Eltingville, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Eltingville is the name of a neighborhood on Staten Island
, one of the five boroughs of New York City
, USA
. It is on the island's South Shore
, immediately to the south of Great Kills
and north of Annadale
. The main commercial area of Eltingville extends down Richmond Avenue
, with offshoots heading north on Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard
.
until 1860, when the line was extended to Tottenville
. The community's main business district sprang up around the railroad station
, which is located a short distance west of the intersection of Amboy Road and Richmond Avenue. It is probably with the neighborhoods of Eltingville and Great Kills in mind that New York Telephone
named a telephone exchange
"Honeywood" in the 1920s; this exchange, which also served Annadale
and Huguenot
, was retired from service in 1959, but a local business establishment — Honeywood Liquors on Hylan Boulevard — remained for decades as a reminder of the exchange's existence. When HOneywood 6 and nearby TOttenville 8, with operators connecting all calls, converted to dial service the combined exchanges became YUkon 4.
In the early 20th century, Eltingville was settled by Scandinavians, predominantly Norwegians. There were so many Scandinavian surnames that people would differentiate families by trade or other defining characteristics with nicknames such as "delicatessen Hansen", "fish Hansen", "two-family" Hansen, etc. In Eltingville town, one could buy herring in wooden barrels which would be taken home and pickled. The Optimo Cigar store was originally run by a Norwegian man known as Moe. The Eltingville Lutheran church, which has lost most of its congregation, was founded by Norwegians and was a thriving support base for this community. Many of the older homes built in Eltingville, and other parts of the South Shore, were built by Scandinavian carpenters. One prominent builder was Ernst Nilsson, who emigrated from Sweden at the age of 12 making himself in to a millionaire. Many of these homes continue to be torn down, and little is documented about the contributions of these immigrants.
Beginning in the mid-1960s, Eltingville, like many other Staten Island neighborhoods, was the scene of massive new home construction, replacing the farmland that had heretofore predominated. This caused logistical problems, chiefly a lack of sewer lines, which then needed to be built. As a result, local traffic frequently had to be detoured from many main thoroughfares, including a large section of Hylan Boulevard
in the early 1990s.
Like most of the South Shore
of Staten Island, Eltingville has a large Italian-American population with many Italian-owned businesses, including Giovanni's Ristorante, John Vincent Scalia Funeral Home, Portobello Cafe, DeMonte's Salumeria, Sure Electrical Contracting, Carlo's Fish Market, DeRosa & Sons Pastosa Ravioli, and a large number of pizzerias. The offices of State Senator Andrew Lanza and New York City Councilman Vincent Ignizio
are also located on Richmond Avenue
in the neighborhood. There is a smaller number of Irish-Americans as well as a growing population of Russians and other ethnic groups.
For many years, the Eltingville train station had an Optimo cigar store situated adjacent to the steps leading up to the platform. The chain of Optimo cigar stores was once an iconic sight around the five boroughs of New York City. The Optimo store has been gone from the Eltingville station since the 1990s, allegedly due to a fire. Although two fluted, Greek-style columns from the store remain on the site, as a reminder of the store.
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, one of the five boroughs of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is on the island's South Shore
South Shore, Staten Island
The South Shore is a geographical term applied to the area in the New York City borough of Staten Island, south and east of the island's ridge of hills along the waterfront and adjacent areas from the Narrows to the mouth of the Arthur Kill, although many observers prefer to restrict its scope to...
, immediately to the south of Great Kills
Great Kills, Staten Island
Great Kills is a neighborhood within New York City's borough of Staten Island. It is located on the island's South Shore, and according to many local geographers, it is the South Shore's northernmost community...
and north of Annadale
Annadale, Staten Island
Annadale is a neighborhood or section of New York City in the borough of Staten Island, New York, USA, situated on the island's South Shore. Annadale Station serves the community....
. The main commercial area of Eltingville extends down Richmond Avenue
Richmond Avenue
Richmond Avenue is an integral north-south thoroughfare on Staten Island. Measuring approximately 7.0 miles , the road runs from the community of Graniteville to the south shore community of Eltingville.- Street description :...
, with offshoots heading north on Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard
Hylan Boulevard
Hylan Boulevard is a major northeast-southwest boulevard in the New York City borough of Staten Island. It is approximately long , and runs from the North Shore neighborhood of Rosebank to the South Shore neighborhood of Tottenville....
.
History
Originally called South Side, and later Seaside, the neighborhood owes its present name to a prominent family by the name of Elting which settled there in the late 19th century. It was the southern terminus of the Staten Island RailwayStaten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
until 1860, when the line was extended to Tottenville
Tottenville, Staten Island
Tottenville with an area of approx. , is the southernmost neighborhood of Staten Island, New York City and New York State. Originally named Bentley Manor by one of its first settlers, Captain Christopher Billop , after a small ship he owned named the Bentley, the district was renamed Tottenville in...
. The community's main business district sprang up around the railroad station
Eltingville (Staten Island Railway station)
Eltingville is an elevated Staten Island Railway station in the neighborhood of Eltingville, Staten Island, New York. It is located at Richmond Avenue on the main line. It contains two side platforms, orange canopies and walls, and staircases at the western end only that lead to Richmond Avenue...
