By the 1880s, the Green-Wood Cemetery had expanded to become an established Brooklyn institution. This period saw the consideration of the expansion of the land area of the cemetery. For instance, Henry E. Pierrepont, one of the cemetery’s original founders, now set his sights on extending the cemetery he helped to create to Thirty-Seventh Street. This period also saw the leaders of the cemetery working with new neighboring constituencies of the cemetery. In 1888, leaders of the railroads extending their railroad lines to one of the entrances of the cemetery, along with local businesses nearby, petitioned the leaders of the cemetery to make improvements to this entrance. In all, this decade was one marked with potential new areas of expansion and new interactions with the general public for the Green-Wood Cemetery.
Item #161: Henry E. Pierrepont to his Nephew, Regarding the Extension of the Green-Wood Cemetery to Thirty-Seventh Street in Brooklyn, N.Y., July 28, 1886
In this letter, Mr. Pierrepont tells his nephew that while Mr. Litchfield’s proposal to buy land between Fifth and Seventh Avenues and Thirty-Sixth and Thirty-Seventh Streets would benefit the Green-Wood Cemetery by providing more public burial lots, some aspects of this proposal need to be considered. These considerations are first, the management of this new tract of land, and second, the opinion of the local property owners. Mr. Pierrepont mentions that he is in favor of this purchase, since he calculates that it will not cost much in price to buy and will provide up to 176 burial lots at $300.00 per lot, with a potential profit of $52,800.00, and concludes that the cemetery company should accept Mr. Litchfield’s offer to buy this tract of land. This letter is significant because it documents Mr. Pierrepont’s (one of the original founders of the Green-Wood Cemetery) opinion on expanding the cemetery in 1886. It also shows that in his later years, Mr. Pierrepont was still involved in the behind-the-scenes of planning the cemetery’s expansion.
In this letter, Mr. Pierrepont tells his nephew that while Mr. Litchfield’s proposal to buy land between Fifth and Seventh Avenues and Thirty-Sixth and Thirty-Seventh Streets would benefit the Green-Wood Cemetery by providing more public burial lots, some aspects of this proposal need to be considered. These considerations are first, the management of this new tract of land, and second, the opinion of the local property owners. Mr. Pierrepont mentions that he is in favor of this purchase, since he calculates that it will not cost much in price to buy and will provide up to 176 burial lots at $300.00 per lot, with a potential profit of $52,800.00, and concludes that the cemetery company should accept Mr. Litchfield’s offer to buy this tract of land. This letter is significant because it documents Mr. Pierrepont’s (one of the original founders of the Green-Wood Cemetery) opinion on expanding the cemetery in 1886. It also shows that in his later years, Mr. Pierrepont was still involved in the behind-the-scenes of planning the cemetery’s expansion.
Typed transcription of Item #161:
Luzerne, Warren Co[unt]y. N.Y.
28th July 1886.
Dear Nephew,
While W. Litchfields’ proposal to Green-Wood to buy the land between 5th & 7th Avenues 36 & 37 Streets, would add 9 40/100 Ac. of surface to the Cemetery, which is desirable to provide for public lots, the Rail Road, which is a steam R. Road, would be much benefitted by having a clear straight course of three quarters of a mile.
Before determining to purchase this large addition, it should be examined on the ground to ascertain the cost of its improvement. I do not know the grade but think 37’ Street runs through a hill and would be expensive to grade unless the demand for earth for setting the weir would get it graded without cost to Green-Wood—Then another desirable preliminary is to get the opinion of our prudent counselor W. Silliman, as to extending the Cemetery, and also to ascertain the feeling of the owners of the land on 37th Street opposite the proposed additions.
We could promise these neighbours that a dense plantation of trees and shrubs would be made along the boundary, making the Cemetery have a park-like appearance & concealing graves.
This by-the-by has been my desire and suggestion for many years. In 1833 when I visited Pére la Chaise such plantations concealed common burial lots. As to the price of the proposed purchase, if the R. R. Co. would secure this additional land for $32,000 to the Cemetery Co.—and this deeded to buy it at that rate, the two blocks on 37th St. between 5th & 7th Av. Contain 120 Lots @ $300 = $36,000. The Street (36th) and Avenues contain 56 Lots—the whole surface to be obtained including streets would be 176 Lots – which at $300 per lot = $52,800.00. The number of square feet in the addition including the Street and avenues, would be 442,000 sq. ft. which would be 9 41/100 acres, so that if the space should be devoted to public lots, a large number of graves could be made, at a cost, I believe, not exceeding the cost of the Martense purchase.
