it's my honor to present our

tonight's speaker harry albert is a retired accountant who immersed himself in historical and cultural community of worcester for the past. 13 years. harry complete preservation worcester's comprehensive docent course in 2018 and he was the recipient of preservation. 200 2023 towson of distinction

award harry spent two years researching andrew haswell green. his research included weeks of study at the new york historical society and then new york public library, perusing thousands of newspaper articles related to andrew greene and also reading greene's volumes of brain diary and letters. i'm pleased present harry albert. good evening. the world would stop on friday, november. 1903. andrew has grain. worcester's native and internationally known as the father of greater new york city, died at 1:30 p.m. he was a

visionary civic leader, plan owner, attorney and preservation scientist. today, few people of his contributions to our society. last week i enjoyed dinner with a member of the new york's central park conservancy. a he wasn't familiar with the legacy of andrew haswell green brain amazing. a few years i purchased a large coffee table book with steve tell, the creation of central park. there were only two sentences referring to green and there were criticisms defaming him as a cheap skinned flint. those were plagiarized his from a 1950s pamphlet written by a member of the central park garden club. the 2019 exhibit at the new york public, detailing its creation

had no reference andrew haswell green. how could this be? i will attempt add logic and fact to an understanding of this man responsible. the consolidation of the five boroughs and to we know as new york city, his country to the creation of central park the new york public library, the metropolitan museum of art national museum of natural history, bronx zoo, mass transportation of niagara falls and more are immeasurable. of course, you will learn about the life and legacy of today. in many ways, his is a paradox. i hope you remember one very important fact the history you learn is as factual as the

historian. telling it to be. i'll repeat that the history you learn is as factual as the historian telling it intended to be. what i convey is the result of my embracing? andrew green's diaries as well as thousands of archive letters, the newspaper accounts? let me bring you back to the year 1903 with the conflict thing time of reform in journalism. well, joy and serenity that greenhill worcester much of disaster driven, prosperous seed and celebrity craze world wasn't too different from today i've i've had a few near-death experiences where much flashed through my mind in just a few seconds. this video though flashes

similarly i welcome you to 1903. the last year of andrew green's life. this video you are to see is comprised of only in 1903 worcester, mass. newspaper headlines in andrew green's personal photos. see how they contrast.

in.

and.

of. he was shot five times in front

of his park avenue home. murdered. a case of mistaken identity. this is the headline appeared in the worcester evening gazette, 4 hours after the death van drew green. similar headlines appeared throughout country most without fact and spreading rumors of illicit activity. the murders spawned headlines of an insane, jealous lover, a corrupt doppelganger, kept woman, a greedy bookkeeper, and even a volcano. his life can summed up by five words. the vicious. the virtuous. taken from a quote he made regarding his for a central park. it to wall. it describes many people deemed or good in his life saga. for most of my life, i intimidated by his straight folks, a 19th century photo

students real. it wasn't until green's diaries that was able to bond with. nevertheless, these photos looked so stiff. different. it wasn't. i realized my nephew josh looked similar to green's portrait that i could genuinely relate. places i embraced a child and young adult he traversed throughout his life. my goal is to introduce to you to his persona and humanity. he was one of the most visibly men in america. transformed our country and became a superstar in death. there is one nearly forgotten man made monument, dedicated his legacy. yet his tireless, selfless interest in the common people

grandeur of nature. the simple logic to improve society and preserve what is best prevails. some believe he was ahead of his time. i believe he was the vision or a man of his time. rather than address his accomplishment. my goal is to give to you a perspective on the real, the personal, the human. andrew haswell green early life for andrew beautiful on green hill, the seventh child of william chagrin esteemed attorney justice of the peace. in time there were ten children ranging in age from 30 to 6. it was like to families living in one home. william without lived for wives. andrew's mother, julia. of mayflower lineage was the

third living just the town proper. the greens would be snowed in for long winter passing times with games conversation. they were truly a loving family. he attended school half days had both morning and afternoon chores, and was tutored in foreign language by charles thurber inventor. an early typewriter. his fondest memories of lying on long summer grasses on hill as if in the bottom of the world's largest bowl looking up at the evening marveling at the wonders of the world. life became of legends, lists and rules on. how to be a good person. looming overall, on the living room wall, hung rules to live by all children would memorize each

rule and endeavored to live by them the rules would remain the household. eight decades after andrew first learned them, the trajectory of andrew's life would abruptly change. on tuesday, february 12th, 1833. his 12 and a half. his mother died. andrew was age 12. he had five older siblings and younger. william, age 56, with so many children and would need to do something in hurry. he would marry fourth wife and some of the children would need to abruptly mature. within two years, andrew would be in school in roxbury. four months later, he went live in new york city, where his sisters, lucy and mary ran a school for young ladies. he was and a half when he left home. here he would work in linen and clothing shops in the jewelry

