On a secluded street in the old town of Rosebank, the stone grottos of Our Lady of Mount Carmel sit in the yard of the Society of Mount Carmel lodge. It was designed and built by Italian-American lodge members, who were stone masons and laborers. Built as a memorial to a deceased child, the men used the only materials they had: concrete, stones, and metal. They inlaid their creation with seashells, marbles, and bits of glass picked up from streets. Could these artisans have imagined that their stone creation would one day be landmarked?
Not to be missed, the grottos are a spectacular piece of Staten Island folklorica; a peaceful space where “All Are Welcome.”