Brother Bernard Berkley: The Mason Who Brought Magic to Queens
Once upon a time in postwar Queens, when the borough was booming with new families and boundless optimism, a Brother of Geba Lodge helped create a place where childhood dreams came alive. His name was Brother Bernard Berkley, raised as the 660th member of Geba Lodge No. 954, F. & A.M., on June 3, 1954 - and he was also the co-founder of one of Queens’ most beloved mid-century landmarks: Fairyland Amusement Park.
Building a Little Kingdom of Joy
Bernard Berkley, along with his business partner Al McKee, opened Fairyland in 1949 after World War II, at a time when the people of New York were hungry for joy and recreation. What began on Horace Harding Boulevard as a modest kiddieland soon moved to a grander site at Queens Boulevard and Woodhaven, the very intersection where Queens Center Mall stands today.
Fairyland quickly captured the hearts of Queens families. Its bright yellow ticket booths sold five rides for just 49 cents. From the merry-go-round to the little train and the “baby turtle” ride, every attraction promised delight to children who came by foot, bus, or the nearby subway. On sunny weekends, the park could welcome up to 15,000 visitors, with parking lots large enough for 3,000 cars; an impressive feat in that era. Fairyland also boasted a sizable indoor amusement spa, for all weather and year-round fun.
Behind the laughter and the calliope music stood Berkley’s quiet determination. Though he was a newcomer to the amusement business, he understood the real magic was not in the rides themselves but in bringing families together. In that sense, Fairyland was not unlike the fellowship of his Masonic Lodge; a place built upon joy, fraternity, and service.
A Mason’s Charity in Action
Brother Berkley’s Masonic spirit shone brightly through his work at Fairyland. On July 20, 1954, The Daily News reported that Geba Lodge hosted a grand outing for more than 100 children from local orphanages: the Ottilie Orphan Home, the Gustav Hartman Home, and the Brooklyn Home for Children. Every ride, every treat, and every laugh that day was donated by Brother Berkley himself.
As balloons, candy, and smiles filled the park, Berkley’s generosity embodied the true spirit of Freemasonry: relief and charity in action, not just words. The event was such a success that the Brooklyn Eagle noted the lodge members even dressed as clowns to entertain the children. The park may have been Fairyland to the young ones, but to the brethren, it was also a temple of compassion. The success had turned it into an annual event.
A Legacy Beneath the Mall
Fairyland thrived through the 1950s and 1960s, drawing families from across Queens and Long Island. Its rides expanded, its lights twinkled late into summer nights, and its laughter became part of the borough’s soundtrack. But progress, like time, cannot be stopped. In the late 1960s, the land was sold and cleared to make way for the Queens Center Mall, which opened in 1973 and remains one of the busiest retail centers in the nation.
Though the Ferris wheel and the little train are long gone, their spirit remains rooted in the same soil. Each child who once rode those spinning cars carried forward a memory of happiness, kindness, and simple wonder; all nurtured by a Mason who believed in the joy of giving.
Remembering Brother Bernard Berkley
Today, Brother Bernard Berkley’s dual legacy as a Master Mason and a builder of community joy continues to inspire us. He reminds us that Masonic light shines brightest when paired with action: whether in our lodges, our neighborhoods, or even an amusement park filled with giggling children on a summer afternoon.
Fairyland may have vanished into history, but the spirit that built it - the same spirit that inspired a brother to open his gates freely to orphans in 1954 - endures in every act of brotherly love we perform today.
The memories of Fairyland are still shared across the web: various articles, pictures on instagram, facebook groups that insists it was once attached to a Billy Burke department store, and youtube posts of old home-footage at the park.
*Once upon a time, Queens had a Fairyland.
And behind its magic was a Mason.*
