New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-31
GREENWOOD GENE Terry.

From Us elevated sumuit fine view Of the surround
ing country obtained, comprising the shores cit
les islands towns and villages Of the Hudson, the
Sound and the Atlantic from the gsdes of Weehaw.
ken to the broad beach at Rockaway. The pine and
hemlock Aourshed in luxuriance among the rocks aud
tangled shrubbery which oVersPread it surface, and
there was as little evidence of its proximity to the
tropois as might be expected among the serras and
prairies ofhe far Southwest. At that time Brooklyn,
as compared with its present extent but an insight
icant town, although giving promise of future great
ness which ii has since more than realized. Bat with
the lapse Of years it, streets and enyirons changed
wonderfully in appearance Private dwellings and
public buildings of taste and costumes were erected;
enterprise found definite path for capital and by its
means the City of the Living became greaer and more
populous: and in the meantime the hills of Gowanus
were leveled and cultivated. the massive rocks re-
moved the rugged frowns OF Nature smoothed into
dimpline smiles, and there arose myriads OF monu-
nents in Grecan, Gothic and Egyptivn architecture,
to mark and beauty the City of the Dead.
HE FIRST ISTERMEsT.
On the 9Th Of September 1870 the first une "a pro-
cession entered Greenwood. The deceased Yves a
Young German woman named Sarah Hanna, aud her
grave may yet be distinguished on the Tour, though
the inscription on her tom ostone has been partly
of the Cemetery remembers very distinctly the scene
of that first ineimeDt.
Everything was very different in those days from
what YOU sec now, he said; "there were no broad,
substantial roads underlad with stones and bordered
in TIE decyites with paved cutters, no commodious
and inviting foopaths winding round every bill and
dell; the work of Improvement had scarcely been
commenced and things remained the same as before
the fence had been erected, except that few OF the
trees and rocks had been cleared away and one mar
row pathway was laid out, which aterward
wideued and is called tie Tour. There were but
two mouIners to that funeral coregs-the youthful
husband and little child ofthe deceased. Blu the sim
eerty Of their grief more impressive than the most
vain glorious manifestation OF the selhshness oil pilde
and wealth 1t was evident that the sense OF duty to
his child alone supported the man IN his aifctlon.
There were no tears, lamentations to outward aP-
pearances bis manner was perfectly calm. But there
was CLASSY look in his eyes and the coor-fhs face
rsembled dead ashes. Besides when the first shovel
ul of cay ratified upon the rude coffin in its cell you
could perceive his breast swell like great TIDE OF an
puish and his body trembed if all its nerves were
unstrupg. There were no other symptoms oil grlel
however. and afterward he left the grounds quite
calmly"
"And did he ever return!'
".
face had become so emaoated that scarcely recog-
pzed him. lie usually spent & few hours at the grave
his wife and then went away silently as he came
sp,nose extreme poverty rendered bis suferings
more poienapt for could read in his appearance that
he was miserably poor. Finally, however his VISITS
ceased and felt satisfied that he had Joined his VIE,
arbouob if was probable his remains occupied more
lowly burial ground"
/ snch were the humble though to us affecting par
ticuars of the first act of sepulture IN GREENWOOD
But how many a similar scene have those insensa'e
| trees and monuments beheld since then
BRIEF HISTORY OF GREENWOOD.
BEFORE entering further into description OF those
scones and improvements which have combined TO
beautify this cemetery brief glance at It's origin ana
,ro,ress NAV not prove unnteTesting. To work on
This subject by Mr.. Ceaveland, published In 1882, we
arc Indebted for much useful information, as likewise
70 the last report of j. A. Perry, Secretary and Con-
roTer Of the institution.
4 Tho successful establishment of Mount Auburn
Cemetery in the vicinity of Boston, first suggested to
the late Jonathan Goodhue the project OF rural bury
inr-cround in Brooklyn. That phlanthroPie gentle
man in his frequent rides over what IS now caieu
O. Greenwood often convened with his friend Stephen
Whitney on the remarkable fitness of the grounds for
the purposes of intennent. 1t not, however, IN
III 1887 tDat any actual stcfs WIZ 49, -
sons through whose united agency the first act OF IN
CORPORATION was applied for David b. Douglass,
A. q Hammond. G G.. Van Wsge0en, Frederic
Marouand. Henry f. PieTepont Plny Freeman and
joseph A. Perry. The next nessure Of importance
was that OF selecting the ground The manner n
which ibis was done is explained to US by MAJOR
Douglass in the first published statement made by the
institution:
.sThe particular location Of the Cemetery precino
was the result of minute pro ssional reconnaissance
instituted soon after the passage OF the hrst a" ~
r hrsced The entire range of bills from uear bediorl
to near Yellow Hook distance Of about tour mics
Wa conducted with great quetness' without ieierhc.
10 sry local or cxparie interests, ana hAu 10 oue'
tbe writer ma, affirm with CONFIDENCE bu 10 ascertain
lie hest possible location FOR the purpose within these
limits The site Of the Cemetery as low located "a-
TIE first chosen In conformity with tins pnnclpie'
Irdoe Hammond one OF the Commissioners Tor lay
out the city, and NJ Henry L. PierrePout OF blVeA
lyu were the only TeTsons associated win OF cou
bv the writer while prosecuting these inquiries mes
gentlemen were commissioners under the law, ahl
among the mos. sctve and disinieresed III prouo.u
IT, object; and 10 the latter particularly, the "II.ei
and ire nubc are much indebted for MS Jealous hul
Effective cooperation in the subsequent negotiation
with The land propnetors. .,s,s
Greenwood became q chartered institution IL A''7
Its location as we have seen the result OF care
ful and extensive survey Of the entire vicin! Oh Ne"
York. The enterprise, after brief penoa % mar
struggle. was at length placed upon urn
suc the Cemtery was thrown open Tor m'efnien's
1910. From ha. time its history has been one Of Vi
Interrupted progress. The original ine9'''' u VI