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General Anthony J. Allaire, interred in Woodlawn
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, NOVEMBER 1 BTR 7-28, 2019 65
Nick DiBrino and I were wandering
around Woodlawn Cemetery last week
when we came upon a monument that
simply read “Allaire.” What caught
our attention was the bronze sword attached
to the right side of the memorial
stone. Further examination indicated
that a duplicate sword was also
attached to the left side so we located security
REPRINTED FROM 3-3-2011
and asked about it. Apparently
it had been removed by vandals years
ago when copper and brass plaques and
other such items were being stolen by
drug addicts. Fortunately they were
only able to get the one and the remaining
sword was enough to warrant some
investigation about the person so honored.
The smaller headstones in front
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of the monument told some of the story
and the rest had to be ferreted out.
The man honored by the large memorial
bearing the sword was Anthony J.
Allaire, a brevetted Brigadier General
in the Civil War with a fascinating career
that included service with the Fire
Department, Police Department and
the military. He was born in Ohio on
February 17, 1929 but came to New York
while still very young. He worked as a
blacksmith for a short period of time before
joining the Fire Brigade in lower
Manhattan. Then on August 24, 1860,
he joined the Metropolitan Police Force
working his way up the ranks. When
the Civil War broke out the following
year, the police sought to raise four regiments.
Allaire had been assigned as a
drillmaster at Riker’s Island here in the
Bronx and immediately volunteered as
did his men who were mustered in as
Company E of the 123rd New York Volunteer
Infantry with Allaire as commander.
They served valiantly in numerous
engagements and Allaire rose
rapidly through the ranks. He served at
the Battle of Cedar Creek in the Army
of the Shenandoah led by Major General
Philip H. Sheridan. His bravery
did not go unnoticed and he was eventually
brevetted as a Brigadier General
being transferred as necessary. His
military career was the reason for the
bronze swords on his memorial.
The January 30, 1887 edition of the
New York Times did carry a story about
his promotion to inspector being denied
and quite a controversy ensued after
which he was going to be pensioned
off. Apparently things worked out and
although he did not get the promotion,
he did progress in the police department
staying on the job until retiring on
October 7, 1902 with 42 years of service
when his illness advanced to a severe
stage. He died the following year on August
9, 1903 at age 74 of Bright’s disease
(chronic nephritis). He was originally
interred in New Rochelle but when the
New England Thruway was built the
family graves were moved to St. Paul’s
Cemetery in New Rochelle with the exception
of his. He and his immediate
family can be found in Section 122 of the
Fairview Plot in Woodlawn Cemetery
just two rows in from Linden Avenue.
The fi rst thing you will notice is the single
bronze sword that adorns the family
memorial.
Author, historian and retired police offi cer Nick DiBrino stands next to the Allaire monument
in Woodlawn Cemetery. Note the bronze sword on the side of the memorial. Anthony J. Allaire
was brevetted as a Brigadier General during the Civil War and also served 42 years with the
police force.
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