Rossville, NY is a neighborhood of Staten Island, located on the island’s South Shore. It is a historic and rural community that has a rich colonial and agricultural heritage. Rossville offers a tranquil and scenic living environment for its residents, as well as access to the amenities and opportunities of the nearby city of Memphis.
Rossville was first settled by Dutch and English farmers in the late 17th century, who named it Smoking Point for the smoke signals they used to communicate with each other. The area later became known as Blazing Star, after a tavern that served as a ferry landing across the Arthur Kill to New Jersey. In the 1830s, the neighborhood was renamed Rossville, after Colonel William E. Ross, who built a replica of Windsor Castle on a bluff overlooking the ferry.
Rossville has several historic landmarks that reflect its past, such as the Voorlezer’s House, the oldest surviving schoolhouse in the country, built in the late 1600s; the Blazing Star Burial Ground, an abandoned cemetery dating from the mid-1700s; and the Rossville A.M.E. Zion Church, the oldest African-American church on Staten Island, founded in 1849 by former slaves from Sandy Ground, a nearby free black community.
Rossville also has natural attractions that enhance its rural charm, such as Herb Parsons Lake, a reservoir lake that offers fishing, boating, hiking, and camping opportunities; and the Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve, a 265-acre nature preserve that features wetlands, ponds, woodlands, and wildlife.
Rossville is a neighborhood that has preserved its historical and natural beauty, while also adapting to modern development and suburbanization. It is a neighborhood that offers a peaceful and enriching living experience for its residents.
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve is a 265-acre nature preserve near the southwest shore of Staten Island, New York. It is the only state park located on Staten Island and one of the few natural areas left in the city. The park contains a variety of unique habitats, such as wetlands, ponds, sand barrens, spring-fed streams, and woodlands.
The park was created in 1977 to protect the site’s ecological and historical significance. The park was once the location of extensive clay mining in the 19th century, which provided the raw material for bricks and terra cotta. The clay pits were later filled by rainwater and natural springs, creating the ponds that give the park its name. The park also has archaeological evidence of the Lenape Indians, European settlers, and the Free Blacks of Sandy Ground, a former free-black community that was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
The park offers educational and recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages. The park has a nature interpretive center that features exhibits and programs on the park’s history and ecology. The park also has hiking and biking trails, fishing and boating facilities, and horseback riding paths. The park is home to many rare plant and animal species, such as the dwarf hawthorn, the northern black racer snake, and the eastern fence lizard. The park is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with more than 170 bird species recorded in the park.
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve is a hidden gem that showcases the natural and cultural diversity of Staten Island and New York City. It is a place where visitors can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of nature, as well as learn about the past and present of the area.
If you think Rossville could be the perfect place to find your new home, let’s get together and answer any questions you may have. Esphir Popilevsky of Supreme Home Sales, Inc. has been selling in Staten Island, NY for over 22 years and are dedicated to your satisfaction.
