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.
1881
/// crossed out in red -
June 12 Commenced mixing Scrimshaw with machine ///
February 7 C.M Perry appointed by Standing Committee as
Assistant to Comptroller, with salary of $1500 from Jan. 1
March 13 Death of John H. Prentice.
“ 16 Election of Jas. R. Taylor in place of J.H. Prentice.
May 4 Wages of workmen advanced from 12 ½ to 25 cents
per hour, and some retained at 12 ½ cents.
June 6 meetings of Committee suspended July + August.
“ 500 ft of water pipe destroyed by lightening.
July 140 “ “ “ “ “ “ “
August 26 Death of J.A. Perry.
September 3 C.M. Perry appointed as Acting Comptroller by the
President in the absence of other members of the Board.
October 3 A.M. White elected Chairman of Standing
Committee. The President’s action appointing
C.M. Perry Acting Compt. Confirmed by the Committee.
