UPPER WEST SIDE HISTORY: THE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A MODEL WHO BROKE THE RULES

                          “Memory” Statue, modeled by Munson, in Straus Park. (photos by Marjorie Cohen)

Local writer Marjorie Cohen, board member of the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group, created this post for the West Side Rag (westsiderag.com) using the archives of the New York Historical Society as inspiration for articles of interest to the Upper West Side. This article was inspired by a pamphlet from the Society’s collection that described the dedication of the statue of "Memory" in Straus Park at W. 106th and Broadway. 

From the archives: An article in the April 1915 issue of The Real Estate Magazine with the headline “Simple but Impressive Ceremonies at the Unveiling of the Beautiful Bronze Statue” describes the dedication of the statue “Memory,” as the centerpiece for the Straus Park triangle at 106th Street and Broadway (link to pdf of article here). The statue, dedicated to the memory of Ida and Isador Straus who went down on the Titanic three years before, is a likeness of the face and form of a model named Audrey Munson. Other West Side statues that Audrey modeled for are the Firemen’s Memorial in Riverside Park at 100th Street and the memorial to the USS Maine in Columbus Circle. Her story is extraordinary.

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