About Straus Park
A History of Straus Park
Straus Park has a long history tied to the lives of Isidor and Ida Straus, who lived and flourished in New York in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Straus family lived in Georgia until 1865.
They then moved to New York City where Lazarus and Isidor started L. Straus & Sons in Manhattan.
The Straus brothers then sold crockery in a store owned by RH Macy. A few years after Macy died in 1877, the Straus brothers became sole owners of Macy’s in 1896.
In 1884, Isidor and family bought a house on West End Avenue and W105th Street for the fresh air uptown.
Isidor and Ida Straus had six surviving children – Jesse, Vivian, Minnie, Percy, Sara, and Herbert.
By 1903 a nearby triangle of land was set aside that became the future site of Straus
Park.
Isidor and Ida Straus were prominent New Yorkers in 1912 when they visited Europe on vacation. They took the Titanic on its maiden voyage to return to New York. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg. They were both lost after they decided to stay together on the ship, rather than board a lifeboat.
With Isidor and Ida Straus’ passing, efforts in New York City got underway for a memorial to their memory. On April 15, 1915 – 3 years to the day after the sinking of the RMS Titanic, the Straus Memorial and park were dedicated.
Everts Tracy was the architect. The sculptor for the monument was Augustus Lukeman and the model was Audrey Munson for Memory.
Straus Park was renovated between 1995-1997 resulting in the park you see today.
The 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking was commemorated in 2012. In the photo Brett Gladstone is speaking – the great, great grandson of Isidor and Ida Straus.
Today, Friends of Straus Park continues to maintain the beauty and facilities of the park while also staging and managing events. This includes the annual Titanic & Straus Family Memorial event in April.
(2024 event with 7th district councilman Shawn Abreu pictured)
Friends of Straus Park has had a long-standing relationship with the Straus Historical Society, which maintains historical information about the family.
Friends of Straus Park is a volunteer-driven conservancy that protects and preserves the park through regular maintenance, three seasons of beautiful plantings, staging of art and music events, and attention to park cleanliness.
Donations from the community along with volunteering work help FOSP do its essential work.
Mission
Friends of Straus Park is a conservancy entrusted by New York City with the upkeep and preservation of the park for the enjoyment of our community and all who enter.
Friends of Straus Park Leadership
Virl Andrick, President
Joe Arbo, Horiculturist
Paul Froehlich, Communications
Al Berr, Treasurer
Eddie McGraw, Senior Volunteer
Leon Auerbach
Leon Auerbach was the founder of Friends of Straus Park in 1992, and was instrumental in initiating the restoration of the park. He received recognition from Mayor Bloomberg and Parks Commissioner Benepe for his efforts and dedication.
A dogwood tree was planted in the park to honor his work in the neighborhood he cherished.
July 5, 1928 – August 12, 2016