Having lived in the Village for nearly seven years, I can hardly wager a guess as to how many times I’ve walked past Father Demo Square. It may be small in size, but it’s still a little patch of serenity in the midst of all the buzz happening at the intersection of Bleecker and Carmine. But recently, I asked myself – who was Father Demo? And why was this particular square named after him? Father Antonio Demo was a former pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii, presently located at 25 Carmine Street, just off the square. He was a key actor in the expansion of the church’s liturgical programs and was very active in providing social services to the local community. When he learned that the church was directly in the path of a proposed extension of Sixth Avenue, he led a successful campaign to build a new church, rectory and parochial school. In honor of his contributions, the nearby plaza was named after him several years after his death in 1936. So now I know a bit more about Father Demo, and now you do, too 🙂 For more information, visit – https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/father-demo-square/history