NEW YORK — Nestled along the coast next to Howard Beach in Queens is Ramblersville, known to some as “The Venice of New York.”
Fishermen were known to ‘wander’ through it in the 19th century before it became a holiday destination in the 20th century.
Today, the houses in Ramblersville are perched along cul-de-sac streets and the number of boats seems to outnumber the number of people. It is considered the smallest neighborhood in New York City.
Exploring the history of Ramblersville, Queens
Gail Wetzel is a mail carrier by day and a treasure hunter by night, searching for rare artifacts that tell the story of Howard Beach, the coastal community of her youth.
“I just started loving the history, and it went from there,” she said.
She explores library shelves and online auctions, finding items such as a 1902 swimming medal from the Hotel Howard, which burned down years later.
Much of her research focuses on Ramblersville, which is part of greater Howard Beach.
“Ramblersville itself was considered the Venice of New York,” said Roger Gendron, president of the New Hamilton Beach Civic Association.
Gendron is helping Wetzel expand her collection into the very first Howard Beach Historical Society. Their work brings back memories for community members with deep roots. Some donate money to the project via GoFundMe. Others contribute old family photos that survived storms, including Sandy.
“Adult children get stories from their parents when they show them these photos that they never knew about,” Wetzel said.
The Howard Beach Historical Society would like to involve the younger generations.
“I think everyone should know the history of where you live, where you were born and where you grew up,” Gendron said. “This is a way we can keep that history going.”
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