Tottenville Historical Society

Our Art Collection features many scenic paintings of the local area by local artists, accompanied by their biographies.

One of our favorites is "Lower Main St., 1900" by Tottenville native Chester Graham (1893-1973). Painted from memory, Chester also described every building and business on Lower Main St., then the commercial hub of the region, and captured the community's history and character through art.

How many buildings do you recognize?

Gift of The Johnston Family Trust

A message from our good friends at Sail4th 250. What a remarkable opportunity!

Today and every day we honor the courage and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our freedom, and we remember them with gratitude that endures beyond words.

Early 20th century photographs of the entrance gate to the Tottenville Copper Co. (later Nassau Smelting & Refining Co.) and inside the factory. In the 1940s and 1950s many young men found first jobs at Nassau Smelting before going on to other work. It was nicknamed the “College by the Creek.”

We collect and care for all types of visual media including glass and film negatives. They document irreplaceable evidence of daily life of the people who lived here and the evolution of local architecture and streetscapes.

An interesting find! Two volumes of negatives that belonged to Norman Morrison. Norman Robert Morrison (1891-1968), landscape painter, and his partner, opera singer Graham Marr, lived in the 19th century house at 190 Meisner Ave., New Dorp, now a NYC Designated Landmark known as the Nathaniel J. and Ann C. Wyeth House. Morrison reportedly planted 12,000 bulbs there in the spring of 1955!

What will we learn from the negatives? Exciting!

Wonderful news! . Without preserving these sites, we risk losing valuable connections to our history and our heritage.

On April 4, Eagle Scout candidate Edward Siu, along with Scout Troop 150, Great Kills, rolled up their sleeves at the Charleston Cemetery, Arthur Kill Rd., giving the grounds a much‑needed clean‑up. The Scouts removed litter, cleared brush, and helped make long‑neglected areas accessible again, including the Charleston Veterans Memorial.

This Eagle Scout Project reflects the troop’s ongoing commitment to community service and stewardship of local heritage. The Tottenville Historical Society extends its appreciation to the Scouts, their leaders and families who contributed their time and energy to caring for one of the community’s most significant and neglected historic landscapes. We are grateful for their dedication and proud to see young people taking an active role in preserving our shared history.

To complete the Project, the Tottenville Historical Society installed new signage at the site this week.

Photo credit: Edward Siu and Justin Feldman.