Historian Pat Salmon's presentation looks at an institution that was officially opened in Stapleton in 1853. Over the years it was home to thousands of women who were unable to care for themselves after the mariners who supported them retired, were lost at sea, or were permanently injured. The history of how and who built the facility, who the 'inmates" were, and why Staten Island was chosen to house these women is featured.

Patricia M. Salmon retired as Curator of History at the Staten Island Museum in 2012. A Staten Island resident for almost fifty years, she was a Naturalist/Historian at Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in that borough for eight years. Ms. Salmon has authored the books Realms of History: The Cemeteries of Staten Island, The Staten Island Ferry: A History, Murder & Mayhem on Staten Island and Staten Island Slayings: Murderers and Mysteries of the Forgotten Borough. A board member of the Tottenville Historical Society, she is a consultant to the Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries of Staten Island and an adjunct professor at Wagner College in Staten Island.

Pat’s website