Posts

SPECIAL NOTICE: The Seguine Avenue Walking Tour has been cancelled today!

Image
TOUR CANCELLED TODAY!  Please check back at this Blog for a rescheduled date!  Thank you! A Walking Tour of Historic Seguine Avenue,  Prince’s Bay Saturday, December 14, 1:00 P.M. The Abraham Manee-Seguine Homestead in Winter Meeting place: Prince’s Bay SIRT station. We will view the houses from the exterior only. Refreshments will be served  at the conclusion of the tour. $10 per person For reservations, call PLSI:    718 980-1551 .    The community known today as Prince’s Bay, with its high rolling streets and views of the bay, is one of Staten Island’s more scenic and historically interesting areas. It is bounded on the east by Wolfe’s Pond Park and on the west by Pleasant Plains and Mount Loretto.  Lemon Creek winds through the community on its way to the bay. The former Red Bank Lighthouse, on its high bluff at the edge of Mount Loretto, marks the western point of the bay.  Seguine Point is the eastern point. The Prince’s Bay
Post a Comment
Read more

Remembering Joann

Image
The Preservation League of Staten island and Cityline Dancers present: Remembering Joann A remembrance and celebration of the life of Joann Nelsen (1937-2013) Sunday, October 6, 2013, 2:00 - 5:00 P.M. at The Reformed Church on Staten island 54 Port Richmond Avenue Barnett Shepherd and others will show pictures of Joann, her textile designs, and her historic home, the Scott-Edwards house in West Brighton, a NYC designated Landmark.  Music in Remembrance performed by her friends Charles Sachs, Cellist,  Bill Martin, Pianist and Cityline Dancers led by founders Tom and Ellen Dailey All are welcome to participate in the dance. Refreshments will be served. For reservations please call PLSI at 718-980-1551
Post a Comment
Read more

The Scott-Edwards House (Port Richmond/West Brighton)

Image
Along with the lush grounds and gardens lovingly maintained by the owner, this Greek Revival house (renovations c. 1840) was originally built c. 1730 in the Colonial Dutch Farmhouse style.  This is truly a home out of the 18th century. The combined use of diverse building materials, including sandstone on the ground floor and wood clapboard on the upper half-story give this house its enduring charm.  The eyebrow windows under the eaves of the Portico make this an intriguing and mysterious structure.  The house sits on a parcel of land that was originally granted to Governor Dongan in 1677. The property was passed down to the Governor's nephew and then the investigation grows cold for the Revolutionary War period. Judge Ogden Edwards, the nephew of Jonathan Edwards (the famous American theologian noted for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"), then took possession of the house in the 1840s.  The Judge was also the cousin of the infamous Aaron Bur
Post a Comment
Read more

Frederick Law Olmsted on Staten Island, Sunday, June 9, 2013, 1:00 PM

Image
Olmsted at age 28. Talk and Tour of the grounds and the exterior of the house by    Barnett Shepherd, Executive Director,  John Kilcullen, President,  of the Preservation League of Staten Island 4485 Hylan Boulevard Reservations: 718-980-1551 info@preservestatenisland.org ________________________________________________ Olmsted House. All photos courtesy Nick Matranga (c) The stone portion of the Olmsted farmhouse was built in the early 18th century by Jacques Poillon, the County Road Commissioner. The relieving arches visible on the facade suggest that it may originally have been a barn. The frame second floor, attic and kitchen wing were added ca. 1840. In 1847 the farm was purchased by Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), America’s first landscape architect. He lived here until 1853. He grew fruit trees while experimenting with farm techniques and landscape design. The Cedars of Lebanon, ginkgo and walnut trees seen today in the front yard were planted b
Post a Comment
Read more

Clifton Walking Tour, Saturday, May 18, 2013 2:00 PM

Image
Please join the Preservation League of Staten Island for a walking tour of historic Clifton, Staten Island. Clifton, along with nearby New Brighton, was one of the City's first romantic suburbs. Planned and designed in 1836, to offer New Yorkers an escape from the crowded conditions of New York City. Houses and grounds were laid out on over-sized lots to take advantage of Staten Island's then picturesque rural landscape and panoramic views. Located near Cornelius Vanderbilt's successful ferry landing, which provided quick transportation to Manhattan and Brooklyn, Clifton become a desirable location for wealthy merchants looking to live and raise a family, while still having convenient access to their businesses and the growing commerce on NY Harbor. A walk through Clifton highlights its architecturally diverse buildings with many styles represented. Many of the leading and influential architect's of the day, including Carrere and Hasting, Delano and Aldrich plus Stat
Post a Comment
Read more

Historic Preservation Awards 2013 Recipients

Image
Bronze Award 710 Bay Street (The Boardman-Mitchell House) - Mr. Barnett Shepherd and Mr. Nick Dowen For extensive restoration, inside and out; and Mr. Joseph and Ms. Liubov Offenberg; for the continued restoration and stewardship of this lovely early Victorian house. 42 Westervelt Avenue - Mr. Robert Fitzsimmons Jr. (Gateway Arms Realty) 32 Park Place - Mr. Kris Bojanowicz and Ms. Anna Filipowska Historic Treasure 404 Henderson Avenue - Mr. and Mrs. Hap and Karen Kuffner For the restoration and stewardship of this Center Hall Colonial Revival's historic elements (porch and bluestone sidewalk).   Appreciation and Encouragement 248 Fillmore Street - Mr. Dean Sonnenberg For the restoration of the front facade of this 1905 O.H. Lee designed Colonial Revival House. 5 Highview Avenue - Mr. Greg Hotaling and Ms. Denise Rompilla For the sensitive front porch restoration of this 19th century hillside Victorian. 31 Louis Street - Ms
Post a Comment
Read more

LANDMARK SPOTLIGHT: Gustave Mayer House at 2475 Richmond Road

Image
Twenty-five years ago on April 19th, the Gustave Mayer house at 2475 Richmond Road, New Dorp received official NYC Landmark designation. This wonderful circa 1855 Italian style villa sits proudly on a hill overlooking lower NY harbor. A true Staten Island architectural gem. More information about this structure can be found at the Preservation League of Staten Island's Landmarks Google map here: PLSI's Landmarks Google Map Click on the Blue Marker for the specific landmark and you will be given an option to open the Neighborhood Preservation Center's file on the history of the house. All Photos Courtesy of Nicholas Matranga, All Rights reserved.
Post a Comment
Read more