Rosebank, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Rosebank is a neighborhood in the northeastern part of Staten Island
, one of the five borough
s of New York City
.
Originally called Peterstown, the name "Rosebank" appears to have been first used to denote the neighborhood around 1880. Soon after this Italian
immigrants began settling there, and their descendants have continued as its predominant ethnic group, exemplified by the location of the Garibaldi Memorial
in the community. In recent years the town has experienced an influx of other ethnic groups, including Eastern Europeans, various Latin nationalities as well as Asians, particularly from the Philippines.
After the elimination of the Bachmann's Brewery
station, Rosebank
was the first stop on the now-defunct South Beach Branch of the Staten Island Railway
after its separation from the main line at the Clifton
station immediately to the north. Service on this branch was halted in 1953. The station was located near Clifton Avenue and Tilson Place. Hylan Boulevard
, Staten Island's and New York City's longest commercial roadway, begins in Rosebank on its way to Tottenville
, about 14 miles (22.5 km) away.
The age, density and architectural style of Rosebank's housing stock resembles that found in most of the island's North Shore
neighborhoods; however, demographically Rosebank has more in common with such East Shore
communities as New Dorp
. As a result, there is considerable disagreement as into which region of the island Rosebank should be classified.
The neighborhood once played host to a federal quarantine
station for incoming immigrants (closed 1971), and was the home of noted photographer Alice Austen
, one of Staten Island's most recognizable personalities of the past. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is named for a long time resident, Antonio Meucci
, who has some claim to having been an inventor of a working telephone
. However, impoverished, he was unable to obtain a patent or to market it. When Giuseppe Garibaldi
visited the United States while in exile from Italy, he stayed for a time at the home of Meucci. This home is now a museum named for the two men.
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 borough
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...
s 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...
.
Originally called Peterstown, the name "Rosebank" appears to have been first used to denote the neighborhood around 1880. Soon after this Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
immigrants began settling there, and their descendants have continued as its predominant ethnic group, exemplified by the location of the Garibaldi Memorial
Garibaldi Memorial
The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, formerly known as the Garibaldi Memorial, is a circa 1840 Gothic Revival cottage in the Rosebank section of Staten Island, New York. It was home to inventor and candle maker Antonio Meucci...
in the community. In recent years the town has experienced an influx of other ethnic groups, including Eastern Europeans, various Latin nationalities as well as Asians, particularly from the Philippines.
After the elimination of the Bachmann's Brewery
Bachmann's Brewery
The Mayer Bachmann’s Brewery was the largest of the half-dozen breweries on Staten Island before its destruction by fire in 1881.The brewery occupied the block bounded by Forest , Maple , Willow, and Tompkins Avenues in the village of Clifton. Constructed in 1851, it was the first lager beer...
station, Rosebank
Rosebank (Staten Island Railway station)
Rosebank is a demolished station in the Rosebank neighborhood along the abandoned South Beach Branch of the Staten Island Railway. It had two tracks and two side platforms. It closed on March 31, 1953....
was the first stop on the now-defunct South Beach Branch of the 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...
after its separation from the main line at the Clifton
Clifton, Staten Island
Clifton or Park Hill is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island in New York City in the United States. It is an older waterfront neighborhood, facing Upper New York Bay on the east...
station immediately to the north. Service on this branch was halted in 1953. The station was located near Clifton Avenue and Tilson Place. 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....
, Staten Island's and New York City's longest commercial roadway, begins in Rosebank on its way 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...
, about 14 miles (22.5 km) away.
The age, density and architectural style of Rosebank's housing stock resembles that found in most of the island's North Shore
North Shore, Staten Island
The term North Shore is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods within New York City's borough of Staten Island, USA.- Boundaries :...
neighborhoods; however, demographically Rosebank has more in common with such East Shore
East Shore, Staten Island
The term East Shore is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods along the Lower New York Bay and the Raritan Bay and within New York City's borough of Staten Island....
communities as New Dorp
New Dorp, Staten Island
New Dorp – an anglicization of Nieuwe Dorp, Dutch for New Village – is a neighborhood in Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, United States. The community lies near the foot of Todt Hill, with Grant City immediately to its north, Oakwood bordering to the south, and...
. As a result, there is considerable disagreement as into which region of the island Rosebank should be classified.
The neighborhood once played host to a federal quarantine
Quarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
station for incoming immigrants (closed 1971), and was the home of noted photographer Alice Austen
Alice Austen
Elizabeth Alice Austen was a Staten Island photographer.-Early years:Alice's father abandoned the family before she was born, and she was baptized under the name Elizabeth Alice Munn on May 23, 1866, in St. John's Church on Staten Island...
, one of Staten Island's most recognizable personalities of the past. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is named for a long time resident, Antonio Meucci
Antonio Meucci
Antonio Santi Giuseppe Meucci was an Italian inventor, a compatriot of revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi. He was best known for developing a voice communication apparatus which several sources credit as the first telephone....
, who has some claim to having been an inventor of a working telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
. However, impoverished, he was unable to obtain a patent or to market it. When Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
visited the United States while in exile from Italy, he stayed for a time at the home of Meucci. This home is now a museum named for the two men.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Rosebank include:- Alice AustenAlice AustenElizabeth Alice Austen was a Staten Island photographer.-Early years:Alice's father abandoned the family before she was born, and she was baptized under the name Elizabeth Alice Munn on May 23, 1866, in St. John's Church on Staten Island...
(1866–1952), Photographer, who was a lifelong resident of Staten Island. - Sir Roderick W. Cameron (1825–1900), shipping company owner.
- Nicole MalliotakisNicole MalliotakisNicole Malliotakis is a Republican politician from New York City who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island in the New York State Assembly. She is the first Hispanic-American to win elective office to any district that encompasses Staten Island. She is one of the first Greek-American women...
(born 1980), member of the New York Assembly and first Hispanic-American elected to a Staten Island district.