Four 19th century buildings in Staten Island’s Sandy Ground, one of the first communities settled by freed slaves, considered. On August 10, 2010, Landmarks heard testimony on the potential designations of four buildings located in Staten Island’s Sandy Ground community, one of the country’s oldest communities settled by freed slaves. The buildings date to the 19th century and include the Rossville AME Zion Church located at 584 Bloomingdale Road, two cottages at 565 and 569 Bloomingdale Road, and the Coleman House located at 1482 Woodrow Road.

Located on Staten Island’s south shore, freedmen settled Sandy Ground after New York abolished slavery in 1827. Soon after, free blacks from the Chesapeake Bay region traveled to the community to pursue their trade as oystermen in a place where they could own and captain their own boats. The community persisted after the oyster beds were closed due to pollution in 1916, and descendants of the original settlers reside in the area to this day. The City recently rezoned the area, and the Rossville AME church’s leadership opposed the action due to concerns that it would prevent the church’s planned senior citizen housing project. 7 CityLand 5 (Feb. 15, 2010).

In 1897, Andrew Adams built the vernacular Rossville AME Zion Church for a congregation that had incorporated in 1850. Virginia-born clergyman William H. Pitts purchased the property, and served as the church’s first pastor. (read more…)