, which is located a short distance west of the intersection of Amboy Road and Richmond Avenue. It is probably with the neighborhoods of Eltingville and Great Kills in mind that New York Telephone
New York Telephone
The New York Telephone Company was organized in 1896, taking over the New York City operations of the American Bell Telephone Company.-Predecessor companies:...
named a telephone exchange
Telephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
"Honeywood" in the 1920s; this exchange, which also served Annadale
Annadale, Staten Island
Annadale is a neighborhood or section of New York City in the borough of Staten Island, New York, USA, situated on the island's South Shore. Annadale Station serves the community....
and Huguenot
Huguenot, Staten Island
Huguenot is the name of a neighborhood located on the South Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA. In recent years it has become increasingly customary to refer to the western part of Huguenot as a separate neighborhood called Woodrow...
, was retired from service in 1959, but a local business establishment — Honeywood Liquors on Hylan Boulevard — remained for decades as a reminder of the exchange's existence. When HOneywood 6 and nearby TOttenville 8, with operators connecting all calls, converted to dial service the combined exchanges became YUkon 4.
In the early 20th century, Eltingville was settled by Scandinavians, predominantly Norwegians. There were so many Scandinavian surnames that people would differentiate families by trade or other defining characteristics with nicknames such as "delicatessen Hansen", "fish Hansen", "two-family" Hansen, etc. In Eltingville town, one could buy herring in wooden barrels which would be taken home and pickled. The Optimo Cigar store was originally run by a Norwegian man known as Moe. The Eltingville Lutheran church, which has lost most of its congregation, was founded by Norwegians and was a thriving support base for this community. Many of the older homes built in Eltingville, and other parts of the South Shore, were built by Scandinavian carpenters. One prominent builder was Ernst Nilsson, who emigrated from Sweden at the age of 12 making himself in to a millionaire. Many of these homes continue to be torn down, and little is documented about the contributions of these immigrants.
Beginning in the mid-1960s, Eltingville, like many other Staten Island neighborhoods, was the scene of massive new home construction, replacing the farmland that had heretofore predominated. This caused logistical problems, chiefly a lack of sewer lines, which then needed to be built. As a result, local traffic frequently had to be detoured from many main thoroughfares, including a large section of Hylan Boulevard
Hylan Boulevard
Hylan Boulevard is a major northeast-southwest boulevard in the New York City borough of Staten Island. It is approximately long , and runs from the North Shore neighborhood of Rosebank to the South Shore neighborhood of Tottenville....
in the early 1990s.
Like most of the South Shore
South Shore, Staten Island
The South Shore is a geographical term applied to the area in the New York City borough of Staten Island, south and east of the island's ridge of hills along the waterfront and adjacent areas from the Narrows to the mouth of the Arthur Kill, although many observers prefer to restrict its scope to...
of Staten Island, Eltingville has a large Italian-American population with many Italian-owned businesses, including Giovanni's Ristorante, John Vincent Scalia Funeral Home, Portobello Cafe, DeMonte's Salumeria, Sure Electrical Contracting, Carlo's Fish Market, DeRosa & Sons Pastosa Ravioli, and a large number of pizzerias. The offices of State Senator Andrew Lanza and New York City Councilman Vincent Ignizio
Vincent Ignizio
Vincent M. Ignizio is a member of the New York City Council representing Staten Island's 51st District. Before being elected to the City Council, he was a member of the New York State Assembly....
are also located on Richmond Avenue
Richmond Avenue
Richmond Avenue is an integral north-south thoroughfare on Staten Island. Measuring approximately 7.0 miles , the road runs from the community of Graniteville to the south shore community of Eltingville.- Street description :...
in the neighborhood. There is a smaller number of Irish-Americans as well as a growing population of Russians and other ethnic groups.
For many years, the Eltingville train station had an Optimo cigar store situated adjacent to the steps leading up to the platform. The chain of Optimo cigar stores was once an iconic sight around the five boroughs of New York City. The Optimo store has been gone from the Eltingville station since the 1990s, allegedly due to a fire. Although two fluted, Greek-style columns from the store remain on the site, as a reminder of the store.
Education
The area is home to many schools, including P.S. 42 and P.S. 55, both of which send students to I.S. 7 for middle school.Transportation
Eltingville is served by the S59, S79, and S89 (which goes to Bayonne, NJ) bus lines along Richmond Avenue, and the S78 along Hylan Blvd. It is also served by the Staten Island Railway and nuerous express buses, which terminate at the Eltingville Transit Center.Notable residents
- Actor Steven SeagalSteven SeagalSteven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
once lived in Eltingville. - Fashion model Patti HansenPatti HansenPatricia "Patti" Elvina Hansen is an American model and actress.-Early life and career:Hansen, who is of Norwegian ancestry, was born and raised in the Tottenville section of Staten Island, New York. The youngest of six children, Hansen was discovered by photographer Peter Gert at age 14...
, a Tottenville native, who visited her Norwegian grandparents often in Eltingville and attended the Eltingville Lutheran Church with her family, is best known for having married Rolling Stones Guitarist Keith Richards. - Politician Vito Fosella campaign headquarters was in Eltingville.
- Disgraced NYPD Officer Justin Volpe grew up in Eltingville.