INSPIRATION for Forgotten New York items comes from all over. Attention was called on x (twitter) about a curious sign on a one-story brick building, #544 Vanderbilt Avenue at Ellington Street, at its junction with Van Duzer Street and Richmond Road. The question was about the stone t the bottom, “Union Labor Lyceum” and date of construction, 1956. Presently the building is the headquarters of Wohl & O’Mara, civil engineers and land surveyors. As a kid, I considered a career as a surveyor, but couldn’t get adequate advice on how to go about training for it.
According to the wikipedia AI robot, labor lyceums served as a hub for labor unions and provide a space for workers to gather for education, meetings, and social events. They hosted union meetings, socialist party functions, lectures on topics from labor to advanced English, and social groups. More prominent examples can be found in Rochester, NY, Philadelphia, PA and Baltimore, MD.
Interestingly, three roads in Staten Island, some of the oldest routes on the island, share a house numbering system: Vanderbilt Avenue, Richmond Road, and Amboy Road — running the entire length of the island. Vanderbilt Avenue’s house numbering negins with #12 at Bay Street. when it meets Van Duzer Street at #544, it becomes Richmond Road, which continues the house numbering. In New Dorp, Amboy Road branches off Richmond Road and continues Richmond Road’s house numbering with #2512. Richmond Road continues west to Richmondtown, but at Amboy Road its house numbering jumps from #2501 to #3009.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
11/10/25
7 comments
The company dates back to 1959 but it probably moved to this spot sometime later. It’s unlikely that Labor Lyceum only lasted three years.
I worked at Wohl and O’Mara. They moved there in 1969.
As you see fit
If you were a mailman working out of Stapleton Station (like I was), this would not be considered Grimes Hill. The outer stretches of Clifton would be more like it.
We have a problem. Someone posted that the Spanish American War statue is missing on S.I.
I am getting conflicting reports about the Hiker statue. I now don’t know.
What about it?