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.
1865
Sept The bones of a person supposed to be
those [above ‘that’ crossed out] of a soldier engaged in the Battle
of Brooklyn in 177 [space left] were discovered
a little east of the chag [ ? ] of ground on
Battle Hill. Also about 100 feet distant,
part of a musket. Some years since
a piece of a musket was found
and on Battle Hill, a copper coin of
George the 2nd, and numbers of metal
military buttons.
1866
Feb 13 Mr. Granger reports as follows.
“We experienced the greatest flood
yesterday that I ever saw, the
water in the lake (Sylvan Water)
rose 18 inches in an hour and a half
I certainly thought [‘thought’ inserted] that I should have the
Engine House full. In Deep
Wood Dell the water stands half
way up the doors of Mr.Crosby’s
vault”
March 1 Opening graves and vaults
and graves in Public Lots
charged one dollar extra on
and after this date.