district and ponder what it would take advance from his meager existence. he concluded further ringer's education was his sense knowing what to do with the education was more important. he thought that perhaps learning bookkeeping would provide better life. two years later, aged 16. an excerpt, a letter to his father dated february 20th, 1837. you say that you are going to get a cooking for the kitchen this winter. i think it is going to be a useless expense and one that we cannot afford. it is no saving of fuel and a great deal more trouble than a fireplace. how how ever you cado is you like, you know better than i do about it. i would to you the priority of

setting up a milk establishment. i have not the least doubt that it would succeed amicably. here we have this 618 year old lecturing us father. i can envision my 16 year old grandchild lecturing her father. his sense of frugality and safety surface. he also demonstrates a business of the most profitable component of the family farm. he will need all when he becomes president and treasurer of the new york's central park commission in less than 20 years. the above stove was most popular during the 1837 1838 winter. it the invention of lester tilden relative of someone to most influential in his.

within three years andrew would be working draper's auction house. he would be embracing a relationship with dorothy catherine draper. her brother john. william draper, a professor of chemistry at new york's university, soon put an end to the relations. thinking andrew was much too young for his sister and that he had few prospects in life. he was 19 and she was 32 and then terez think. fact is that, this was 1839 and she was the person to be photographed. the united states. john draper improved upon the girl type process and introduced it to this country.

although this photo, it's in poor condition and it's my favorite. i believe that between the ages of 24 and 26, he more from a philosophizing cautious, unsure young into the professional. we know. he looked so different from the teenage andrew. yet more like people we know in the 21st century. january. 1845. he expresses uncertainty about the new year. his at a legal firm and attending studying to pass the new york state bar exam. his life is consumed, work and studies. it's only free time. it's on. but she spends morning to night attending services at multiple churches in philosophy rises continuously during his 24th year. he's morphing into the man that will eventually the andrew

haswell green that most people know. over the next few months, the trajectory of his life will change. he's invited to join law firm of a new acquaintance, samuel jones tilden. samuel will likely be the most influential person in his life. they're extremely individuals. yet their friendship will span an excess of four decades. andrew, aged 24. excerpts from his diary july 1845. aged in such condition that it's quite impossible for me to use them with any comfort. it read somewhat. i'm corporations had a talk with mr. tilden on political. he to study and bothered by i. his eyes will fail considerably throughout life.

he wears glasses, but really in public notice steady to refers to his boss. samuel jones tilden as tilden. and that rolling conversation is a political. much will change over the next year. i've studied the more industrial yet humble person as greene when asked in an interview in 1900 what the greatest and evil the world is, he says, lay and the quest for fame. i traced the source back 55 years to this diary entry july 3rd, 1845. if a man had curse after fame he made big goodbye to an unshackled spirit. but if condemned to work on amidst the sneers and smiles of those around fearless and regardless of will, some power,

he will leave a name behind him which may last and be remembered. perhaps not well. he lives. this is an excellent of him philosophizing. although this is just a thought from his diary, it states with him his entire life. it may have a rigid from the rules to live by. he never seeks. five days late or he meets a young lady at the astor household tell his diary account is likely the most telling, foreshadowing an uncommon to life. sex and priorities. july 8th, 1845. evening i spent 2 hours with her. of all the women i have ever seen, this young is one of the very few who have made any peculiar on me. she is without deception, gentle

soul, confiding, unable to think ill no one. she is one of the purest as she read over and no tears gathered in her full black eyes. then she seemed to show in her face the tenderest affection i have never seen such a fortune of feelings. but she was going away tomorrow morning to be married to a young gentleman up the river. there is one consolation about this two men often marry the women that they most often esteem or love. judging from my own field, a man's affection placed on one person to regard for her business would lead him to distrust himself and to think of her future enjoyment, to him to gratify his own dearest wishes. i unconsciously.

and then the next page is door torn from the diary. what's happening here? is he questioning his sexuality or perhaps recognizing the need to, in some, insulate himself from love in order to meet its goals? gay or not. i'll address that later. two weeks later, andrew was vacationing newport at the ocean house hotel with his sister mary and family relations from private the arnolds. his cousin and closest friends, arnold would introduce him to his fiancee. andrew his first tuxedo for samuel arnold's wedding. he kept that tuxedo throughout his life. he and it's still in existence.

it is. he boarded a john davis and joan's new york city paying only. one dollars. he is relaxed, having fun at ocean house. taking a break from work studies. the ice cream churn was invented five years earlier. throughout life, andrew never loses his love of ice cream. this is the last summer of his youth. he enjoys a game of and played the piano and can speak three languages, all of which he learned at green helm. his fun and embracing nature. he even buys flannel bathing suit. the ocean houseas one of newport's premier hotels. on sunday, august 3rd, there were 350 guests. the formal dining room was filled to capacity the guests were enjoying dinner. many full and satisfied guests to their rooms. for an afternoon nap.

