Msgr. McGolrick Park

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History

This striking bronze winged victory figure was created by Carl Augustus Heber (1875–1956) and dates to 1923. The monument honors those valorous residents from the Greenpoint community who fought in World War I. The statue depicts a female allegorical figure, holding aloft a modified laurel, symbol of victory, and in her right hand supporting a large palm frond, symbol of peace. The granite pedestal is inscribed with the names of battle sites in France. The monument was commissioned at a cost of $7,300 by the Greenpoint Memorial Association.

Heber was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on April 15, 1875. He studied art at the Academie Julian and Écoles des Beaux Arts in Paris, France, as well as at the Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois. He was made a member of the National Sculpture Society in New York City, and was awarded commissions for public works in New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin and Illinois. His other sculptural works include Pastoral in the St. Louis Museum of Fine Arts, Benjamin Franklin at Princeton University, and Roman Epic Poetry in the Brooklyn Museum.

In 1937, Parks’ monuments crew repatined and reset the sculpture. In 1962, Christmas trees placed around the monument caught fire, and caused damage to the base. In 1975, vandals stole portions of the palm frond, and in 1976, toppled the sculpture. At that time Parks’ monuments crew repaired and rewelded the wings, and again reset the artwork. In 2000, the City Parks Foundation Monuments Conservation Program refashioned the missing palm frond and laurel, evened the surface patina, and cleaned and conserved the monument. The project was funded by the Florence Gould Foundation, the American Express Company, and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

The conservation of this statue coincided with the conservation of the Monitor and Merrimac Monument (John Ericsson Monument) across the park, and new landscaping in the vicinity—city capital projects sponsored by Council Member Kenneth Fisher. The renovated monuments and park reflect the sacrifices of those who, as the inscription states, “fought in the World War because they loved America, revered its ideals, understood and supported its institutions and gave their all that our government shall not perish from the earth.”

Greenpoint War Memorial Details

Please note, the NAME field includes a primary designation as well as alternate namingsoften in common or popular usage. The DEDICATED field refers to the most recent dedication, most often, butnot necessarily the original dedication date. If the monument did not have a formal dedication, the yearlisted reflects the date of installation.

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More About Msgr. McGolrick Park

Zip Code:11222
Community Board: 01
Council Member: Lincoln Restler
Park ID: B114
Acreage: 9.13
Property Type: Neighborhood Park

Lost and Found Information

Other Parks Nearby

• Sgt. William Dougherty Playground (0.34 miles)
• Ericsson Playground (0.43 miles)
• McCarren Park (0.44 miles)
• Frost Playground (0.50 miles)
• Cooper Park (0.70 miles)