William M. Tweed (April 3, 1823 – April 12, 1878), commonly known as "Boss" Tweed, was an American politician and head of Tammany Hall, the name given to the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in New York City politics from the 1790s to the 1960s. He was convicted and eventually imprisoned for stealing millions of dollars from the city through graft.
Born on Cherry Street in Manhattan in 1823, of Scotch-Irish descent. He left school at age 11 and began working what turned intoa series of jobs, ultimately ending up as a partner in a brush concern. He joined state assemblyman John J. Reilly in founding the the Americus Engine Company No. 6, a volunteer firefigher brigade also known as the "Big Six", in 1848. He became an alderman in 1851, and served a single term in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1852 before returning to New York politics. He quickly rose to a seat on the executive committee of Tammany Hall in 1858 and became "Boss" after being named Grand Sachem of Tammany in April 1863. By 1870 he had amassed a fortune of more than $12 million by skimming large sums of money off city projects and was the third largest land owner in Manhattan.
While he was also known for the vast corrupt empire, Tweed was also responsible for building hopsitals and orphanages, widening Broadway along the Upper West Side, and securing the land for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These good works do not negate the $200+ million he and the "Tweed Ring" stole from the city, nor the fact that the city deficit went from $36 million in 1868 to more than $130 million by 1870.
Tweed was arrested for his thefts and held for trial. While on prison leave to visit his family in 1874, he escaped to New Jersey and just kept going. Traveling to Florida and then Spain, he had the misfortune to encounter a customers officer familiar, thanks to a Thomas Nast drawing, with Tweed's appearance. He was arrested and returned to New York where he died in hte Ludlow Street Jail, just a few blocks from his childhood home on April 12, 1878.
Green-Wood Cemetery National Register #97000228
Tags: NYC New York City William Tweed Boss Tweed Green-wood Cemetery Green-wood Sunset Park cemetery grave tomb Burial ground Garden cemetery William M. Tweed plot Tweed ring Tammany Hall landmark National Register of Historic Places kings county NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark Brooklyn
Horace Greeley (February 3, 1811–November 29, 1872) was an American editor of a leading newspaper, a founder of the Republican party, reformer and politician. His New York Tribune was the most influential newspaper of the period 1840-1870. Greeley used it to promote the Whig and Republican parties.
Green-Wood Cemetery National Register #97000228
Tags: NYC New York City Horace Greeley Green-wood Cemetery Green-wood Sunset Park cemetery grave tomb Burial ground Garden cemetery landmark National Register of Historic Places kings county NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark Brooklyn
The firm of Warren & Wetmore--best known for designing Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal (and here and here)--was chosen to build the chapel in 1912. It is a scaled-down version of Christopher Wren's Thomas Tower at Christ Church, Oxford. After many decades of being closed, the chapel was reopened by Green-Wood in April 2000. It is used primarily for individual contemplation, but can be reserved for services.
Green-Wood Cemetery National Register #97000228
Tags: NYC New York City chapel church Green-wood Cemetery Green-wood Sunset Park cemetery Burial ground Garden cemetery Gothic revival cementerio Friedhof cimetière cimiteri cemitério cemeteries cementerios Friedhoefe cimetières cimiteris cemitérios landmark National Register of Historic Places kings county NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark Brooklyn
Green-Wood Cemetery National Register #97000228
Tags: NYC New York City Green-wood Cemetery Green-wood Sunset Park cemetery grave tomb Burial ground mausoleum Garden cemetery landmark National Register of Historic Places kings county NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark Brooklyn
The massive Steinway mausoleum sits atop a hill. Henry Steinway brought his family piano business to New York from Germany in the 1850's. His son, William, established the compnaytown of Steinway, Long Island, for the mass manufacture of the instruments. Erected in the 1870s to hold up to 200 people, the mausoleum was meant to be used by many generations of Steinways. It is the largest mausoleum in Green-Wood, but it current holds fewer than 70 people.
Green-Wood Cemetery National Register #97000228
Tags: NYC New York City Steinway mausoleum Green-wood Cemetery Green-wood Sunset Park cemetery grave tomb Burial ground Garden cemetery Henry Steinway William Steinway cementerio Friedhof cimetière cimiteri cemitério cemeteries cementerios Friedhoefe cimetières cimiteris cemitérios landmark National Register of Historic Places kings county NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark Brooklyn