fire broke in the kitchen and spread throughout the hotel. this is his diary. excerpt from that day. beautiful day. this morning i walked to trinity church. no sermon being. it was communion. sunday while at dinner, the fire bells rang. the ocean house was on fire. i said it to get out the baggage of mr. arnold. it was burnt and very. when done, continued to help with other things. the afternoon. the hotel was completely destroyed. in the afternoon. i walked up with miss throckmorton from new york to look after her things which were at the ocean house. all we found her bathing calf. since he left greenhill years earlier, he witness tried to dig repeatedly from. he would learn the importance of

safety, accident prevention and diplomacy. he saw the great fire of december 1835, which covered city blocks and destroyed hundreds of buildings. it preventable. he witnessed the flower riot of 1837 where a crowd of 5000 hungry workers froze striated by runaway high prices. plundered warehouses to the financial panic of 1837. he again felt it could have been prevented in writing to be the least way to resolve issue. he knew the house fire could have been prevented. this was the last summer of. andrew's youth. his life will change within few short months. a new year aged 25. excerpt diary. diary january 15th, 1846.

in albany underwent examination with the class 60 members in two divisions for our degree of at law. there was a black member of the class who was rejected more on account color than otherwise. after this i passed the examination as solicitor very well well busy. profound in that it underscores will become his interest the barnburner movement fighting slavery. the black man would have worked seven years to take that bar exam. only be rejected largely because of race. greene would fight for the rights of all people. greene was no longer a student. he shared sheldon's political and became law partner. andrew, a company in samuel tilden to a political meeting where he made a speech on the convention from former the new

york state constitu nation. he was hooked. such began in eventful journey. tilden 16 years. andrew's senior was to become its mentor and business partner and close friend in three decades. tilden become new york state governor and presidential candidate. although tilden won the popular for president in 1876, a backroom ensured the end of reconstruct election and declared rutherford be hayes winner. both men became close and remained closed until tilden dies. 41 years later, in 86. many they were gay lovers. may have had and may have an agenda promoting such a research. both men great lee i question motives of anyone such

assumptions. i've read so many diaries letters. there is none in there to leave me to think that andrew gay. it is likely that andrew was a sexual. i find it interesting that this topic surfaces frequently than inquiries into his accomplished months under the tutelage of political activist and railroad samuel tilden. andrew became not only a railroad turning but a corporate mining attorney. he would be on the board of directors for several national as railroad has expanded across the country and demand for coal increase. so did their fortunes grow andrew would be not only the executor of the william brogden estate paul bearer for the

wealthy chicago politician and railroad executive. i find it interesting was asked to be a pallbearer many times throughout his life and. the late 1940s, andrew saved greenhill from financial loss. it would be transferred to him for $10,000 multiple by that times 30 rate of inflation would grow as. he purchased adjoining farms and became his summer respite from manhattan. stress. aged 25 and a half. diary excerpt, august 12, 1846, at greenhill. among the new mown hay much of the day, the prospects from the farm. beautiful. i laid in the hay scene before me, rare to. see the country around seem in some form within circle of hills

in. the farmhouses in yellow fields, tall pines in the active ity among the farmers all are this season, beautiful to behold. i enjoyed my retirement from the city thus very much therefore i should be of some of my brothers here to enjoy it with me in less than ten years. he would be elected to the new york board of education. and in 1855 elected its present president william m tweed, elected the same year. they take very different paths in life. you can see there names as winning the election. there were 138,000 students in public schools, only 42%. daily attendance. he really his teachers played

the pivotal for education in education was, essential to advance society. anyone in this fraternity or former teacher. quite a few. he would be a leader in. the democratic party. he would influence equal public education curriculum in our civ class each day for all children, regardless of economic status and more importantly, regardless of race, in firmly believe that municipal government must provide essential services. in addition, there are environmental duties undertaken municipalities to enhance environment and their welfare of its citizens. things like parks, zoos and other recreation. by 1857, he would be elected president of the new central

park commission, approving calvin poe and frederick olmsted screen green square plan. this park will rival birdseye while improving the health and general well-being for all who visit today. and that's demanded 38 million visitors come to the. that's over 100,000 people each da this would prove to one of the largest municipal cstruction projects ever undertaken and thousands of acres of swamp up and virtual wasteland would transformed over 14 years into what we know is new york's central park. tons of blast of rock be used to create bellevue there castle. many thousands of cartloads of soil transported from new jersey to fill a and winter's green, often ice from the frozen reservoir. when some folks wanted park

