The Grit and Grace of Staten Island in the 1930s Through Exquisite Photos

Let the tick-tock of the clock transport you back to Staten Island in the 1930s, an era set against the backdrop of economic hardship and transformative events. Staten Island was not just a ferry ride away from Manhattan but a world of its own. A locale brimming with community spirit, resilience, and a stubborn refusal to bow to the challenges of the times.

New Deal and Infrastructure

The 1930s were a tough period, grappling with the clutches of the Great Depression. Yet, the New Deal was a game-changer for the Island. Federal funds breathed life into local infrastructure. Ah, who could forget the construction of the Goethals Bridge, which opened in 1928, and the Bayonne Bridge, completed in 1931? These iconic structures soon became more than just pathways; they were lifelines that connected the Island to new opportunities and economic revival.

Radio Waves and Island Entertainment

In between the trials and tribulations, there was a glimmer of life—a tale of community that gathered around the radio, listening to broadcasts of President Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats or the thrill of Yankees games. Even without the luxuries we know today, Staten Islanders found simple joys. Roller-skating rinks popped up, becoming community centers where youngsters would hold hands and glide around to tunes from the big bands. It wasn’t Broadway, but it was an escape, a slice of Americana.

The Stapleton Navy Yard

Stapleton’s Navy Yard was a focal point for Staten Islanders seeking employment. Despite the Depression, the Yard was a hive of activity, as it was gearing up for what would eventually become World War II. Families took pride in the fact that the ships and machinery produced there were crucial for national security. Lunch pails in hand, workers would make their way to the Yard each morning, their hearts swelling with a sense of duty and purpose.

The Soul of Sandy Ground

Sandy Ground continued to be a symbol of resilience. The Depression may have caused economic turmoil, but it could not shake the deep-rooted sense of community that the African American settlers had built. The famous African Zion Church stood tall, hosting spirited gospel sessions. Fried fish and okra would be served at communal meals, bringing warmth and unity to a community that had always known how to weather storms.

As the decade ended, global tensions began to mount, and Staten Island started to prepare for what seemed inevitable. Young men enlisted, spurred by a sense of duty and perhaps, adventure. The Island would never be the same, as its youth began to embrace a world much larger than the ferry rides and the simple pleasures they had known.

#1 This was the view looking up Victory Boulevard, from Bay Street in Tompkinsville in 1935, when the roads were paved with cobblestones, 1935.

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#2 St. Louis Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school in Pleasant Plains, phased out in 1965, closed in 1971; later became the Yeshiva of Staten Island, circa 1930s.

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#3 Grasmere, Hylan Boulevard just north of Old Town Road, circa 1937.

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#4 The Swiss Chalet on 18 Nelson Avenue, a Great Kills Mainstay for Many Years, Early on Billed as an Air-Conditioned Restaurant, 1930s.

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#5 Hylan Boulevard Looking South at Steuben Street; the Shortcut in Grasmere Provided by Emergency Relief Bureau, 1935.

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#6 Loading Vehicles at the 69th St. Ferry at St. George, 1933.

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#7 Arthur Kill Road near Winant Avenue in Rossville, 1930.

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#8 The Lubritorum Located in New Dorp, 1939

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#9 Ferry Terminal at St. George Viaduct, 1934.

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#10 Intersection of Victory Boulevard and Forest Avenue, 1937.

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#11 South Beach Bungalow Colony, 1934.

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#12 Midland Beach, 1930s.

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#13 Staten Island’s east shore bungalows damaged by the hurricane, 1938.

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#14 Loading vehicles at the 69th St. Ferry to Brooklyn in St. George, 1933.

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#15 Kids Sledding Down Conyingham Avenue in Randall Manor Despite 6 Degrees Below Temperatures, 1936.

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#16 Max Geldner’s New Dorp Hotel Advertised Bachmann’s Lager Beer, Closed Down with Prohibition, 1933.

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#17 A Crowded Boat in Great Kills Harbor, 1936.

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#18 Ludwig Sander Christens the Opening of South Beach Line by Staten Island Coach Co., 1934.

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#19 Lunch Counter in the St. George Staten Island Ferry Terminal, 1936.

