Stapleton History

Stapleton, formerly the Village of Edgewater, is located on Staten Island’s northeast coast along Upper New York Bay. Stapleton was an early commercial and industrial center that developed in the 1830’s on land that was once owned by the Vanderbilt family.

Prior to the consolidation of Greater New York City, Staten Island consisted of five towns: Northfield, Westfield, Southfield, Middleton, and Castleton. Middleton, the town which Stapleton would become part of, was formed in 1860 combining parts of Castleton and Southfield both of which were formed in 1863.

In the eighteenth century the majority of the lands from Upper New York Bay to Grymes Hill were owned by Cornelius Corson. By the nineteenth century, Corson’s estate had sold most of his interests in the area to the Vanderbilt family. A small portion of this area, in the early part of the nineteenth century was owned by Captain John Gore, who maintained it as a farm. Gore would own this property until the 1830’s. Gore Street, present-day Broad Street, was once a private lane that led east through the farm toward the main house along the Shore Road (north of present-day Harrison Street). Gore Brook, located near present-day Vanderbilt Avenue, ran through the property.

Daniel D. Tompkins was a key figure in setting the stage for the development of this area of Staten Island. Tompkins, a lawyer and politician, served as New York State governor from 1807-1817. In 1817, he was elected Vice President of the United States under President James Monroe. During his tenure as governor Tompkins promoted improved transportation on and access to Staten Island. He incorporated the Richmond County Turnpike Company which laid out present-day Victory Boulevard connecting New Jersey to the New York ferries at Tompkinsville. He was also responsible for the first steamboat service between Manhattan and Staten Island.

Beginning in 1815 he began acquiring substantial land holdings in Staten Island and founded the Village of Tompkinsville, just to the north of Stapleton. He eventually amassed approximately 700 acres in what is present-day New Brighton and Tompkinsville.

As a result of the development spurred on by Tompkins, the eastern and northern shores of Staten Island became an area for country homes and estates in the 1820’s and 1830’s. Stapleton was founded in the 1830’s following the purchase of lands from Cornelius Vanderbilt by Minthorn Tompkins (son of Daniel D. Tompkins) and William J. Staples.

By 1836 Tompkins and Staples had laid out village streets, building lots and named the area Stapleton. An 1836 Gazetteer describes Stapleton as comprising thirty or forty houses, a large hotel and the Navy Hospital. The Navy Hospital is actually the Seaman’s Retreat, opened in 1837. Affiliated with the Seaman’s Retreat (later Bayley Seton Hospital) was the Female Bethel Society, a home for wives, mothers and sisters of seamen, a cemetery that according to some maps extended to Tompkins Avenue and Hill Street-the boundary of the present day Stapleton Houses.

Stapleton drew many German immigrants in the mid-nineteenth century. The area’s natural springs and a growing demand for German beer led to the establishment of several breweries. These were started by German immigrants and formed a significant portion of Stapleton’s industry. Among the larger companies were Bechtel’s and R&H Brewery, also known as the Atlantic Brewery. Bechtel’s Brewery, established before the Civil War by John Bechtel, was located at the head of Broad Street at Richmond Road (present-day Van Duzer Street). It became the largest of the breweries producing 100,000 barrels/year. Generally associated with most breweries, at the time, were beer gardens and saloons. Soon Stapleton became known for its distinct Teutonic character and became an attraction for visitors.

Stapleton was the commercial center of Southfield/Middleton throughout the nineteenth century. Several industries were established in the area as the Civil War approached. During this period, the major sources of employment in the town were the breweries and the hospital followed by the growing variety of industrial based businesses. The draft enacted in 1863 caused a great deal of unrest in Stapleton and riots ensued. In July 1863, as the Draft Riots swept Manhattan, a mob armed with guns attacked Black residents and destroyed houses on McKeon Street (later Tompkins Street) within the project area.

Following the Civil War there was an even greater expansion of municipal changes and improvement. Stapleton, along with Clifton and part of Tompkinsville, was incorporated as part of the Village of Edgewater in 1866. This led to the establishment of a Fire Company in 1871 and the Staten Island Water Supply Company. The water company began laying water lines between 1879 and 1881. In 1882, Schneider and Bell Chemicals opened a plant on McKeon Street. The many transportation improvements brought additional industry and jobs and in turn residents to the area. The late nineteenth century saw a shift in the cultural composition of the area as many Italians and Eastern European immigrants settled in Stapleton.

Consolidation into the Greater City of New York in 1895 was also approaching. This too led to greater municipal and infrastructural changes and improvements. These included the construction of new piers along the waterfront. In the early twentieth century the industrial nature of the area began to change eventually becoming more confined to the shoreline area and the docks becoming a major employer. Also during this period, the breweries began to consolidate under the larger labels. Eventually Prohibition would destroy the brewing industry on Staten Island with the Atlantic Brewery becoming the last to close.