Barrett Triangle is a small triangular island bordered by Richmond Terrace, Bay Street, and Borough Place in the St. George neighborhood. It is home to the Major Clarence T. Barrett Memorial, along with some benches and a drinking fountain, which is no longer usable due to the relocation of the memorial.
The Barrett family was one of the most prominent families on Staten Island. Major Barrett studied landscape architecture until the Civil War began when he enlisted for voluntary military duty. He worked his way up the ranks and became Major after the Union siege of Mobile, Alabama. He was also involved in the battle at Richmond, Virginia, which marked the end of the War. After the War, he returned to Staten Island to continue his work in landscape architecture and sanitation engineering. He was appointed as the Police Commissioner in 1895 and served for seven years. He was also appointed the Superintendent of the Poor in 1878 and served for five years.
Julia O. Hardin had the memorial made by Sherry E. Fry in 1915. Hardin was the trustee of money for Anna Hutchings Barrett, Clarence T. Barrett's widow. The Major Clarence T. Barrett Memorial is a bronze statue of a partially draped male that has the right arm reaching out and the left hand holding a shield and spear. The statue is standing on top of a Tennessee marble triangular base. The memorial was a gift to the City of New York and was originally unveiled November 11th, 1915. It was placed just south of Staten Island Borough Hall and in 1945, it got moved to its present day location.
Posted by Anthony Licciardello on
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