RICHMOND ROAD

The origin of Richmond Road has been recognized by some authors and others to be Richmond County, Staten Island, NY. I have yet to see any data to substantiate that statement and believe it to not be accurate. In my opinion, I believe Richmond Road was named for the Richmond Hill Investment Company. My basis for that opinion follows.

Richmond Road was named on the original development/survey map drawn by A. L. Colston in 1910. That shows the name was not added later to reflect the home residences of early land buyers.

As you are aware, the developer of the lake was the Richmond Hill Investment Company. The officers were:

Charles L. Reis, President: from at least 1900 until his death in 1927, he resided in Queens, NY. It is documented that many if not all his residences were in the Richmond Hill section of Queens, NY.

John William Rudolph Merckle, Vice President: while I do not have a Queens residence documented for him, his daughter Muriel’s 1904 birth certificate says she was born in Richmond Hill, Queens, NY.

George A W. Brown, Secretary: lived on Beech St., Richmond Hill, Queens, NY, from 1900 - 1910, and moved to Oyster Bay by 1920.

Granville Yeaton, Treasurer: A lifelong resident of Queens, NY

While I cannot locate any documents showing their company office address, I am reasonably convinced that it also would have been not only in Queens, but in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. I believe the company was named the Richmond Hill Investment Company due to it being located in the Richmond Hill section of Queens, NY, and not because of any connection with Richmond County, Staten Island. NY. I do not believe the name for Richmond Road at Lk Lackawanna had anything to do with Richmond County, Staten Island, NY. 

I believe Richmond Road at Lake Lackawanna, was named solely after the name and location of the developing investment company and had nothing to do with Richmond County in Staten Island.  The Cutoff was actually built by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. The cutoff was called the Lackawanna Cutoff and the lake named after the cutoff.

1910 A. L. COLSTEN MAP

Bear Trail
Beaver Glen Park
Beaver Street
Brook Street
Buckhorn Street – existing road 1910
Deer Trail
Fern Street
Granite Street
Hart Street - Possibly after George Hart family
Heminover Street – after Heminover family, original owner of 
portion of lake land
Island Park – (Turtle Island – modern name)
Ivy Street
Lake Drive
Lakeview Park- (Snake Island –modern name)
Mountain Road
Oak Street
Orchard Street
Partridge Street
Pickerel Street
Rabbit Run
Reis Avenue – after Charles L. Reis, Pres. Richmond Hill 
Investment Co. 1910
Richmond Street – after Richmond Hill Investment Co. 
developers of lake 1910
Roleson Street – Possibly after Roleson family in Byram. Yet 
to find any pre-lake property ownership or connection 
Roseville Road- existing road 1910, after Roseville Mine & 
section of Byram
Spring Street
Squirrel Street
Trout Street 
Water Street
Willow Lane
Woodland Road

1924 PADGETT MAP

Bank Street
Bear Trail
Buckhorn Street – existing road 1910
Glenwood Road
Granite Street
Lake Drive
Lackawanna Trail
Heminover Street – after Heminover family, original owner of 
portion of lake
Orchard Street
Partridge Road
Reis Avenue - after Charles L. Reis, Pres. Richmond Hill 
Investment Co. 1910
Richmond Road - after Richmond Hill Investment Co. 
developers of lake 1910
Roseville Road - existing road 1910, after Roseville Mine & 
section of Byram
Squirrel Street
Woodland Road