© Copyright Ian McGowan / Winged Fist Organization.
Aug. 9, 2011 By Christian Murray
Jimmy Van Bramer submitted a successful proposal for the dual name street name of “Winged Fist Way/ 43rd Street” between 48th and 50th Avenues in Woodside, Queens, reports Ian McGowan, Executive Director of WingedFist.org.
McGowan explains, “This street runs through the two square blocks which today are the Celtic Park apartments. A hundred years ago, this block ran between the Celtic Park grandstand and the track & field of the Irish-American Athletic Club, a training ground for dozens of Olympic champions.”
Initially, McGowan had sought to post a plaque commemorating the athletes, but there was some controversy.
McGowan continues, “The renaming will be making an… effort to acknowledge the men who won more than 50 Olympic medals for the U.S., and were known affectionately as the ‘Winged Fists of Celtic Park.
As well as Van Bramer and his staffer Joe Kenton, McGowan thanks the many local supporters of the renaming, and local officials and groups, particularly Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan for her early support, Congressman Joe Crowley, State Senator Mike Gianaris, the United Forties Civic Association and Queens Community Board 2.
Photo Courtesy of the American Irish Historical Society