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#20 View of Various Businesses on Richmond Terrace, 1930s.

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#21 Eckstein’s Hotel and Brewery, Located at Victory Boulevard and Manor Road, Later the Sunnyside Club, a Neighborhood Favorite, 1930s.

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#22 Rainy Day on Main Street, 1935.

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#23 Jefferson Avenue, Transition of the Quaint Train Station, 1935.

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#24 1936 View of Surf Avenue from Brighton Street; None of the Buildings Remain Standing Today, 1936.

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#25 Holtermann’s Bakery at 405 Arthur Kill Rd. 1930s

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#26 Women’s Democratic Social Club Located at 1451 Richmond Ave., 1930s

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#27 The Tottenville branch of the New York Public Library, opened in 1904, as seen in 1937.

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#28 Arthur Kill Road and Rossville Avenue, Staten Island, circa 1939.

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#29 South Beach Bungalow Colony, 1934.

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#30 Nats Mens Shop, A Staten Island Favorite Supplying Army and Navy Apparel, Port Richmond, 1935.

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#31 The Gold Star Mother Ferryboat, Built at United Shipyards, Launched to Honor Mothers of Soldiers Killed in WWI, 1937.

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#32 Belasco’s Wild Cat, a Cool Place for Dinner and Beer on Hylan Blvd. in Oakwood, 1930s

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#33 Lemon Creek in Prince’s Bay, 1937.

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#34 Bay Street Looking West Towards Victory Blvd., 1930s.

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#35 Midland Beach Attraction for Staten Islanders and Visitors, City Acquired in 1938.

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#36 Clove Road, West New Brighton, Flooded from the Great Rain of July 28, 1938.

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#37 New Dorp Lane, 1930.

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#38 The Gold Star Mother Carried Officials off the Battery, Named for Women Who Lost Children in World War I, 1938.

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#39 Passengers Enjoy Outdoor Seating on the Ferry Boat Miss New York, 1937.

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#40 John Crimmins’ Fish Stand, a Modest Forerunner of Arthur Treacher’s, Opened in 1937.

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#41 Ski Jumping on Staten Island During the Mid-1930s.

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#42 Hylan Boulevard and Old Town Rd, 1939.

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#43 Department of Health Building at St. George Ferry Terminal, 1937.

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#44 Tottenville Residents Walk on Frozen-Over Raritan Bay, Ship Waits for Ice to Thaw, 1936.

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#45 Search for victims after heavy rains collapsed a six-family tenement on New Street, New Brighton; 19 people were killed, 1937.

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#46 Christmas trees from Staten Island native woods being loaded for shipment at Stapleton, 1935.

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#47 Richmond Avenue (Now Port Richmond Avenue) a Few Days before Christmas, 1930s.

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#48 Thompson Stadium, Home of the Staten Island Stapletons, 1924-1933.

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#49 Ice-Skating off Pleasant Plains Shore in the Cold Winter, 1934.

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#50 Children at Staten Island Tuberculosis and Health Committee for health check-ups; held from nine to eleven on Monday and Wednesday mornings, circa 1937.

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#51 Future site of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, 1938.

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#52 Oakwood, SIRT Crossing on Guyon Ave. Looking Towards Amboy Rd., 1932.

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#53 Lunch Counter in St. George Terminal, Staten Island Ferry, 1934.

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#54 Left on green light only, Hylan and Guyon Avenue, 1937.

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#55 Mission of Immaculate Virgin in Mount Loretto, Once the Largest Orphanage in New York, Circa 1938.

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#56 Aerial photo shows the bulkhead expected to save Great Kills Harbor from being clogged by sand, June 16, 1934.

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#57 Castlelon Avenue, East from Taylor Street, 1935.

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#58 Sandy Ground on Staten Island, Circa 1932.

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#59 View of Richmond Terrace with cobblestone pavement and trolley tracks, looking towards Davis Avenue from Bard Avenue, Staten Island, 1935.

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#60 Bus benches come to Staten Island, June 21, 1934.

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#61 The front of Whelan’s Drug Store on Amboy Road in Great Kills, where most folks used the wooden telephone booth and bell-logoed sign to make calls, 1930s.

