STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A location at Historic Richmond Town that later housed Egger’s Ice Cream Parlor was once home to Dobler’s Courthouse Hotel, a two-story establishment that was constructed in 1855 and served the Staten Island community for decades.
The hotel changed hands several times before Julius Dobler, a German immigrant, acquired the property in 1898. Dobler capitalized on the building’s strategic position across the street from the Courthouse and other government offices, operating a successful business for many years.
A postcard from around 1909 documents the wood-frame building with its distinctive front porch and columns. Signs above the porch advertised “Rubsam & Horrmann Court House Hotel” and “Extra Lager Beer,” reflecting the establishment’s dual role as both lodging and gathering place.
The historical postcard, now part of the Historic Richmondtown Collection, shows unpaved streets surrounding the corner property and an American flag flying from a flagpole atop the porch. A handwritten message on the card’s reverse from visitors Annie and Jule to their mother noted that they were “having a fine time here on our vacation.”
The hotel was constructed in 1855 and had several owners before being acquired by Dobler, who expanded the building. A 1905 advertisement for the hotel boasted: “Meals served at all hours.” However, business declined when all government offices were moved from Richmond to St. George, and the hotel closed ca. 1926. The building was demolished ca. 1942-1943.
Egger’s Ice Cream Shop in Historic Richmond Town stood where Dobler’s Court House Hotel used to be, Feb. 27, 2020.Historic Richmond Town