What's a stanchion? 

A stanchion is a vertical post or pillar—often made of concrete, metal, or brick—used to mark or define an area. In the Fiske Terrace–Midwood Park Historic District, historic concrete and brick stanchions stand at five neighborhood entrances: East 18th St & Foster Ave, East 17th St & Foster Ave, East 19th St & Foster Ave, Avenue H & Ocean Ave, and Glenwood Rd & Ocean Ave. Originally, there were likely ten stanchions in total, placed in pairs at each entrance.

Gotcha, so what happened?

A delivery truck struck and destroyed the stanchion while turning onto East 17th Street, leaving it beyond repair. Unfortunately, the responsible party could not be identified, making it impossible to recover costs through insurance. Replacement is estimated at $25,000. Because the stanchion was originally funded privately, not by New York City, the full cost must now be raised through community support. No grants are available, and the Midwood Park Property Owners Association (MPPOA) does not have sufficient funds to cover the expense.

Do we have to replace it?

We don’t have to replace it—but we should. Restoring the stanchion isn’t just about replacing what was lost. Living in a historic neighborhood means being a steward of something larger than ourselves. Neighborhoods are more than just places to live - they are places with stories and remind us that a community is built over time. 

The details that make our streets distinctive, like stanchions, were built and preserved by neighbors who believed this place was worth caring for. By maintaining these features today, we continue that tradition of keeping our neighborhood beautiful, welcoming, and full of character for the next generation. 

Agreed, preserving history is important. But is it the most important thing?

The neighborhood could benefit from other things too! Just to name a few: additional speed bumps to slow cars down, more responsive pruning of aging city trees to protect pedestrians from falling limbs, smoother reporting of 'quality of life' crimes between 311 & NYPD, and simply replacing burnt out light bulbs in street lights. All of these issues are important and deserve our attention. The stanchion is not more important, its just another important thing. 

Every day we can show up for each other in some way, even simply saying hello ;). Sometimes caring for our neighborhood will mean taking small actions together, like emailing a representative or sharing video of a crime with police. Other times, it will mean coming together to fund and support neighborhood projects - restoring this stanchion is one of those moments.

How can I help?

There are a few easy (and fun!) ways:

Make a pledge.
We’re collecting pledges first. Once we know we can reach our goal, we’ll invite everyone who pledged to complete their donation. A pledge is simply a commitment to give a specific amount—similar to Kickstarter, but without platform fees—so no one pays unless the project is fully funded, and every dollar goes directly toward replacing the stanchion. . And anyone can pledge, you do not need to be a  Midwood Park resident to support the cause. 👉 Fill out a quick Google Form, and you’re done. 

Spread the word.
Tell a friend. Nudge a neighbor. Sharing this pledge drive is a big help - getting this small, grassroots effort on someone’s radar does matter. 

Share a little neighborhood history.
Visit 1940s.nyc, search for your address (top left), click “Know This Place?” and add a story about your home. The site maps historic photos of NYC residences and lets neighbors share memories. It’s a fun, meaningful way to connect with the past—and with each other.

I have more questions! Who should I contact?

This pledge drive is a personal side project led by Diane Barnhart, a Midwood Park neighbor and property owner. Just a regular person who deeply loves NYC and the neighborhood, not an official representative of anyone or anything. Once we get to the step of collecting donations, coordinating the stanchion installation, etc. - we'll need the help of other neighbors and the MPPOA to complete the project. One step at a time! Lucky for you... the next step is just a click away! Fill our your pledge form today 💗.

You can also email Diane at stanchion.pledge@gmail.com