July 1, 1929 - In the front, the Port Richmond National Bank, followed by the Staten Island National Bank and Trust Company
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Upon the slightest bit of research I discovered that the two banks are really one. In 1902 the Port Richmond National Bank was founded and in 1926 it renamed itself the Staten Island National Bank and Trust Company. It ceased to exist when it was acquired by Chase in 1957.
April, 1930 - Looking north along Port Richmond Avenue at the two banks from alongside the Dutch Reformed Church's cemetery
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April, 1930 - A close up of the Staten Island National Bank and Trust Company
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If you see the bank from Richmond Terrace you can see where a teller booth for cars was added in what I imagine was an effort to modernize the bank and attempt to keep it going as foot traffic died on Port Richmond Avenue in the late seventies. In the google picture there's a black van parked in the old drivethru and the booth is the low building to the van's right.
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2 comments:
I love the historical photos on your blog. I grew up on Staten Island on Beekman Street off Richmond (now Port Richmond) Avenue. I've been looking for a photo of the giant billboard that used to stand on the corner of those streets. There was a bus stop there as well (may still be for all I know). We used to climb up the back of it on our way home from school, or hide up in its rafters during tiger hunt. I would love to see a pic of that. It was torn down close to 1980 I think, to make way for apartment houses. It stood diagonally across the corner, and was ther since the mid sixties at least.
Hey, just saw your comment. I wish I could find more pictures from the seventies and early eighties. Those are my formative years and I'd love to see the shops/buildings I grew up around.
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