Welcome to The Preservation League of Staten Island

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...

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.

Dear Members and Friends: The Annual Meeting of the Preservation League of Staten Island will take place on Sunday, April 28, 2013 starting at 1:00 P.M., at the Reformed Church on Staten Island, 54 Port Richmond Avenue. The meeting will include reports from the Treasurer, the President and the Executive Director.  The election of new board members for the class of 2016 will also be held. A proposed amendment to PLSI's bylaws will be presented. Following a luncheon prepared by board member Halina McCormack, we will present the Annual Awards Ceremony honoring exemplary work in historic preservation on Staten Island. Admission per person is $20.00  A discount of 50%  is offered for every third admission ticket purchased. Reservations are suggested.  Pay by PayPal below or call 718-442-7393. Number of Guests 1 $20.00 USD 2 $20.00 USD 3 (Discount) $50.00 USD

“Staten Island Preservationists and Saving the Conference House” The Preservation League of Staten Island and the Conference House Association announce an illustrated lecture by Barnett Shepherd to be given at two separate locations on two separate dates. “ Staten Island Preservationists and Saving the Conference House ” will outline the historic preservation movement’s early successes in America, along with presenting Staten Island’s leaders who rescued several of Staten Island’s earliest historic landmarks. The event will take place on Sunday, March 17, 2013 , beginning at 2:00 P.M. at the Reformed Church on Staten Island, 54 Port Richmond Avenue, Port Richmond, and on Sunday, March 24, 2013 , beginning at 2:00 P.M . at the Conference House Kitchen, 7455 Hylan Boulevard, Tottenville. Ample street parking is available at both locations. $10 admission . Reservations suggested: Telephone718.980.1551 or pay for tickets on line via PayPal. Choose Date March...

There are many faces of the victims of Sandy. We are working together to connect resources and empower neighbors helping neighbors. Staten Island Community Partnership is a volunteer-led coalition working with organizations, business and elected officials to help Hurricane Sandy victims on Staten Island, to return to a normal daily life. We have many challenges ahead and no one on Staten Island hasn’t been affected, in one way or another. Staten Islanders are struggling. Loss of a home, life, damage to property, loss of income, electric and access to services such as medical and more. Children and families are displaced and there will be a struggle to get back to a normal daily life over the short and long term. We are working with the Staten Island Huger Partnership and several not for profits on Staten Island. New Direction Services is requesting Gift cards to provide to needy families and food donations. School Supplies are in desperate need also. You may make a do...

Text by Barnett Shepherd, Executive Director of PLSI Olmsted House. All photos courtesy Nick Matranga (c) The stone portion of this structure 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 by Olmsted. The house is a Designated NYC Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Piollon/Akerely/Olmsted/Beil House. photo NYPL.

In conjunction with the Museum of the City of New York's Exhibit " From Farm to City: Staten Island, 1661-2012 " we will display some photos  (courtesy of The New York Public Library)  of old  farms on Staten Island   on our Blog . Agriculture played a distinctive and important part of Staten Island's economic growth, from Native Americans who farmed the land to the colonization of the Island by the Huguenots and the English. Farm life was a constant battle with nature, taming the landscape to create farm fields, the cutting of forests and the clearing and draining of the swamps and marshes for pasture for domesticated animals.  Horses were a dominant feature, used for the plowing and transport of produce. Many farms also had fruit orchards growing various types of apples, pears, peaches, and figs. Manhattan was the primary market for the 18th and 19th century Yeoman Farmer of Richmond County. The only remaining working farm on Staten Island is the ...