solely for the city's elite. he insisted it be for all rich or poor, virtuous or vicious vicious. bringing this off to remembered by some central park. it historians as a certain. oh that irritates that word is used over and over again to describe him being cheap and a penny. when he president of the central park commission, park expenditures were already doubled. the original budget he to make difficult butonest and fair decisions when funds to pay. workers were exhausted. he used his personal credit to borrow money to meet payroll for the thousands of workers. the payroll. workers would be paid for their honest work. he eliminated graft and ensured

the accountability. an excerpt of one of his public letters. any man who thinks that he has been improperly reported unjustly treated, or who wishes to make a complaint against telling foremen other person or their answer any complaint made against him may call it the office of. the property clerk between 12 and 1:00 each day, or may address the undersigned in writing. he them to address him andrew haswell green greene eventually became a leader in promoting public parks and city planning, as well as for improving social making. new york a world class city. folks would enjoy the outdoors for and relaxation. greene initiated a daily physical exercise program in all new york parks within walking distance of central park in.

1838 1868, and is only european vacation. he met calvert foe in london to examine bear under railroad for andrew would be influential implementing rail systems and new york leading to elevate and then underground. greene would become president. the underground railway commission. greene imvo continued gather ideas for world class art. natural history, museum zoos and planning. the plans be implemented with the metropolitan museum of art, as well as natural history curse the central park six. this is one of my favorite photos. it shows caveman response to bill for the creation and care of new york's central park. they all shared fates themed

unfortunate from left to right. andrew haswell green treasurer and president of the central park commission at age 83, murdered george warring age 65. died october 29th, 1898, largely a former sanitation. he designed the sewer and drainage system at central park. prior to his reform. horses left 60,000 gallons of urine and 2.5 pounds million have been or on the streets every day. i he control the yellow fever vacationing cuba and died short before returning to york city. his body was cremated. nash is placed in an after unclean by his wife.

the ashes were dumped so the urn could be used for a gin rickey. talbot bo, age 70, died. 19th 1895. architect and landscape designer calvert paul went for a morning from his son tom in brooklyn. he never returned. the morning was gray foggy. his body was found next day, battered by rough tides along the rocky pier. although some folks saw him walking on the pier, it believed he fell off it and drowned and this said and green as calvert poe was a friend over three decades, green conveyed, they worked together daily for consecutive years as. nurse and tom, aged 50. although overall plans for the

central park were prepared by bo and olmstead. plaid takes credit for the choice of their distribution and landscaping of the park. he held the position of chief gardener and superintendent of the park until he died. consumption. tuberculosis at home on september 1718 oh 70. leaving wife and several children poorly provided for jacob brave mold aged 59. june. 1886. british architect responsible for beautiful carvings in central park. previous lay in good condition. he died suddenly from a heart attack. his carvings on the central remained intact for nearly 170 years. they are my fave items in central where they were carved

yesterday. frederick law olmsted, age 81, august 28th, 1903. two months before grade junior partner of calvert fall landscape designer. i believe grandstander wanting to more publicity and notoriety. he died alzheimer's at olmsted's. he died while also rumors. excuse me on the state sun's would be hired by the worcester best parks commission. there were official worcester parks commission consultant for three years time spent at green hill to the christmas holidays of much of summer. over the years, the proved too small for a family acquiring wealth and status on a national level rather than demolish and build a new one. it was simply in half and in

large it would have 42 rooms inclusive of apartments for all his siblings. one can see that car at that this. and that's the back of the original home. green had a fondness for tiffany glass oil paintings and rare books. the third floor even housed the museum, seldom entertaining the family happy unto itself. bible scripture was read morning meals with all servants in attendance at the entrance to the home. had overhead side reading enter here all who are virtuous. this is a this is definitely a wonderful. the weekend of september 15th, 1862 was an important time in

andrew's life, celebrating father's 85th birthday. notice the black saint bernard. i wonder if samuel jones tilden was there. because i know samuel jones. tilden used to enter st bernard's in dog shows. brothers oliver martin were bringing railroads fruition, dredging harbors and even lake michigan while brothers samuel and john were physicians and missionaries in china and chile. lucy and mary ran the leave school for girls in new york city while william, a worcester judge and surveyor, julia and lydia taught the children of worcester, thereby their father was aging. it was a time for family bonding. greenhill wonderful food stories, conversation is highlighted by religious service. being thankful for life's gifts. they shared three years later.

andrew, age 44, would write a letter to jones, tell them. i find it very revealing as i sense andrew's great love for father and interests enough, nothing more. a very close bond of friendship. tell them. excerpt. letter samuel tilden july 27th, 1865. my dear friend, my father morning passed peacefully from us in the 89th year of his age the close of so long a life of uniform kindness of utmost of leads us affected. his cheerful being has for nearly a century this place of his birth with a rare radiance. every tree, rock and spring spur thinks of him. it is, but few hours since we closed his eyes. the chief joy of our home has gone and time. can it affect the memory?

