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Foundation of Second County Courthouse

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

On this site lies the remains of the Second County Courthouse of Richmond County. About thirty feet from Arthur Kill Road between the Boehm and Treasure House there is a grove of trees that partially hides the remaining stone foundation of the original building. The area now located between this grove and Arthur Kill Road has an anchor, a cannon, and millstones, but prior to 1944 would have been the location of the additions made on to the Second County Courthouse extending the building closer to the street.

Images

Photograph taken of the Fairway Club in 1939. The Fairway Club was one of the businesses that operated on the site of the Second County Courthouse.

Photograph taken of the Fairway Club in 1939. The Fairway Club was one of the businesses that operated on the site of the Second County Courthouse.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

This building was constructed in 1793-1794 as the Second County Courthouse for Richmond County (Staten Island). The two-story building had two rooms on the first floor, the larger of which served as a public hall, and the courtroom occupied the entire second floor.

The building served its public function until the Third County Courthouse (now Historic Richmond Town’s Visitor Center) was completed in 1837. The former courthouse was then sold at auction and converted into a private residence. A subsequent owner built an addition to the front of the building and turned it into a tavern and restaurant known as the Schaeffer Hotel. In the 1930s and 1940s it was known as the Fairway Club. 

The building was destroyed by arson in 1944.

Additional Information