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.
1894
May 1 Offices removed to 257 B’way.
March Storage Building erected.
May Stone Crusher (“ 20th Century”) set up.
June First grading + seeding of “Meadow Water” ground.
“ Grading at 34th St. completed.
September Costello’s house moved to 9th Ave.
“ 1394 feet of boundary fence erected to Gravesend Ave.
November 12 Filling up of Almond Water authorized
“ New 8” well.
December 10 Purchase of Henchel property on 36th St. authorized
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First use of prepared fertilizer.
Continued grading of Dell + completion of Magnolia Ave.
Iron enclosures removed without consent.
Bank on 20th St. completed.
