Sherman Square

In 1891, a small triangle of land on Manhattan’s Upper West Side received a new name: Sherman Square. It honored Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman, a resident of the neighborhood until his death that same year. Sherman Square isn’t just a patch of greenery. It marks the bustling intersection of Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue, and West 70th Street, a gateway to the 72nd Street subway station. Sherman Square became infamous in the 1960s and 70s. It earned the nickname “Needle Park” due to rampant drug activity. This notoriety inspired the book and later film, “The Panic in Needle Park,” starring a young Al Pacino. The film offered a gritty portrayal of life around the square during those troubled times. Today, Sherman Square, enclosed by a fence to protect its vegetation, occupies a mere 264 square feet. This tiny triangle sits within a larger paved triangle. The square’s diminutive size is a result of changes over the years. The construction of 70th Street in 1869 further shrunk its original dimensions. Originally, the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 envisioned a grid-based city layout. However, the diagonal path of Broadway disrupted this grid. This explains why various “squares” along Broadway, like Sherman Square, Times Square, and Herald Square, occupy irregularly shaped plots of land. New York City officially acquired the land for Sherman Square in 1849. This was during the expansion of Bloomingdale Road, now known as Broadway. Before the rise of automobiles, Sherman Square even featured a water trough for horses. These were common throughout the city, offering much-needed refreshment for the animals pulling carts and carriages. A plaque dedicated on Veterans Day in 1954 honors war casualties. Now, a small rose garden graces the square. This tiny oasis amidst the urban hustle serves as a quiet tribute to General Sherman. His legacy is also honored with a monument in Grand Army Plaza, a bust at Grant’s Tomb, and the nearby Tecumseh Playground.