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'''Pleasant Plains''' is a neighborhood located on [[Staten Island]], one of the [[Borough (New York City)|five boroughs]] of [[New York City]], [[New York]], the largest city in the [[United States]].
'''Pleasant Plains''' is a neighborhood located on [[Staten Island]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. It is bordered by [[Woodrow, Staten Island|Woodrow]] to the north, the [[New York Bay|Lower New York Bay]] to the south, [[Richmond Valley, Staten Island|Richmond Valley]] to the west, and [[Prince's Bay, Staten Island|Prince's Bay]] to the east. The neighborhood is represented in the [[New York City Council]] by [[Joseph Borelli|Joe Borelli]].


[[Image:Pleasant Plains II.jpg|300px|right|thumb|"Welcome To Pleasant Plains" sign (unknown location; August 2007).]]
[[Image:Pleasant Plains II.jpg|300px|right|thumb|"Welcome To Pleasant Plains" sign (Amboy Rd. Facing south, corner of Pleasant Plains Ave.; August 2007).]]
[[Image:Mount Loretto PP jeh.JPG|thumb|View looking north across [[Mount Loretto Unique Area]] with church in distance (July 2008).]]
[[Image:Mount Loretto PP jeh.JPG|thumb|View looking north across [[Mount Loretto Unique Area]] with church in distance (July 2008).]]
Situated on the island's [[South Shore, Staten Island|South Shore]], Pleasant Plains was apparently given its name by officials of the Staten Island Railroad Corporation, the original owners of what is now known as the [[Staten Island Railway]]. When the railroad line was extended to [[Tottenville, Staten Island|Tottenville]] in 1860, a station crossing Amboy Road approximately two miles north of Tottenville was named Pleasant Plains (this is one of three points at which the railroad crosses this same street; the other crossing points are just south of the [[Bay Terrace, Staten Island|Bay Terrace]] and [[Huguenot, Staten Island|Huguenot]] stations). Eventually, the name "Pleasant Plains" was applied to the community which soon sprung up around the station.
Situated on the island's [[South Shore, Staten Island|South Shore]], Pleasant Plains has a population of 5,000 according to the 2000 census. It was named by officials of the Staten Island Railroad Corporation, the original owners of what is now known as the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|MTA]] [[Staten Island Railway]]. When the railroad line was extended to [[Tottenville, Staten Island|Tottenville]] in 1860, a station crossing Amboy Road approximately two miles north of Tottenville was named Pleasant Plains. Eventually, the name "Pleasant Plains" was applied to the community which soon sprung up around the station.


==History==
In 1882, a 320-acre (1.3 km²) farm east of the railroad station was purchased by the [[Catholic church|Roman Catholic Church]], which established an [[orphanage]] on the site. This institution became known colloquially as Mount Loretto, but its official name is the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin. Residents often referred to the orphanage disparagingly as "Mount La Ghetto".


In 1882, a {{convert|120|acre|km2|adj=on}} farm southeast of the railroad station was purchased from the Bennett family by the Reverend [[John Christopher Drumgoole]], founder of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin. He started the mission in [[Manhattan]] in 1871 originally to aid homeless newsboys. Subsequent parcels were added for a combined area of {{convert|400|acre|km2}}. The formal name became The Mission of The Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto but was and still is referred to solely as "Mt. Loretto". An [[orphanage]] for boys and a working farm was established on the site. At one time it was the largest farm in New York State. In 1888, Father Drumgooles successor began construction on St. Elizabeth's Building, a six-story [[Georgian Style]] building to be used as a girls' orphanage with a capacity of 350 children. It was destroyed by fire in March 2000 as a result of arson. The building had been abandoned and neglected for a number of years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mountloretto.org/document/18623/ |title=Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mt Loretto |access-date=2010-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203154817/http://mountloretto.org/document/18623 |archive-date=2010-02-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
⚫
In 1978, 126 acres (510,000 m²) on the north side of the property were converted into the [[Cemetery of the Resurrection, Staten Island|Cemetery of the Resurrection]] by the church's [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|Archdiocese of New York]], which needed to open a new cemetery on Staten Island as most of the burial plots at the island's existing Catholic cemeteries had already been used.


