The Story

In the early 1900s, a gray stray cat wandered into Brooklyn Borough Hall and never left. The building's workers named him Jerry Fox. He became a fixture of daily life there, lounging on desks, greeting visitors, and charming politicians and clerks alike.

When Jerry began losing his sight, a local eye doctor fitted him with a custom pair of glasses. He wore them. He continued his duties.

Then came the night Jerry earned his place in history.

Jerry detected a fire inside the building before anyone else. He raised the alarm, waking the night watchman and alerting staff in time to stop the blaze from spreading. Brooklyn Borough Hall was saved.

Jerry Fox died in April 1905. The New York Times published his obituary.

More than a century later, most New Yorkers have never heard his name.

The Ask

We are requesting that Brooklyn Borough Hall install a small commemorative plaque or statue honoring Jerry Fox near the building's entrance.

Jerry's story represents something worth remembering: that loyalty, service, and even heroism can come from unlikely places. A plaque would preserve this piece of Brooklyn history and give future generations a reason to stop, read, and smile.

This is not an expensive ask. It is a meaningful one.

Why Now

Jerry Fox's story was uncovered through the archival research of Peggy Gavan, author of The Cat Men of Gotham (Rutgers University Press). The story is now shared on Cats About Town Tours, a walking tour that brings NYC's forgotten cat history to life.

As Brooklyn Borough Hall approaches its 175th year, this is the right moment to recognize one of its most loyal, if unconventional, public servants.

Sign this petition to support a plaque for Jerry Fox at Brooklyn Borough Hall.

Let's make sure Brooklyn remembers.