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Hormann’s Castle
Fri, 11/26/2010 - 01:00
Hi,
I grew up on Staten Island, but lived in Princess Bay. My grandparents lived in Stapleton on Harrison Street. Their back porch faced Grymes Hill and Hormann’s Castle. Whenever we visited them, I’d spend half the day just admiring that spectacular palace. I was about 7 years old. Four years later a friend and I went up the hill to draw a picture of the Castle and afterwards were invited inside by one of the nuns who were residing there at the time. This was probably around 1956. They only let us look around the main floor, but I’ll never forget the splendid carvings, an immense stairway and a Tiffany glass window at the first stair landing.
Fast forward to the late 60’s. A girl friend of mine and I went to go look around and somehow even managed to get on the grounds. We heard a voice from one of the windows saying, “What are you doing here? Please wait there!” A very familiar face greeted us. It was Paul Zindel. He’d been our high school biology teacher! Or was it chemistry? Anyway, he explained he was living as caretaker in the castle and would like to invite us inside but he was going somewhere and couldn’t do it that day. As a Staten Islander you’ve probably heard of Mr. Zindel. He later went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for his play, “The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-The-Moon Marigolds!” Paul died not too long ago and I often wished I’d gone back just once more to speak with him.
I have 2 photos I took that day, But can only find one. I’ll keep looking for the other. I’m surprised there aren’t more pictures of this wonderful building somewhere. I thought the Staten Island Historical Society would have some but I can’t find any. Anyway, I hope you like this little picture. I took it with a Polaroid camera and it’s starting to fade pretty badly.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jayzee's 2nd photo can be found at the bottom of this page.
