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Astoria History @ Court Square
Our new office is:
Greater Astoria Historical Society
LIC Arts Building # Suite 219
44-02 23rd Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-278-0700 / info@astorialic.org
Serving the communities of
Old Long Island City:
Blissville
Sunnyside
Sunnyside Gardens
Hunters Point
Dutch Kills
Ravenswood
Astoria Broadway
Norwood
Old Astoria Village
Ditmars
Steinway
Bowery Bay
www.qns.com I LIC COURIER I JULY 2019 27
Legends
BATTLE AXE
THE GREAT
Patrick Jerome “Battle-Axe” Gleason
was the colorful mayor of Long Island
City in its final days. This is his story
as told to the Greater Astoria Histori-cal
Society by great grandson Steven
Morgan.
Most of my knowledge of my great
grandfather, Patrick Jerome “Battle-
Axe” Gleason, comes from the various
archives, my grandmother (his daugh-ter),
and other family members. But
I will try!
First, Gleason was a politician and
although a businessman, too, not very
good with finances. Despite his faults,
he was always for the little guy – and
for kids. But above all, he always tried
to make Long Island City a better place,
particularly for immigrants.
He was the Robert Moses of his
time – he liked to build big-ticket items
in infrastructure and education. Long
Island City may have not been flush
enough to pay for his projects, but that
never mattered to him! He seemed to
always think big. Certainly not a detail
person concerned with today’s costs or
the future’s needs.
Sadl, graft and corruption always
comes up with his name. Jimmy Bres-lin
once wrote that there are stories of
Battle Axe throwing a bag of money over
the side of a boat in the East River. I am
guessing he wanted to improve the lives
of families in the community, he was the
driving force behind PS1, but … then …
why not profit at the same time?
Much has been written about his
greed but we would like to believe he
had a big heart, loved his daughter and
the people of Long Island City. He and
wanted to make life better for them
during his tenure at all costs!
Sure, he might have used his fists a
bit too much when someone disagreed
with him and perhaps, at times, lacked
self-control when it came to access to
power. But those were far different times
than today and I contend he helped put
Long Island City on the map!
Having lost his wife (my great-grand-mother)
after she gave birth to his only
child, Jessica (my grandmother), left a
profound void in his life. As one of eight
children in Ireland, I think that family and
children were a priority in his life. For
example, his affinity for the newspaper
kids is legendary. I think he was less
threatened by kids than his adversaries.
But then I think he might have used
relationships with children as a market-ing
tool for his business. Also, all of his
money making businesses, – horse-car
lines, real estate – would be enhanced
if Long Island City were family friendly.
Interesting point: we always joked
about our famous ancestor, his daughter,
who seemed rich in Queens but not
in upstate Cortland County. She had
expensive taste, as a Saks Fifth Avenue
credit card holder, but no money. The
bills were paid by her children when
they arrived. I do remember some nice
gifts years ago!
After my Grandmother Jess passed
away, I remember the trip down to Calvary
Cemetery and listening to my uncles tell
stories they heard from Jesse. Based on
her accounts, Patrick Jerome Gleason
was a saint. History may tell another
story but we will go with Grandma Jess’s
version.
I have a big package Mayor Bloom-berg’s
office sent me after he did a
speech at the Friendly Sons of St. Pat-rick
dinner comparing himself to Mayor
Gleason.
Thanks, this has been fun thinking
and writing about “Battle Axe.” Hope
this helps.
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