Fireplace destroys historic Staten Island dwelling as soon as owned by actual property magnate; 2 firefighters injured

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A hearth that ravaged a Shore Acres dwelling on Sunday morning might have additionally broken past restore an vital piece of Staten Island historical past.

Over 100 firefighters tended to a blaze at 15 Harbor View Pl. South, close to the nook of Bay Road, round 9:30 a.m. After the flames and smoke subsided, the charred construction of what was as soon as the house of distinguished Staten Island actual property developer and businessman Cornelius G. Kolff sat as officers surveyed the destruction.

Data point out the single-family dwelling on Harbor View Place was inbuilt 1915. It was unclear if the home was inhabited on the time of the hearth.

The reason for the hearth has not but been decided, and the investigation is ongoing, based on FDNY. Two firefighters had been transported to Richmond College Medical Middle, West Brighton. Their circumstances usually are not recognized at the moment.

In response to Staten Island Advance archives, Kolff was one of many founders of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and served as its president for 3 years and its secretary for 25. He was president and secretary of the Staten Island Historic Society, a trustee of the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences and president and director of the Convention Home Affiliation, amongst many different organizations, a few of which now not exist.

Kolff was one half of a two-man group accountable for the event of a number of Staten Island properties, together with Woods of Arden, Emerson Hill and Longview at Grymes Hill, based on Historic Richmond City archives. These archives additionally famous Kolff was an actual property appraiser for town.

Kolff was made an honorary member of the Richmond County Bar Affiliation though he was not a lawyer, based on Advance data. He was additionally accountable for the institution of the outdated Free Port in Stapleton.

Kolff was additionally a prolific writer, and established the storied log cabin named “Philosophers’ Retreat” on Emerson Hill.

As with many distinguished figures, Kolff was bestowed the glory of getting a Staten Island Ferry boat named after him. The steam-powered ferry was put into service in 1951, and ran for greater than 30 years earlier than being was a floating inmate dorm for prisoners of Rikers Island. It was finally bought for scrap in 2003.

In response to Advance archives, Kolff died in 1950 on the age of 89. In his Staten Island Advance obituary, he was described as a “visionary, optimist and fixed disseminator of Staten Island’s virtues.” It was reported that he was generally known as The Kentucky Colonel and Staten Island’s Most Obedient Servant.