Discover the Rich History and People of Staten Island in the 1880s with Stunning Historic Photos

The 1880s were transformative years for Staten Island. Though the quietude of the past was still prevalent, whispers of modernity could be heard. Railways began to cut across the island’s scenic beauty. The North Shore Branch and the South Beach Branch, part of the Staten Island Railway, were already operating. It became easier for folks to move between neighborhoods like St. George and Tottenville, but the island still clung to its agrarian roots. Farmlands and fishing villages dotted the landscape, a harmonious blend of old and new.

Cultural Influences

Just as in the previous decades, the 1880s saw Staten Island as a colorful tapestry of different cultures. The architecture reflected a medley of Dutch, English, and French influences. However, this was also the time when Italian immigrants began to arrive in significant numbers. They brought with them their culinary skills, customs, and an affinity for community living. The echoes of lively Italian folk songs started to blend with the multicultural sounds that had filled the air for decades.

Epoch-Making Events

The 1880s were not devoid of milestones. One such was the formation of Staten Island’s Richmond County, aligned with the consolidation of the five boroughs into Greater New York City in 1898. However, perhaps one of the most memorable events was the opening of the Statue of Liberty in 1886. Though not on Staten Island itself, the statue was visible from its shores. The island became a symbolic gateway for immigrants, and the statue a beacon of hope and freedom, casting its glow over the waters that separated the island from Manhattan.

Social Life and Local Traditions

Life was deeply communal during the 1880s in Staten Island. Whether it was gathering at the local church for Sunday service or celebrating the holidays with grand feasts and dances, the spirit of togetherness was palpable. Oral traditions were strong, with stories, legends, and life lessons passed down from the elderly to the youth.

Imagine the delight of a Christmas Eve in the 1880s—no flashing LED lights or online shopping, but candles, handmade decorations, and the joy of community caroling. The richness of these simple experiences is something that, perhaps, we find ourselves yearning for in our fast-paced world.

#1 The Bank of Staten Island at Richmond Turnpike and Griffin Street, Before Moving to Stapleton, 1887.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 Wintry Richmond Turnpike (Victory Blvd.), 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 Old Railroad Station: William Ross Began to Develop New Dorp as a Commuter Suburb Due to Nearby Station, 1886.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 Rossville Post Office, 2574 Arthur Kill Road, closed in 1919, 1880.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 Harry Lawrence Horton built homes on Westervelt Avenue, known as Horton’s Row, 1880.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 The Old New Dorp SIRT Station, a Landmark Since the 1880s, Prepared for its Move to Richmondtown Restoration Project, 1965.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 Thomson’s Saloon, Graniteville House, Morningstar Road and Richmond Avenue, 1886.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 St. Vincent’s Hospital (RUMC), formerly W.T. Garner Mansion, became St. Austin’s School, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 Sailors Snug Harbor view, Livingston, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 Ice harvesting at Silver Lake, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 Staten Island Museum celebrates 140th year, evolving from the Natural Science Association of Staten Island, 1881.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 Edgewater Village Hall, served Edgewater (Stapleton) village, 1889.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 US Women cadets at Fort Wadsworth, 1889.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 Harris’s Bathing Slide, South Beach with Hoffman Island, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 Farrell Lumber in Port Richmond, formerly Alvin Conklin Planing Mill, 1888.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 Bank of Staten Island, Richmond Turnpike met Griffin Street, moved to Stapleton, 1887.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 Wood burning Locomotive No.3, St. George to Mariners Harbor, 1886.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 Thomson’s Saloon, Graniteville House, Morningstar Road and Richmond Avenue, 1886.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#21 Horse-drawn trolley on Richmond Terrace, New Brighton, 1880.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#22 Bechtel Brewery on Van Duzer Street, largest on the Island, 1890s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#23 Buffalo Bill and Gang Entertained on Staten Island During the Summer of 1886; Legendary Annie Oakley Starred in the Show, 1886.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#24 George Waring, commissioner of Street Cleaning, 1895.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#25 Pavilion Hotel on west side of St. Peter’s Place, now 350 Richmond Terr.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 W.T. Garner Mansion, became St. Austin’s School for Boys, 1880s. And 2012

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 Alice Austen’s photograph of waltzing children at Women’s Club, 1883.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 Winter view from Richmond Road, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 New Dorp Lane, popular racing destination, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 West End Hotel in Tottenville, good place for a drink, sold in 1886 to beer baron George Bechtel, 1930s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 The Alvin Conklin Planing Mill was located on Richmond Terrace in Port Richmond; it later became Farrell Lumber, circa 1888.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 View from Todt Hill, Staten Island, Circa 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 View from Richmond Road, Circa 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 Richmond Avenue, Staten Island, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 The Rossville Post Office, Located at 2574 Arthur Kill Road, Closed January 31, 1919, Circa 1880.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36 Bechtel Brewery in Stapleton, largest brewery on the Island, 1890s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37 Oceanic Hook & Ladder Fire Company, chartered in 1881, at 4010 Victory Blvd.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38 Britton’s Ice House, 19th-Century Ice Harvesting Business at Clove Lake, Circa 1880s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39 Staten Island Athletic Club and Boathouse, New Brighton, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 Gelatin Silver Photograph of New Brighton, Staten Island by George Bradford Brainerd, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#41 North Shore of Staten Island Captured by George Bradford Brainerd, Gelatin Silver Photograph, 1880s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#42 Dr. Joseph Kinyoun’s Laboratory in Marine Hospital, Staten Island: Studying Cholera and Other Diseases, 1887.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote