gwmain WALTER, PAUL (1830-1882). Second lieutenant, 55th Regiment, New York State National Guard, Company E. Of German birth, he enlisted and was commissioned into the 55th National Guard on June 24, 1863, at New York City. He mustered out the next month on July 27, 1863, at New York City. His last residence was 8 Second … Read more
On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was mortally wounded by gunshot while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre. Actress Laura Keene (1826-1873) was on stage that fateful evening, starring in “Our American Cousin.” A witness to one of the most infamous moments in American history, Keene is believed to have been the first to identify the assassin as fellow actor John Wilkes Booth. It is also widely claimed, though often contested, that the actress rushed to the President’s side just moments after the shot was fired, cradling his head in her lap as her dress became drenched in his blood.
WINSLOW, CLEVELAND (1836-1864). Colonel, 5th New York Infantry; 5th New York Veteran Infantry. Born in Medford, Massachusetts, he received a college education, worked as a merchant and served seven years in the 71st New York National Guard. A resident of Middleton, Staten Island, he enlisted in the 5th as one of its original captains. In … Read more
I came to visit my great-great-uncle who served in the Civil War! I found him via your historian’s blog post. Who knew, and how beautiful…
Three generations ago, my entire Irish family made Brooklyn their home. After a brief diversion to Ohio, most of us are back in NYC – including the original immigrants who are now in Green-Wood, up near Battle Hill.
I’ve been a history buff for years, and I found my true passion – Civil War nurses – while walking through the Green-Wood grounds. Thanks, and see you out there!
I’ve always loved visiting cemeteries, and Green-Wood is the tops!
John Matthews (1808-1870), known as “The Soda Fountain King,” is famous for popularizing carbonated beverages in the United States. Though others had attempted carbonation before him, Matthews was the first to create a process that was simple and economical. In 1832 Matthews patented his “apparatus for charging water with carbon dioxide gas.” The apparatus he designed could be kept on a countertop, making it possible for a pharmacist to easily dispense carbonated drinks to the masses. Matthews also introduced the first flavorings for carbonated beverages, contributing to their booming popularity. By the time of his death, more than 500 establishments in New York City alone were using his products.
Living in New York City in the early twentieth century, artist Henry Ives Cobb Jr. (1883-1974) was inspired by the energy of the City around him. Working primarily in watercolor and oil, Cobb painted scenes of life in and around Manhattan. Jumping Rope near Cleopatra’s Needle, Central Park, pictured here, is exemplary of Cobb’s style. He whimsically depicts a group of school girls at play in the park on an early spring day. Just beyond them is the New York City landmark “Cleopatra’s Needle,” an Ancient Egyptian obelisk erected in New York during the nineteenth century.
Henry Bergh (1813-1888) was an activist who advocated for the humane treatment of animals. He proposed the first laws protecting animal welfare in the United States. In 1866, just three days after the legislation passed in New York, Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA. Outraged by the blatant and horrific abuse of horses too weary to pull carriages, Bergh made it his mission to protect animals from suffering and injustice. His efforts raised awareness of animal welfare in the United States and by the time of his death 39 states had enacted laws prohibiting cruelty to animals.