Jeff Richman It is not unusual for museums to lose pieces in its collections. Artifacts, illegally dug or improperly exported, are routinely returned to their country of origin. Paintings, confiscated by Nazis, are found and returned to their owners. But the story about 4,500 pre-Columbian artifacts at the Brooklyn Museum is a strange one. Minor Cooper Keith … Read more
Here are some of our most famous individuals with January birthdays. Perhaps their spirits are celebrating . . . January 1, 1819: Tom Hyer, a New York-born bare-knuckled boxer was recognized as the first American Champion after a 101-round victory over Country McCloskey at Caldwell’s Landing New York on September 9, 1841. After taking an … Read more
New York City is composed of five boroughs. I know that’s true; I’ve checked my map. But sometimes it seems that Brooklyn is just too far away for those who inhabit the island of Manhattan. I remember doing a book fair in Central Park three or so years ago and trying to explain to those … Read more
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle has just published a very nice article by Phoebe Neidl on Green-Wood’s Civil War Project. Read it here. I am quoted in the article as identifying Captain William Wheeler of Wheeler’s Battery as one of my favorite individuals whom I have discovered since the project began in 2002. Wheeler was a fascinating individual: … Read more
Thomas Adams (1818-1905) fancied himself quite an inventor. But things were not going well for him. Try as he might, he could not turn chicle into rubber products. As his experiments failed and his frustration grew, he popped a piece of chicle into his mouth. And a new industry, chewing gum, was thereby born. Adams … Read more
I saw this painting advertised; it is a one of a kind (I’ve never seen anything like it) tribute to a Civil War soldier. His name was Edward Marrenner and I thought that that name looked familiar. I checked our Civil War biographical dictionary and there he was: MARRENNER (or MARRINNER, MARINER), EDWARD (1843-1909). Major … Read more
Gabriel Harrison (1818–1902) was one of those rare men who had not just one, but several remarkable careers. Born in Philadelphia to a long line of artisans, Harrison moved to New York with his family in the 1820s. His father, Charles P. Harrison, an artist and engraver, entertained other artists and philosophers in his home on … Read more
December 16 is the 151st anniversary of the execution of John E. Cook by hanging. Born in Haddam, Connecticut, Cook moved to Brooklyn to study law. A follower of the famous abolitionist John Brown, he went to Kansas in 1855 where he was the only man to reach the rank of captain in Brown’s Kansas … Read more
We at Green-Wood have been hard at work improving things for you. So, we have just launched a new Green-Wood Fan Page on Facebook. Can’t get enough of Green-Wood? Here’s your chance to meet and talk with others about what you love about Green-Wood, your experiences there, and upcoming tours and events. And, here’s a … Read more
Here are some of Green-Wood’s permanent residents whose birthdays fall in the month of December: December 1, 1795: Gamaliel King, designed Brooklyn’s City Hall (now Borough Hall) and the original Kings County Courthouse (now demolished); born on Shelter Island; died in 1875. December 5, 1841: Marcus Daly, born in Ireland, immigrated to America as a … Read more