Schneider Sampson Square

Schneider-Sampson Park is a traffic triangle that honors two natives of Schuylerville who participated in World War I (1914-1918), George Schneider and William P. Sampson.

Though the United States had tried to remain apart from the bloody war that raged across Europe, Africa, and Asia during the 1910s, the 1915 sinking of the British passenger ship Lusitania and the demise of several of her American passengers at the mercy of a German U-boat (submarine) had begun to tip American interest towards European intervention. When Germany declared in February of 1917 they would no longer respect the neutrality of the seas and, subsequently, began to target American transports, President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) lead the United States into war against the German and Austria-Hungarian Empires. Allied with the battle-worn British and French forces, stalemated in trenches and atop hills across the continent of Europe, the American soldiers of the Allied Expeditionary Force provided the necessary momentum to break through the enemy’s lines in several places and bring about a quick end to the armed conflict.

During the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930s, many Parks properties were named for distinguished New York veterans of World War I. Acquired by the City in 1929, this park was named Schneider-Sampson Park the following year to honor two of the Bronx’s local heroes.

George Schneider (1895-1918) was a star athlete, featured at the now defunct Franklin Athletic Club (formerly located on Blondell Avenue near Westchester Square in the Bronx). Serving as part of United State’s wartime efforts in Europe, Schneider was killed on October 16, one month prior to the cessation of the war. During the war, William P. Sampson (1896-1929) served as a machine gunner in Europe. In August of 1918, his position was besieged by a chemical weapons attack. Sampson eventually recovered. During his post war years, Sampson worked as a probation officer and participated actively in the American Legion. Passing away from a bout of pneumonia in 1928, he was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

The Schneider-Sampson Park is located at the intersection of Bruckner Boulevard, Hollywood and Baisley Avenues. The City acquired the property by condemnation in 1929 and the Board of Aldermen named it the following year. The triangular park contains benches, a flagpole with a yardarm, and is surrounded by a walkway. City Council Member Pedro Espada funded a $75,000 renovation in 2001 that featured general site work on the triangle.