A {{convert|194|acre|km2|adj=on}} parcel of land south of Hylan Blvd. was sold to The State of New York. The park named, "The [[Mount Loretto Unique Area]]" is maintained by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation. The state park adjoins [[Lemon Creek, Staten Island|Lemon Creek Park]], which is partially in Pleasant Plains. The Pleasant Plains' portion includes a fishing pier at the foot of Sharrotts Ave.
The mission has been the scene of two notable fires:


The park contains {{convert|85|ft|m|abbr=on}}. high red clay bluffs overlooking Prince’s Bay, part Outer New York Harbor, they are part of the [[terminal moraine]] the southern terminus of the [[Wisconsin Glacier]] which receded 10,000 yrs. ago.<ref>[http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/as/geo/sigeo.htm / Geology of Staten Island, College of Staten Island] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070111152206/http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/as/geo/sigeo.htm |date=2007-01-11 }}</ref> They are the tallest ocean-facing bluffs in New York State. On the highest section of these bluffs The Prince's Bay Lighthouse was built in 1864. The lighthouse has attached living quarters.<ref>[http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=583 / Lighthouse Friends. Com]</ref>
*in 1973, a fire destroyed its original church (at which a scene from ''[[The Godfather]]'' had been shot one year earlier)
*in March 2000, a fire believed to have been deliberately set, gutted an abandoned building — once used as a girls' dormitory — on the eastern side of the property, which had been acquired from the mission by the city government two months prior.


⚫
In 1978, 126 acres (510,000 m<sup>2</sup>) on the north side of the property were converted into the [[Cemetery of the Resurrection, Staten Island|Cemetery of the Resurrection]] by the church's [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|Archdiocese of New York]], which needed to open a new cemetery on Staten Island as most of the burial plots at the island's existing Catholic cemeteries had already been used.
⚫
In 2004 a 12-acre (49,000 m²) tract at the northeastern corner of the mission's property, which had been the site of a [[convent]] maintained by the Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, a [[Franciscan]] order of nuns, was sold to residential developers for [[United States dollar|US$]]19 million, despite steadfast opposition from local conservation activists. Part of the mission property became the Mount Loretto [[New York State Forests|Unique Area]].<ref>{{cite web | author=[[Staff writer]]|date=undated|title = Mt. Loretto Unique Area | publisher = [[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]] | url = http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8291.html| accessdate = 2009-08-08}}</ref>

In 1973, the Church of [[St. Joachim]] and [[St. Anne]] was destroyed by fire. The exterior of this church was used in the [[baptism]] scene from ''[[The Godfather]]'' the year before.

⚫
In 2004 a 12-acre (49,000 m<sup>2</sup>) tract at the northeastern corner of the mission's property, which had been the site of a [[convent]] maintained by the Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, a [[Franciscan]] order of nuns, was sold to residential developers for [[United States dollar|US$]]19 million, despite steadfast opposition from local conservation activists. Part of the mission property became the Mount Loretto [[New York State Forests|Unique Area]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Staff writer | author-link=Staff writer |date=n.d.|title = Mt. Loretto Unique Area | publisher = [[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]] | url = http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8291.html| access-date = 2009-08-08}}</ref>


The commercial core of this community centers around the intersection of Bloomingdale Road, Amboy Road and Pleasant Plains Avenue. Like many of the South Shore's old commercial cores, it is experiencing a mild, yet noticeable rebirth.
The commercial core of this community centers around the intersection of Bloomingdale Road, Amboy Road and Pleasant Plains Avenue. Like many of the South Shore's old commercial cores, it is experiencing a mild, yet noticeable rebirth.


