Louis J. Heintz Sculpture, ca 1915.

Louis J. Heintz was an early Bronx civic leader and the first Street Commissioner for the district of the Bronx. Heintz began his career in the beer industry, and for a time served as the president of the Brewers’ Board of Trade of New York. When sections of the Bronx were consolidated into the Greater New York City in 1898, Heintz was instrumental in the creation of a local board of improvements.

The bronze statue of Heintz was designed by French sculptor Pierre Feitu and dedicated in 1909. It was placed on the Grand Concourse due to Heintz's work in advocating for the creation of that thoroughfare. The original statue had a female figure standing on the base of the pedestal who seemed to be inscribing the words carved there. She was removed after being vandalized.