this simplicity, the real nobility of character. very truly yours. h.j.. william. martha tweed in, 1871. new york city was virtually bankrupt due to the monumental thievery of the tammany hall ring and. its leader, william twain, starting as a street fighter and firehouse gang tweed, piloted a plan to drain the city and state coffers, and it covered. andrew was appointed state comptroller, knowing full well that the comptroller or connally would resign and andrew replace him many dead as comptroller andrew became, the watchdog of new york city, loved this, eliminating and cruption. andrew's audits revealed that

deficit of $12 million or equating to a third of $1,000,000,000 in 2020 through the courthouse built by tweed still stands 150 years later. it was the costliest building in america. lincoln started more than twice what the u.s. paid for alaska. here are courtrooms where was tried and andrew saw says comptroller of new york city would be located and today this is new york city department of education and where we're green. began his public life in the 1990s. my brother in law led an archeological audit that revealed it was built a cemetery cover and the remains of hundreds thousands of human bones would be found under the perimeter. and in case an andrew green escaped death sometimes at the

hand of william tweed's disciples. while working in his office on thanksgiving day, 1873, he received box, which was delivered to him at city hall, suspicious ships that it might contain a bomb. it was placed in a pail of water for detection of leaking revealed it was bomb and he averted death on another occasion when refusing to let central park cut in half. tweed wanted it to be only half the size that it is today. his broke into the temporary warehouse for the museum of natural history and destroyed the lifesize models of dinosaurs. for six years, andrew held the of comptroller to task he said self was to rehabilitate asia of the city's disorganize its financial system. he established the department of finance of new york, which now

wrecked second in size in power to the united states. and when he retired from office, the task had set himself out to accomplish had successfully completed completed. tale of the new york library. andrew in free education and libraries for all. new york largely had private library had two private library the astor and the lenox. he first to suggest that combining both private libraries and the creation of a large private or large public library system which would include one main library and many branches. the main library would house. the combined archives of the astor and the lennox. it would ideally for research samuel tilden shared andrew's

vision. it was tillman's intent to financially support this. he died. andrew, one of his three executors and due to bring this wish to fruition, his will a few million dollars to be divided up amongst nieces and nephews and 5 million for a trust with the intent to build what would be known as the new york public library. his manhattan mansions and 200 acres. 99 room grade stone estate were to be sold in revenues added to the trust. although his will was prepared. there was a delay in getting it incorporated. tilden wanted a judge friend read it before the incorporation. the will unfortunate lay. the judge was troubled and tilden died before it was filed. new york, august 4th, 1886.

samuel. tilden died at gravestone yonkers, new york, at 8:45 a.m. today. mr. tilden had been a very feeble held for some time, yet his sudden demise was entirely unexpected. the end was peaceful and quiet. the immediate cause of tilden death was. failure of the heart. following an acute attack of diarrhea and nausea. andrew at the request of tilden moved to greystone yonkers six months earlier. this was exhausting period for the 66 year old green as he would take the train to his new york city office daily. returning to the care of his friend, each evening, andrew oversaw his affairs and attended his close friend during his final president. cleveland. many dignitaries would attend the funeral on the property

green as executor as told relatives to remove themselves from gravestone within one month of tilden step he would take temporary residence in tilden new york city mansions to ensure safekeeping. the properties would need to be sold. there was quite an uproar. newspapers printed commentaries in characterized says the nation of grain, which where the sentiments of angry, angry, greedy relative as the trust to build the library was frozen for several due to a lawsuit. the relatives. eventually the will was declared. to its not being incorporated to the 5 million entrusted for the library would be given to tillman's rally. those in an unprocessed identity diplomatic move. andrew h. green convinced a niece to

follow through and tillman's personal west. she gave her of $2 million to the tilden trust. it served as the base for construct song of the new york public. this 1901 photo shows the laying of the cornerstone we see green close the laborers. here he is right here. the chicago tribune once called him the blue jeans of new york city. he could get dirty with the laborers, as many of his peers couldn't. at the opening of the new york metropolitan museum of art, he chose to sit with the common citizens rather than the dignitaries. to tale of a garden and the

three sams. after tilden lost the election. in 1877, he attempted to enjoy life. he bought huge yachts and turned his prize for st bernard's and dog shows and won. in 1879, he bought gray's an estate in yonkers on the hudson river. its chords as you see the palisade cliffs just beautiful property which he would expand to 200 acres. the mansion 99 rooms and it's here. he had a stroke and died. many later in, 1899. samuel onto meyer bought the vast estate on the hudson. his vision was to turn it into phoenician gardens, the grandest in the world. temples pillars, fountains, some prices were built rivaling all others. over time, much of the was sold

off. never less. one can envision the beauty visiting unfamiliar gardens. i visited it a few years ago and these photos i took. it's only a three hour day trope from worcester. it's really worth going there to see these gardens. they're called unto my meyer gardens, samuel and meyer. but this was originally greystone samuel tilden property. the third sam of these gardens. really known by another name son of sam, david berkowitz, the mass murderer that terrorized yonkers and new york during the late 1970s. in 1979. exactly a century after. tell them what state satanic and blood stain altar were found.

