1.  Hunter’s Point.  The District of Hunter’s Point -  named after George Hunter, the gentleman who bought the property in 1825 -  is strategically located in Hunter’s Point District of Queens, the largest Borough of New York City - in terms of land size - and a most populous Borough, second to Brooklyn.

2.  Maria Bambina Townhouse.  Acquired by the present owner in March 1996, it is named in honor of the Virgin Mary under her title, Maria Bambina – the Italian word for “The Baby Mary”, under whose patronage and protection, the Townhouse is dedicated to.

Aptly so, it looks up to the ‘Big Mary’, that is, Saint Mary’s Church.  This lofty, historical Church across the Townhouse was built in the second half of 18^th century.  Fifteen years ago this year (2010), Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Queen’s Aqueduct.  The Altar the Pontiff used for the occasion was then given to Saint Mary’s and now serves as its Main Altar.

There’s the ubiquitous presence of several other Catholic Churches in close proximity: Saint Patrick’s Church, St. Rita’s Church, Church of Most Precious Blood, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Margaret Mary and St. Raphael Church.  In the neighboring Greenpoint District of the Borough of Brooklyn, there are St. Anthony and St. Alphonsus Church, St. Cyril and Methodius Church, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church and St. Cecilia’s Church.  Across the East River, there is Saint Agnes Church where the late Bishop Fulton J. Sheen gave his Good Friday Sermons.  The landscape also has Holy Cross Church, The Sacred Heart Church, The Church of Our Savior, Church of the Holy Innocents and of course, the magnificent St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.

In addition to the above Catholic Churches, a host of other denominational Churches, Temples, Synagogues and Mosques are also in the neighborhood.

The Townhouse used to be the residence and medical clinic of the community doctor, Dr. Joseph Di Leo.  This illustrious doctor served the whole community back in the 30s and 40s.  He is always remembered with a sense of nostalgia by the senior citizens who go the Catholic Charities Senior Center, next to the Townhouse.  The beloved medical doctor, who had selflessly served the community, had covered a wide gamut of health care services to save and preserve lives:  from extracting a rusty piece of nail on a child’s foot - to delivering untold number of babies - to performing delicate surgeries.  He was, indeed, the epitomé of community service.  Dr. Grunwald was another respected medical doctor.  Like Dr. Di Leo, he had residence and held clinic in the Townhouse.  (The community has been fortunate to be served by outstanding physicians.  Following the footsteps of her revered predecessors, Dr. Esperanza De Angeles now fulfills the role of “Doctor-in-Residence” in Hunter’s Point.)

Maria Bambina Townhouse had housed the Holy Family Bed and Breakfast for seven years.  It was, at the time, the only B&B in Long Island City (1997-2004).  It hosted families and guests from different States as well as other countries, e.g. Italy, Australia, France, Ireland, Japan, the Philippines, Spain, etc.; members of religious communities, family and pro-life groups lobbying at the United Nations, Catholic groups notably, Apostolate for Family Consecration, the Focolare Movement, Regnum Christi and Opus Dei – and their respective families and friends, let alone, some Evangelical Church groups.

Life’s a mystery.  The tourists-guests had found the B&B a welcoming home-away-from-home, in a big City, with hospitable hosts and fellow guests sharing awesome faith stories, life adventures and dreams – in a cycle of joy, pain, sadness and thanksgiving.  The B&B dining table had been the quiet but gratified listener to the pleasantries between the hosts and the guests.

The B&B also hosted performing arts groups from the Philippines like the Earthsavers/DREAMS Ensemble – a group of talented, disabled young performing artists who performed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and a host of other Catholic Churches and at the United Nations; the University of the Philippines’ world renowned Madrigal Singers – and Talents from other States, namely, The Radix Group of Doug Barry from Nebraska, the Foxhoven Family Singers from Steubenville, Ohio, and members of the Apostolate for Family Consecration of Bloomingdale, Ohio.

In addition to the B&B, the present family owners had utilized part of the building as family architectural office ran by the patriarch of the family who practised the profession since the 1930s until his death in late 90s.  He was honored by the New York Society of Architects (NYSA) with the title, “Architect Emeritus” of New York. 

Prior to its sale to the present owner, a group of enterprising businessmen operated a printing business in the building. 

The Townhouse Building has now been vacated in anticipation of the sale of the property.

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