Standing at the corner of Castleton Avenue and Taylor Street, this 1930 picture gives us so much more than just a great shot of the Richmond County Savings Bank. There are several little details worth examining.
In the window at the center left of the picture is a sign advertising the law offices of Francis F. Leman. I couldn't find much information about him, but in 1920 he had an office at 1619 Richmond Terrace (which was right next door to the Richmond County Savings Bank's office). According to the American Lawyer he was was from Mariners' Harbor and admitted to the bar in 1894. I'm sort of 
At the top of the building with Leman's offices it reads Richmond Insurance Company of NY. Again, I don't have many specifics concerning the institution, but it was chartered in Illinois.
From the New York Times - October 21, 1886
The fact that such an impressive neo-classical design is parked on such a grubby commerical strip is a testimony ot how much that part of West New Brighton's changed over the last eighty years. Once upon a time there were nice department stores, bakeries and movie theaters. Today, it's not quite the same.
The bank itself is stripped some of its old architectural charm. The entrance lamps are gone. The beautiful clock is now replaced with an ugly light up plastic sign. It's a rare building on the Island from so long ago that seems able to hold on to the little exterior frills that help make it special.So there's another bit of old time Staten Island for you. Someday I need to get pictures from inside these institutions. This and the Stapleton SI Bank & Trust are beautiful inside. So, I guess I got to work on that.
2 comments:
Is this the bank that was next door to a movie, which was next door to a "soda shop" ? If so I spent a lot of time at both over the years. Sat AM's ran cartoons for a dime. The soda parlor was like Fonzi's and when it closed my Dad rescued four of their chairs which he stripped, gave to me to replace the wicker seats. OH we'll, did one and the rest?They sit in my garage still.
I don't think so. I'm pretty sure that bank was over at Castleton and Broadway. It was called the West New Brighton Bank.
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