the abandoned gatehouse on, the property along with the remains of several german shepherds sacrifice days by berkowitz. the gatehouse can still be and entered today. 1903. the world's swirled about andrew green throughout 1903. green remained unfazed by publicity. he was driven by fierce momentum to accomplish as much as paths. of all his 83 years old. he on an autobiography. his office had 214 broadway and the national bank building provided the setting of meetings and diplomat agreements on a national scale. he was elected president in the various commissions committees, organization. he would negotiate the settlement of an unsubtle global

cold strike with threatened the major energy source for the united states and its large suite of rooms. he could preside over a meeting of two or 200 studied this. his favorite painter. the execution which beheadings had a special fondness hanging on the wall in his office. perhaps it served as a parody of his efficient measures when new york city controllers to clear up graft and corruption. may 27 three the tens the lavish celebration of two and a half centuries of new york, a municipality night of illumination, his likeness is illuminated fireworks. he is honored as. the father of greater new york's

city. tune 620 $500 appropriated for green's portrait. keep in mind you have to multiply by 30. it is to be hung in the governor's room. city hall. there would be 15 sittings in the studio of artist henry mosher, andrew haswell, green's last days. tuesday, november 10th. final sitting a portrait commissioned by new york henry mosher. wednesday, november 11th. monthly of the trustees of the new york library at the astor in lafayette place. marble is being received in construction. is. thursday, november 12. meeting to select spot in washington, dc for a thousand dollars statue of samuel j.

tilden. november 13th. andrew will die today at 1:30 p.m. 8 a.m. andrew aged green departed his home at 91 park avenue for his office. just a few meetings. he take the underground. the air was clean and brisk. temperatures would be in the mid-fifties. it was friday the 13th. so nicer than the friday of his birthday weekend which had over 11 inches of rain. that was about a month prior. it would be a short day, but an important one he would say anticipate. a formal response from president roosevelt regarding his proposal. a continental system of waterways, seas for deep sea vessels. it can channel his nation of the rivers of the continent from ocean to ocean. he'd be home for lunch with his

nieces mrs. bray, his cook for 40 years would. prepare something like. 11 a.m. hannah elias woke to the sounds of water in the fountains of her bedroom. perfumed air and pleasurable caress of her silk lunch arrived central park residents the envy of the city on this day the view of the park was clear as the afternoon promised to, be invigorating. her uniform cabby waited atop the wax black carriage all was sunny yet cool the breeze from the southwest. her home was decorated. an egyptian palace befitting her cleopatra persona. customs service were her solitary companions. her mirror would reflect sad. four years earlier, she moved to this palatial, four storied mansion, bought for her by john. our plot.

although andrew greene's was her neighbor his, family never saw the woman of mystery having lost her heritage attempt to straight that. she would wear a wig and a large veiled hat. she had come a long way from. being a middle class -- girl. alias betsy davis turned tenderloin prostitute over the last 15 years, john plotted, giving her 700,000. again, multiply that by 30. but properties and taught her how to a savvy businesswoman no amount of pearls or fur could light their skin or reshape her. she became the first black woman millionaire in new york. she wanted accepted it. society. her life was about to change and not. known. cornelius stood looking into the mirror of.

a public restroom in manhattan combed his hair slicked with pomade, trimmed his mustache with a straight razor and adjusted his gray. three piece suit place matching bowler hat on top, his head. he was going to find the handle as a tag for a venture partner. cornelius was what we referred to as schizophrenic. elias had evicted him from her boarding house eight years earlier. william had williams had a conference tation with hannah's para war and benefactor john our plot. when they asked his name plato cornelius williams that it was mr. greene a code name he used in the alliance household. williams had gone obsessing on his revenge. he been resolved to track her down and cut her tongue out. unable to locate louis williams

had the best thing he would that mr. greene and get her address. williams found andrew greene's name and office in the city directory followed him home one day and memorized his routine. 1 p.m. it's hour platte read the afternoon. he was unaware that he be making headlines by the following day. he lived off fifth avenue near the vanderbilts and the carnegies. a millionaires row. his fleet class company had captured the region's lucrative accounts, such the new york state capitol in albany and metropolitan opera have been hot. he took home an annual salary. $1 million, approximately $30 million in 2023. monies. he was a virtual doppelganger

