Old Staten Island
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Best known for its vast parks and beach areas, Staten Island is a place where many generations of people have come to make a good life for their families.
Staten Island has always been known for its family values and slower pace of living. Yet, we are just a boat ride away from the most exciting place in the world... "Manhattan"
For residents of other boroughs, Staten Island's beaches and parks are a retreat from the crowded city streets.
This is a borough, rich in history and I hope to share some of that history with fellow native Islanders and welcome all who have made Staten Island their home.
Enjoy your tour, in text, photo and video and please visit often, as I try to update on a regular basis.
Any photos or memories you can share will just make this website better for all.
"God might have made a more beautiful place than Staten Island, but He never did"
~ George William Curtis
(Click on photo to sample these books)
In addition to this website, I have authored three books on Staten Island, please checkout "My Staten Island Books" page for details
If you would like autographed copies of my books just email me at JohnJohn44@aol.com
If you would like autographed copies of my books just email me at JohnJohn44@aol.com
Zinicola Bakery - Port Richmond - Sherman Avenue was the previous name of Hooker Place (donated by Daniella Collia )
Staten Island Floating Church and Floating Hospital
Many things have floated into and around our beloved island. Two of the more unusual things to float to Staten Island were a church and a hospital
Floating Church
The Floating Chapel of our Savior for Seamen was built on the
hull of a ferry boat. Originally moored at Whitehall Slip, it soon was moved to Pike Street on the East River in New York City. Services were held there from 1844 to 1866 when the chapel was deemed unseaworthy and replaced with another. The second chapel remained at Pike Street until 1910 when it was moved to Staten Island and taken ashore to become the All Saints Episcopal Church where it remained in use until it burned down the day after Christmas in
1958.
All Saints’ Episcopal Church began as a mission Sunday School of Church of the Ascension. It was founded the evening of All Saints’ Day 1889 by Mrs. Susan DeHart in a private building in Mariners’ Harbor on Shore Road (now Richmond Terrace). The mission was moved to Franklin Hall, at the corner of Harbor Road on December 1, 1891, and again later to Central Avenue (now DeHart Avenue).
When the Rev. William Mix became rector in October 1909, the
parish burdened with debt. At this time the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York had vacated its floating chapel on the East River known as the Church of our Savior. It was offered to the church and a suitable location was secured for it in the Kill Van Kull in Mariners' Harbor opposite Van Name Avenue. The floating chapel and its organ were moved just after Christmas in 1910.
On December 26, 1958, a devastating fire almost completely destroyed the building. Unfortunately, the insurance did not cover the loss, so the children and young people of the parish set up a booth at the New York ferry terminal and collected $6,500.00 toward building a new church. For the next several years the congregation worshipped in Graniteville Methodist Church and at Sailors' Snug Harbor chapel. The old property was sold to the V.F.W. Post who demolished the
church and built a clubhouse on the site. Land for a new church was purchased by the Diocese on the corner of Victory Boulevard and Woolley Avenue. On All Saints’ Day, 1964, the cornerstone of the new church was laid, and the first service was held on February 22, 1965.
hull of a ferry boat. Originally moored at Whitehall Slip, it soon was moved to Pike Street on the East River in New York City. Services were held there from 1844 to 1866 when the chapel was deemed unseaworthy and replaced with another. The second chapel remained at Pike Street until 1910 when it was moved to Staten Island and taken ashore to become the All Saints Episcopal Church where it remained in use until it burned down the day after Christmas in
1958.
All Saints’ Episcopal Church began as a mission Sunday School of Church of the Ascension. It was founded the evening of All Saints’ Day 1889 by Mrs. Susan DeHart in a private building in Mariners’ Harbor on Shore Road (now Richmond Terrace). The mission was moved to Franklin Hall, at the corner of Harbor Road on December 1, 1891, and again later to Central Avenue (now DeHart Avenue).
When the Rev. William Mix became rector in October 1909, the
parish burdened with debt. At this time the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York had vacated its floating chapel on the East River known as the Church of our Savior. It was offered to the church and a suitable location was secured for it in the Kill Van Kull in Mariners' Harbor opposite Van Name Avenue. The floating chapel and its organ were moved just after Christmas in 1910.
On December 26, 1958, a devastating fire almost completely destroyed the building. Unfortunately, the insurance did not cover the loss, so the children and young people of the parish set up a booth at the New York ferry terminal and collected $6,500.00 toward building a new church. For the next several years the congregation worshipped in Graniteville Methodist Church and at Sailors' Snug Harbor chapel. The old property was sold to the V.F.W. Post who demolished the
church and built a clubhouse on the site. Land for a new church was purchased by the Diocese on the corner of Victory Boulevard and Woolley Avenue. On All Saints’ Day, 1964, the cornerstone of the new church was laid, and the first service was held on February 22, 1965.
