Captain Dermody Triangle

What was here before?
During the 1800s this area was originally part of the W.L. Titus Farm before becoming the O'Donnell estate. Additionally, a two-room schoolhouse once stood on this site. A descendant of the O'Donnell family, William, married Olivia Dermody, who hailed from another prominent Queens family. Olivia dedicated this plot of land to her brother, who died during the Civil War.

Olivia dedicated this plot of land in 1865 to her brother, Captain William C. Dermody, who died during the Civil War. The site was marked by a ceremony where a Union and a Confederate veteran each planted a tree—one maple for the North and one cotton ball tree for the South—symbolizing hope for a reunited nation. A monument was placed with the inscription "For a Better Union 1861-1865" to commemorate the sacrifices and the hope for reconciliation.

How did this site become a greenspace?

The Board of Alderman (predecessor of the City Council) officially named this City property for Captain Dermody in 1937, and the land was transferred to Parks in 1948.

In 2023, the greenspace was renovated with new walkways, benches, and plantings, while preserving the Bayside Civil War Memorial Boulder as the park's focal point. The original bronze plaque was replicated and mounted on the boulder.

Who is this playground named for?

Captain William C. Dermody (1830-1864) was an abolitionist who volunteered with the 67th New York Infantry and fought in several battles during the Civil War.

He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania in Virginia in May 1864. The battle, one of the bloodiest of the war, resulted in around 30,000 casualties. Dermody's regiment was part of the larger Union effort that fought against Confederate forces, but the strategic outcomes of the battle were inconclusive.

Each year, the Bayside Historical Society honors Captain Dermody and other Civil War soldiers by laying a wreath at a park dedicated to their memory.