Broad Channel History in The Making

On Sunday, March 2, the Broad Channel Historical Society (BCHS), Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department and newly-formed Howard Beach Historical Society will make history as they come together to present their first joint Historical Day at Our Lady of Grace’s church school hall in Old Howard Beach.

Each group will present items from their collections which bring to life their areas’ rich histories, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 158-20 101st St, just a few blocks from the Howard Beach train station. Hosted by the Howard Beach Historical Society, there will be photos, unique items and artifacts, videos, discussions and more. Light refreshments will also be available.

The invitation to join the event comes at a notable time for the BC Historical Society. Formed as a committee of the Broad Channel Civic Association in 1994 by then President Dan Mundy Sr., it thrived for three decades under the leadership of Barbara Toborg, who worked tirelessly to organize and grow its collection. Sadly, Toborg passed away in June of 2024.

So, for the first time in its own history, the BCHS has taken on new direction as residents Margaret Wagner and Dan Guarino stepped up as its new co-chairpersons. Along with the dedicated BCHS committee members, they are embarking on expanding on the work Toborg started in chronicling the unique story of Broad Channel. The last inhabited island in Jamaica Bay, it has boasted dance halls, hotels, restaurants, bars, an airfield, outdoor movie theatre, community power station, huge swimming complex, amusements, boat races, celebrities, nightclubs, bootleggers, speakeasys and rumrunners during Prohibition, and even a U.S. Army installation.

“Our community was very lucky to have Barbara Toborg spearhead the BCHS,” Wagner remarks. “She has documented the island’s history, and the amazing lives of the people who lived here.” Noting many communities unfortunately do not have such groups preserving their story, she adds, “As I am reading the material, books, binders, and looking at hundreds of photos, I can tell this was a labor of love for Barbara, and she enjoyed it immensely.”

The Society’s collection consists of thousands of photos, newspaper articles, maps, first-person accounts, and official documents, many of which are presented in dozens of binders organized by years or specific subjects, such as “Mardi Gras,” “Hurricane Sandy,” “Sports,” “The Broad Channel Baths.” Many binders are available to look through at the Broad Channel Library.

The BCHS also has large-scale maps, banners, proclamations and memorial plaques, trophies, team uniforms, memorabilia, calendars and even a full place setting from BC’s famous Weiss’ restaurant, which will be on display at the Historical Day.

“I’ve always loved Broad Channel’s history,” Wagner, a local realtor, notes. A fourth generation Channelite, her great-grandfather Charles Howard came to the Channel around 1910. She speaks fondly about stories passed on by her father, and her grandfather, who she was surprised to find “worked at the Broad Channel Baths, which later became the Broad Channel Day Camp.”

“I have history here from my mom’s side as well. Her family was here in the early 1900’s. Our roots run deep on this beautiful island.” She adds, “My husband’s parents also have been here since the early 1900s.”

Civically active since childhood, Wagner has been involved in local organizations like the BC Civic, Broad Chanel Athletic Club, Rockaway Republican Club, the former Broad Channel Theatre Group, St. Virgilius-based New Life Choir and more. She has also been working on a documentary about a 1960’s group of Broad Channel car enthusiasts called The Coachmen.

“When I find a piece of history about our island or the people, I compare it to finding treasure, it’s just so exciting. I always thought that one day when I had a little more time, I would get involved in the BCHS,” she says. “Volunteering for any organization takes a lot of time, but when you enjoy what you are doing, it’s fun, and you look forward to making it better for the future.

“I’m happy to be the co-chair of the committee with Dan Guarino. We both have a great love for our community, history and making our collection the best it can be.”

Now a writer with The Rockaway Times, Dan Guarino has covered Broad Channel and the Rockaways as a journalist for two decades, photographed scores of BC events, and been part of numerous local groups and projects, like the New Life Choir, Rockaway Theatre Company, and formerly the Rockaway Artists Alliance, where he took up the reins as president to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy.

“My wife Liz, the kids and I moved into the Channel around 1987. It’s a one-of-a-kind community and I can’t think of living any place else.” Guarino says. “She started the ‘Broad Channel Bits’ column, which I took over after she passed away. We wrote ‘Images of America: Broad Channel’ together, the first published history of BC. Later I published ‘Broad Channel Through Time,’ a ‘now and then’ look at the Channel.” Both are available on Amazon.com.

Since then, he’s “had the pleasure of leading tour groups of students and people from all over, consulting on photo, documentary and tv projects, like for a London company working for the Smithsonian Channel. Also on books, articles, radio programs, etc.,” Guarino says. He’s also appeared in several documentaries, including an upcoming one on Broad Channel residents’ 40-year struggle to buy the land.

“I can’t say enough about this place to the people I meet, how much I love it, and how happy I am to share its story! Doing those books, learning about the Channel’s amazing history, that was a real ‘wow’ for me and Liz!” Guarino says.

Wagner, Guarino and BCHS have already started on their tasks of identifying and cataloging hundreds of photos, updating binders, adding to the collection, digitizing the whole collection including cassettes, VHS tapes and DVDs to permanently preserve and share them. They’re also restructuring tasks to once again produce the popular BC Historical calendar.

In the meantime, they’re looking for forward to sharing their collections this Sunday in Howard Beach and bringing the past into the future.

For more information contact Wagner at: margaretwagner.re@gmail.com or Guarino at: workingstories@aol.com.

Photos courtesy of the Broad Channel Historical Society