What Staten Island looked like in the 1910s through these Captivating Historic Photos

Imagine a Staten Island where cobblestone streets were filled with the clip-clop of horse hooves, and trolleys made their leisurely way across the borough. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s worth stepping back to this simpler time, rich with community and the promise of change.

The 1910s were a turning point for Staten Island, a decade where the old was interwoven with the new. On one hand, this was an era before the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and the Staten Island Ferry was the critical link to Manhattan. On the other hand, it was a decade of global happenings with World War I casting a long shadow, even affecting the peaceful life of the island.

By the 1910s, Staten Island was a rich cultural mosaic. Immigrant communities from Europe had taken root, their cultural influences blending seamlessly with local traditions. From the Dutch Reformed churches to the Italian markets offering cured meats and fresh olives, Staten Island was a tapestry of tastes, sounds, and experiences.

Innovations and The Everyday

While the nostalgic lens often captures the simpler joys of community life, we shouldn’t overlook the subtle yet profound advancements that were weaving their way into daily existence during the 1910s. Imagine the marvel of seeing the first electric streetlights illuminating the evening, or the convenience brought by the burgeoning telephone lines. These innovations began to reshape the daily rhythms of Staten Island residents, allowing them to experience both the comforts of modernity and the charms of old-world living.

Historical Milestones

In the larger scope of history, Staten Island was not immune to the shifts taking place in the world. The island was home to military training camps during World War I, like Camp St. George. Young men from the island left their homes to serve overseas, their names forever etched in the memory of the community. The world war was a dark cloud in the otherwise tranquil sky, a sign that even the most peaceful corners were not isolated from global events.

The Heart of Community

Social life in the 1910s was the embodiment of community. Children ran through open fields, playing with homemade toys and climbing trees. Families gathered for potluck dinners, each dish a family recipe passed down for generations. During summer evenings, the sounds of fiddles and accordions filled the air as people danced the night away at community gatherings. These were scenes of genuine togetherness that many of us, immersed in the digital world, yearn for today.

#1 The ferry boat Mayor Gaynor enters the slip at St. George on May 2, 1919; dismantled in 1951, 1914.

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#2 Six injured in wreck of Staten Island express train, July 13, 1910.

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#3 Delivery Truck at Holtermann’s Bakery, Center Street, Richmond, 1915.

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#4 Night Scene at Midland Beach, 1910

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#5 Amboy Road shows horse-drawn carriages and carts, 1910.

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#6 Masonic Lodge Number 912’s history on Amboy Road, established 1913, moved 1993.

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#7 The American Dock Co. Operated Piers and Warehouses; Employees Pictured in the Company’s Band, 1919.

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#8 Infantry Inspection at Fort Wadsworth, a former United States military installation on Staten Island, 1910s

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#9 Hyatt Street viewed from the top of Borough Hall in St. George, circa 1910.

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#10 A carousel at South Beach, 1916.

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#11 Mount Loretto Graduating Class at St. Elizabeth’s Home, 1919.

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#12 Bathing Scene, New Dorp Beach, 1910s

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#13 Giffords Lane, Staten Island, 1910s.

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#14 Staten Island Summer Scene with Bathing Suits on Van Duzer Street, 1919.

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#15 South Beach, S.I., Hand-Stamped on Front, 1910.

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#16 Albert P. Semler Built a Hotel near His Park and Picnic Grounds in Grant City, 1910.

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#17 Stuyvesant Place in St. George, 1910s.

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#18 Midland Beach, 1910s.

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#19 Patriotic owner of a summer cottage at Woodland Beach during World War I, 1910s.

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#20 Mounted police, New Dorp, 1910s

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#21 Inns and beachfront hotels in New Dorp, 1910s.

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#22 Richmond Road in New Dorp, 1910s.

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#23 New Dorp Lane, 1910s.

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#24 Fox Hunting Along Flagg Place in Dongan Hills, 1910.

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#25 The Silver Lake Reservoir Under Construction, 1914.

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#26 Antonio, Sadie DiBlasi, Joseph, and Nellie Terracina in Front of DiBlasi & Co. Fish Market, 1917.

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#27 Ladder 78’s Firefighters Pose Outside Their Firehouse in Tompkinsville, 1915.

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#28 The Business Section of Fingerboard Road, Fort Wadsworth, 1910s.

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#29 Fred Scott’s Moving Picture Supply Headquarters and Amusement Company, Scott’s Farm, South Beach, 1912.

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#30 George and Bertha Kiefer and Family on Hopping Ave. in Tottenville, 1914.

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#31 Bayway Avenue Looking South, 1910s

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#32 The 18th Amendment, Prohibition Period in American History, Ratified 1919, Repealed 1933.

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#33 Pedestrians and Streetcar Near St. George Ferry Terminal, 1917.

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#34 Prince’s Bay, Camps at Overlook Park, 1910.

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#35 Miller Field, Home to Many Important Lighthouses in Staten Island’s History, 1910s.

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#36 The Montana H.C. Champions in Pleasant Plains on Election Day, 1914.

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#37 Fitzgerald’s Hotel in Great Kills transportation to the SIRT station, 1915.

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#38 Holtermann’s Bakery, photographed in Richmond, now located on Arthur Kill Road, 1915.

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#39 Soldiers marching down Amboy Road near Richmond Road, 1912.

