Midland Beach or Miami Beach? In days gone by, it was hard to tell | From the editor
Updated Dec 27, 2020;
Posted Dec 27, 2020
Staten Island’s east shore was once the go-to destination in the summer months. South, Midland and New Dorp beaches, along with with other smaller communities along the shores, attracted sunbathers and beach lovers in the early 1800s. Land along the shorelines of Midland and South beaches was used to build hotels, amusement attractions, restaurants, dance pavilions and shooting galleries to entertain the massive crowds at the end of the beach day. Later, casinos with complete vaudeville shows cropped up, and soon there were few vacancies along the boardwalk. Boats began running to South Beach from the Whitehall Street slip in Manhattan in 1890, and later lines came from Brooklyn. In 1896, Midland Beach opened a bustling boardwalk resort. South Beach benefited from this, as a seasonal trolley line ran between the two beaches, starting in 1901. A big fea