in Staten Island

Tompkinsville in the Early 1900s: Rare Photos from Staten Island’s Waterfront Past

In the early 1900s, Tompkinsville was a vibrant and established neighborhood on the North Shore of Staten Island, defined by its waterfront, its strong immigrant communities, and its active commercial streets. Located just south of the main ferry terminal at St. George, it was a place where industry and residential life existed side-by-side.

A large and influential German-American population shaped the character of the neighborhood. This heritage was visible in the businesses that lined the main thoroughfares. Tompkinsville was a center for brewing, with several large breweries operating in the area. Their brick industrial buildings were prominent local landmarks, and their horse-drawn wagons, loaded with barrels of beer, were a daily sight on the streets.

The social life for many residents centered around German singing societies, social clubs, and beer gardens. These establishments served as community hubs where people gathered, preserving cultural traditions from their homeland. On weekends, these places were filled with the sounds of music and conversation.

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The streets of Tompkinsville presented a varied scene. Hannah Street and Arietta Street were bustling commercial corridors. The ground floors of brick and wood-frame buildings housed a mix of businesses essential to the community, including bakeries, butcher shops, saloons, and dry goods stores. Above these shops were apartments where many local families lived. The architecture was a practical mix of older 19th-century structures and newer buildings constructed to house the growing population.

Electric trolley cars were the primary mode of public transit. They ran along Victory Boulevard and other main streets, connecting Tompkinsville residents to the ferry at St. George and to other towns across Staten Island. The clanging bells of the trolleys and the rumble of their wheels on the steel tracks were a constant part of the neighborhood’s soundscape.

The waterfront was an area of work and activity. Docks and piers handled goods and materials, supporting the local industries. From the shore, residents had clear views of the busy shipping lanes of New York Harbor. Tompkinsville Park provided a patch of green space away from the commercial activity, offering a place for recreation and rest.

#2 Bird’s eye view of Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

Bird's eye view of Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

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#5 Upper New York Bay – Staten Island – Tompkinsville, 1900.

Upper New York Bay - Staten Island - Tompkinsville, 1900.

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#6 Bird’s eye view of Tompkinsville showing government anchorage, Staten Island.

Bird's eye view of Tompkinsville showing government anchorage, Staten Island.

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#7 New York Bay from Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

New York Bay from Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

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#8 St. Paul’s Avenue, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, showing a long, tree-lined brick street.

St. Paul's Avenue, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, showing a long, tree-lined brick street.

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#9 Tompkinsville – Tompkins Circle on Pavilion Hill, 1939.

Tompkinsville - Tompkins Circle on Pavilion Hill, 1939.

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#10 Workmen salvaging sisal hemp in Richmond, Staten Island – Tompkinsville, 1925.

Workmen salvaging sisal hemp in Richmond, Staten Island - Tompkinsville, 1925.

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#11 Workmen gathering sisal hemp for baling in Richmond, Staten Island – Tompkinsville, 1925.

Workmen gathering sisal hemp for baling in Richmond, Staten Island - Tompkinsville, 1925.

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#12 Public swimming pool with children in wading pool, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

Public swimming pool with children in wading pool, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

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#13 Madison Avenue, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, featuring a view of a corner with two large mansions.

Madison Avenue, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, featuring a view of a corner with two large mansions.

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#14 Stork’s Nest Restaurant, located at 192-194 Bay St., Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, with a stork perched on the chimney.

Stork's Nest Restaurant, located at 192-194 Bay St., Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, with a stork perched on the chimney.

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#15 Aerial view of the public swimming pool and bath house, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

Aerial view of the public swimming pool and bath house, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

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#16 Public School No. 16, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, with horses pulling a freight wagon containing barrels in the street.

Public School No. 16, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, with horses pulling a freight wagon containing barrels in the street.

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#17 Tompkinsville Square looking toward St. George, Staten Island, New York, showing old cars, gas lamps, a brick street, and large buildings.

Tompkinsville Square looking toward St. George, Staten Island, New York, showing old cars, gas lamps, a brick street, and large buildings.

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#18 Tompkinsville, with a view of the street with people, markets, an old car, trolley tracks, and shops with awnings, including Plaza Market on the corner.

Tompkinsville, with a view of the street with people, markets, an old car, trolley tracks, and shops with awnings, including Plaza Market on the corner.

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#19 Shopping area in Tompkinsville, with trolley tracks on a brick street, a horse and wagon, and a striped awning over the corner store.

Shopping area in Tompkinsville, with trolley tracks on a brick street, a horse and wagon, and a striped awning over the corner store.

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#20 Central Avenue, Tompkinsville, showing a residential street with row homes, a three-story brick apartment building, people walking on the street, and ten children posed in a line in the street.

Central Avenue, Tompkinsville, showing a residential street with row homes, a three-story brick apartment building, people walking on the street, and ten children posed in a line in the street.

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#21 Staten Island – Tompkinsville – Victory Boulevard, 1939.

Staten Island - Tompkinsville - Victory Boulevard, 1939.

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#22 Public School No. 16, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

Public School No. 16, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

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#23 Tompkinsville – Pier 6 and the cargo ship “Exford”, 1931.

Tompkinsville - Pier 6 and the cargo ship "Exford", 1931.

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#25 New Public School, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

New Public School, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.

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Written by Makayla White

An amateur content creator and dreamer. I Run, Cycle, Swim, Dance and drink a lot of Coffee.

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