Port Richmond on Staten Island in Richmond County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

St. James Hotel

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, May 21, 2011

1. St. James Hotel Marker

Inscription.
On this site stood the St. James Hotel built shortly after the American Revolution. Aaron Burr died here September 14, 1836

Originally marked by Staten Island Chapter NSDAR February 1932. Replaced September 1976.

Erected 1976 by National Society Daughters of the American Revolution - Staten Island Chapter.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1932.

Location. 40° 38.411′ N, 74° 7.901′ W. Marker is on Staten Island, New York, in Richmond County. It is in Port Richmond. It is at the intersection of Port Richmond Avenue and Richmond Terrace, on the right when traveling north on Port Richmond Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11-15 Port Richmond Avenue, Staten Island NY 10302, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New York City.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America

and the Western World.

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Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lafeyette's Tour (within shouting distance of this marker); Burial Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Reformed Protestant Dutch Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Five Brothers (within shouting distance of this marker); Founding of the Dutch Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Faber Park and Pool (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sullivan’s Attack (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Park (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staten Island.

Also see . . .
1. Aaron Burr. Biography of Aaron Burr from NNDB website. (Submitted on May 21, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. The Aaron Burr Association. (Submitted on May 21, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Additional commentary.
1.
The marker isn’t entirely honest. The St. James Hotel was actually located around the corner on Richmond Terrace, opposite the Bayonne Ferry.

Built

Marker on Port Richmond Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, May 21, 2011

2. Marker on Port Richmond Avenue

shortly after the American Revolution as the private residence of Judge David Mersereau, it became the Port Richmond Hotel about 1820. The name was later changed to the Continental Hotel; Aaron Burr lived there at the end of his life and died there in his second-floor room. By the end of the nineteenth century, it was called the St. James Hotel and remodeled in the early 1900s. The building was demolished in the late 1940s and the site is now a vacant lot.

If the original date of the plaque’s installation is 1932, it must have been on the hotel until its demolition. If it was “replaced” in 1976, it must have been in a moment of Bicentennial fervor and on the most substantial structure in the area.

— Submitted May 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.

St. James Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, May 21, 2011

3. St. James Hotel

Marker can be seen here to the left of the entrance doorway.

The Griffith Building, 1875 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by I'm Just Walkin', Day 851, 1875

4. The Griffith Building, 1875

The edge of the hotel is visible on the left.

St. James Hotel, ca. 1895 image. Click for full size.

Schutzendorf via Richmond County Historical Society, 1895

5. St. James Hotel, ca. 1895

The Richmond Terrace facade of the Griffith Building is to the right.

St. James Hotel, 2040 Richmond Terrace, 1940? image. Click for full size.

Photographed by NYC 1939-1940 Tax Photo, 1940?

6. St. James Hotel, 2040 Richmond Terrace, 1940?

A drastic early 1900s transformation of the first floor to accommodate storefronts.

St. James Hotel site image. Click for full size.

via Google Earth, 2023

7. St. James Hotel site

The Griffith building to the right

Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3,690 times since then and 216 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 21, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7. submitted on February 15, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.