Tompkins Avenue
Encyclopedia
Tompkins Avenue is a mostly residential yet primary east-west artery that runs through the Fort Wadsworth
, Rosebank
, Shore Acres
, Clifton
, and Stapleton
neighborhoods of New York City
, in the borough of Staten Island
, New York
.
, notable cross streets include Hylan Boulevard
(named for former New York City Mayor John Hylan, as well as Vanderbilt Avenue
(named for Cornelius Vanderbilt
).
Between Hylan Boulevard and the Staten Island Railway
overpass, Tompkins Avenue becomes one of Rosebank's two commercial districts (the other being along Bay Street
). Landmarks include the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
, a historic site honoring the lives of Italian revolutionary Guiseppe Garibaldi and Italian-American inventor Antonio Meucci
, as well as the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Joseph, which was established by Italian-Americans in 1902. This section of Tompkins Avenue was renamed Monsignor John T. Servodidio Way in 2009 to honor the late John T. Servodidio who had been pastor of the before-mentioned St. Joseph's R.C. Church from 1983-2009.
Tompkins Avenue is residential again between the Staten Island Railway and Vanderbilt Avenue.
Landmarks between Vanderbilt Avenue and Broad Street include the St. Elizabeth Ann Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, a nursing home opened in 1990 that is run by the Sisters of Charity
, P.S. 14, I.S. 49, a campus of the Richard H. Hungerford School, as well as the Stapleton United African Methodist Church which was established in 1801. This section of Tompkins Avenue was renamed Rev. Dr. Beasley Way in 1999 to honor the late William Herman Beasley who had been pastor of the before-mentioned Stapleton AME Church from 1974-1998.
Tompkins Avenue also hosts locations for two United States Postal Service
post offices
The construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
in the late 1950s left one small segment of Tompkins Avenue severed from the rest of the roadway. This orphaned piece now only serves as a side street between the ends of McClean Avenue
and Major Avenue.
.
Although Tompkins Avenue passes over the Staten Island Railway right-of-way, no station exists there. The Fort Wadsworth Station
at one time did exist at the foot of Tompkins Avenue, near School Road along the Staten Island Rapid Transit's former South Beach line. The line ceased operation in 1953 but the overpass over its right-of-way still exists to this day, carrying Tompkins Avenue's traffic between Fingerboard Road and School Road.
Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth is a former United States military installation on Staten Island in New York City, situated on The Narrows which divide New York Bay into Upper and Lower halves, a natural point for defense of the Upper Bay and Manhattan beyond. Prior to closing in 1994 it claimed to be the longest...
, Rosebank
Rosebank, Staten Island
Rosebank is a neighborhood in the northeastern part of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City.Originally called Peterstown, the name "Rosebank" appears to have been first used to denote the neighborhood around 1880...
, Shore Acres
Shore Acres, Staten Island
Shore Acres is a neighborhood of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City. It is situated along the Upper New York Bay, just north of Fort Wadsworth and south of Rosebank....
, 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...
, and Stapleton
Stapleton, Staten Island
Stapleton is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island in New York City in the United States. It is located along the waterfront of Upper New York Bay, bounded on the north by Tompkinsville at Grant Street, on the south by Clifton at Vanderbilt Avenue, and on the west by St. Paul's Avenue and...
neighborhoods 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...
, in the borough of Staten Island
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...
, 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...
.
History and Nature of Route
Named for former New York governor Daniel D. TompkinsDaniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins was an entrepreneur, jurist, Congressman, the fourth Governor of New York , and the sixth Vice President of the United States .-Name:...
, notable cross streets include 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....
(named for former New York City Mayor John Hylan, as well as Vanderbilt Avenue
Vanderbilt Avenue
Vanderbilt Avenue is the name of three streets in New York City:*Vanderbilt Avenue *Vanderbilt Avenue *Vanderbilt Avenue...
(named for Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
).
Between Hylan Boulevard and 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...
overpass, Tompkins Avenue becomes one of Rosebank's two commercial districts (the other being along Bay Street
Bay Street (Staten Island)
Bay Street runs north-south through the Fort Wadsworth, Rosebank, Shore Acres, Stapleton, Tompkinsville, and St. George neighborhoods of New York City, in the borough of Staten Island, New York....
). Landmarks include the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
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...
, a historic site honoring the lives of Italian revolutionary Guiseppe Garibaldi and Italian-American inventor 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....
, as well as the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Joseph, which was established by Italian-Americans in 1902. This section of Tompkins Avenue was renamed Monsignor John T. Servodidio Way in 2009 to honor the late John T. Servodidio who had been pastor of the before-mentioned St. Joseph's R.C. Church from 1983-2009.
Tompkins Avenue is residential again between the Staten Island Railway and Vanderbilt Avenue.
Landmarks between Vanderbilt Avenue and Broad Street include the St. Elizabeth Ann Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, a nursing home opened in 1990 that is run by the Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity
Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity as part of their name. The rule of Saint Vincent for the Daughters of Charity has been adopted and adapted by at least sixty founders of religious orders around the world in the subsequent centuries....
, P.S. 14, I.S. 49, a campus of the Richard H. Hungerford School, as well as the Stapleton United African Methodist Church which was established in 1801. This section of Tompkins Avenue was renamed Rev. Dr. Beasley Way in 1999 to honor the late William Herman Beasley who had been pastor of the before-mentioned Stapleton AME Church from 1974-1998.
Tompkins Avenue also hosts locations for two United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
post offices
The construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay....
in the late 1950s left one small segment of Tompkins Avenue severed from the rest of the roadway. This orphaned piece now only serves as a side street between the ends of McClean Avenue
McClean Avenue
McClean Avenue is a residential yet primary artery in the Fort Wadsworth, Arrochar, and South Beach neighborhoods in the New York City borough of Staten Island.-Major Intersections:...
and Major Avenue.
Transportation
Tompkins Avenue is served by the s52 and s78 local buses and was formerly served by the x18 express bus to ManhattanManhattan
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...
.
Although Tompkins Avenue passes over the Staten Island Railway right-of-way, no station exists there. The Fort Wadsworth Station
Fort Wadsworth (Staten Island Railway station)
Fort Wadsworth was a station on the demolished South Beach Branch of the Staten Island Railway, near the historic Fort Wadsworth. It had two side platforms and two tracks. It closed on March 31, 1953....
at one time did exist at the foot of Tompkins Avenue, near School Road along the Staten Island Rapid Transit's former South Beach line. The line ceased operation in 1953 but the overpass over its right-of-way still exists to this day, carrying Tompkins Avenue's traffic between Fingerboard Road and School Road.