It would not be possible to obtain a quorum of the Trustees till October. I make the foregoing suggestions to aid in forming an opinion of the expediency of accepting W. Litchfield’s offer, which I would be willing, under the foregoing stipulations, to advocate.
We are all very well, and send love regretting your change of plan will deprive us of the expected visit of yourself & wife.
Your affectionate uncle
Henry E. Pierrepont.
Luzerne, Warren Co[unt]y. N.Y.
28th July 1886.
Dear Nephew,
While W. Litchfields’ proposal to Green-Wood to buy the land between 5th & 7th Avenues 36 & 37 Streets, would add 9 40/100 Ac. of surface to the Cemetery, which is desirable to provide for public lots, the Rail Road, which is a steam R. Road, would be much benefitted by having a clear straight course of three quarters of a mile.
Before determining to purchase this large addition, it should be examined on the ground to ascertain the cost of its improvement. I do not know the grade but think 37’ Street runs through a hill and would be expensive to grade unless the demand for earth for setting the weir would get it graded without cost to Green-Wood—Then another desirable preliminary is to get the opinion of our prudent counselor W. Silliman, as to extending the Cemetery, and also to ascertain the feeling of the owners of the land on 37th Street opposite the proposed additions.
We could promise these neighbours that a dense plantation of trees and shrubs would be made along the boundary, making the Cemetery have a park-like appearance & concealing graves.
This by-the-by has been my desire and suggestion for many years. In 1833 when I visited Pére la Chaise such plantations concealed common burial lots. As to the price of the proposed purchase, if the R. R. Co. would secure this additional land for $32,000 to the Cemetery Co.—and this deeded to buy it at that rate, the two blocks on 37th St. between 5th & 7th Av. Contain 120 Lots @ $300 = $36,000. The Street (36th) and Avenues contain 56 Lots—the whole surface to be obtained including streets would be 176 Lots – which at $300 per lot = $52,800.00. The number of square feet in the addition including the Street and avenues, would be 442,000 sq. ft. which would be 9 41/100 acres, so that if the space should be devoted to public lots, a large number of graves could be made, at a cost, I believe, not exceeding the cost of the Martense purchase.
It would not be possible to obtain a quorum of the Trustees till October. I make the foregoing suggestions to aid in forming an opinion of the expediency of accepting W. Litchfield’s offer, which I would be willing, under the foregoing stipulations, to advocate.
We are all very well, and send love regretting your change of plan will deprive us of the expected visit of yourself & wife.
Your affectionate uncle
Henry E. Pierrepont.
Item #107: Petition Statement Addressed to the President and Trustees of the Green-Wood Cemetery, Regarding Improving the Cemetery’s North Entrance, May 28, 1888
This petition is addressed to the Trustees of the Green-Wood Cemetery, and signed by the Presidents of three railroads that end at Ninth Avenue in Brooklyn, along with a florist, a monuments works, many lot owners in the Green-Wood Cemetery, and several property owners near the Ninth Avenue entrance to the Green-Wood Cemetery. In the petition, the signers ask that the Green-Wood Cemetery improve the north or north east entrance to the cemetery located at the southeastern corner of Ninth Avenue and Twentieth Street, with the same walkways, fences, buildings, and other improvements that have been added to the cemetery’s entrances on Franklin and Fifth Avenues. The petitioners also note the reasons that these improvements are necessary, such as the increase in train and streetcar traffic of visitors to the cemetery, and the future construction of a new railroad depot in the area to replace one lost in a fire. This petition is significant because it notes the changes the Green-Wood Cemetery and the surrounding area were experiencing by 1888. It notes how larger crowds were visiting the cemetery due to more visitor traffic from public transport service, and furthermore, it reveals why the railroad companies were major drivers of the improvements to this cemetery entrance: because it was near the site for their new railroad depot buildings.
