SoHo in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Father Fagan Park
.048 acre
This park commemorates four local heroes who perished in the face of fire, losing their lives that others might live. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Father Richard Fagan (1911-1938) moved with his family to Boston, Massachusetts as a child and later lived in Brooklyn, New York. He studied with the Marist Brothers in Poughkeepsie and entered the Preparatory Seminary at Catskill in 1926. Three years later, he graduated from St. Anthony’s Seraphic Seminary and entered the Novitiate in Pittsburgh. In 1932, he came to St. Francis Seraphic Seminary and was ordained a Franciscan priest in 1935. Father Fagan was called to duty at St. Anthony’s Church in 1936 and lived at the rectory at 151 Thompson Street.
The rectory caught fire in the early morning of November 4, 1938. Father Fagan escaped and then twice reentered the burning building – first to rescue Father Louis Vitale, and again to save Father Bonaventure Pons. Trapped in the rectory and badly burned, Father Fagan leaped through a window to the roof of the Settlement House a floor below. He was found and brought to Columbus Hospital, where he died on November 9, 1938 at the age of twenty-seven. To describe Father Fagan’s heroic life and heroic death, members of his church quote the Book of John: "There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13).
In 1994, another deadly fire stunned the neighborhood. On the night of March 28, Ladder Company 5 and Engine Company 24 of the Fire Department of New York responded to a blaze at 62 Watts Street. While operating on the second floor landing, Captain John J. Drennan (1945-1994) and firefighters James F. Young (1963-1994) and Christopher J. Siedenburg (1969-1994) were trapped in a sudden flashover from the burning apartment beneath them. Firefighter Young was killed almost instantly. Firefighter Siedenburg died the next day, and Captain Drennan died six weeks later.
Located on Avenue of the Americas between Prince and Spring Streets, this sitting area was one of several wedge-shaped plazas developed when Sixth Avenue (the former official name of Avenue of the Americas) was extended south of Carmine Street in the mid-1920s. The park was named in memory of Father Fagan by local law in 1941 and was one of several properties along the avenue in the Greenwich Village area rehabilitated by NYC Parks in 1960.
In 1994 three Callery Pear trees were planted, and three bronze plaques were installed next to trees on the northwest corner of the parcel, in memory of the three firefighters who sacrificed their lives in the Watts Street blaze. Neighborhood residents and members of the St. Anthony’s helping Hands group help to maintain and to beautify the park.
City of New York Parks & Recreation
Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor
Adrian Benepe, Commissioner
February 2005
Erected 2005 by City of New York Parks & Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Disasters. A significant historical month for this entry is February 2005.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 43.601′ N, 74° 0.202′ W. Marker was in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It was in SoHo. Marker was at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Prince Street, on the right when traveling north on Sixth Avenue. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: Father Fagan Park, New York NY 10012, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. A different marker also named Father Fagan Park (a few steps from this marker); Saw Mill on King Street 1830 (within shouting distance of this marker); Today’s IFC Film Center Building in 1926 (within shouting distance of this marker); 203 Prince Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); 116 Sullivan Street (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lieutenant Vincent F. Giammona (about 500 feet away); Lieutenant Michael P. Warchola (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced by the linked marker.
Also see . . .
1. Father Fagan Park. Official New York City Parks description (Submitted on January 15, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. "Fireman dies in battling blaze in Soho". New York Times (Submitted on January 15, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords. Emergency Services
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 229 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 15, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7, 8. submitted on January 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.