==Transportation==
Still sparsely populated{{Clarify|date=November 2009}}<!--needs population at most recent census, "sparsely populated" is ambiguous.-->, Pleasant Plains was once the home of Maud Morgan, an acclaimed [[harp]]ist<ref>{{cite news | title = Concert at Mrs. Vanderbilt's; Maud Morgan and Ben Greet Entertain for Benefit of City Mission | publisher = ''[[The New York Times]]'' | date = 1911-02-03 | page 9 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D05E4DF1439E333A25750C0A9649C946096D6CF | accessdate = 2009-08-08}} [[abstract (summary)|Abstract]]; full article access requires website registration.</ref> and [[Max Maretzek]], a former head of the [[New York City Opera]]{{Clarify|date=November 2009}}<!--at november 12, 2009, his wiki aritcle (albeit a stub) makes not mention of any relationship with the nyc opera.-->
Pleasant Plains is served by the [[Staten Island Railway]] station of the [[Pleasant Plains station|same name]] near Amboy Road/Bloomingdale Road. It is served by the {{NYC bus link|S55}} local bus on Amboy Road and Bloomingdale Road. Express bus service to and from [[Manhattan]] is provided by the {{NYC bus link|SIM26}} on Amboy Road and Bloomingdale Road.<ref>{{cite NYC bus map|S}}</ref>


==Education==
==Burials in Cemetery of the Resurrection==
The [[New York City Department of Education]] operates public schools.
{{Clarify|date=November 2009}}<!--does following paragraph even belong in this aritcle? cemetery as its own (albeit a stub) article.-->

*[[Costabile Farace|Costabile "Gus" Farace]], a reputed [[mafia]] associate who was murdered in 1989 after allegedly having killed a federal drug-enforcement officer.
Public school students living in Pleasant Plains are zoned for [[Tottenville High School]], which is located in the Huguenot neighborhood of Staten Island. Private school options include Staten Island Academy, a non-religious private school serving grades pre-k3 to 12th grade. Additionally there are numerous Catholic school options such as Saint Joseph By the Sea High School, a co-educational school, [[Monsignor Farrell High School]], an all-boys school, and Notre Dame Academy, which is an all-girls school with an elementary school and High school.
*[[Dorothy Day]], co-founder of the [[Catholic Worker Movement]] and founder of the [[Peter Maurin]] Farm community on [[Bloomingdale Road up]] from Pleasant Plains.

The main campus of [[South Richmond High School]], a special education school, is in Pleasant Plains.<ref name=Fioravante>Fioravante, Janice. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/02/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-charleston-staten-island-neighborhood-that-grew-clay.html If You're Thinking of Living In/Charleston, Staten Island; Neighborhood That Grew From a Clay Pit]." ''[[The New York Times]]''. June 2, 2002. Retrieved on September 20, 2012.</ref>

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|New York City}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==See also==
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[[Staten Island]]
* [http://www.oboylephoto.com/girls_school/fire.htm / St. Elizabeth's Building] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010223194010/http://www.oboylephoto.com/girls_school/fire.htm |date=2001-02-23 }}


{{Staten Island}}
{{Staten Island}}


{{coord|40|31|26|N|74|12|56|W|display=title}}
{{Coord|40|31|26|N|74|12|56|W|display=title}}


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<!--questionable category to this editor at November 12, 2009. mount loretto unique area should have own article.-->
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[[Category:Neighborhoods in Staten Island]]
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[[Category:New York state forests]]<!--questionable category to this editor at november 12, 2009. mount loretto unique area should have own article.-->


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[[Category:Neighborhoods in Staten Island]]
{{StatenIsland-geo-stub}}
[[Category:New York (state) state forests]]

Latest revision as of 07:41, 30 March 2024

Pleasant Plains is a neighborhood located on Staten Island, New York City, New York. It is bordered by Woodrow to the north, the Lower New York Bay to the south, Richmond Valley to the west, and Prince's Bay to the east. The neighborhood is represented in the New York City Council by Joe Borelli.

"Welcome To Pleasant Plains" sign (Amboy Rd. Facing south, corner of Pleasant Plains Ave.; August 2007).
View looking north across Mount Loretto Unique Area with church in distance (July 2008).