This petition is addressed to the Trustees of the Green-Wood Cemetery, and signed by the Presidents of three railroads that end at Ninth Avenue in Brooklyn, along with a florist, a monuments works, many lot owners in the Green-Wood Cemetery, and several property owners near the Ninth Avenue entrance to the Green-Wood Cemetery. In the petition, the signers ask that the Green-Wood Cemetery improve the north or north east entrance to the cemetery located at the southeastern corner of Ninth Avenue and Twentieth Street, with the same walkways, fences, buildings, and other improvements that have been added to the cemetery’s entrances on Franklin and Fifth Avenues. The petitioners also note the reasons that these improvements are necessary, such as the increase in train and streetcar traffic of visitors to the cemetery, and the future construction of a new railroad depot in the area to replace one lost in a fire. This petition is significant because it notes the changes the Green-Wood Cemetery and the surrounding area were experiencing by 1888. It notes how larger crowds were visiting the cemetery due to more visitor traffic from public transport service, and furthermore, it reveals why the railroad companies were major drivers of the improvements to this cemetery entrance: because it was near the site for their new railroad depot buildings.
Typed transcription of Item #107 (sections with "..." indicate that the text was too illegible to transcribe):
Brooklyn, N. Y. May 28th. , 1888
To the President and Board of Trustees,
of “The Greenwood Cemetery.”
Gentlemen:-
The undersigned respectfully present for your consideration the following statements, in support of their request hereby made, that you will improve the north or north east entrance to your Cemetery at the south east corner of Ninth Avenue and Twentieth street, by the erection of suitable buildings, fences, walks and other improvements in harmony with your other entrances on Fifth and Franklin Avenues.
First:- The travel to the Cemetery at this entrance is now very large, and is steadily increasing; there being one steam railroad and five lines of street cars now terminating at that point; the street cars running through the heart of the City from the Hamilton, South, Wall, Fulton and Catherine Ferries and the East River Bridge; and crossing and intersecting at some point nearly every street car line in the Western District, as well as the Elevated Railroad Lines, and passing the Long Island Railroad Depot at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues.
Second:- That portion of your property bounded by Ninth Avenue on the west and Twentieth street on the north, is now enclosed by a high open board fence (which is understood to be only temporary however;) the sidewalks are below the grade of the street and are not paved or covered in any way; and until the present season a fruit, soda-water and cigar stand has been permitted on your property at said S. E. corner of Ninth Avenue and Twentieth Street. This has been very objectionable to persons visiting the Cemetery, particularly ladies, by reason of the crowd of men and boys congregating there, obstructing the sidewalks and making uncomplimentary and impudent remarks to passers by.
Third:- The character of the neighborhood in the vicinity of this entrance has been greatly improved since the fire in November last which destroyed the depot buildings of the Atlantic Avenue Railroad Company, The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad Company, and those on the west side of Ninth Avenue north of Twentieth street.
The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad Company have entirely re-modeled and reconstructed their depot yard on Twentieth street and are now erecting a handsome passenger depot fifty feet front on Ninth Avenue by one hundred feet front on Twentieth street; which it is claimed when finished will be one of the handsomest and most complete passenger depot buildings of its size in the country.
The Atlantic Avenue Railroad Company are erecting a handsome and very complete building adjoining the said depot of the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad, one hundred and fifty feet front on Ninth Avenue and two hundred feet front on Nineteenth street, the same to be occupied for the storage of cars and offices only; that Company having erected stables for the accommodation of their horses on the north side of Nineteenth street about one hundred and twenty five feet east of Ninth Avenue, upon property recently purchased by them; the same running through to Eighteenth street.
Said Company has also gone to great expense in relaying with entirely new materials the railroad tracks and switches on Ninth Avenue between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets and are now repaving the Avenue with Belgian blocks.
Mr. James Daly; Florist, has erected new and commodious buildings on the north west corner of Ninth Avenue and Twentieth street and on Ninth Avenue north of the same; and other improvements are now being made, while others are in contemplation in this neighborhood; all of which would seem to furnish potent reasons that improvements should be made by your Association to its entrance at Ninth Avenue and Twentieth street.
Fourth:- The improvements suggested in this communication will be of great benefit and accommodation to the lot owners of the cemetery located in the vicinity of this entrance; and to strangers and the public generally who visit your Cemetery, the numbers of which are increasing rapidly each year by reason of the accommodation afforded by the various lines of railroads terminating at this point.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
The Prospect Park & Coney
Island Rail Road Co.
by Andrew R. Culver
President
The Atlantic Avenue
Railroad Co. of Brooklyn
by …
President
McCluny Steam & Brooklyn
Railroad Company by
James Sontam
President
James Daly
Florist
9th Ave. & 20 St.
John Klein
Monuments Works
9th Ave. & 20 St.
Philip Schuck, Esq.
