rd., East Elmhurst, New York. The Steinway Mansion, also known as the Benjamin T. Pike House, was built in 1858 at 18-33 41st Street, in ZIP 11105. Steinway Street, which that Astoria article calls "Little Egypt," runs 2.4 miles (3.9 km) between Berrian Boulevard in Astoria and Northern Boulevard in Long Island City.

The landmark houses

The Riker–Lent–Smith Homestead and Cemetery is described by its Wikipedia article as "a historic house and cemetery in the Steinway and East Elmhurst neighborhoods of Queens in New York City." Its published address is 78-03 19th Rd., East Elmhurst, New York. The earliest part of the house was built by Abraham Riker in the mid-1650s, under a patent from Nieuw Nederland's last governor, Peter Stuyvesant, and the building carries additions of 1729. It is also recorded as the Lent Homestead and Cemetery, and as the Abraham Lent House. Of its age, the same article says the house "is believed to be the oldest remaining dwelling in New York City still used as a residence," and elsewhere that "the house is the oldest known existing residential structure in Queens."

The Steinway Mansion, also known as the Benjamin T. Pike House, stands at 18-33 41st Street, in ZIP 11105, and was built in 1858. Its Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report gives the address as "18-33 41st Street, Steinway, Borough of Queens" — a designation-report address line. The house has "original pocket doors with cut glass depicting many of Benjamin Pike Jr.'s scientific instruments."

The name and Steinway Street

Wikipedia's article on Astoria uses the name "Little Egypt" for Steinway Street. Steinway Street itself is a two-way street of 2.4 miles (3.9 km) in the borough of Queens, running between Berrian Boulevard in Astoria and Northern Boulevard in Long Island City.

Bowery Bay lies near the Ditmars Steinway area, in the neighborhood of Astoria.

Writing about Astoria, the neighbouring neighborhood, the same article records a Greek population there of 22,579 in 1980 and of 18,127 in 1990.

Getting there

The Steinway Mansion stands at 18-33 41st Street, in ZIP 11105.

The Riker–Lent–Smith Homestead and Cemetery is addressed 78-03 19th Rd., East Elmhurst, New York — the address published for it, even though Wikipedia describes the house and cemetery as being "in the Steinway and East Elmhurst neighborhoods of Queens in New York City."

What's here

  • Steinway Mansion

    18-33 41st Street, ZIP 11105. Built in 1858, and also known as the Benjamin T. Pike House.

  • Riker–Lent–Smith Homestead and Cemetery

    78-03 19th Rd., East Elmhurst. Wikipedia places the house and cemetery "in the Steinway and East Elmhurst neighborhoods of Queens," and dates its earliest part to the mid-1650s.

Questions

How do I get to Ditmars-Steinway?

The Steinway Mansion is at 18-33 41st Street, in ZIP 11105. The Riker–Lent–Smith Homestead and Cemetery is addressed 78-03 19th Rd., East Elmhurst, New York, though Wikipedia describes it as being "in the Steinway and East Elmhurst neighborhoods of Queens in New York City."

Where does the name Ditmars-Steinway come from?

It is recorded in Wikipedia's article on Astoria, which writes of a convergence point "bearing the neighborhood name 'Ditmars-Steinway'." The Steinway half of the name also appears in the city's landmark record, in the Steinway address line the Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report gives the Steinway Mansion, and Wikipedia places the Riker–Lent–Smith Homestead and Cemetery "in the Steinway and East Elmhurst neighborhoods of Queens."

How old is the Riker–Lent–Smith Homestead?

The earliest part of the house was built by Abraham Riker in the mid-1650s, under a patent from Nieuw Nederland's last governor, Peter Stuyvesant, and it carries additions of 1729. Wikipedia says the house "is believed to be the oldest remaining dwelling in New York City still used as a residence," and elsewhere that "the house is the oldest known existing residential structure in Queens."

What is the Steinway Mansion?

A house at 18-33 41st Street, in ZIP 11105, built in 1858 and also known as the Benjamin T. Pike House. It has "original pocket doors with cut glass depicting many of Benjamin Pike Jr.'s scientific instruments."

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