• Castle Williams as seen from New York Harbor

    Governors Island

    National Monument New York

Betty Baird Nickerson

Betty Nickerson and friends sit on a cannon atop Fort Jay with NYC in the background.
Betty Baird Nickerson sitting with friends on a cannon on top of Fort Jay
Photo donated by Betty Nickerson
 

Betty Baird Nickerson lived on Governors Island from the age of ten until she was sixteen. Her father, Col. George H. Baird was a cavalry officer, who served on the generals’ staff, and was one of a line of successful soldiers in his family. She fondly remembers life on Governors Island being accommodating to her, and other children.

 

Click here to listen to her story.

Did You Know?

General US Grant

When Ulysses Grant asked Julia Dent's father for permission to marry her, Ulysses was instead offered her younger sister, Ellen. Ulysses and Julia were married on August 22, 1848