If you've read most of the historical information on our website, you probably know all about the history of the Huguenots on Staten Island. These were French Protestants who fled France during the end of the seventeenth century once the Edict of Fontainebleau came into effect. These people left in fear of being killed due to their relig
ious beliefs, as the prominent religion at the time was Roman Catholicism. At some point prior to 1706, a James Sigin had fled from France to Staten Island. Over the next couple of centuries, his descendants became some of the most prominent people amongst the Staten Island residents.
In 1860, James Sigin's great-great-grandson, Stephen Seguine, became the treasurer of the Staten Island Rapid Transit railroad. At that time, over one dozen train stations were constructed on the rail line. One of the many train stations was named Annadale, after Stephen Seguine's wife, Anna. Over the years, when neighborhoods began to be shaped, those surrounding a train station were often named for the station. By 1898, the neighborhood surrounding Annadale Station took the station's name and has been known as Annadale ever since.
Staten Island has long been known for its support in residents. Many residents have a sense of pride in their respective communities. You will see many plaques throughout the borough which commemorate war heroes and the other prominent citizens from different neighborhoods of Staten Island. In 1953,
a plaque was posted on Jefferson Boulevard, in Annadale, to honor the residents of the neighborhood who had fought and lost their lives during the Korean War and World War II.
As you may know, the majority of Staten Island was once farmland, which had remained unchanged for quite some time. Throughout the twentieth century, Staten Island was undergoing many significant changes in an attempt to make it more attractive and family-friendly. The establishment of parks played a big role in this effort. In 1962, a 0.3-acre parcel of land in the neighborhood of Annadale was assigned to the Parks Department. This area of land is located at the intersection of Annadale Road and Jefferson Boulevard. Due to its proximity to the Annadale train station and the fact that it is located in the neighborhood of Annadale, the park became known as Annadale Park.
The plaque mentioned above was moved down Jefferson Boulevard and mounted to a boulder located within the Annadale Park once it opened. It is fenced in by the glorious flora which grows inside the park. In 1997, the paths within the park were improved and benches were added so that visitors could soak up the natural beauty of the
area. Due to the fact that the park is mostly made up of vegetation, Annadale Park's name was changed in 1998 to Annadale Green.
Annadale Green is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and the train station. Given this atmosphere, it makes visitors feel like they are in a small town. Don't be fooled, though. Annadale Green may seem like a regular park where people can just sit and relax, but it is so much more. While people are able to relax on the benches, they will find that there are many happenings at the park throughout the year. For example, every year on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, ceremonies are held at the park. The park is also decorated each holiday season by to the volunteer organization The Annadale Garden Club.
Posted by Anthony Licciardello on
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