Remington Vernam (land developer)
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For the fighter pilot, see Remington D. B. Vernam
Remington Vernam (b. 1842, McConnville, New York; d. July 3, 1907) was a lawyer who is best known for his founding and development of the community of Arverne in the Borough of Queens in New York City from land he had purchased in 1882.
The name of Arverne was derived by Vernam's wife, Florence, from his signature, "R. Vernam".[1]
Vernam named three avenues in the neighborhood after his sons, Remington, Jr., who died in an accident in 1884, Clarence and Gaston, Florence's stepson from an earlier marriage who was adopted by Vernam. Remington Avenue, Clarence Avenue, Gaston Avenue and Vernam Avenue were in the vicinity of today's Beach 65 to Beach 69th Street. Signage at the Beach 67th Street subway station reads "Beach 67 - Gaston".
Public School 42, located at Beach 66th Street and Thursby Avenue, is officially named the "R. Vernam School" in his honor. Vernam Basin, an industrial waterway in Jamaica Bay at Arverne, is also named in his honor.
Remington Vernam's grandson, First Lieutenant Remington de B. Vernam (d. 1918), was a fighter pilot with six aerial victories and a posthumous recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. See Remington D. B. Vernam [sic]. The younger Vernam and his father, Gaston, were descended from French nobility.
[edit] References
- ^ Vandam, Jeff. "On the Beach, a Brand New Life" (sidebar), The New York Times, February 13, 2005. Accessed October 2, 2007. "His wife names the area Arverne because he signs his checks R. Vernam".
[edit] Sources
"Arverene Auction Today", New York Times, July 24, 1920; "Poor Ambulance Service", New York Times, May 4, 1884; "New Commercial Basins", New York Times, November 27, 1921.
