Lighthouse Hill, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Lighthouse Hill is the name of a hill, and the neighborhood situated thereon, in the New York City
borough of Staten Island
.
Formerly known as Richmond Hill (and not to be confused with the neighborhood of the same name in the borough of Queens), Lighthouse Hill acquired its present name when the Staten Island Range Light, towering 141 feet (43 m) above the Lower New York Bay
, was built there in 1912. Its original light could be seen as far as 21 miles (34 km) away. The former name of Richmond Hill survives in Richmond Hill Road, located at the southern edge of the hill.
Lighthouse Hill is the southernmost of the chain of hills that radiate from the northeast corner of Staten Island and separate its East Shore
from the region behind the hills, usually referred to as Mid-Island
by island residents. Richmond Creek
flows near the bottom of the hill's eastern ridge, and it is surrounded on all sides by parks belonging to the Staten Island Greenbelt
, with the LaTourette Golf Course at the hill's southern margin.
Like the other hilltop neighborhoods of Staten Island, Lighthouse Hill is noted for having some of the most opulent homes on Staten Island, rivaled only in grandeur by the Todt Hill
neighborhood. In addition to the commanding views of historic Richmondtown
and New York Harbor
, Lighthouse Hill is also the site of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
, The Crimson Beech
(residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
), and the Latourette House
(ca. 1836).
Some notable residents include Edward Arlington Robinson (poet), best known for his poem "Richard Corey" (a staple in American high school and college literature classes). During his stay at LaTourette, Edward Arlington Robinson corresponded with Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt. In his letters to Kermit Roosevelt, Robinson lauded the President for helping the poet obtain a job at the United States Customs House in New York City. (The position was essentially a "no-show" job which enabled Robinson to support himself while he wrote poetry. Robinson, by his own admission, wrote his least popular works - i.e., the plays "Van Zorn" and "Porcuipine" while staying at LaTourette. Apparently a ghost (thought to be that of David LaTourette who died in the early 19th century) was unhappy with Robinson's presence.
Arthur Anderson (radio, TV, and film personality who is commonly known as the "Voice of the Lucky Charms Leprechuan") lived on Edinboro Road for the first twelve years of his life. (Anderson worked with Orson Welles in the original radio Mercury Theater which featured Shakepearean classics).
Modernist painter Henry Fitch Taylor, a student of Claude Monet, lived in the LaTourette House from 1913 to 1915 with his wife, Clara Sidney Davidge. Mrs. Davidge is credited with organizing the fist Armory Show in 1913 in which the American public was exposed to the European Impressionists (e.g., Guaghin, Monet, Et. al.) Her husband, Henry Fitch Taylor, was also featured at the Armory Show.
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...
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...
.
Formerly known as Richmond Hill (and not to be confused with the neighborhood of the same name in the borough of Queens), Lighthouse Hill acquired its present name when the Staten Island Range Light, towering 141 feet (43 m) above the Lower New York Bay
Lower New York Bay
Lower New York Bay is that section of New York Bay south of the Narrows, the relatively narrow strait between the shores of Staten Island and Brooklyn. The southern end of the bay opens directly to the Atlantic Ocean between two spits of land, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and Rockaway, Queens, on Long...
, was built there in 1912. Its original light could be seen as far as 21 miles (34 km) away. The former name of Richmond Hill survives in Richmond Hill Road, located at the southern edge of the hill.
Lighthouse Hill is the southernmost of the chain of hills that radiate from the northeast corner of Staten Island and separate its 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....
from the region behind the hills, usually referred to as Mid-Island
Mid-Island, Staten Island
Mid-Island is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods within New York City, USA's borough of Staten Island.Under the definition most commonly adhered to, Mid-Island comprises all of the communities whose ZIP Code is 10314, plus Sunnyside within zip code 10301, along with the western slope...
by island residents. Richmond Creek
Richmond Creek (Fresh Kills)
Richmond Creek is a stream in Staten Island, a borough of New York City in the United States. Its upper drainage basin includes the remote forested hills in the center of the island...
flows near the bottom of the hill's eastern ridge, and it is surrounded on all sides by parks belonging to the Staten Island Greenbelt
Staten Island Greenbelt
The Staten Island Greenbelt is a system of contiguous public parkland and natural areas in the central hills of the New York City borough of Staten Island...
, with the LaTourette Golf Course at the hill's southern margin.
Like the other hilltop neighborhoods of Staten Island, Lighthouse Hill is noted for having some of the most opulent homes on Staten Island, rivaled only in grandeur by the Todt Hill
Todt Hill
Todt Hill [elevation 410 ft ] is a hill formed of serpentine rock on Staten Island, New York. It is the highest natural point in the five boroughs of New York City and the highest elevation on the entire Atlantic Coastal Plain from Florida to Cape Cod., The summit of the ridge is largely covered...
neighborhood. In addition to the commanding views of historic Richmondtown
Richmondtown, Staten Island
Richmondtown, is a neighborhood on Staten Island in New York City, New York, in the United States.Originally known as Coccles Town because of the abundance of oyster and clam shells found in the waters of the nearby Fresh Kills, Richmondtown gained its present name in 1728 when the village now...
and New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
, Lighthouse Hill is also the site of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, located on residential Lighthouse Hill in the Egbertville neighborhood of Staten Island, New York City, United States, is home to one of the United States' most extensive collections of Himalayan artifacts...
, The Crimson Beech
The Crimson Beech
The Crimson Beech is a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright located in the Lighthouse Hill neighborhood of the New York City borough of Staten Island. Its original owners, Catherine and William Cass, had it manufactured by Marshall Erdman in kit form in Madison, Wisconsin and shipped to Staten...
(residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
), and the Latourette House
LaTourette House
LaTourette House is a historic home located at New Springville, Staten Island, New York. It was built in 1836 in a late Federal / early Greek Revival style. It is a large, sturdy gable roofed brick farmhouse with stone trim. In 1928 the house and 500 acres were purchased by New York City for a...
(ca. 1836).
Some notable residents include Edward Arlington Robinson (poet), best known for his poem "Richard Corey" (a staple in American high school and college literature classes). During his stay at LaTourette, Edward Arlington Robinson corresponded with Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt. In his letters to Kermit Roosevelt, Robinson lauded the President for helping the poet obtain a job at the United States Customs House in New York City. (The position was essentially a "no-show" job which enabled Robinson to support himself while he wrote poetry. Robinson, by his own admission, wrote his least popular works - i.e., the plays "Van Zorn" and "Porcuipine" while staying at LaTourette. Apparently a ghost (thought to be that of David LaTourette who died in the early 19th century) was unhappy with Robinson's presence.
Arthur Anderson (radio, TV, and film personality who is commonly known as the "Voice of the Lucky Charms Leprechuan") lived on Edinboro Road for the first twelve years of his life. (Anderson worked with Orson Welles in the original radio Mercury Theater which featured Shakepearean classics).
Modernist painter Henry Fitch Taylor, a student of Claude Monet, lived in the LaTourette House from 1913 to 1915 with his wife, Clara Sidney Davidge. Mrs. Davidge is credited with organizing the fist Armory Show in 1913 in which the American public was exposed to the European Impressionists (e.g., Guaghin, Monet, Et. al.) Her husband, Henry Fitch Taylor, was also featured at the Armory Show.
See also
- LighthouseLighthouseA lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
- Lighthouses in the United StatesLighthouses in the United StatesThis is a list of lighthouses in the United States. The United States has had approximately a thousand lights as well as light towers, range lights, and pier head lights...