Pleasant Plains, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Pleasant Plains is a neighborhood located on Staten Island
, one of the five boroughs
of New York City
, New York
, the most populous city in the United States
.
Situated on the island's South Shore
, Pleasant Plains has a population of 5,000 according to the 2000 census. It was named by officials of the Staten Island Railroad Corporation, the original owners of what is now known as the MTA
Staten Island Railway
. When the railroad line was extended to Tottenville
in 1860, a station crossing Amboy Road approximately two miles north of Tottenville was named Pleasant Plains. Eventually, the name "Pleasant Plains" was applied to the community which soon sprung up around the station.
founder of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin. He started the mission in Manhattan
in 1871 originally to aid homeless newsboys. Subsequent parcels were added for a combined area of 400 acres (1.6 km²). The formal name became The Mission of The Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto but was and still is referred to solely as "Mt. Loretto". An orphanage
for boys and a working farm was established on the site. At one time it was the largest farm in New York State.
In 1888 Father Drumgooles successor began construction on St. Elizabeth's Building, a six story Georgian Style building to be used as a girls' orphanage with a capacity of 350 children. It was destroyed by fire in Mar. 2000 as a result of arson. The building had been abandoned and neglected for a number of years.
A 194 acre (0.78509084 km²) parcel of land south of Hylan Blvd. was sold to The State of New York. The park named, "The Mount Loretto Unique Area" is maintained by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation. The state park adjoins Lemon Creek Park
, which is partially in Pleasant Plains. The Pleasant Plains' portion includes a fishing pier at the foot of Sharrotts Ave.
The park contains 85 ft (25.9 m). high red clay bluffs overlooking Prince’s Bay, part Outer New York Harbor,they are part of the terminal moraine
the southern terminous of the Wisconsin Glacier which receded 10,000 yrs. ago. They are the tallest ocean-facing bluffs in New York State.
On the highest section of these bluffs The Prince's Bay Lighthouse was built in 1864. The lighthouse has attached living quarters.
In 1978, 126 acres (510,000 m²) on the north side of the property were converted into the Cemetery of the Resurrection
by the church's Archdiocese of New York
, which needed to open a new cemetery on Staten Island as most of the burial plots at the island's existing Catholic cemeteries had already been used.
In 1973, the Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne was destroyed by fire. The exterior of this church was used in the baptism
scene from The Godfather
the year before.
In 2004 a 12 acre (49,000 m²) tract at the northeastern corner of the mission's property, which had been the site of a convent
maintained by the Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, a Franciscan
order of nuns, was sold to residential developers for US$
19 million, despite steadfast opposition from local conservation activists. Part of the mission property became the Mount Loretto Unique Area
.
The commercial core of this community centers around the intersection of Bloomingdale Road, Amboy Road and Pleasant Plains Avenue. Like many of the South Shore's old commercial cores, it is experiencing a mild, yet noticeable rebirth.
station near Amboy Road/Bloomingdale Road. It is also served by the X22 express bus along Bloomingdale Road during rush hours. In September 2007, the S55 was extended to serve the neighborhood via Amboy Road and Bloomingdale Road.
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
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
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...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the most populous city in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
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...
, Pleasant Plains has a population of 5,000 according to the 2000 census. It was named by officials of the Staten Island Railroad Corporation, the original owners of what is now known as the MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
Staten Island Railway
Staten 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...
. When the railroad 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...
in 1860, a station crossing Amboy Road approximately two miles north of Tottenville was named Pleasant Plains. Eventually, the name "Pleasant Plains" was applied to the community which soon sprung up around the station.
History
In 1882, a 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) farm southeast of the railroad station was purchased from the Bennett family by the Reverend John Christopher DrumgooleJohn Christopher Drumgoole
John Christopher Drumgoole was an Irish Roman Catholic priest. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 9 from his native Ireland. He became an ordained priest at the age of 52...
founder of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin. He started the mission in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in 1871 originally to aid homeless newsboys. Subsequent parcels were added for a combined area of 400 acres (1.6 km²). The formal name became The Mission of The Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto but was and still is referred to solely as "Mt. Loretto". An orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
for boys and a working farm was established on the site. At one time it was the largest farm in New York State.
In 1888 Father Drumgooles successor began construction on St. Elizabeth's Building, a six story Georgian Style building to be used as a girls' orphanage with a capacity of 350 children. It was destroyed by fire in Mar. 2000 as a result of arson. The building had been abandoned and neglected for a number of years.
A 194 acre (0.78509084 km²) parcel of land south of Hylan Blvd. was sold to The State of New York. The park named, "The Mount Loretto Unique Area" is maintained by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation. The state park adjoins Lemon Creek Park
Lemon Creek, Staten Island
Lemon Creek is a stream located on the South Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the few remaining ground-level creeks in New York City.-Name:...
, which is partially in Pleasant Plains. The Pleasant Plains' portion includes a fishing pier at the foot of Sharrotts Ave.
The park contains 85 ft (25.9 m). high red clay bluffs overlooking Prince’s Bay, part Outer New York Harbor,they are part of the terminal moraine
Terminal moraine
A terminal moraine, also called end moraine, is a moraine that forms at the end of the glacier called the snout.Terminal moraines mark the maximum advance of the glacier. An end moraine is at the present boundary of the glacier....
the southern terminous of the Wisconsin Glacier which receded 10,000 yrs. ago. They are the tallest ocean-facing bluffs in New York State.
On the highest section of these bluffs The Prince's Bay Lighthouse was built in 1864. The lighthouse has attached living quarters.
In 1978, 126 acres (510,000 m²) on the north side of the property were converted into the Cemetery of the Resurrection
Cemetery of the Resurrection, Staten Island
Cemetery of the Resurrection is a Roman Catholic graveyard on the southern shore of Staten Island.-Notable burials:*William Cutolo, Sr. , mobster*Dorothy Day Catholic Social Activist*Costabile Farace , mobster...
by the church's Archdiocese of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
, which needed to open a new cemetery on Staten Island as most of the burial plots at the island's existing Catholic cemeteries had already been used.
In 1973, the Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne was destroyed by fire. The exterior of this church was used in the baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
scene from The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
the year before.
In 2004 a 12 acre (49,000 m²) tract at the northeastern corner of the mission's property, which had been the site of a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
maintained by the Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
order of nuns, was sold to residential developers for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
19 million, despite steadfast opposition from local conservation activists. Part of the mission property became the Mount Loretto Unique Area
New York State Forests
New York State Forests are administered by the Division of Lands and Forests of the Department of Environmental Conservation . There are four classifications:#Reforestation Areas#Multiple Use Areas#Unique Areas#State Nature and Historic Preserves...
.
The commercial core of this community centers around the intersection of Bloomingdale Road, Amboy Road and Pleasant Plains Avenue. Like many of the South Shore's old commercial cores, it is experiencing a mild, yet noticeable rebirth.
Transportation
Pleasant Plains is served by 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...
station near Amboy Road/Bloomingdale Road. It is also served by the X22 express bus along Bloomingdale Road during rush hours. In September 2007, the S55 was extended to serve the neighborhood via Amboy Road and Bloomingdale Road.