In Manhattan, moored at Pike Street on the East River
|
At 2760 Richmond Terrace (near Van Name) around 1914
|
For nearly four years the chapel served the congregation at the
waterfront before it was moved to a land site at Richmond Terrace opposite Van Name Avenue. A foundation was built and on July 31, 1914, the chapel was freed from its mooring and moved to the new location.
(below are some photos of the church being towed from
Manhattan to Staten Island)
waterfront before it was moved to a land site at Richmond Terrace opposite Van Name Avenue. A foundation was built and on July 31, 1914, the chapel was freed from its mooring and moved to the new location.
(below are some photos of the church being towed from
Manhattan to Staten Island)
~ from The Binghamton Press - January 9, 1911
~ from New York Evening Post - September 25, 1925
Floating Hospital
1881: The need for health care for NYC’s poor exceeds the resources available on the Ship’s Main Clinic. St. John’s Guild establishes the Seaside Nursery on the sea shore in Staten Island with patient transportation provided by the Ship. In 1887, a 200-bed hospital
facility for children is built along side the nursery and this extension of The Floating Hospital continues to operate until 1939, serving 79,902 patients.
facility for children is built along side the nursery and this extension of The Floating Hospital continues to operate until 1939, serving 79,902 patients.
Floating Hospital 1903
The Floating Hospital boat would ferry children to this hostpital on New Dorp Beach
New York Daily Tribune June 3, 1906
1927 Stapleton Trolley
(Most photos are clickable to view a bigger image)
View of the New York quarantine, Staten Island 1833
New York Public Library - New Dorp - 1913
Vanderbilt Mausoleum, Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp, Staten Island, New York. View of interior during construction
The Holterman Family
Some history of Holtermann's Bakery from Ken Holtermann
My grandfather and two other brothers (my uncles) originally took the bakery over from their father (the original owner from Germany - my great grandfather) and ran it for years and at the time when they inherited it there was a bother who was under age and was not included in the passing of the bakery at the time.
My grandfather and his two brothers sold the bakery to Hathaways Bakery. Hathaway ran it for years until the one of the Holtermann brothers took the bakery back from Hathaway. At that time they could not use the name Holtermann's Bakery because of a deal with Hathaway's (not to use the name Holtermann's for ten years) when they originally bought the place. So, the brothers called it "The Arthur Kill Road Bakery" for 10 years and then changed the name back to Holtermann's Bakery after the 10 year period and that is the way it remains today.
The old bakery used to be on Center Street in Richmondtown, Staten Island when it was purchased by Hathaway's, then my uncle moved it to its present location on Arthur Kill Road where it is today.
Herman's Bakery
1227 Forest Avenue corner of Jewett Avenue photo dated circa 1932
(donated by Terry Toloczko)
Story from Terry Toloczko . . . .
Around 1923, my father opened Herman's Bakery, located on Jewett Avenue near Forest Avenue. In 1932, the bakery moved around the corner to a new building at 1227 Forest Avenue. The family - parents and two boys (Herman II and Carl) and one girl (Terry) lived in a three bedroom apartment above the bakery. My father was one of the presidents of the Master Bakers Association. He was also known as the "alligator baker" because he made bread in the shape of alligators and snakes. At one time, almost all the bakeries on the island were owned and operated by Germans; only one bakery was Italian. After my father retired (forty years in the business) his son Herman inherited the business. Sadly, the building was destroyed by fire in 1989.
The son (Herman II) went to work at Halloran Military Hospiatal (Willowbrook State School) as a baker after Herman's Bakery closed.
If you look at the photo close you will be amazed at the prices, a loaf of rye bread -10 cents a whole layer cake - 35 cents.
(donated by Terry Toloczko)
Story from Terry Toloczko . . . .
Around 1923, my father opened Herman's Bakery, located on Jewett Avenue near Forest Avenue. In 1932, the bakery moved around the corner to a new building at 1227 Forest Avenue. The family - parents and two boys (Herman II and Carl) and one girl (Terry) lived in a three bedroom apartment above the bakery. My father was one of the presidents of the Master Bakers Association. He was also known as the "alligator baker" because he made bread in the shape of alligators and snakes. At one time, almost all the bakeries on the island were owned and operated by Germans; only one bakery was Italian. After my father retired (forty years in the business) his son Herman inherited the business. Sadly, the building was destroyed by fire in 1989.
The son (Herman II) went to work at Halloran Military Hospiatal (Willowbrook State School) as a baker after Herman's Bakery closed.
