2nd Historical Source

The Cigar Factory

In 1857, a Cigar Factory was setup on Bell Avenue. John Straiton and Federic A. Storm came to Bayside just to build this cigar factory, where they built a three story building. The Factory used the second floor and the Bohemian cigar makers lived on the first. From 1857 to 1860, the cigar business was first known as “Straiton, Schmitt, & Strom”. The partners also owned all the land from Bell Avenue east to Tenth Street (221^st Street) and from the railroad, south to Broadway (Northern Blvd.). But later Mr. Schmitt left the partnership and it became “Straiton & Storm”. Between 1860 and 1871, it was the largest cigar factory in America.

Later, the living quarters where the Bohemian cigar makers lived, were rented out as stores. This was called the “Back Row”, which still stands till this very day. At the time, the cigar manufacturing industry made such a huge impact on Bayside. Then later the cigar factory turned in “The Club House” and a bowling alley and then later the “Sacred Heart Lyceum”. Eventually the cigar factory became storage sheds for Bayside Lumber Company. In January 9, 1990, the Cigar Factory was destroyed by a fire.

Willis, Walter I. Queens Borough: The Borough of Homes and Industry. New York, 1920.

*I ALSO GOT SOME OF MY INFO FROM MY FIRST HISTORICAL SOURCE.
Siclen, W. Alonzo Van. A Narrative History of Bayside. New York: Cultural Affairs, 1991.