A Living History
“It is a rare survivor and a reminder of a once-important Staten Island industry which has now disappeared.”
A rare survivor of Staten Island’s Captains’ Row, Captain Barnes carries more than 170 years of maritime history, local lore, and everyday life. Its story is still being written.
Origins
Built around 1853 for oysterman Stephen D. Barnes and his wife, Judith, the house survives from Staten Island’s Captains’ Row.
Its brick form is Italianate, with Gothic Revival details in the ogee window arches and ornamental finials. Carved brackets, rope moldings and ironwork give the exterior its particular character.
Changing Hands
The property passed to Judith Barnes in 1882. After her death and subsequent litigation, William Wheeler acquired it at auction in 1890 and transferred it to Jane Van Pelt Wheeler. The house became a New York City landmark on July 13, 1976.
Ghost stories have also gathered around the house. They remain part of its local folklore, distinct from the documented history.
A House Still in the Making
Biagio made Captain Barnes his home in 2009. The restoration has become part of daily life: working with materials, keeping what can be saved, and finding room for the next idea.
A 2011 profile in The Village Voice captures an early chapter of that work. The house continues to change as a family home and a place for creative company.
"It's the kind of house that'll make me want to wear a top hat when I leave the door,"
“Barnes has a weathered elegance about it I wouldn't change for half the Island. It's my pirate ship."
“A student of sustainable architecture, a bohemian world-traveler, and a restorer of classic cars, Pergolizzi has ambitious plans for making over the mansion that fell into disrepair after the 1930s, and was damaged by a fire in 1976.”
"I see it as a foundation for life to flourish, a catalyst for inspiration not just for me but for like-minds who will come and enjoy the space," he said. "It's an expository project."
Biagio & Giovanna
Biagio Pergolizzi made Captain Barnes his home in 2009. A maker and creative working across materials, design, construction and restoration, he continues the hands-on work of bringing the house into its next chapter.
Giovanna brings her architectural training and restoration background from Rome. Together, they care for the house as a family home, a continuing restoration project and a place for creative work.