The clock is ticking! Our Kickstarter campaign, to raise money for our upcoming exhibition, “William F. Mangels: Amusing the Masses on Coney Island and Beyond,” telling the story of the ingenious amusement park ride inventor who became the largest manufacturer of such rides in America, has only 10 days left. For more background on this, … Read more
Have you ever gone on an amusement park ride and screamed at the top of your lungs? If so, you owe a great big “thank you” to William F. Mangels. And Green-Wood and the Coney Island History Project will be thanking him in a few months–with a ground-breaking exhibition in our Historic Chapel: “William F. … Read more
Well, it wasn’t easy getting through this long and cold winter. But, spring has finally arrived at Green-Wood. Spring–a time of rebirth, a time of bloom, a time of life, renewed and restored. So, a few photographs of one of the real pleasures at Green-Wood: our earliest spring blooms. Undoubtedly, just a few days further … Read more
Tuesday, April 15, was a rainy and windy day. Winter trying to slide back in for a final run. It was a good day to finish up your taxes. But it was an even better day to honor America’s first baseball hero, James Creighton. It was Jim’s 173rd birthday. So, who was this James Creighton? … Read more
No, Lord Grantham from Downton Abbey is not interred at Green-Wood. But there is something of a connection between Green-Wood and Downton Abbey. At least there is for me. Just about every year, in March, I drive down to Washington for an antique photo show. I have collected stereoscopic views of New York City, and … Read more
The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Lucy G. Moses Awards Committee has announced that the recently completed restoration project of the Green-Wood Cemetery Gatehouse at the Fort Hamilton Parkway entrance has been selected to receive a 2013 Preservation Project Award. Platt Byard Dovell White Architects, which worked on the restoration from 2010 to 2013, led by … Read more
I recently was contacted by Will Ellis, a photographer who was interested in doing a photo essay on Green-Wood. Here’s how Will describes himself on his website: Will Ellis is a Brooklyn-based photographer, videographer, and editor, and the founder of Abandoned NYC. His photographic work has taken him across the five boroughs to document a … Read more
Henry Slocum (1827-1894) led quite a life. He was quite prominent during the Civil War. He wasn’t a Union general megastar like Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, or Meade. But he was a general who played an important role. Early on, he fought at the Battles of First and Second Bull Run, Virginia; South Mountain and Antietam, … Read more
Ben Feldman is a great Green-Wood fan. Fascinated by history, he finds many of the subjects of his research and writing at Green-Wood. So, he wrote about Dr. Harvey Burdell and the woman who stood trial and was acquitted of his murder in 1857, Emma Cunningham, in Butchery on Bond Street. And, his book, Call … Read more
I have been writing the Green-Wood Historian’s Blog for almost 3 years now. I have thought about writing many stories related to Green-Wood. But, I must admit, I never thought I would be writing a blog post about comedian Joan Rivers. Now, I must admit, Joan Rivers is one of my secret pleasures. Though I … Read more