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#62 Cruiser coming through Lemon Creek Bridge, Prince’s Bay, 1935.

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#63 NYPD rescues a dog on Van Duzer St., Tompkinsville, featured on the Staten Island Advance, 1932.

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#64 Lunch counter in the St. George Staten Island Ferry Terminal, encouraging healthy eating, 1936.

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#65 Canal and Bay Streets, Circa 1938.

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#66 Children Sledding Down Conyingham Avenue in Randall Manor, Despite 6 Degrees Below Temperatures, 1936.

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#67 Boarding the Staten Island Ferry, 1933.

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#68 25 MPH Limit on Hylan Blvd., 1937.

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#69 A line of cars moves slowly toward Port Richmond in the Bayonne Bridge’s first traffic jam, on opening day, Nov. 14, 1931.

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#70 Staten Island Advance front page features new high schools, 1935.

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#71 Downtown Port Richmond bustling shopping area during the Depression, circa 1930s.

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#72 SIRT crossing in Clifton on Bay Street, Staten Island, circa 1930s.

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#73 Bar scene located at 3 Victory Boulevard, 1939

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#74 A hotdog spot on Huguenot Avenue, 1939

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#75 People possibly hanging Christmas decorations outside 91 Richmond Ave, 1939

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#76 The Victory Diner, a popular meeting and dining place, moved and finally demolished in 2013, 1932.

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#77 Victory Boulevard and Bay Street, Tompkinsville, Featuring Local Shops, 1935.

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#78 Jersey Street, New Brighton Being Repaired, 1934.

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#79 Forest Avenue in Mariners Harbor with Weissglass Dairy at right, 1933.

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#80 Ferry Terminal at St. George Viaduct, 1934.

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#81 Richmond Terrace between York Avenue and Jersey Street, 1930s.

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#82 Richmond Terrace, 1934

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#83 Bayonne Bridge, construction began in 1928 and opened in 1931; engineers successfully connected sections, 1931.

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#84 Health check-up for babies at Staten Island tuberculosis and health committee, 1937.

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#85 Boarding the Staten Island Ferry, 1933.

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#86 Hylan Blvd. Looking North from Old Town Road, 1939

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#87 St. George Theatre on Hyatt Street with Stars Like Gary Cooper and Mary Pickford, Borough Hall in the Middle, Other Popular Spots Included Palace, Richmond and Strand in Various Locations, 1935.

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#88 Al Deppe’s Restaurant, Famous for Hot Dogs, Soft Shell Crabs and Seafood at Richmond Avenue and Arthur Kill Road, 1930s to 1960s.

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#89 John Macfarlane at A.S.P.C.A. Shelter, Rosebank, 1939.

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#90 Richmond Terrace, St. George, a Busy Shopping Area, 1934.

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#91 St. Vincent’s Hospital Ambulance Crash, Staten Island, Late 1930s.

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#93 Amboy Road and Richmond Avenue, Circa 1935

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#94 Rowing Crews in Lifeboats off the Coast of Travis During the Fetherston Outing, 1937.

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#95 Burgher Avenue, Dongan Hills, 1930s

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#96 Left Turn on Green Light Only at Targee Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, Stapleton, 1937.

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#97 Lindsay’s Hotel Demolished, Once Operated by Democratic County Leader Robert G. Lindsay, Great Kills, 1937.

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#98 Delivery Trucks from R&H Brewing Co., Stapleton, Staten Island, 1930s

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#99 Guyon Avenue, Looking Towards Amboy Road, Oakwood, 1932

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#100 Enjoy the Rest of This Summer-Like Day at Crescent Beach, Great Kills, 1930s

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#101 Ski Jumping in New York City, Otto Bergendal Winner of Tournament at Todt Hill, 1936.

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#102 A trolley on Bay Street, 1930s

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#103 Manor Road at Egbert Avenue, Westerleigh, circa 1935.

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#104 Hylan Blvd. looking south from Lipsett Ave., Annadale, circa 1935.

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#105 Village Hall, Stapleton, constructed in 1889, served as a community center and health clinic, renamed for James J. Tappen in 1934, a New York City Landmark, 1910.

