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.
1879
March 4 Section 12 of By – Laws altered
“ 11 Robert Ray died.
“ 19 F.H. Wolcott elected in place of Mr. Ray
April 7 T.H. Muir’s salary raised from $1000 to $1200.
“ 7 Four lots voted to the Brooklyn City Hospital
May 12 Pliny Freeman died.
September 20 C.M. Perry came on as private assistant to the Comptroller.
November 13 First telephone communication to Cemetery.
December 10 Monument + lots voted to family of Mayor Douglass.
During this year the following improvements
were made.
Railway car or platform in Receiving Tomb.
Addition to stable at Northern Entrance.
Renovation of Tower at Western “
New stable and shed at “ “
Steam Roller altered.
Iron Girders placed under Pumping Engine
Grading of vicinity of Ocean Hill completed.
