Andrew Haswell Green; Father of Greater New York.COLUMN: LIFE & TIMES: An occasional series on Central Massachusetts people with enduring fame Vital statistics: Born Oct. 6, 1820, in Worcester; died Nov. 13, 1903, at age 83; he was shot and killed by a man who thought Mr. Green was "stepping out" with his woman. It was a case of mistaken identity mistaken identity n → erreur f d'identité mistaken identity mistake n → Verwechslung f mistaken identity n . He is buried in Rural Cemetery The rural or “garden” cemetery was a revolutionary 19th century design that combined burials with landscaping in a rural, park-like setting. The idea of the garden cemetery can be traced to the founding of Mount Auburn Cemetery outside of Boston in 1831. in Worcester. What he did: Best known as "The Father of Greater New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of ," Mr. Green's achievement was to consolidate the five boroughs of New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. : Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond. Intelligent and persevering, he worked for five decades (1843-1898) to improve the quality of life for New Yorkers. He was a visionary city planner. The consolidation of New York was achieved on New Year's Eve 1898. New York became the "World's Second City," behind only London in population. His personal life and career Mr. Green was one of 11 children. He never married and had no direct descendants. He left Worcester at 15 to go to New York, where he clerked in a dry goods store dry goods store n (US) → mercería dry goods store n (US) → magasin m de nouveautés dry goods store n (US ; he then taught at his sisters' school. Later, at 22, he began to study law under Samuel J. Tilden Samuel Jones Tilden (February 9, 1814 – August 4, 1886) was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, the most controversial American election of the 19th century. , six years his senior, who eventually became New York's governor and the Democratic candidate for president in 1876 (Rutherford B. Hayes, a Republican, won). When Mr. Tilden died in 1886, Mr. Green was his executor and he combined Mr. Tilden's extensive private library with those of James Lenox James Lenox (19 August 1800 - 17 February 1880) was an American bibliophile and philanthropist, born in New York City. A graduate of Columbia College, Lenox was a founder of the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. and John Jacob Astor. A trust was set up to form the New York Public Library New York Public Library, free library supported by private endowments and gifts and by the city and state of New York. It is the one of largest libraries in the world. . The cornerstone was laid in 1902, and the library became not only a research library, but also a lending library. In 1857, the New York State Legislature created the Central Park Commission, and later Mr. Green became its head. By 1869, he envisioned Central Park as the cultural center of New York City and got approval to create the American Museum of Natural History American Museum of Natural History, incorporated in New York City in 1869 to promote the study of natural science and related subjects. Buildings on its present site were opened in 1877. , the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Bronx Zoo. He forever was battling the corrupt William "Boss" Tweed ring, which was exposed in 1871; Mr. Green was made comptroller to sort out the ring's theft and graft. He served until 1876. What others said: "He was very persuasive. He was not a salesman; he had a quiet and determined way. He was intelligent and persistent," said Edward T. O'Donnell, associate professor of history at the College of the Holy Cross The College of the Holy Cross is an exclusively undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Holy Cross is the oldest Roman Catholic college in New England and one of the oldest in the United States. in Worcester. Fame's imprint The sixth annual tribute ceremony and history bike tour in honor of Mr. Green was held Nov. 8 from the Central Park bench that is the only monument to Mr. Green. Michael Miscione, Manhattan Borough historian, who is mounting a herculean effort to have Mr. Green properly honored and recognized for his contributions to New York City, organizes these ceremonies. He is trying to have Mr. Green recognized by renaming in his honor the Washington Bridge, between West 181st Street in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. The first tribute in November 2003 marked the 100th anniversary of Mr. Green's death. Mr. Miscione and others toasted Mr. Green with sparkling cider. Mr. Green would have approved since he only had an occasional glass of wine. He loved John Milton, the 17th-century English poet and author. He did not enjoy sports or music particularly and did not have an active social life - he was too busy planning for the betterment of New York's citizens. What Worcester meant to him: The Green family lived on acres in Worcester for generations, beginning in 1754. Mr. Green loved his family estate and would return here during the summer to rest and to welcome friends and family. He willed his ancestral home and land to five nieces and nephews (William O. Green and Mary Pomeroy Green of Chicago; Samuel M. Green of Holyoke; and Lucy M. Green and Nathan Williams Green of Worcester) who in turn offered it to the city of Worcester on Aug. 10, 1905, for its assessed valuation of $104,000 upon the condition that if it were called "Green Hill" and used forever as a public park, the five owners would jointly contribute the sum of $50,000 toward its purchase price. The offer was accepted and on Dec. 28, 1905, Worcester became the owner of Green Hill Park. Compiled by: Mairgread Gray Sources: Michael Miscione, Manhattan Borough historian, interview and his Web site on Mr. Green; "Capital City," Thomas Kessner, Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. , 2003; John Kifner, "Sitting on a Park Bench, Recalling a City Visionary," The New York Times, Nov. 5, 2003; Edward T. O'Donnell, associate professor of history, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester; Robyn Christensen, librarian, Worcester Historical Museum; "Green Hill 1754-1905," privately printed for the family. ART: PHOTOS CUTLINE: (1) Born in Worcester, Andrew Haswell Green Andrew H[aswell] Green (1820 - November 13, 1903) was a New York lawyer, city planner, civic leader and agitator for reform. Called by some historians a hundred years later "the 19th century Robert Moses," he held several offices and played important roles in many projects, consolidated the five boroughs of New York City, among his achievements as a city planner. (2) Green Hill Park in Worcester, acquired by the city in 1905, was the site of Andrew H. Green's family estate. PHOTOG pho·tog n. Informal A person who takes photographs, especially as a profession; a photographer. : (1) T&G File Photo (2) T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR |
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