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.
1883
June 1 First use of new Carry-all.
“ 8 Memorial Monument to J.A. Perry set up.
“ “ Visit of Trustees to the Cemetery.
“ “ First attempted robbery of a vault. (Thomas Vault.)
July 15 New Victoria carriage.
“ Drainage on Fir Ave. from Sassafras completed.
“ 2 Two lots bought of D. L. Jones on 10th ave.
August Path to Main Entrance from 5th ave widened.
“ Fountain for drinking placed at Eastern Entrance.
September 10 R.A. Johnson came at $35. Pr. Month
Trial of Air Treatment of lakes.
New “Rules + Regulations” (of July 1, 1883) out.
October 600 ft. of water pipe laid on Fir Ave. from Grape [sp?] Avenue to
Praire Path.
December 5 Mr. Ges. M. Miller elected in place of Mr. Wolcott.
December Carp placed in lakes.
“ Wages of R.A. Johnson raised to $40. From Dec. 1.
“ 24 Workmen’s Strike for 9 hours.