her for andrew a definite look alike. they were both wealthy, had a similar persona. one was virtuous, while the other vicious a corrupt, weak man. there were the same age. both celebrating their 83rd birthday. the birthdays for two weeks apart. although his wife was the seas for a few years, he had an ongoing relationship with. hannah liz. for over a decade, she blackmailed him when she became pregnant with gwendolyn the prior year the baby died a few months later. for the remaining few hours of this day, the relationship would remain clandestine. 1:15 p.m. hannah's carriage departs. 236 central park, west horse hooves on the cobblestones hannah inhales, the fresh

november air. 1:20 p.m. cornell is sweating nervously paces nearby. 91 park avenue, green sprints down the loaded revolvers, cold to his touch. the cab is in front of the murray hotel across the street. recognize him as the man scouting the green brownstone multiple times the last week. they are suspicious, but do of policeman passes by. 1:25 p.m. mrs. spray approaches 91 park avenue with the recent grocery purchase. mr. green loves his fresh spinach for lunch. she is not aware that she is. but a minute ahead of her boss. 126 p andrew h. green alights the steps from the

underground train first go than usual he was tempted to walk from the office. perhaps later he'll with his nephew after lunch, he sees mrs. bray ahead of him, but doesn't call. 1:30 p.m.. the cabbies in front of the murray hotel are aroused. when they see the suspect -- confronting confused mr. green green ducks appear to recognize his accost. he doesn't know when he has an alliance as it has little patience for this strange man. the policeman turns back towards number 91 when he hears shout ding and five shots above the noise. the city. this is spray these loosely runs from the home to her uncle. mr. andrew has brain lies dead on the stone pavement, which

refuses to absorb his blood and the world freezes for but a small. 3 p.m. hannah alive wonders why central park flags being lowered to half mast as her carriage near his home. 300 policemen would be assigned to control the anticipated crowds at green's funeral parade in manhattan. although the streets were full with onlookers all peaceful, sad and. the new york brick presbyterian church was filled to capacity as was the congregational church in worcester. andrew has well, green was buried days after his death in rural cemetery worcester. cornelius williams made no attempt to escape. he waited for the police to

arrest when glory did what he had done, he would be diagnosed, institutionalized at the murder one hospital for criminally insane and die. in 1919, while his records would be permanently. never opened today they remained sealed in albany, new york and believe me, i tried to get them in. the archives. they wouldn't. don pled. but most of his private life in the world of corruption entrenched in new york's seediest environments, his life was forever changed because of telling williams his name was green. what if he had used any other name so similar in appearance to andrew greene, their birthdays were two weeks apart. he made a failed attempt to recover nearly million dollars. given the hand of as the case was rolling of court in favor of a lawyer's of the once a

millionaire, an internationally renowned businessman. he died a few years later humiliated disown by his family and virtually impoverished hannah elias, mistress of john flat, would finally achieve status star is of its celebrated ordaining beginning the day after green's reporters would camp out her doorstep. the curious join then came families weekend lunch all looking for a peek at the celebrated woman, a daughter she gave 17 years earlier would surface, said her daughter, only to be refuse admittance. hannah would fame and achieve a novel status. she would own considerable high value real estate. eventually squander her wealth being scorned and live in the apartment building. she once owned. she would die.

on july 4th, three years earlier, 1900 at greenhill while recuperating from an operation. andrew received the 12 page letter from someone he hadn't met before. his name was lyman. as andrew's. apparently aware of his accomplishment. he proposed that greene write his memoirs. he offered a plan which proved really mystic and exciting. he most forthright, articulate, intelligent. greenwood only meet with lyman as andrew's but follow through the memoir or memoirs and hire him as his. andrew would entrust lyman with responsible accounts such as the ogden estate. he loaned him the old equivalent of $120,000 for a mortgage payment, as well as legal

divorce settlement. i sense something awry with lyn at sandra was a 1906 an audit of greene's estate revealed he stole $200,000 from it. i believe that $6 million to today who missing hiding in mexico coe once arrested he tried found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison. as the young attorney, greene had the good fortune to see niagara falls. for the first time and was, by its majesty. don't you just love that? that's falls frozen in winter. 40 years later, he feared change would forever diminish nature's grandeur. shacks chanty, teams, commercial vendors, big business in canada. diverting waters were all threats as of the niagara falls park commission.