Situated on the island's South Shore, Pleasant Plains has a population of 5,000 according to the 2000 census. It was named by officials of the Staten Island Railroad Corporation, the original owners of what is now known as the MTA Staten Island Railway. When the railroad line was extended to Tottenville in 1860, a station crossing Amboy Road approximately two miles north of Tottenville was named Pleasant Plains. Eventually, the name "Pleasant Plains" was applied to the community which soon sprung up around the station.

History

[edit]

In 1882, a 120-acre (0.49 km2) farm southeast of the railroad station was purchased from the Bennett family by the Reverend John Christopher Drumgoole, founder of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin. He started the mission in Manhattan in 1871 originally to aid homeless newsboys. Subsequent parcels were added for a combined area of 400 acres (1.6 km2). The formal name became The Mission of The Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto but was and still is referred to solely as "Mt. Loretto". An orphanage for boys and a working farm was established on the site. At one time it was the largest farm in New York State. In 1888, Father Drumgooles successor began construction on St. Elizabeth's Building, a six-story Georgian Style building to be used as a girls' orphanage with a capacity of 350 children. It was destroyed by fire in March 2000 as a result of arson. The building had been abandoned and neglected for a number of years.[1]

A 194-acre (0.79 km2) parcel of land south of Hylan Blvd. was sold to The State of New York. The park named, "The Mount Loretto Unique Area" is maintained by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation. The state park adjoins Lemon Creek Park, which is partially in Pleasant Plains. The Pleasant Plains' portion includes a fishing pier at the foot of Sharrotts Ave.

The park contains 85 ft (26 m). high red clay bluffs overlooking Prince’s Bay, part Outer New York Harbor, they are part of the terminal moraine the southern terminus of the Wisconsin Glacier which receded 10,000 yrs. ago.[2] They are the tallest ocean-facing bluffs in New York State. On the highest section of these bluffs The Prince's Bay Lighthouse was built in 1864. The lighthouse has attached living quarters.[3]

In 1978, 126 acres (510,000 m2) on the north side of the property were converted into the Cemetery of the Resurrection by the church's Archdiocese of New York, which needed to open a new cemetery on Staten Island as most of the burial plots at the island's existing Catholic cemeteries had already been used.

In 1973, the Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne was destroyed by fire. The exterior of this church was used in the baptism scene from The Godfather the year before.

In 2004 a 12-acre (49,000 m2) tract at the northeastern corner of the mission's property, which had been the site of a convent maintained by the Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, a Franciscan order of nuns, was sold to residential developers for US$19 million, despite steadfast opposition from local conservation activists. Part of the mission property became the Mount Loretto Unique Area.[4]

The commercial core of this community centers around the intersection of Bloomingdale Road, Amboy Road and Pleasant Plains Avenue. Like many of the South Shore's old commercial cores, it is experiencing a mild, yet noticeable rebirth.

Transport

[edit]

Pleasant Plains is served by the Staten Island Railway station of the same name near Amboy Road/Bloomingdale Road. It is served by the S55 local bus on Amboy Road and Bloomingdale Road. Express bus service to and from Manhattan is provided by the SIM26 on Amboy Road and Bloomingdale Road.[5]

Bildung

[edit]

The New York City Department of Education operates public schools.

Public school students living in Pleasant Plains are zoned for Tottenville High School, which is located in the Huguenot neighborhood of Staten Island. Private school options include Staten Island Academy, a non-religious private school serving grades pre-k3 to 12th grade. Additionally there are numerous Catholic school options such as Saint Joseph By the Sea High School, a co-educational school, Monsignor Farrell High School, an all-boys school, and Notre Dame Academy, which is an all-girls school with an elementary school and High school.

The main campus of South Richmond High School, a special education school, is in Pleasant Plains.[6]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mt Loretto". Archived from the original on 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  2. ^ / Geology of Staten Island, College of Staten Island Archived 2007-01-11 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ / Lighthouse Friends. Com
  4. ^ Staff writer (n.d.). "Mt. Loretto Unique Area". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  5. ^ "Staten Island Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  6. ^ Fioravante, Janice. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Charleston, Staten Island; Neighborhood That Grew From a Clay Pit." The New York Times. June 2, 2002. Retrieved on September 20, 2012.
[edit]
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