The Staten Island Historian
Claire Regan Editor Joanne Goodfellow Design Director
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Felicity Beil Niles French Maxine Friedman Donna Scimeca Ed Wiseman
The Society assumes no responsibility for statements by contributors to this publication . Copyright 2016 by the Staten Island Historical Socety .
STATEN ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY 441 Clarke Ave ., Staten Island , NY 10306 Telephone : 718-351-1611 Fax : 718-351-6057 historian @ historicrichmondtown . org www . historicrichmondtown . org
Dobler ’ s Court House Hotel , ca . 1910-1911 . Julius Dobler , a German immigrant , operated his hotel and saloon from 1898 until it closed ca . 1926 . Situated on Center Street across from the Third County Courthouse , the hotel was in a prime location to serve the many visitors who came to Richmond to conduct government business .
Richmond Road House , ca . 1915-1920 . Operated by the Rosenberg family , this hotel and saloon was located on Arthur Kill Road near the foot of Center Street . The building at left is now Historic Richmond Town ’ s Voorlezer ’ s House . The building at right , an addition built in 1883 , no longer stands .
keep it thriving . The town was transformed into an open air museum . This was a novel approach back then . Historic Richmond Town was one of the first museums of this type in the United States . It set a standard for others to follow .
Today we must picture a bustling town that is dynamic , constantly moving , not afraid to break ground or establish new standards . That is who we were . That is our history . This is also our future .
If you ’ ve visited during the past few years you ’ ve received a taste of this excitement . Smartly produced events and programs that blend centuries of American life transform the town into sparkling days and nights , consistently drawing thousands of happy guests from 1 to 100 years old . With $ 14 million in capital funding at work , we are restoring our townscape , upgrading our services and repairing structures . These projects are establishing a strong foundation for the future . One we can build on .
Our visitors have told us they want more from us . They see us as a 21st century museum that knows how to showcase America in ways that delight and amaze . They want us to restore the hustle and bustle . They want to come to Historic Richmond Town to shop , eat and play as they soak in American history . They expect it on weekends . They want it every day .
Watch , as we answer that call . Now is the moment we change and grow . It ’ s time to recapture the spirit of the centuries . After all , we are the center of the Island .
ED WISEMAN Executive Director Historic Richmond Town
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President : Kevin Fisher Vice President : Frank Gibbons Second Vice President : Dawn Reid-Green Treasurer : Gerard Carbonella Assistant Treasurer : Shawn O ’ Hara Secretary : Kenneth T . Bach
Don M . Bosco Timothy G . Boyland Kenneth Byalin , PhD Robert Champi Phyllis Chu William Ferrier Dina Marie Filippini Nicholas Mele Claire Regan Donna Scimeca Edward J . Vomero
STAFF Executive Director : Ed Wiseman Executive Assistant : Teresa Rodriguez Grants and Development : Niles French Development and Marketing : Frank Saulle Director of Education and Programs : Felicity Beil Facilities Manager : Joseph Dazzo Chief Curator : Maxine Friedman Curator : Sarah Clark Controller : Connie Manguiob
James Oddo , President , Borough of Staten Island Bill de Blasio , Mayor , City of New York Tom Finkelpearl , Commissioner , Department of Cultural Affairs Helen Gambardella , President , Women ’ s Auxiliary of SIHS Lynda Ricciardone , Commissioner , Department of Parks and Recreation
KEEP YOUR HISTORY ALIVE The Staten Island Historical Society has continued to thrive for over 150 years as a direct result of the generous support that it has received from individual and corporate donors . To learn more about the many ways in which you can make a valuable and lasting contribution toward the future success of the Society , please contact Ed Wiseman , the Society ’ s Director , at 718-351-1611 , ext . 250 .