Prince's Bay, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Prince's Bay is the name of a neighborhood located on the South Shore
of New York City
's borough of Staten Island
and of an arm of Raritan Bay
(which in turn is part of the Atlantic Ocean
), on which the eastern shoreline of the community is situated. The neighborhood's name is often misreckoned as "Princess Bay" or "Prince Bay;" indeed, the community's United States Post Office officially bears the name "Princes Bay Station" according to the USPS web site and directory.
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Development in the area accelerated when the southern terminus of the Staten Island Railway
was moved from Eltingville to Tottenville in 1860; the Prince's Bay station crosses underneath Seguine Avenue, formerly known as Prince's Bay Road. Primarily a fishing village at first, its oyster
s were so famous that "Prince's Bay Oysters" could often be found on menus at prominent seafood restaurants in Manhattan, and even London
. A large factory, operated by the S.S. White Dental Manufacturing Company, was once located along the shoreline at the foot of Seguine Avenue; at one point, the plant was the largest employer in all of Staten Island
, but closed in 1972. In the late 1970s a small shopping center, known as the Prince's Bay Trade Mart, was opened in the building the factory had occupied; but its remote location and inability to compete with the larger and already-established Staten Island Mall
doomed the project to failure, and it closed a few years later, leaving the building abandoned once again — a condition that still pertains as of 2005. Satellite photos available in 2011 show the site empty of structures.
At the northeast corner of the neighborhood is Wolfe's Pond Park
, a city park that was the scene of a gruesome homicide
committed by Gus Farace (at the time a Prince's Bay resident) and three accomplices in 1979. Lemon Creek
flows into the pond for which the park is named; the creek can then be traced westward into land where dairy and poultry farms flourished until the 1960s, eventually travelling by underground conduits to the Arthur Kill
.
Prince's Bay and other communities on Staten Island
's South Shore
were once popular locations for summer homes, most of which were owned by residents of other boroughs, particularly Manhattan
; however, these declined when the surrounding waters became increasingly polluted during the middle third of the 20th Century. The neighborhood also featured several small hotels, the Christmas Tree Inn on Wilbur Street being perhaps the most prominent among them. One block west of the latter is the South Campus of Staten Island University Hospital
, formerly known as Richmond Memorial Hospital, which has the distinction of being the southernmost acute-care facility in both New York City
and New York State.
Prince's Bay's ZIP Code
is 10309, which it shares with other South Shore neighborhoods including Charleston
, Pleasant Plains
and Richmond Valley
. The western part of Prince's Bay is now commonly recognized as a separate neighborhood, known as Rossville
.
operates the Huguenot Park Branch, which serves Prince's Bay and other neighborhoods, at 830 Huguenot Avenue at Drumgoole Road East. The branch opened in January 1985.
station by the same name. It is also served by the S55/S56 local buses on Seguine Avenue, the S59/S78 local buses on Hylan Blvd, and the X23 express bus on Seguine Avenue.
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 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...
's 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...
and of an arm of Raritan Bay
Raritan Bay
Raritan Bay is a bay located at the southern portion of Lower New York Bay between the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey and is part of the New York Bight. The bay is bounded on the northwest by New York's Staten Island, on the west by Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on the south by the Raritan...
(which in turn is part of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
), on which the eastern shoreline of the community is situated. The neighborhood's name is often misreckoned as "Princess Bay" or "Prince Bay;" indeed, the community's United States Post Office officially bears the name "Princes Bay Station" according to the USPS web site and directory.
Mayor
.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...
was moved from Eltingville to Tottenville in 1860; the Prince's Bay station crosses underneath Seguine Avenue, formerly known as Prince's Bay Road. Primarily a fishing village at first, its oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s were so famous that "Prince's Bay Oysters" could often be found on menus at prominent seafood restaurants in Manhattan, and even London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. A large factory, operated by the S.S. White Dental Manufacturing Company, was once located along the shoreline at the foot of Seguine Avenue; at one point, the plant was the largest employer in all 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...
, but closed in 1972. In the late 1970s a small shopping center, known as the Prince's Bay Trade Mart, was opened in the building the factory had occupied; but its remote location and inability to compete with the larger and already-established Staten Island Mall
Staten Island Mall
Staten Island Mall is a shopping mall in the Staten Island borough of New York City, United States. It is the only indoor shopping mall in the borough. It is the largest retail center on the island and is the site of the island's second largest public transit hub after the St...
doomed the project to failure, and it closed a few years later, leaving the building abandoned once again — a condition that still pertains as of 2005. Satellite photos available in 2011 show the site empty of structures.
At the northeast corner of the neighborhood is Wolfe's Pond Park
Wolfe's Pond Park
Wolfe's Pond Park is a large public park located on the South Shore of Staten Island. It is bounded on the north by the Staten Island Railway, on the west by Holten Avenue, on the south by Raritan Bay, and on the east by Chisolm Street, Luten Avenue, and Cornelia Avenue, which is also the main...
, a city park that was the scene of a gruesome homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
committed by Gus Farace (at the time a Prince's Bay resident) and three accomplices in 1979. Lemon Creek
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:...
flows into the pond for which the park is named; the creek can then be traced westward into land where dairy and poultry farms flourished until the 1960s, eventually travelling by underground conduits to the Arthur Kill
Arthur Kill
The Arthur Kill is a tidal strait separating Staten Island, New York from mainland New Jersey, USA, and a major navigational channel of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Kill is from the Middle Dutch word kille, meaning "riverbed" or "water channel"...
.
Prince's Bay and other communities on 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...
'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...
were once popular locations for summer homes, most of which were owned by residents of other boroughs, particularly 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...
; however, these declined when the surrounding waters became increasingly polluted during the middle third of the 20th Century. The neighborhood also featured several small hotels, the Christmas Tree Inn on Wilbur Street being perhaps the most prominent among them. One block west of the latter is the South Campus of Staten Island University Hospital
Staten Island University Hospital
Staten Island University Hospital is a major tertiary referral center on Staten Island, in New York City.SIUH is a two-campus, 785-bed teaching hospital consisting of a North Campus, a South Campus, and the now closed Concord Campus....
, formerly known as Richmond Memorial Hospital, which has the distinction of being the southernmost acute-care facility in both 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...
and New York State.
Prince's Bay's ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
is 10309, which it shares with other South Shore neighborhoods including Charleston
Charleston, Staten Island
Charleston is the name of a neighborhood, or section, of New York City's borough of Staten Island. It is located on the island's South Shore, with Tottenville to the south, Pleasant Plains to the East, Rossville to the north, and the Arthur Kill to the west....
, Pleasant Plains
Pleasant Plains, Staten Island
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....
and Richmond Valley
Richmond Valley, Staten Island
Richmond Valley is the name of a neighborhood located on the South Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, the largest city in the United States....
. The western part of Prince's Bay is now commonly recognized as a separate neighborhood, known as Rossville
Rossville, Staten Island
Rossville is the name of a neighborhood of Staten Island, New York, located to the west of Prince's Bay, on the island's South Shore.-Early History of the Area:...
.
Public libraries
New York Public LibraryNew York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
operates the Huguenot Park Branch, which serves Prince's Bay and other neighborhoods, at 830 Huguenot Avenue at Drumgoole Road East. The branch opened in January 1985.
Transportation
Prince's Bay 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 by the same name. It is also served by the S55/S56 local buses on Seguine Avenue, the S59/S78 local buses on Hylan Blvd, and the X23 express bus on Seguine Avenue.
External links
- Living in Prince’s Bay, S.I - slideshow by The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...