Lower Main Street in Tottenville became an important business center in the mid-19th c. with the revitalization of the oyster industry enhanced by the extension of the SI Railroad to Tottenville in 1860. Capt. John Totten, who lived nearby & whose house still stands, built a dock and general store along the waterfront here, and the maritime industries that supported that industry soon flourished. A century later, Main St. remained at the heart of the community’s business district, providing a wide range of services from banking to shoe repair.

Today, the mom-and-pop stores have all but disappeared, and Main St. struggles in tough economic times. What does the future hold for small town centers like Main Street, Tottenville?

Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm

Date: Sunday May 6, 2012

Event Start/End: Tottenville train station (last stop on the Staten Island Railway)

Hosts: Tottenville Historical Society

Registration: Please RSVP: 646-291-7005 or at http://bit.ly/IK7opO

Accessibility: Fully Accessible