If Staten Island is the “forgotten borough,” then Tottenville is its forgotten town. As one of Staten Island’s first inhabited towns, Tottenville was once a place of hotels, summer homes, casinos, and “bars and churches" on every corner (as many residents described it). Tottenville today is primarily residential and has remained one of the quietest and least populated towns on Staten Island, not to mention NYC, perhaps because of its location. Although Tottenville has progressively grown over the years, especially during its recent spurt, it has managed to maintain its warmth and strong sense of community. From the scenic coastal view of the historic Conference House park to the picturesque houses, Tottenville is notable in its landscape as well as its people.
Despite Tottenville’s rich history and unique attributes, it has also remained one of NYC’s least documented towns, even within its own public library branch. The last major work devoted to the town was a book published in 1950 by a resident named Joline; however, this work only chronicles the town until the year 1898. In order to correct this egregious oversight, writer Angie Mangino is currently working on a book, Tottenville: 1898-1998 to ensure that the tradition and heritage of the town will not be lost.
Join us for a tour of NYC’s southern gem. Browse the website and explore Angie’s ongoing work – but keep in mind that it is only a taste of what Tottenville has to offer. Enjoy your exploration of this truly interesting and distinctive place.
Any comments, questions, or contributions to this project are welcome and can be addressed to Angie at TottHistory@aol.com