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#106 German Clubrooms, constructed in 1874, home to cultural activities, destroyed by fire in 1932.

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#107 Staten Island’s East Shore Was a Summer Destination with Beaches, Amusement Attractions, Restaurants, and Resorts; Various Factors Led to Decline, 1938

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#108 Staten Island Advance cameraman ventured out on ice to capture the US Coast Guard cutter Comanche, 1936.

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#109 William Price and Thomas Costello at Key of Lemon Creek Bridge, Prince’s Bay, Circa 1935.

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#110 View from Bergen Point Lighthouse, 1930.

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#111 Richmond Railway trolley cars leave Staten Island via railroad tracks and barges, 1934.

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#112 Wonder Bread advertisement in the Staten Island Advance, 1932.

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#113 The Old Mill, a landmark diner-type restaurant in Grasmere with two windmills, 1930s to 1950s.

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#114 Lunch Counter in St. George Terminal, Staten Island Ferry, 1934.

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#115 Intersection of Richmond Hill Road and Richmond Avenue, Staten Island, 1938.

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#116 Mariners Harbor train station, Staten Island, 1937.

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#117 A Portion of the Sea View Farm Colony, Pictured in 1933, Now Off-Limits.

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#118 Looking North on Bay Street at Vanderbilt Avenue, Stapleton, 1938.

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#119 Spend Your Vacation at Midland Beach; Dining and Dancing at May’s Casino in South Beach, 1934.

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#121 Richmond Terrace, Looking Toward Davis Avenue from Bard Avenue, 1935.

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#122 Bard Ave. & Richmond Terr., Mansard on Staten Island at Intersection of Richmond Terrace and Bard Avenue, 1932

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#123 Bay Street, circa 1930

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#124 The Black Horse Tavern in New Dorp, Staten Island, was a historic site used by Gen. Sir William Howe during the Revolution and later demolished in 1935.

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#125 This house at 794 Richmond Ave., was a gas station and home, replaced twice, including for the Staten Island Expressway, circa 1930.

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#126 Linoleumville’s History: First Linoleum Factory, Town Renamed Travis after Plant Closure, 1931.

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#127 Bayonne Bridge Traffic Jam: Opening Day After Construction, 1931.

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#128 Richmond Terrace businesses featuring a vacant liquor store, taxi service, and a chop suey restaurant, Staten Island, 1930s.

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#129 Borough Hall in St George neighborhood, seen from the intersection of Bay and Hyatt streets, Staten Island, 1930s.

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#130 Intersection of Bay and Hyatt streets in the St George neighborhood, Staten Island, 1930s.

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#131 Pier 13 at Stapleton, Staten Island, loaded with 90,000 cases of canned beef for England.

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#132 St John’s Villa Academy in Arrochar, Staten Island, seen through its stone and metal gate, 1930.

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#133 Elevated view from Victory Boulevard, at its intersection with Central Avenue and Bay Street, Staten Island, 1930s.

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#134 Waterfront at the southern tip of Manhattan near Battery Park, showing Staten Island Ferry docks, circa 1935.

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#135 Fatal accident involving Magistrate Henry W. Bridges’ car at Moravian Cemetery in New Dorp, Staten Island.

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#136 View across Silver Lake and Silver Lake Park, with the Bayonne Bridge in the background, Staten Island, 1930s.

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#137 Sunbathers and swimmers at Midland Beach, Staten Island, early to mid-20th century.

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#138 Times Square Stores at the intersection of Vreeland Street and Richmond Avenue, Port Richmond, Staten Island, 1936.

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#139 1930s skyline of Lower Manhattan as viewed from the deck of a Staten Island Ferry.

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#140 Staten Island flooded after a severe storm on November 18, 1932.

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#141 US Coast Guard ships at Pier 18, Staten Island, aimed at preventing alcohol smuggling during Prohibition, 1933.

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#142 View up St. Mark’s Place featuring Queen Anne and Shingle style houses, Staten Island, circa 1937.

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#143 Seaview Hospital Nurses’ Home, Staten Island, circa 1930s.

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