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.
1880
December 13 Re-election of Messers Prentice, Brevoort, Wolcott,
Sanger and Brown, and for Standing Com-
mittee, Messers White, Sanger, Beekman and Low.
Destruction of the army worm by the sparrows
during the summer.
Completion of grading by 37th st.
Repair of building adjoining tower at W. Entrance.
New Stable at W. Entrance.
Building of Visitors’ Room and rebuilding of
Costello’s house at 9th Ave. Entrance.
Laying of 5000 ft of pipe and setting of 20 hydrants
and 13 Basins.
Painting of iron fence on 5th Ave + 23rd St + 7th Ave.
Setting of 52 iron fenders.
Rain gauge placed at 9th ave Entrance.
