Old Ridge Road

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Tiny remnant of a historic trail

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The last remainder of the Old Ridge Road in Long Island City, Queens, is a neglected alley. It was the oldest trail in Queens. It was built by the Dutch settlers in the early 1600s and connected the ancient communities of Dutch Kills to what is now Elmhurst. The only surviving segment of this historical treasure is the alley I described above. There are almost no physical identifying features of Old Ridge Road. Most people are not aware of its historical significance. It is littered with broken glass and abandoned cars. Amazingly, it was never paved over and still retains the original dirt surface.