Silas Havens

John Havens was from Connecticut and had fought in the revolutionary army for a long time during the country’s fight for independence. His son who was named after him, John Havens, Jr., was a soldier in the war of 1812. After the war, he settled and became a farmer in New London, Connecticut.

John Havens' grandson, Silas N. Havens was born in New London, Connecticut, on March 2nd, 1827.  He was the eldest child of twelve children who was born to John and Mariett Havens. He received an education and finished schooling by the age of seventeen. When he turned seventeen years old, he relocated and moved to Staten Island, New York, where he became an employee of Orlando E. Lee, an agent of the New Brighton Land Association.

After ten years working with Lee, he continued his career as an independent contractor, engaging in other businesses, including farming, lumber, real estate, and feed enterprises.  Havens was not only just a businessman, but he also had interest in public affairs.

Being a well-known public figure, he was a trustee and director of Staten Island Savings Bank. Havens was also a stockholder in the First National bank located in New Brighton, and the president of the board of trustees of the Kingsley Methodist Church in Stapleton.

On February 24th, 1858, Havens married Arbella Smith of Salem, Connecticut. The couple permanently settled in New Brighton, where Havens owned a considerable amount of real estate, which was located what is known today as Silver Lake.

The Haven's Esplanade begins at Silver Lake Road and continues down to Castleton Avenue. There is a row of mature unique trees, including London Plane trees and pine oaks, which frame the main staircase located in the center, leading down to the first park of the property. There is also another row of trees that creates a path to the next set of stairs that leads to the final level.

The Haven Esplanade is a part of Greenstreets, which is a joint project of both the New York City Parks Department and New York City Department of Transportation. Greenstreets began in 1986 and revived in 1994. In fall of 2000, there was new plantings on this property, including white cedar, perennials, purple echinacea, and several other varieties of euonymus. The assistance of volunteers keeps these areas green and their plantings healthy.

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