Snug Harbor in Staten Island, NY
Ship captain Robert Richard Randall signed his will on June 1, 1801, creating a home for retired sailors called “Sailors’ Snug Harbor.” He wanted to help “aged, decrepit, and worn-out sailors” who had nowhere to go after their careers ended.
The will said Randall’s Manhattan estate would pay for this new home, creating one of America’s first charity trusts.
Randall died just four days later, but his legacy changed thousands of lives across a century of service.
The 30-Year Legal Battle Over Randall’s Will
After Randall died, his half-brother’s children fought the will in court. They wanted the money instead of it going to sailors. The fight for his wealth lasted decades.
John Inglis, a bishop from Nova Scotia, also claimed he deserved the money as a distant relative. Both cases almost ruined Randall’s plan. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court in 1830.
The court ruled in favor of the Sailors’ Snug Harbor trustees. Because of these legal fights, the sailor home couldn’t open for more than 30 years.
The Strategic Move From Manhattan to Staten Island
Randall planned his sailor home for his Manhattan farm, called Minto Farm, in what later became Greenwich Village. By the 1820s, Manhattan land prices shot up as the city grew.
The trustees realized the land was too valuable to use as planned. In May 1831, they bought a 130-acre farm on Staten Island from Isaac Houseman for $10,000.
This spot had beautiful views of the water. This smart move let them rent the Manhattan properties and use that money to build a much bigger home than Randall first imagined.
The Architectural Competition For The First Building
In 1827, the trustees held a contest for designs for a building to house 200 sailors. They wanted something impressive that would last.
Minard Lafever, a 33-year-old carpenter from upstate New York, won the contest. Though mostly self-taught, his design stood out. Lafever chose the Greek Revival style, with columns and classical features.
This style was popular for important buildings in America at that time. Work on this first building started in 1831, finally bringing Randall’s long-delayed dream to life.
The Grand Opening With 37 Retired Sailors
Sailors’ Snug Harbor opened in summer 1833, welcoming its first 37 retired sailors. These men finally had a safe place to live after decades at sea.
The main building, now called Building C, served as the center of operations. Its grand entrance made a strong first impression.
Workers covered the front with marble from Westchester, cut by prisoners from Sing Sing Prison. This fine stone made the building look solid and important.
Randall’s vision had finally come true for the first group of sailors who would call Snug Harbor home.
First Admission Requirements For Retired Sailors
To live at Snug Harbor, sailors needed at least five years of service on American ships. This rule focused on helping U.S. sailors.
Men who sailed under other countries’ flags could also apply, but needed ten years of service. This rule recognized that sailing was a global job.
Unlike many places at that time, Snug Harbor didn’t care about religion, nationality, age, or physical condition. Only heavy drinkers, men with catching diseases, or those with “bad character” were turned away, for practical reasons.
Curtis, George William, 1824-1892;
Alden, Henry Mills, 1836-1919;
Conant, Samuel Stillman, 1831-1885?;
Schuyler, Montgomery, 1843-1914;
Foord, John, 1842-1922;
Davis, Richard Harding, 1864-1916;
Schurz, Carl, 1829-1906;
Nelson, Henry Loomis, 1846-1908;
Bangs, John Kendrick, 1862-1922;
Harvey, George Brinton McClellan, 1864-1928;
Hapgood, Norman, 1868-1937
Daily Life For The First “Snugs”
Staff called all residents “Captain” no matter what rank they had at sea. This showed respect for their years of service.
New arrivals got medical checkups when they arrived, often staying in the hospital first. This kept everyone healthy. Each sailor received a trunk for belongings and sets of summer and winter clothes.
Their uniform buttons were silver-plated with “SSH” engraved on them. Residents became known as “Snugs,” a nickname that reflected both the institution’s name and their secure new home after years at sea.
Building The First Dormitories For Expanding Population
After Building C opened, more dormitories quickly followed as applications poured in. Many more sailors needed homes than first expected.
Minard Lafever designed Building D between 1831 and 1841, making another Greek Revival structure that matched the first one. Building B, also by Lafever, was built between 1839 and 1840.
This completed the first phase of dorms. All these buildings had similar roofs and stone fronts with classical features, creating a unified look across the growing campus.
Creating A Self-Sufficient Community
Snug Harbor set up large farms where residents grew their own food. This cut costs and provided fresh vegetables year-round. The sailors also grew tobacco for their own use.
Many had picked up smoking during their years at sea. A 400-bed hospital on the grounds gave residents medical care that most Americans couldn’t get at that time.
As the community grew, they added a bakery, butcher shop, and power plant. Soon Snug Harbor could meet almost all its needs without outside help.
Captain Thomas Melville Takes The Helm
In 1867, Captain Thomas Melville became the leader of Snug Harbor. As the brother of Moby-Dick author Herman Melville, he knew sailing life well.
Thomas ran Snug Harbor until 1884, bringing important improvements during his 17 years in charge. He created better record-keeping systems and grew the number of residents.
His business skills made operations run smoothly. Herman Melville often visited his brother at Snug Harbor. These visits connected the famous writer to the real world of aging sailors.
Expansion Into One Of America’s Wealthiest Charities
By the late 1800s, about 1,000 retired sailors lived at Snug Harbor. It had grown into the largest sailor retirement home in America.
As Manhattan property values rose, so did Snug Harbor’s wealth. It became one of the richest charities in the country.
The Manhattan properties brought in $100,000 more each year than the retirement home needed to operate—a huge sum in those days. By 1900, the campus had 55 major buildings, including places for recreation, worship, healthcare, and housing.
Visiting Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
Snug Harbor Cultural Center is at 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. The grounds are open daily with free admission.
You can reach Snug Harbor by taking the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan, then the S40 bus directly to the entrance. Drop by Building C, the original 1833 administration building, where you can start the self-guided Maritime History Tour.
The Noble Maritime Collection in Building D showcases sailors’ everyday items from the 19th century. For the full experience, join the Saturday “Life of a Snug” guided tour, which requires advance booking.
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