Picture the year 1860. The Staten Island Railroad extends its reach. A new station opens near Amboy Road. It’s christened Pleasant Plains. This unassuming name becomes the heart of a vibrant community. Pleasant Plains isn’t just a name. It’s a story etched in the landscape.
Pleasant Plains is a neighborhood on Staten Island. It grew around that railroad station. It’s nestled between Woodrow to the north and the Lower New York Bay to the south. Richmond Valley lies to the west. Prince’s Bay borders it to the east. In the 2000 census it boasted a population of 5000.
But Pleasant Plains holds more than just numbers. It holds history. A vast 400-acre farm once stood here. Reverend John Christopher Drumgoole purchased it in 1882. He transformed it into the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto. This wasn’t just an orphanage for boys. It was also a working farm. In its heyday it was the largest farm in New York State.
The Mount Loretto complex expanded. St Elizabeth’s Building a six-story Georgian style building housed a girls’ orphanage. Sadly a devastating arson fire destroyed it in March 2000. The building was abandoned. It had been neglected for years.
Another significant chapter unfolds. A large part of the mission’s land became the Mount Loretto Unique Area. This state park preserves a unique ecosystem. It offers stunning views from 85-foot-high red clay bluffs. These bluffs are the tallest ocean-facing bluffs in New York State. They’re a testament to the Wisconsin Glacier’s retreat 10000 years ago. The Prince’s Bay Lighthouse built in 1864 stands proudly on these bluffs.
In 1978 the Archdiocese of New York opened the Cemetery of the Resurrection. It provided much needed burial space on Staten Island. The previous Catholic cemeteries were full.
Pleasant Plains wasn’t immune to tragedy. The Church of St Joachim and St Anne was destroyed by fire in 1973. Ironically its exterior had been used in a scene from the movie The Godfather.
Despite these setbacks Pleasant Plains shows resilience. The commercial heart of Pleasant Plains is thriving. Bloomingdale Road Amboy Road and Pleasant Plains Avenue form a dynamic intersection. A noticeable rebirth breathes new life into this historic community.
So next time you hear the name Pleasant Plains. Remember more than just a location. Recall a story of growth tragedy and enduring spirit. A story written in the heart of Staten Island.