niagara fall reservation became the first state park in new york's. future generations would visit and little altars. the vision of its natural beauty. here we have andrew greene. he's the one waving their he he saw niagara falls as a man that was just blown away by its grandeur and often would it still a young on visits to chicago as preservationist. he would remain the commission for 20 years until his death death. greene had at no point meant on the day after he died as of the new york company he planned to purchase volcano. since miles outside mexico city, he envisioned a world that eventually erupt in and that the

approximately 15 years after he died, the sulfur from volcano was a component of. he figured he could. gardner world supply of gunpowder and be prepared in case of again, a visionary. his nephew would eventually make the purchase of the volcano on behalf of the new york mining company. these the only two monuments dedicated to the legacy and memory of andrew haswell green the 12 foot benches located in the northern mo section of central park and the tombstone is located the rural cemetery worcester. i took these photos and that bench is a sad too because a monument i believe it was

created. 1928 and more predates imminent area of the park. but today it's relegated added to just outside the area where the park thompson's trash trash and if you add and if you want to see that tombstone just come the rural remains on october 20th. you can that up close as celebrate andrew h. green i would like to remember him first as a boy, a young man with ideals and vision, with love for family and close bond. then, as reformer of great significance, i will use his own words to use that as speech to meatpackers. in 1872. reforms did not mean the stopping of the wheels of progress, but it meant general improve and in progress.

it meant a faithful appropriation of public funds for the purposes for which they were designed by law. it meant good schools, clean, street, faithful performance of official duty, proper facilities for rapid, beautiful parks, recreation and health, for all classes of citizens adequate accommodation for commerce along our docks and everything in fine to render our city worthy of its career as the metropolis of the western world. i'm also thankful for preservation. worcester's suggesting andrew haswell green as a topic for a five minute presentation. for me, the rural five years ago that this archival journey has been a monumental component of my life.

remember the history you is as factual as the historian telling it intends it to be. how y is and the grain not known by most. not being remembered by virtually anybody. i pondered this considerably. i think. if he was a politician he might be. how do we learn about in school? we it by the legislature. choose the executives in governments or wards. there's not that much else that we learned. our history classes. do your high school. how do you read a politician? he might be remembered. he ran from the spotlight, but also who was a bean counter?

i know what that is? i'm former accountant, but i used to feel like a white knight addressing major financial problems and the company's worked for. there are many reasons why. how many of you know anything about your great grandparents or perhaps grandparents or great, great grandparents? that's your history. do you know anything about? it. i don't know know. the fact that only the branches of he being tested monuments felling central park, the images of the statue whose of men he preferred the green grand and sparkling waters of the park. i think the bench is fitting. there was lot of money gathered

over 15 year period for a major monument for him, but world war one broke out and the monument, the trust set aside. his monument was put forth towards the war effort. and i think crane would liked that. to any of you have any questions. yes. come over. can you do three? sorry, but i sure. i. i wondered if there's any on why green was buried in worcester. well, i think i know rather than speculate. his love family. he he is 1888. so 15 years before he died. died. he purged a very plot in rural

cemetery. 20 feet by 30 feet, 600 square feet sufficient for at least full size burials. and today, there are 13 stones there counting his. and it's all his family. he loved his family. in 1840, when he was 20, his father writes to him, say, will you take over the farm farm. he pondered this and he felt his mission in life was far greater in york city. but his love of family, he said yes. and he did evolve his feelings. summer is here. often times the holiday scenes of this. well, he was a simple man, but like some nice things. he didn't drink alcohol. he would rather spend time with

his relatives that everything else am certain that. why we are fortunate to have him here. worcester. and you know something? this summer i purchase a lot in rural. my spouse and i will be buried approximately feet from man to bring bring any. yes. are there resources available for us to learn more about him now? yes. there are a lot. and i was hoping someone would ask the question on this. this the third copy of this book that i own and they've all been dug aired highlighted whatever. i've read this over and over believe me for this project i read a lot more than this.

i've other books. i think this is the best book out there. and if you can find on the internet, i suggest that it's a portrait of him on the cover and it's gray a black new york's is murdered. the life and death of andrew haswell green by michael rubin. rocky though superb no hide parenthetical situations. there's another more recent book book on greene's life published. and i would not recommend that i want to bulge the author or the title but it fictionalizes and distorts very key components in greene's such as the his sexuality. if like to read books with dirty sex scenes that one. if you want to read something

that'll give you fill in the portrait of not only but we add all of the characters samuel tilden. oh, by the way i believe that i a distant of samuel tilden. this is all by providence. i feel that i've had this project by this end is probably difficult. buy might be on the books. new york's father is murdered by michael rubin. nacchio was printed, i believe. 2012. also also there's another great account of crean's life that you won't have to buy. it's on pdf format and i believe you can download it. i have it on my computer router

and if anyone contacts preservation worcester was this, i'll get it sent to your computer it's by john for. f0rd and it's written about 12 years after grade was and it's a very good account also but again this the history you learn is factual it the history you learn is a fact well is the historian telling it it tends to be if you can buy a biography about someone dumped by a fictional account of someone and the other questions. i have enjoyed this immensely thanks for. no.

i. i know the real reason some of you came here tonight erica you came for the champagne. i bet. and linda, i bet you came for the keg. we're going to have champagne toast. and we have a great, hopefully great cake, white cake raspberry filling, mascarpone and whipped cream icing with coconut. have a great week week.