Stapleton (Images of America)

William J. Staples and his partner, Monthorne Tompkins, purchased a large parcel of land in 1832 to establish their real estate venture. Four years later, the pair initiated ferry service from the waterfront in Stapleton to Manhattan across New York Bay and began advertising their community to attract investors. As lots were sold and the community developed, businesses soon followed. The large influx of German immigrants to the area brought with them an expertise for brewing beer, with the result that Stapleton soon became the epicenter of a large brewing industry. The wealth the breweries attracted to the area resulted in the construction of large homes, mansions, and estates, many of which still stand today along the crests of the area's hilly terrain.

James G. Ferreri is the past president of the Preservation League of Staten Island and an interior designer. Passionate about the preservation and restoration of historic homes, he is the author of a monthly history column in the Staten Island Advance. David Goldfarb has lived on Staten Island in Stapleton and St. George for over 37 years. He is active in historic preservation on Staten Island and in New York City and is an attorney in New York City. Ferreri and Goldfarb are the authors of St. George.