Story
This Old House: Staten Island Edition
In 1913, Frank Cousins was hired by the Commission to document more than 50 buildings that it felt were in danger of imminent demolition. Browse his photographs of historic Staten Island homes.
Conference House
The Billop House, also known as the "Conference House," was built by naval captain Christopher Billop in 1676.
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Conference House
The Conference House received its name because it was the site of a historic conference aimed at finding an end to the American Revolution. Under the supervision of British Loyalist Colonel Christopher Billop, members of the Continental Congress (Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge) spoke with British Admiral Lord Howe. The Americans refused Howe's offer.
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Guyon-Clark House
This Huguenot-style house belonged to Jacques Guyon, a French Protestant who was granted 200 acres of land by Governor Richard Nicolls.
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Guyon Lake Tysen House
Another of Guyon's houses, the Lake Tysen House was constructed in the Dutch Colonial-style and eventually moved to Historic Richmond Town in 1962.
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Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House
Pierre Billiou's home is of the first constructed in the Olde Dorp region and was constructed using medieval stone-laying techniques. Presently, it is the oldest surviving building on Staten Island.
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1860 Richmond Terrace
Albert De Groot was born on Staten Island in 1810. His family settled on Staten Island around 1730. De Groot rose to the rank of Captain under Cornelius Vanderbilt.
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