Louis J. Heintz Monument
Joyce Kilmer Park
This monument in Joyce Kilmer Park honors Louis J. Heintz (1861-1893), early Bronx civic leader, and the first Street Commissioner for the district of the Bronx. French sculptor Pierre Feitu (b.1868) created the bronze figure of Heintz. The monument was dedicated in 1909 at the Grand Concourse, which Heintz advocated in behalf of as Street Commissioner.
Heintz was born in Manhattan in 1861 and began his career with the John Eichler Brewing Company, which was owned by his uncle; Heintz served as president of the Brewers’ Board of Trade of New York. After a section of the Bronx known as the 23rd and 24th Wards was annexed by New York City in the 19th century, Heintz became involved with the campaign by Bronx residents to create a separate board of improvements for the district. Heintz contributed to the campaign out of his own pocket, and became well regarded in the community in the process.
After the successful campaign he became the Bronx’s first Street Commissioner, essentially the position for which he had been lobbying, and worked on initial plans for the Grand Concourse. A rising political star, Heintz contracted a cold during Presidential inauguration ceremonies for one-time New York Governor Grover Cleveland (1837–1908) and died soon thereafter.
The monument once included a draped female figure called “Fame” that was depicted inscribing the words on the granite pedestal; it was vandalized and removed to storage. The monument was conserved in 2000.
Friday, Dec 14, 2001
