Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries of Staten Island (FACSI)

05/29/2026

Great community cleanup today at Lake Cemetery, sponsored by the Staten Island Borough Presidents office with Port-Richmond Strong JR Tree Service, IS51 and several community members. James Smith

05/26/2026

Pop up clean up! This Friday, May 29th 9 am - noon'ish. Lake Cemetery. We are meeting in the driveway adjacent to 36 Willowbrook Road. All welcomed to lend a hand or stop by for a visit.

05/14/2026

Staten Island has many cemeteries that were abandoned dating from the year 1690 through 1979. FACSI cares for 8 of them. Each unique and with its own identity. The Marine Hospital Quarantine cemetery that is located in St. George has been particularly troubled and absolutely forgotten for 170 years.

In 1851 a New York newspaper writes:

"The Marine Hospital on Staten Island is crowed to access, the number of poor people from Ireland who are wandering through the streets of Staten Island in a starving condition is dreadful.”

Their fate was tragic, but now, more than a century and half later , they will receive the recognition and benediction they never received in life.

Join us Sunday September 20th 2 pm for the dedication of 2 memorials at the site.

05/14/2026

Staten Island is the 1st US location on the Global Famine Way Trail. To learn more about this initiative check out their website:
https://nationalfamineway.ie/global-irish-famine-way/

Staten Island has been selected as one of the stops on the Global Irish Famine Way (GIFW), an international heritage trail that expands Ireland's National Famine Way by tracing the journeys of Irish Famine emigrants around the world (nationalfamineway.ie). The trail is marked by bronze shoes cast from a pair discovered in a 19th-century cottage, symbolizing the resilience and perseverance of Famine.

The installation of this memorial is supported through funding from the Consulate General of Ireland in New York as part of the Government of Ireland's America 250 program, which highlights the distinct contributions made by people from the island of Ireland to the United States and its development over the past 250 years.

Additional details about the event will be shared soon, and we invite Irish organizations and residents of Irish ancestry to become involved in this historic commemoration. We are seeking pipe bands and volunteers to assist with organizing and supporting the event. All are welcome.

05/13/2026

Please save the date! September 20 2026

05/12/2026

Blazing Star Cemetery 1922, Winant men.

05/07/2026

05/07/2026

Lake Cemetery - WARNING. Please note these are BEFORE photos from the May 26th cleanup. These photo's are hard to look at. The amount of vandalism and TRASH caused to Lake Cemetery by the adult men that frequent, drink alcohol and sleep in the cemetery is horrendous. They have destroyed Lake Cemetery and continue to do so.

This site was CLEANED by a Vincent's Eagle Scout project on April 26, over 100 bags of TRASH was removed. 24 hours after the cleanup, trash was once again seen.

Rows of gravestones have been knocked down by these individuals.

11/25/2025

Lake Cemetery Notice: Please be careful if going to Lake Cemetery to place Christmas wreaths. There are adult men in the cemetery at all times. Do not go there alone and call 311 for suspicious activity or if threatened call, 911.

NYPD has been notified of the situation.

11/22/2025

JFK at the Staten Island Ferry