YOU don’t expect to find a 3-story mixed-use brick building quite like this one all the way south in Great Kills, Staten Island, but that’s what you’ve got at Amboy Road and Brown Avenue opposite Giffords Lane. a few blocks away is the Great Kills Staten Island Railway station, which has a layup track allowing selected morning and evening trains to reverse course. The word “Kill” found in Staten Island place names has nothing to do with murder; it comes from the archaic Dutch word for narrow waterway. “Arthur Kill” originally meant “the other waterway” distinguishing it from the Kill Van Kull.
In 1940, five and dime and drug stores occupied the west side of the building, and an undetremined business in the chamfered corner. Great Kills was another of the unofficial small towns found along Amboy Road along with Annadale, Huguenot, Pleasant Plains, and most had centers where the necessities could be acquired; in the old days, you hitched your wagon and traveled over. The arch over the front entrance bore the name “J.A. Springstead.” (the only Springstead I recall is the old American league umpire, Marty Springstead.) See Comments for more on Springstead.
In the 2020s, an awning sign proclaims it “The Dinger Building” and there are a couple of signs with Chinese characters, so Great Kills now has a number of South Asian immigrants. Buisnesses include a spa, urgent care, law office, and food market. Further down the block is Village Maria pizza, where I have a slice if I’m hungry whenever I’m down here.
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.
4/29/26
7 comments
What,no nail salon?By law there has to be at least one nail salon.
According to the 1939-1940 Staten Island telephone directory that’s on the NYPL’s website, J.A. Springstead, Inc., builders, were located at 3974 Amboy Road, telephone HOneywd 6-2515. Among other things, Springstead (as of 1945) was the president and a director of the South Shore Bank of Staten Island (which was at 3996 Amboy Road), and a 1953 ad says he was the organizer of the bank. 3970, at the corner, had the branch office of Staten Island Edison (HOneywood 6-1726), something I verified from both the directory and a 1945 Staten Island Advance newspaper. That might explain the “white goods” appliance in the window to the right of the entrance; the ad I saw from October, 1945 notes refrigerators on display at all four SIE branch offices. Hardy’s Pharmacy, 3978 Amboy Road, is HOneywd 6-0227, meaning that 5 and 10 is probably at 3976 Amboy Road. Just beyond Hardy’s is Harry’s Apparel Shop, 3980 Amboy Road, HOneywd 6-1087. (The apparel shop is easier to see in another tax map shot.) The 12/7/2025 Staten Island Advance has a 1932 v. 2025 side by side; it seems to have been known as the Dinger Building since at least 1974. Apparently, the Dinger/Springstead building had a number of medical offices located there at various times going back to the 1930s.
Is the real name “Dinger” but the awning misspells it “Dingle”?
You caught me. Dinger it is.
There was a Springstead Lumber Co. on Staten Island.
https://www.silive.com/obituaries/2013/02/john_springstead_89.html The John Springstead obituary does not mention descendants.
Boy, a quick look at the immediate area on “Gergle” Street View reveals *quite* a variety of different ethnic dining choices… I’m not in the area very often but with venerable Leidy’s (up on Richmond Terrace) having closed, I may have to include this hamlet on the next trip to/fro Killmeyer’s…