Property and Lot owners
in green-wood
328. 9. Ave. Cemetery
Thomas Wall
443 20th Street
Property Owner
Capt. Walter Brewer
154 Jefferson St.
property owner in B[roo]klyn
Greenwood also
In 8th Ward. B[roo]klyn
-Henry J. Brewer, M.D.
478 18th Street
Brooklyn
Thos. S. O’Reilly
Pastor of the Church of the
Holy Name
9th & Prospect Aves.
Brooklyn, N. Y. May 28th. , 1888
To the President and Board of Trustees,
of “The Greenwood Cemetery.”
Gentlemen:-
The undersigned respectfully present for your consideration the following statements, in support of their request hereby made, that you will improve the north or north east entrance to your Cemetery at the south east corner of Ninth Avenue and Twentieth street, by the erection of suitable buildings, fences, walks and other improvements in harmony with your other entrances on Fifth and Franklin Avenues.
First:- The travel to the Cemetery at this entrance is now very large, and is steadily increasing; there being one steam railroad and five lines of street cars now terminating at that point; the street cars running through the heart of the City from the Hamilton, South, Wall, Fulton and Catherine Ferries and the East River Bridge; and crossing and intersecting at some point nearly every street car line in the Western District, as well as the Elevated Railroad Lines, and passing the Long Island Railroad Depot at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues.
Second:- That portion of your property bounded by Ninth Avenue on the west and Twentieth street on the north, is now enclosed by a high open board fence (which is understood to be only temporary however;) the sidewalks are below the grade of the street and are not paved or covered in any way; and until the present season a fruit, soda-water and cigar stand has been permitted on your property at said S. E. corner of Ninth Avenue and Twentieth Street. This has been very objectionable to persons visiting the Cemetery, particularly ladies, by reason of the crowd of men and boys congregating there, obstructing the sidewalks and making uncomplimentary and impudent remarks to passers by.
Third:- The character of the neighborhood in the vicinity of this entrance has been greatly improved since the fire in November last which destroyed the depot buildings of the Atlantic Avenue Railroad Company, The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad Company, and those on the west side of Ninth Avenue north of Twentieth street.
The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad Company have entirely re-modeled and reconstructed their depot yard on Twentieth street and are now erecting a handsome passenger depot fifty feet front on Ninth Avenue by one hundred feet front on Twentieth street; which it is claimed when finished will be one of the handsomest and most complete passenger depot buildings of its size in the country.
The Atlantic Avenue Railroad Company are erecting a handsome and very complete building adjoining the said depot of the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad, one hundred and fifty feet front on Ninth Avenue and two hundred feet front on Nineteenth street, the same to be occupied for the storage of cars and offices only; that Company having erected stables for the accommodation of their horses on the north side of Nineteenth street about one hundred and twenty five feet east of Ninth Avenue, upon property recently purchased by them; the same running through to Eighteenth street.
Said Company has also gone to great expense in relaying with entirely new materials the railroad tracks and switches on Ninth Avenue between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets and are now repaving the Avenue with Belgian blocks.
Mr. James Daly; Florist, has erected new and commodious buildings on the north west corner of Ninth Avenue and Twentieth street and on Ninth Avenue north of the same; and other improvements are now being made, while others are in contemplation in this neighborhood; all of which would seem to furnish potent reasons that improvements should be made by your Association to its entrance at Ninth Avenue and Twentieth street.
Fourth:- The improvements suggested in this communication will be of great benefit and accommodation to the lot owners of the cemetery located in the vicinity of this entrance; and to strangers and the public generally who visit your Cemetery, the numbers of which are increasing rapidly each year by reason of the accommodation afforded by the various lines of railroads terminating at this point.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
The Prospect Park & Coney
Island Rail Road Co.
by Andrew R. Culver
President
The Atlantic Avenue
Railroad Co. of Brooklyn
by …
President
McCluny Steam & Brooklyn
Railroad Company by
James Sontam
President
James Daly
Florist
9th Ave. & 20 St.
John Klein
Monuments Works
9th Ave. & 20 St.
Philip Schuck, Esq.
Property and Lot owners
in green-wood
328. 9. Ave. Cemetery
Thomas Wall
443 20th Street
Property Owner
Capt. Walter Brewer
154 Jefferson St.
property owner in B[roo]klyn
Greenwood also
In 8th Ward. B[roo]klyn
-Henry J. Brewer, M.D.
478 18th Street
Brooklyn
Thos. S. O’Reilly
Pastor of the Church of the
Holy Name
9th & Prospect Aves.