Tom Crimmins Realty Blog

1817 - First motorized ferry on Staten Island

In 1817, a year after his election, Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins developed the first motorized ferry for the Richmond Turnpike Company, as a part of his created Tompkinsville. He financed the Turnpike Company himself. Tompkins first intensions was to create a highway across Staten Island. Before the motorized ferry, there were originally "two-masted sailingboats."

John De Forest was the first captain of this new motorized ferry, name the Nautilus, named after the Nautilus Hall. De Forest was the brother-in-law of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt bought the company in 1838 but sold it to his brother Jacob in the early 1860's when the American Civil War began.

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DIY Gingerbread House

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Wash out your empty milk or orange juice container and place on styrofoam plate.
2. Hot glue the opening closed, this will be used as the roof.
3. To measure how many graham crackers you need, lay onto container. Remember to have enough pieces for four walls and a roof.
4. Use a marker to note where to cut. Have an adult use a cutting knife to take off excessive pieces.
5. Once all pieces are…

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Get The Overview On Escrow Accounts

Whether you are purchasing a new home or you are considering applying to refinance your home, chances are the lender will require an escrow account. These accounts are often a source of confusion for homeowners. In reality, these accounts benefit the homeowner and help protect the lender.

What Is An Escrow Account?

Escrow accounts are sometimes called "impound" accounts. These accounts are set up to help manage payments of property taxes and homeowner's insurance. Depending on the individual requirements of the lender, you may be asked to pay as much as one-quarter of these upfront and they will be put into the account for the purposes of making payments.

Who Controls Escrow Accounts?

Lenders have complete control over escrow accounts.…

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Westwood Park

Although Islanders relate the Expressway with a hassle, without it we would not have the Westwood Park.  "Master Builder" Robert Moses is linked to the development of the route and park.

Nycgovpark.org states, "In his effort to bring New York into the automobile era, Moses constructed 416 miles of highway and 13 bridges. Westwood Park and the Staten Island Expressway for which this land was acquired."

The land was an undeveloped land until 1973.  A local community group turned the park into a playground consisting of a basketball court, obstacle coure, slide, park benches and more.  It was named Sunrise Hill Park; however, it was all destroyed by local teenagers and the park was restored back to its natural state in 1980.

Commissioner Stern…

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Events for December 6th Weekend

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1776 - Staten Island Involvement in Revolutionary Era

George Washington landed on Staten Island and set up a look-out, at Fort Wadsworth, for the British arrival.  General Howe arrived in New York City on July 2nd, 1776.  His British troops were camped in Watering Place (Tompkinsville) to prepare for a battle against Washington.  However, British troops stalled and instead inforced Islanders to surrender their rights and sign allegiance to the King.

Howe and other American loyalist, including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, met up a few months later to discuss negotiations for peace.  The meeting took place on September 11, 1776 at the home of a British loyalist, Christopher Billopp.  The NYC Parks and Recreation states, "Lord Howe offered to end the conflict peacefully if the American colonies would…

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Important Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Open House

Selling a home in this economy can be very stressful. This list is a must do to assist in the sale transaction.

The most important thing to remember is "don't spend money." If you need to spend some don't spend a lot and make sure to spend it wisely!

1. Clean clutter! - Clutter hurts the sale of the home. It make the rooms appear smaller. It is a complete turnoff! Some times people perceive clutter as uncleanliness. Another idea is too have a yard or garage sale. 
2. If you decide to have a garage sale combine it with an open house. Yes chances are you will have same nosy bargain hunters but you never know. Bargain hunters may have relative or friends that are looking just be certain to have enough help around for obvious security reasons. Don't…

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Westerleigh Park Gets a Makeover

You can find some of Westerleigh Park's history here.  Staten Island Advance reported that the park is getting some new additions and a face lift. 

Some of the improvements are:

• Drains and 'rain gardens' to prevent any storm water damage 
• Repaved walkways and new paved stones at the entrances

The Parks Department is investing million dollars for these improvements; Borough President James Molinaro, Debi Rose and James Oddo are funding this project.

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1815 - Tompkinsville is named after Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins

As some remember, street names on the island have been named after the Iroquois and Dutch settlements. Neighborhoods were named after predominant people.

Tompkinsville was founded in 1815 by Daniel D. Tompkins, the Governor of New York State at the time, after the Battle of Long Island. He established another ferry service to Manhattan in 1817, this became a part of the Richmond Turnpike Company. The turnpike allowed travelers to ride coach from the ferry across the Island and continue to New Jersey on another ferry. The turnpike, was originally located on Arietta Street in Tompkinsville; after World War I, it is now renamed Victory Boulevard. The Turnpike was purchased in 1838 by Cornelius Vanderbilt; the ferry was made part of NYC ferry operations in…

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Holiday Shopping: Black Friday Vs. Cyber Monday

Black Friday start kicked the holiday shopping season; but this year, sales started earlier and is interrupting family time on Thanksgiving. Stores in the Staten Island Mall open at midnight, but numerous department and wholesale stores are opening when families are cutting the turkey.

Mary Sullivan* is a sales associate at a women's clothing store in the Staten Island Mall. Sullivan weighed in on the holiday starting early, deals, and the ultimate consumer struggle: the decision to shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

"I have noticed how early the holiday season started this year," said Sullivan.  "Right after Halloween. It used to be after Thanksgiving."

"Least-Crowded Black Friday Ever"

Crowds seems to be a constant concern on Black…

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