THIS sliver of a park at Webster Avenue and East Fordham Road carries a historic name. This small park is a vestige of a far larger estate once called “Rose Hill” by its owner, Robert Watt. His lands covered a tract now occupied by Fordham University and additional territory extending to the present day New York Botanical Garden in Bronx Park.
In 1839 the estate and manor house were purchased by the Catholic Church to establish St. John’s College. The university was opened in 1841 by Bishop John Hughes, New York’s first Catholic archbishop. John McCloskey, the college president, became America’s first cardinal. In 1907 the college was renamed Fordham University. The park was acquired by NYC in 1896. Out of the NYC Parks photo is the handsome brick arched restroom building.
Just around the corner, the historic New York Central Railroad Fordham station bounds the small park to the east. Originating in 1832, it was the first railroad in New York City. The earliest cars were pulled by horses. Steam-powered operations began in 1835 when the railroad extended its services to Harlem. The railroad eventually reached as far north as Albany. In 1857 the railroad merged with the New York and Hudson River Railroad to form the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. It is now part of the Metropolitan Transit Authority as the Metro North; on this brick station building, its New York Central sign has been retained.
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8/5/26