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#40 Patriotic owner of a summer cottage at Woodland Beach urging people to buy war saving stamps during World War I, 1910s.

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#41 The Palace Theatre in Tottenville, known for “First Class Motion Pictures,” opened in 1915.

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#42 Camping Grounds, South Beach, Staten Island, People in Front of Cottages with Flags, 1910s.

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#43 The Third County Courthouse at 302 Center Street in Historic Richmond Town, Site of the 1844 Trial of Polly Bodine, 1910s

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#44 View of New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, 1910s

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#45 Annadale Road, Annadale, Staten Island – Taub’s Pharmacy on Corner Next to the Atlantic & Pacific, 1910s

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#46 View of Friedrich’s Pier, Tottenville, Staten Island, 1910s.

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#47 Princes Bay Inn interior, Staten Island, unsure of exact location, Charles Schopp, proprietor, circa 1910s

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#48 Women who made a difference: Elizabeth Burrell Curtis, active in social causes, founder and president of various organizations, best known for the Political Equality Club of Staten Island, 1914.

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#49 Amboy Road in Pleasant Plains – Shows Horse-Drawn Carriages and Carts, 1910.

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#50 Tottenville A.C. Track Team, Circa 1910.

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#51 Richmond County Advance Original Delivery Truck, 1913.

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#52 Tompkins Department Store on the corner of Bay and Sand streets, circa 1912

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#53 Victory Boulevard, renamed after the First World War, circa 1910

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#54 Clifton Train Station, Circa 1910.

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#55 Mt. Manresa, Fort Wadsworth; Historic site with a residence hall, chapel, and rare tulip trees; closed in 2012, 2014. Image is from 1910s

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#56 American Dock Co. gang, including Red, PeeWee, Ernie “Supt”, Bud, Dennis, and Jake, 1916.

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#57 The Liberty Theatre, Stapleton’s Modern Theatre for Drama and Vaudeville Acts, 1918

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#58 Richmond Avenue Looking North at Intersection with Amboy Road, 1910s

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#59 Aerial View of Graham Beach from Ferris Wheel at Midland Beach, 1910s

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#60 Gertrude Clarke’s Lawn Party on Guyon Avenue, Oakwood, 1911.

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#61 Staff of Leonhard Weinmann’s Bakery in Baker’s Whites at 388 Van Duzer Street, Shop Opened 1918, Closed 1968; Later Home to Various Establishments Including Muddy Cup Coffee House, 1918

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#62 Happyland, South Beach, Largest Souvenir and Novelty Store, South Beach, Staten Island, New York, 1910s

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#63 Abel R. Kiviat, Staten Islander and Olympic Medalist, Track Runner, Various Achievements Including 1912 Olympics Silver Medal, 1912

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#64 Banquet of Staten Island Business Men’s Association, St. George Hotel, Representing Holtermann Bros. Bakery, 1913

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#65 Operating Room in the U.S. Marine Hospital Looked Very Different in 1917, Laboratory Located in Staten Island Since 1887. Circa 1917

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#66 The Spanish Influenza Epidemic of 1918 on Staten Island, 1918

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#67 Tottenville Celebration Parade on Main Street, Circa 1911

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#68 Tottenville’s beautiful beaches and country setting drew Manhattan and Brooklynites for vacations; area’s transition depicted, 1910s

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#69 Women’s Suffrage Movement Displayed in Staten Island Museum Exhibit, 1916.

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#70 Central Avenue in St. George with horse-drawn carriages, circa 1916.

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#71 Two men struggle to change a tire, 1910.

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#72 Great Kills Hotel, also known as Hillies Hotel and Fitzgerald’s, featured free shrimp with beer, circa 1910.

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#73 The Montana H.C. football champions, taken in Pleasant Plains, 1914.

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#74 The Casino Dancing Pavilion, Tottenville Beach, Reid’s Ice Cream Parlor, 1910s

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#75 Ann Consolazio and Friends Sport Summer Dresses on Van Duzer Street, Stapleton, 1919.

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#76 Boardwalk in Midland Beach, 1910.

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#77 Peter Schaming Jr. enlists in the New York National Guard, 1917.

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#78 The Clifton Boat House, Rosebank, stood on what is now Buono Beach, circa 1910.

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#79 Garber Bros. Store in New Dorp, Founded in 1919, Moved to Hylan Shopping Plaza and Closed in 1994

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#80 Members of Engine Co. 160 with their steam pumper, 1915. First paid Staten Island firefighters; the firehouse is still in use, 1915.

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#81 Engine Co. 159 in Staten Island: Established by George Cromwell, Continues to Serve from Richmond Road Firehouse, 1912.

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#82 G. Siegle Company, located on Chestnut Avenue in Rosebank, Staten Island, 1910

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#83 Amboy Road featuring early 20th-century cars and shops with a sign for ‘Light, Power Gas Electric’ in Great Kills, Staten Island, 1910.

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#84 Golfer Walter C. Hagen during the final round of the Metropolitan Open Golf Championship at Fox Hills Golf Club, Staten Island, year not specified.

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#85 J.J. McDermott competing in the Metropolitan Open Championship Tournament at Fox Hills Golf Club, Staten Island, 1915.

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#86 Street intersection captured in Staten Island, circa 1915.

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#87 The Actors Home in West Brighton, Staten Island, 1910.

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