Day 46

This house was once the site of an incredible homemade memorial (as of today, it still exists in Street View) to the Titanic, which sank 100 years ago this April, as well as an extensive collection of Titanic memorabilia. I remember being amazed at the sight of this place the first time I passed by and discovered it. It was the work of Joe Colletti, a lifelong resident of Long Island City who decided to move to Sunnyside because he didn't like the way the neighborhood was changing. (I assume that means he was sick of the new luxury condominiums popping up left and right.) He donated his collection to the Greater Astoria Historical Society, and it's good to know his 25 years of work will be preserved, but this block will always feel empty to me without Joe's memorial bursting out of 47-08. The only remnants of its existence are some small figurines, including the angels you see here, and some tracks left by the ivy that once ran up the side of the building.