William J. Staples and his partner, Monthorne Tompkins, purchased a large parcel of land in 1832 to establish their real estate venture. Four years later, the pair initiated ferry service from the waterfront in Stapleton to Manhattan across New York Bay and began advertising their community to attract investors. As lots were sold and the community developed, businesses soon followed. The large influx of German immigrants to the area brought with them an expertise for brewing beer, with the result that Stapleton soon became the epicenter of a large brewing industry. The wealth the breweries attracted to the area resulted in the construction of large homes, mansions, and estates, many of which still stand today along the crests of the area's hilly terrain.
Title: Book provides a new look back at Stapleton
Author: Marjorie Hack
Publisher: silive.com
Date: 8/26/2010
You can't turn back the hands of time, but in their newest volume "Images of America: Stapleton" (Arcadia Publishing), preservation advocates James G. Ferreri of Sunnyside and David Goldfarb of St. George come awfully close to doing just that.
In the process, they show that the community, which bridges the North and East shores of Staten Island, closely resembles that handsome young kid who bursts onto the scene brimming with promise and panache, realizes his potential and then begins to fade.
Still, thanks to a number of residents who have peopled this community in recent years, and historical stewards who have spent hours documenting both its roots and its glory days, this is a neighborhood that is far from lost. In fact, with a pretty grand housing stock, lovely town square, ample commercial space and proximity to the Ferry, Stapleton could easily be one of the next happening spots in the city of New York.
It's just waiting to be re-discovered by someone like its original founders William J. Staples and his partner Monthorne Tompkins, who purchased a large parcel of land in 1832 to develop as a real estate venture. Four years later, according to Goldfarb and Ferreri, the two started a ferry service from the community's waterfront to Manhattan across New York Bay and began advertising the brave new world's assets.
It didn't take long for the buzz to begin - especially among German immigrants who bought up lots and started brewing beer. Soon, Stapleton became the epicenter of a large and highly profitable brewing industry. The wealth generated by the breweries led to the construction of some fabulous mansions and estates - some of which still stand along the hillier reaches of the community.
The wealth also drew doctors, many of whom set up shop near the intersection of Beach and Van Duzer streets, once a picturesque, leafy byway framed by tidy picket fences and inviting stoops.
Grand churches were built; so were lots of smaller cottages that housed the work force.
But, life is about nothing if not change, and Stapleton's German-led heyday was not to last forever. Today, it's a community in flux, looking to be relevant and forward-thinking for new generations but also hoping to retain the purpose and character of its past.
The photographs in this volume are wonderful, and the accompanying text will correct many misconceptions about the community's roots and rise.
According to Goldfarb, one of the most interesting facts he and Ferreri discovered was that Stapleton was once home to a professional football team. Founded in 1915, the Staten Island Stapes obtained an NFL franchise in 1929. They played in Thompson Stadium, which stood where the Stapleton Houses, a city apartment complex, now stands. Unfortunately, the team never had a winning season, and the franchise was forfeited in 1935. The original team owner was Daniel Blaine, one of whose great grand nephews provided some team pictures for the book.
Ferreri and Goldfarb published a similar book about St. George last year. There are two other Arcadia books available relevant to Staten Island - one on Port Richmond by Phillip Papas and Lori R. Weintrob, and the other about the communities of Richmond and Lighthouse Hill, written by Margaret Ludrigan in 1996.
"Images of America: Stapleton" is available for $21.99. It can be purchased at area bookstores, independent and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at 888-313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.
