3. The “mayor” of Gerritsen Beach almost got the 1939 World’s Fair at Marine Park
In the early years of Gerritsen Beach, the isolated community established some community initiatives separate from the rest of the city. These included a Civic Association and Chamber of Commerce, and, strangely, a “mayor” and a commissioner of parks and public welfare. These new positions allowed the community to address issues far faster than waiting for city officials. In July 1935, a fundraiser for a local church also included a mayoral election for Gerritsen Beach, which was surprisingly competitive. A debate between fellow Irishmen Reverent Cox and Peter J. McGuinness was part of the fundraiser and attracted over 7,000 attendees including Supreme Court Justices. According to the Gotham Center for New York City History, in June of that year, 123 people submitted their candidacy, and this number was narrowed to just six by July. Thomas G. Hunter was declared the winner. The win was unsurprising as Hunter was President of both the Gerritsen Beach Republican and Gerritsen Beach Regular Democratic Clubs.
At Hunter’s inauguration, Cox made a plea for the 1939 World’s Fair to be held at Marine Park instead of Flushing Meadows. There had earlier been designs for the 1932 Washington Bicentennial Exposition to be held at Marine Park that fell through. Hunter prioritized this project above all others, asserting costs would only be between $15-$20 million and construction would be less risky than in Flushing. Hunter attacked Borough President Raymond Ingersoll for not supporting the project, which he believed would have significant economic benefits for Brooklyn. Local Assemblymen even expressed some commitment to advocacy, though Robert Moses decided to develop Flushing Meadows-Corona Park as the official site.