“Franny Lew” they call it. Francis Lewis Boulevard is one of the longest streets in Queens. This 10.8-mile road is more than just asphalt. It’s a journey through time and the story of a founding father.
Francis Lewis Boulevard got its name from Francis Lewis. He was a Queens resident and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Imagine that. A road named to honor a man who helped shape a nation.
Before it was Francis Lewis Boulevard, it was Cross Island Boulevard. The renaming happened in the 1930s. This was to avoid confusion with the Cross Island Parkway. Parts of the boulevard were even built on Lewis’s old estate in Whitestone.
But the story goes back further. Before the 1920s, what became Francis Lewis Boulevard was a collection of small roads. Some were old Native American trails. British General Sir Henry Clinton mapped these roads during the Revolutionary War. Think of the history beneath our feet.
The boulevard we know today was mapped around 1912 as Rosedale Boulevard. It was even called a “cattle guard” due to the rough terrain. By 1917, the city planned a north-south “Cross Island Boulevard”. This would link the existing roads.
For years, Francis Lewis Boulevard was two sections separated by Cunningham Park. In the 1940s, the city decided to connect them. Construction began in 1941. It wasn’t easy. World War II delayed the project due to material restrictions. But the link finally opened in 1946. This provided a direct route through Queens.
Today, Francis Lewis Boulevard is a major thoroughfare. It stretches from Rosedale to Whitestone. The boulevard uses pieces of other streets like 121st Avenue and 230th Place. That’s why it zigs and zags.
The Cunningham Park section was once known for drag racing. Speed cameras have been installed to curb this dangerous activity. The Brooklyn-Queens Greenway runs parallel here.
Two Catholic high schools are located on Francis Lewis Boulevard. St. Francis Preparatory School and Holy Cross High School share a rivalry. Their annual football game is called the “Battle of the Boulevard”.
Francis Lewis Boulevard touches many neighborhoods. Rosedale, Cambria Heights, and Bayside are just a few.
So, as we travel along Francis Lewis Boulevard, remember its history. Remember Francis Lewis. Remember the roads that came before. It’s more than just a street. It’s a piece of Queens history.