Richmond Hill Photos

By John Roleke, About.com Guide

The northern boundary of Richmond Hill is the southern slopes of Forest Park. The neighborhood's entrance to the park is dominated by My Buddy, a bronze statue, dedicated in 1926 and sculpted by Joseph Pollia, who later created the General Sheridan monument in Sheridan Square. Its pedestal was designed by William Van Alen, the architect of the Chrysler Building.

It is popularly called The Doughboy, the slang for a WWI army infantryman, but the official name is My Buddy, because it depicts a soldier pausing at the grave of a fallen comrade. (Showing a soldier bareheaded and at rest rather than in battle was unusual for doughboy statues at the time.)

The tablet lists the names of the 71 Richmond Hill residents killed in World War I. Since the statue was erected, it has been the site of many of the community's special events and announcements.

Where:
The My Buddy monument is in Forest Park, at the intersection of Park Lane South and Myrtle Avenue, Richmond Hill