Port Richmond on Staten Island in Richmond County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Faber Park and Pool
4.25 Acres
Faber Park and Pool is located on what was once the north shore home of the Faber family. Their lead pencil manufacturing company was begun by Caspar Faber in Stein, Germany in 1761. A century later, his descendant Eberhard Faber (d.1879) came to New York and built the first lead pencil factory in the United States. A 1987 merger resulted in the formation of Faber-Castell, Inc.
One of the Faber family members who lived in Port Richmond was Jenny Faber. She was granted an 1869 “letters patent” to the surrounding land under and above the Kill van Kull on the condition that she contribute to local development by erecting a dock for “commerce or enjoyment.” That land was purchased in 1906 by the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity from Charles and Emma Griffith, who had acquired the property from Anna Faber in 1905. Plans to build a municipal lighting plant on the site were never pursued, and the area was placed under parks jurisdiction in 1928.
Architect Frederick H. Zurmuhlen Jr. supervised the construction of the seawall, recreation building, playground, wading and swimming pools. Contemporary reviews compared the design, which included eighteen different hues of natural-colored stone, to the architecture of Southern California. The design also drew praise for ensuring the good hygiene of bathers who had to pass through the showers before entering the pool. At the time of its completion, Faber Pool, at 140 feet by 75 feet, was the largest on Staten Island.
Faber Pool opened on July 15, 1932 to provide children with a safer alternative to swimming in the polluted waters of the Kill Van Kull. The park was more than doubled in size in 1941. In 1996 the park and pool benefited from a $1,500,000 capital restoration that upgraded classrooms, offices, and locker rooms as well as filling in the diving pool and repairing the exterior grounds.
Erected by City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the NYC Parks series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1749.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 38.456′ N, 74° 8.134′ W. Marker was on Staten Island, New York, in Richmond County. It was in Port Richmond. Marker could be reached from Richmond Terrace, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located inside of Faber Park, on the building near the pool. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 2175 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island NY 10302, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. George Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Faber Park and Pool (within shouting distance of this marker); Founding of the Dutch Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Reformed Protestant Dutch Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Five Brothers (approx. 0.2 miles away); Burial Place (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. James Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sullivan’s Attack (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staten Island.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
Also see . . . Faber Pool and Park. NYC Parks website entry (Submitted on February 18, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 998 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 22, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.