By Courtney Yates
Title: GWC Memoranda Ledger, c. 1863-1897
Extent: 1.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Topical arrangment
Subjects: Brooklyn--New York, N.Y., Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History, Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y.
Languages: English
Transcribed section of hand written record log from 1863-1897 of various events at Green-Wood Cemetery including comings and goings of workers, trustees and elected officers. Mentions of salaries - increases, requests of denied increases, and the occasional workmen’s strike. Dates of new guide maps, rules + regulations and amendments to by-laws. Expansion and improvements of infrastructure like landscape grading, pipes and road work. Introduction of various plant and animal species and reports of extreme weather and natural damages to the cemetery. Visits to contemporary cemeteries like Mount Auburn and Woodlawn recorded, as well as acquisitions of land, offices and equipment for cemetery, the changing prices of vaults and burial lots. Interesting mention of bones, coins and military buttons from the Battle of Brooklyn found on Battle Hill in 1865. Additional folders with loose papers inserted into log book.
Handwriting fairly consistent but could be multiple authors, formatting, spacing and abbreviations of diary kept in typed transcription. The recording of date/events is occasionally unchronological - example pg 14. The begining of the book has an index of paths, avenues, hills, other eminences, dells, waters and lawns. The end of the book includes information about trustees ranging from 1838 to 1848
Brooklyn--New York, N.Y.
Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History
Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y.
1863
April 11 Advanced the prices of all lots
Above $150. From $20 to $50 per lot.
1864
March Advanced the prices again from
$20 to $100 per lot
May 20 The trustees visited the cemetery
officially today after a lunch
at Delmonico’s in William Street.
Trustees present Messers [?] Pierrepont,
White, Low, Green, Smith, Brevoort,
Prentice, Field, Asfinevall, Freeman
Beekman and Perry.
Guests invited and present,
Myers, Silliman, Henry, Dogherty,
Royal Phelps, Fred, DeSeyster, Mayor
Gunther, Bancroft, Barney, Clerves
John A.C. May, McCurdy and
Hamilton Mason [sp of some names?]
Invited but not present,
Gen. Dix, Chs. King, John J Bergen,
Chittenden, Gen Viele, Gen. J. Hofe,
A, St. Green, W. Kenble, J.J. Cisco
Mr. S. Bidivele, W, Curtis Moyers, J.W.
Gerand, Mayor Wood of MM + Gen Hamilton. [Sp of some names?]
