In 1854, at about the same time that Henry Steinway Sr. was starting his piano empire, Balthazar Kreischer was building a brick factory in Charleston, Staten Island (Richmond County was then independent entity). Because of the clayey ground in the area (Clay Pond Park State Preserve is nearby), Kreischer’s was one of several brickmaking firms active in the period. Like Steinway, Kreischer constructed a small company town in this remote corner of Staten Island centered around Arthur Kill Road and Kreischer and Androvette Streets. The brick works employed almost 150 and produced 20,000 bricks per day. Kreischerville, as the town was known, was entirely self-contained, with a hotel (still standing at Androvette and Kreischer Streets, now a Knights of Columbus), church, grocery store and inn. The factory closed in 1927. In the aftermath of World War I, many German-sounding names were purged from New York City directories, and so Kreischerville became known as “Charleston.”
Public School 4, on Arthur Kill Road up the road from Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn, is probably the edifice with the highest concentration of Kreischer brick in the area. It is still used by special education students. Immediately across the street is West Baptist Cemetery, with many interred members of the Storer family; the name also shows up on Storer Avenue. The cemetery was associated with the long-gone West Baptist Church, raised in 1847. Some of the stones have inscriptions in German.
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10/19/22
5 comments
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I’ll go for the Kassler Ripchen from Killmeyer’s, two smoked pork chops with sauerkraut, red cabbage and mashed potatoes.
As an appetizer, forest wives mushrooms, can’t resist a name like that.
I haven’t been in since 2017, hope to return.
I used to go to the new PS 4 on Nedra Ln off if Arden Ave. The Old Bavarian Inn over there is the oldest dining establishment on Staten Island
Hi Kevin- Been in Staten Island over 10 years now and have enjoyed finding the history of NYC “Forgotten Borough”.
One offbeat fact about Staten Island’s longest road Hylan Boulevard, is that two of the most historic houses in the borough are located on each opposite end.
On the north end (at #1 Hylan Blvd) is the Alice Austen house, which had to inspire the famous photographer with its fantastic view of Manhattan.
At the southern end, is the Billop House AKA Conference House in which a historic meeting took place between Lord Howe, Ben Franklin, John Adams & Edward Rutledge who met to try to find a peaceful solution to the American Revolution.
I live close by PS 4 and pass by it often. Killmeyers also has dozens of original Kreischer bricks on the walkway in front of the restaurant.
Another incredible 2 anomalies on Staten Island are located on Lighthouse Hill. The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, and the Frank Lloyd Wright designed house known as “The Crimson Beech”… I NEVER expected to find either of THOSE on Staten Island!
All can be found in FNY, happy hunting!