The artillery piece, which resembles a Parrot Rifle, is a Delafield Cannon which were used by the New York State Militia at the time of the Civil War. There is another Delafield in the park’s visitor center. Many touring the site no doubt believe the cannon are Revolutionary War relics.
It is believed that when Frederick Law Olmstead was designing the park during the Civil War Era he requested the two war-surplus artillery pieces to use to fire salutes at patriotic and commemorative events. In any event, Olmstead’s action means that two of the seven surviving Delafields are in Brooklyn.
According to the New York City Parks Department, the cannon were cast at West Point Foundry in 1861.
The artillery pieces are named after Lieutenant Colonel Richard Delafield, the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point at the start of the Civil War.
This 1937 photo from the Brooklyn Eagle shows the cannon ready to open fire in case the Redcoats (or Rebels) try to take Brooklyn.
On weekends it is possible to drive to Fort Greene Park and find parking within a few blocks. A better choice though is to take the Subway for DeKalb Station. These train lines go to the station: BDNQR. There are several good food choices on the perimeter of Fort Greene Park, including Italian, French, and Mediterranean. Two blocks west of the park along DeKalb is a Smashburger for fast-food devotees. But my recommendation is Junior’s three blocks west at the corner of DeKalb and Flatbush Ext. They are nationally famous for real New York Cheesecake which is unmatched, but they serve great Jewish-style deli without Kosher restrictions. If you visit Fort Greene and go to Junior’s you will spend more time talking about the enormous deli sandwiches than about the cannon! Note, it ain’t cheap, but it is really good.
