The Bronx Journal/May/June 2002 A2 L O C A L A Poet By Any Other Name

LYDIA OBASI Bronx Journal Staff Reporter

PHOTO: LENORE SCHULTZ

Yankee Stadium only two blocks away, the teacher before moving into publishing. He of great achievement. At the southern end esidents are Bronx Borough Hall, Family & Criminal worked as an editor for the Standard of the park, the bronze statue of Manhattan- Court houses and the Concourse Shopping Dictionary for the Funk and Wa g n a l l born Louis J. Heintz stands on a granite surprised to Center all in walking distance, Joyce Company, as a literary editor for a newspa- pedestal. The monument, designed by Kilmer Park appears to play the least per called The Churchman, and was a mem- William Welles and sculpted by Pierce find out the important role in this section of the South ber of the staff of the New York Times in Feitu was presented to the city in 1909 in Bronx. 1913. honor of Heintz. As the very first identity of Joyce Joyce Kilmer Park, also once known as Many of his poems, such as “Prayer of a Commissioner of the area, which is now Heine Park and Heintz Park, which stretch- Soldier in France,” express his deep reli- known as the Bronx, Heintz proposed a es from 161st to 164th Streets between the gious beliefs. He is remembered mainly for Grand Concourse in 1890 and is honored Kilmer and other Grand Concourse and Walton Avenue, is the his poem “Trees,” which was published in for his contributions to the prosperity of the long time abode of the Louis J. Heintz his book Trees and Other Poems in 1914. borough. He lived only to age 31, dying secrets about the park Memorial and the Heinrich Heine Fountain, This famous poem is said to have been from complications of appendicitis. also known as the Lorelei Fountain. inspired by a majestic tree that stands on the Joyce Kilmer Park is best known for the in the South Bronx Most of the neighbors of Joyce Kilmer grounds of today’s Cooke College. Lorelei Fountain, which now stands at its Park are unaware of the historical origin of In 1917, when the U.S declared war on original location at the southern most end of Located in one of the busiest areas of the the statues and the park. “Whoever she was, Germany, Kilmer, a family man with two the park, opposite the Bronx Borough Hall. South Bronx, Joyce Kilmer Park serves as a she must have done something good,” said children, enlisted as a Private in the Seventh The Lorelei Fountain, which has needed place forrecreation, relaxation or simply a Juanita Lopez, a 53-year-old Ecuadorian Regiment of the New York National Guard. numerous restorations over the years due to wonderful spot to enjoy the day, yet its his- babysitter. It is also a common mistake that At the time that Kilmer voluntarily entered vandalism and deterioration, is the center of torical importance remains a mystery to the this newly re-opened park is named after a the military, he was considered the premier confusion when it comes to the name of the people living and working in its vicinity. woman. Possibly the name Joyce Kilmer, American Catholic poet alive. He later park. Many neighbors assume that the “I have always wondered about the histo- or the woman resembled on the park’s infa- assumed the position of Senior Regimental fountain is a sculpture of Joyce Kilmer. ry behind these statues,” says 22-year-old mous Lorelei Fountain confuses Bronxites Statistician at Headquarters Company and The white marble Heinrich Heine Hunter College student Lisa Bradshaw, as about whether this park is named after a once in France, he quickly attained the rank (Lorelei) Fountain honors the great 19th she whistles at her German Shepard in full man or a woman. of Sergeant. On July 30, 1918, while on a Century German poet Heinrich Heine. The pursuit of a squirrel some12 feet away in Joyce Kilmer Park is dedicated to the scouting mission in Germany, Kilmer’s life fountain, installed in 1899, celebrates one the park. “I have lived here on the memory of a man. Killed in action in was ended at the age of 31 by a sniper’s bul- of his most popular poems, “Die Lorelei,” a Concourse all my life and walked my dog World War I, soldier and poet Alfred Joyce let. He was said to have been a very coura- poem about the legend of a siren (woman) in this park for years, but honestly, I don’t Kilmer (he never used his first name) was geous soldier. whose irresistible singing led several sailors really care how this park got its name.” born in New Brunswick, New Jersey Because of his courageous deeds, this to their deaths in Germany’s Rhine River. This attitude seems to be shared by many in1886. The Rutgers College and Columbia Bronx park was named after him. Joyce of the people in this neighborhood. With University alumnus held a brief career as a Kilmer Park also honors two other people Continued on next page