LIRR SERVICE TO JACOBSON & SON

LIRR SERVICE TO:

Industries Served by the Long Island Railroad

VOLUME 19:
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD SERVICE TO LONG ISLAND CITY'S JACOBSON & SON

By Nicholas Kalis

Nineteenth in a series of glimpses into industries or warehouses that made for interesting freight operations on the Long Island. Information presented has included, where available, a brief history of the firm, how it was served by the LIRR, and what commodities were received or shipped from this facility.

Maps of Freight Stations and Private Sidings (June 1966), page 7 identifies Jacobson & Son, located in Blissville, as Spot 9. Arthur Huneke reminds us Jacobson was nearly as far east as Laurel Hill according to this map. This 1966 publication puts Jacobson facing Main Track West and having a track capacity of only one car. Jacobson & Son shared a siding with Shaw Walker (38-98 Review Avenue). A railroad customer map revised August 1970 shows Spot 9 as Furniture in the Raw. Given that Furniture in the Raw at 38-78 Review Avenue (Source: Bob Miller using 1968-69 telephone directory) , Jacobson was likely at 38-78 Review Avenue as well. We don’t even know if this building, near the intersection of Laurel Hill Boulevard, is still standing. A smoke stack in one photo may belong to Jacobson.

Shaw Walker (Spot 10) on left, Penny Bridge Shed in background on right side of track. Jacobson would be on left. Camera looking East . Kosciusko Bridge, which replaced Penny Bridge in the 1930s, in the background. Official LIRR photographer, probably Weber 1940
Credit: Collection of Art Huneke

This Blissville facility could possibly be a distribution/service facility, which may account for why it does not appear in telephone directories searched. Commodities shipped into this facility by rail would likely have been ……. and have been carried in boxcars. If this facility is typical of those served by the LIRR in Queens, only empties left by rail.

Newtown Creek, vicinity of Jacobson. Calvary Cemetery apparent to right of photo. Penny Bridge Station was built to serve visitors to this cemetery. Camera looking west.
Credit: Bernard Ente

Jacobson (Spot 9), later occupied by Furniture in the Raw, may be the building farthest to the right. October 16, 1955. Photographer possibly John Kraus. Camera looking west. Building opposite Penny Bridge Station Shed was to become Shaw Walker (possibly) Spot 10)
Credit: Arthur Huneke Collection

Shaw Walker (Spot 10) on corner of Review Avenue and Laurel Hill Boulevard, sidewalk is a feature that should be modeled Jacobson (Spot 9) may be next door
July 1998 Credit: Carl Fabrizi

Long Island Railroad right of way. Camera looking west. Marlyn Warehouse (Spot 7) in background. Silo containing cement for Colonial on left of track (access was at crossing at Laurel Hill Boulevard) had no private siding. Shaw Walker (Spot 10) on right
1998 Credit: Carl Fabrizi

Modeling

Readers seeking to model Jacobson & Son would be well advised to simply scratch build it using brick embossed plastic sheets or some kit-bashing of a Design Preservation kit(s). I would suggest a foam core mockup be constructed first. Modelers may wish to consult www.arrts-arrchives.com

Credits

I would like to express my appreciation to John Hyslop and Bob Miller of the Queens Borough Library, Bernard Ente, Thomas Flagg, and Art Huneke for their valuable assistance in the research of this series.

Bibliography

Author Unknown Maps of Freight Stations and Private Sidings (Reprint) June 1966

Please direct any comments on or corrections to this manuscript to:

Nicholas Kalis, Suite 600, 1420 Spring Hill Road, McLean, Virginia 22102

Any illustrations or maps contributed will be gratefully acknowledged.

Maps of Freight Stations and Private Sidings 1966
showing Jacobson & Son as Spot 9 with atrack capacity of one(1) car.