If you look at the photo close you will be amazed at the prices, a loaf of rye bread -10 cents a whole layer cake - 35 cents.
Story about Weissglass
Our drivers resorted to delivering milk by rowboats during one of the worst storms to hit the Oakwood and Midland Beach areas in years. The storm referred to was caused by the exact right combination of extremely high tides, hurricane winds and full moon. Many families in this area were evacuated and were taken to the Oakwood Heights Community Church on Guyon Avenue. We supplied them with their milk needs. Parts of the shore area, between the beaches and Hylan Blvd. were flooded for as much as one half mile from the beach
The Hindenburg photo was taken on May 6, 1937 the Hindenburg was directly over my Father In Law's house 42 Knesel Street, Rossville S.I.
This photo was taken about a half an hour before the fatal explosion. (photo donated by Roberta Crosby Jelicks)
This photo was taken about a half an hour before the fatal explosion. (photo donated by Roberta Crosby Jelicks)
STRAWBERRY PICKERS ROSSVILLE STATEN ISLAND
1884 from FRANK LESLIE'S WEEKLY
1884 from FRANK LESLIE'S WEEKLY
1952
Trolley in Front of Lincoln Hotel on Midland Avenue
The Original Staten Island Hospital ( Samuel R Smith Infirmary )
Staten Island - not part of New York City until 1898 - had no private hospital until 1861, when the Richmond County Medical Society established the infirmary and named it after a local doctor (Dr. Samuel Russell Smith) who devoted himself to the poor.'' It occupied a succession of buildings near the present Ferry Terminal, until in 1887 it acquired a hilly seven-acre site south and inland of the Terminal area on an irregular block bounded by Castleton, Webster and Brook Avenues and Pine Street.
Alfred E. Barlow, the architect, designed a rectangular red-brick chateau with four round corners topped by conical roofs. The castle imagery was reinforced by the high basement, mostly without windows, the small main entrance, and the projection of the upper floor out onto brick corbelling - as if the Infirmary's defenders were at the ready to pour boiling oil onto attacking Vikings.
The basic form of the Infirmary was apparently inspired by that of the New York Cancer Hospital (1885) in Manhattan, still standing at West 105th and Central Park West, where the ''corner less'' rooms were thought to reduce the collection of germs.
Speeches at its opening in the summer of 1890 described the Infirmary as the ''pride of the island,'' the county's ''greatest charity,'' with a ''splendid site and stately proportions.''
~ this letter donated by Mark Rosenholz
An Ad from when they turned it into Condos
~ contributed by Tommy Barry
Smith's Infirmary as it stands today
(Photo courtesy of Richard Nickel, Jr.)
Some Sad News
The Castle is in ruins
The old Staten Island Hospital (SR Smith Infrimary) on Castleton Avenue in ruins. I passed by there yesterday and was I shocked at what I saw. Staten Island has to be ashamed that they let such a stately building decay like this.
The old Staten Island Hospital (SR Smith Infrimary) on Castleton Avenue in ruins. I passed by there yesterday and was I shocked at what I saw. Staten Island has to be ashamed that they let such a stately building decay like this.
Some Sadder News
March 2012, one of the most beautiful building ever to have been built on Staten Island is no more. Sad to say that the efforts to save this exquisite building has failed. Once known as the "Pride of Staten Island" is now just a memory. Many people have many stories of this place, I personally will remember it as the place where my mother took her last breath.
courtesy Dick Boera
The Old Mill Restaurant - Hylan Blvd at Clove Road
(more photos and stories on the 'Eateries' page)
(more photos and stories on the 'Eateries' page)
Help!
Whoever sent me this photo, sent me two of Wolfs Market, but my hard drive crashed and I lost the second one. A great Grandson of the owner "Wolf" has asked too see both photos, if the original sender reads this please email me the other photo at JohnJohn44@aol.com, Thanks
Wolf Meat Market 3056 Richmond Terrace Mariners Harbor
Midland Beach 1898
Midland Beach 1900
Midland Beach 1898
Midland Beach 1899
Getting a Haircut on Greeley Avenue
Joseph Perrotta is the barber
His son Joseph is the boy in the back with the glasses
His son Joseph is the boy in the back with the glasses
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They are assumed to be in the public domain and a best effort is taken not to use copyrighted material.
If someone feels a photo is copyrighted,
they should contact me with proof for immediate removal.
StatenIslandHistory.com may not be the author of these photographs, ads and drawings and does not claim to own any copyright privileges to them.
They are assumed to be in the public domain and a best effort is taken not to use copyrighted material.
If someone feels a photo is copyrighted,
they should contact me with proof for immediate removal.
